France and Scotland, Spain and Savoy, in the honour of which last these jousts15 were given, were all marshalled in the lists, for none chose to remain mere16 spectators of games in which their chivalric spirits so heartily17 sympathised. The princes of the lordly house of Guise18 vying19, in richness of apparel and number of retinue20, with royalty21 itself. Montmorenci, Coligny, Andelot, Condé, Nemours—names bearing with them such undying memories, their mention is sufficient—all were this day present; for the blood-red standard of intolerance and persecution22 as yet remained unfurled. The very sounds that stirred the air added to the excitement of the scene. There were the proud neighings, the hurried snort of eager chargers impatient for the onset23; the pealing24 shouts of welcome as each knight25 was recognised, marching at the head of well-trained bands to his pavilion; the answering cheers of the men-at-arms; the trampling26 of many steeds; the frequent clash of steel, as the knights27 passed and repassed in the lists ere they formed into bands; now and then the loud voice of the herald28, or the shrill29 prolonged blast of the trumpet30, and ever and anon a thrilling burst of martial music, lingering awhile in its own rude tones, then subsiding31 gently into the softer song of minstrelsy and love, more fitted to the ears of beauty than the wilder notes of war.
And beauty was indeed assembled in the many galleries erected32 round the lists. Even had there been no Catherine de Medicis, whose character was not yet fully33 known, and who now, as the queen consort34, claimed and received universal homage35; no fair and gentle Elizabeth, the youthful bride of Spain, whose child-like form and diminutive36 though most expressive37 features accorded little with the heavy gorgeousness of her jewelled robes; no retiring yet much-loved Margaret, the sister of Henri and bride of Savoy; no Anne of Este, whose regal beauty and majestic38 mien39 would have done honour to a diadem—had there been none of these, there was yet one in the royal group who, though girlhood had barely reached its prime, fascinated the gaze of every eye and fixed40 the homage of every heart. The diamond coronet of fleur de lis entwining the sterner thistle, that lightly wreathed her noble brow, betrayed her rank; and the simple mention of Mary of Scotland, the queen dauphine, is all-sufficient to bring before the reader a fair, bright vision of loveliness and grace, that imagination only can portray41. She sate42 the centre of a fair bevy43 of young girls, indiscriminately of France and Scotland, all bearing on the smooth brow, the smiling lip, the unpaled cheek true tokens of those fresh unsullied feelings found only in early youth.
The trumpets44 breathed forth a prolonged flourish, echoed on every side by the silver clarion45 and rolling drum, and Henri himself entered the lists. Clothed in the richest armour, mounted on a beautiful Arabian, and still wearing across his breast the black and white scarf in homage to Diana, the chivalric monarch46 challenged one by one the bravest warriors47 and the first nobles of his kingdom. Excited by the presence of his distinguished49 guests, he appeared this day urged on by an ardour and impetuosity which, while it endeared him to his subjects, caused many a female heart to tremble.
“Has thy knight turned truant50, Idalie, or is he so wearied from the exertions51 of the last two days he has no strength or will for more?” asked the queen dauphine of one beside her, whose large dark eye and soul-speaking beauty betrayed a birth more southern than Scotia’s colder shores.
“He enters not the lists, royal madam,” she answered, in a lowered voice, “for, he fears the challenge of the king—fears not defeat, but conquest. The king has skill as yet unrivalled, courage none dare question; but the practice of a soldier brings these things to greater perfection than monarchs52 ever may obtain. Our gracious sovereign challenges the bravest knights to-day, and therefore does the count avoid the lists.”
“Perhaps he does well. But see how gallantly54 thy father bears himself; disease hath worked him but little, or rusted55 his sword within its scabbard. I would trust myself to the men of Montemar, Idalie, with better faith than to many of those more courtly-seeming bands. And who is yon gallant53, bearing thy colours? Is the young esquire of thy father a rival to the goodly count?”
“Not so, gracious lady. Louis de Montemar and I are cousins in kindred, friends in affection, and playfellows from infancy56. I broidered him the scarf he wears as token of my love, when he doffed57 the page’s garb58 and donned the squire9’s. When he hath won his spur, perchance my scarf will be of little value.”
“Thinkest thou so? Methought the lowly homage that he tendered spoke59 humbler greeting than that of a brother. But there is some stir below; the trumpets sound the king again as challenger.”
A long flourish of trumpets again riveted60 the attention of the spectators, and the heralds62 in set phrase, challenged, on the part of their liege lord and gracious sovereign Henri of France, Gabriel de Lorges, Comte de Montgomeri, to run three courses with the lance or spear, and do battle with the same. Thrice was the count challenged according to form, but there was no answer.
A deadly pallor spread over the flushed cheek of Idalie de Montemar, and, clinging to the dauphine’s seat, she exclaimed, “Lady, dearest lady, oh, do not let this be! in mercy speak to her grace the queen, implore63 her to avert64 this combat!”
“Thou silly trembler, what evil can accrue65? Nay66, an thou lookest thus, I must do thy bidding,” and Mary hastily approached the seat of Catherine de Medicis, whom, however, she found already agitated67 and alarmed, and in the very act of despatching an esquire to implore the king to leave the lists. Somewhat infected with the terror she witnessed, yet unable to define it, the dauphine returned to her seat, seeking to reassure68 the trembling Idalie, and watch with her the effect of the queen’s solicitation69.
At the moment of the esquire’s joining the knightly70 ring, the Comte de Montgomeri, unarmed and bareheaded, had flung himself at the king’s feet, imploring71 him in earnest accents to withdraw his challenge, and not expose him to the misery72 and danger of meeting his sovereign even in a friendly joust14. It was no common fear, no casual emotion impressed on the striking countenance73 of Montgomeri; he was not one to bend his knee in entreaty74, even to his sovereign, for a mere trivial cause. The princes and nobles round were themselves struck by his earnestness, knowing too well his great valour and extraordinary skill in every martial deed to doubt them now. The king alone remained unmoved.
“Tush, man!” he said, joyously75; “what more harm will your good lance do our sacred person, than those whose blows yet tingle76 on our flesh? we have run many a gallant course to-day, and how shall we be the worse for a tilt77 with thee? Marry, thou art over bold, sir knight, we will not do thy courage such dishonour78 as to tax it now; yet, by our Lady, such presumption79 needs a check. Come, rouse thee from this folly80, and don thine armour, as thou wouldst were our foes81 in Paris; my chaplet is not perfect till it hath a leaf from thee.”
“It may not be, my liege. I do beseech82 your grace to pardon me, and seek some opponent more worthy83 of this honour.”
“I know of none,” replied the king, so frankly84 and feelingly, that the warrior48’s head bent85 even to the ground; “and Montgomeri will obey his sovereign, if he will not oblige his friend. Sir Count, we COMMAND your acceptance of our challenge.”
Sadly and slowly the count rose from his knee, and was reluctantly withdrawing, when the king again spoke—
“We would not, good my lord, that you should prepare to accept our challenge even as a criminal for execution; therefore, mark you lords and gentles, and bear witness to our words—whatever ill or scathe86 may chance to us in our intended course, we hold and pronounce Gabriel de Lorges, Comte de Montgomeri, guiltless of all malice87, absolving88 him from all intentional89 evil, even if he work us harm. How now, sir squire, what would our royal consort, that ye seek us thus rudely?”
The esquire bent his knee, and delivered his message.
The king laughed loud and lightly.
“By our Lady, this is good,” he said. “Heard ye ever the like of this, my lords? What spell doth our brave Montgomeri bear about him, that we may not meet him even as others in friendly combat? Back to your royal mistress, Conrad; commend us in all love and duty to her grace, and say we will break this lance unto her honour. Would she have our noble guests proclaim Montgomeri so brave and skilful90 that Henri dared not meet him even after his challenge had gone forth? Shame, shame, on such advisers91!”
The esquire withdrew, and the king taking a new lance, and mounting a fresh charger, slowly proceeded round the lists, attended by pages and esquires, and managing his fiery92 steed so gracefully93 as to rivet61 on him many admiring glances. He paused beneath the queen’s gallery, doffing94 his deep-plumed helmet a moment in the respectful greeting of a faithful chevalier; then looking up, he smiled proudly and undauntedly. At that moment the trumpets proclaimed the entrance of the challenged, and the king hastily replacing his helmet, clasped it but slightly, and galloped95 to his post.
A loud shout of welcome greeted the appearance of Montgomeri, and as the spectators marked the pink and white scarf across his shoulder, and the opal clasp that secured the deep plumes96 of his helmet, all eyes involuntarily turned to see the fair being to whom those colours proclaimed him vowed97; nor when they traced the bandeau of opals on the pale high brow of Idalie de Montemar, her flowing robes secured by a girdle of the same precious stones, and discovered it was to her service the knight was pledged, did they marvel98 that at length the cold, stern, unbending Gabriel de Lorges had bowed beneath the spell of love.
The lists were cleared, and deep silence reigned99 amidst the assembled thousands. The combatants, ere the signal sounded, slowly traversed the lists, meeting at both extremities100, and greeting each other in all solemn and chivalric fashion. Montgomeri’s lance sank as he saluted101 the queen’s pavilion, but it was to Idalie his lowest homage was tendered. She sought to smile in answer; but her lip only quivered, for her eye, awakened102 by love, could trace his deep reluctance103 to accept the challenge.
The signal was given, and with a shock and sound as of thunder the knights met in the centre of the course. The lances of both shivered. A loud and ringing shout echoed far and wide, forming a deep bass104 to the military music bursting forth at the same moment; but then the sound changed, and so suddenly, that the shout of triumph seemed turned, by the very breeze which bore it along, to the cries of wailing105 and despair. The horses of both combatants were seen careering wildly, and with empty saddles, round the lists. Princes, nobles, and knights crowded so swiftly and in such numbers to the spot where the combatants had met, that the eager populace could trace nothing but that one warrior was down and seemingly senseless, the which no one could assert. Order and restraint gave place to the wildest tumult106; the people, en masse, rushed indiscriminately into the lists, heedless of the efforts of the men-at-arms to keep them back, and scarcely restrained even by the rapid and agitated approach of the queen consort and the princesses towards the principal group. Words of terrific import were whispered one to another, till the whisper grew loud and rumour107 became certainty. The music ceased, save the solitary108 flourish of trumpets proclaiming the warlike sports concluded. As if by magic, the lists were cleared, the tents struck, and every trace of the tournament removed. But even then the popular ferment109 continued; there were men hurrying to and fro, little knots of persons assembling in the street, speaking in anxious whispers, or hastening in silence to their homes. Ever and anon the muffled110 tone of heavy bells came borne on the air, and then the dead silence, ever the shapeless herald of some dread111 calamity112. Ere night all trace of the morning’s glittering splendour and animated113 life had disappeared, and Paris seemed changed into a very desert of solitude114 and gloom.
点击收听单词发音
1 relaxation | |
n.松弛,放松;休息;消遣;娱乐 | |
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2 chivalric | |
有武士气概的,有武士风范的 | |
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3 semblance | |
n.外貌,外表 | |
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4 martial | |
adj.战争的,军事的,尚武的,威武的 | |
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5 galaxy | |
n.星系;银河系;一群(杰出或著名的人物) | |
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6 ornamented | |
adj.花式字体的v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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7 adorned | |
[计]被修饰的 | |
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8 lustre | |
n.光亮,光泽;荣誉 | |
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9 squire | |
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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10 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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11 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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12 armour | |
(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队 | |
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13 stainless | |
adj.无瑕疵的,不锈的 | |
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14 joust | |
v.马上长枪比武,竞争 | |
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15 jousts | |
(骑士)骑着马用长矛打斗( joust的名词复数 ); 格斗,竞争 | |
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16 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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17 heartily | |
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 | |
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18 guise | |
n.外表,伪装的姿态 | |
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19 vying | |
adj.竞争的;比赛的 | |
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20 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
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21 royalty | |
n.皇家,皇族 | |
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22 persecution | |
n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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23 onset | |
n.进攻,袭击,开始,突然开始 | |
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24 pealing | |
v.(使)(钟等)鸣响,(雷等)发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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25 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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26 trampling | |
踩( trample的现在分词 ); 践踏; 无视; 侵犯 | |
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27 knights | |
骑士; (中古时代的)武士( knight的名词复数 ); 骑士; 爵士; (国际象棋中)马 | |
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28 herald | |
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎 | |
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29 shrill | |
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫 | |
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30 trumpet | |
n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘 | |
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31 subsiding | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的现在分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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32 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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33 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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34 consort | |
v.相伴;结交 | |
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35 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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36 diminutive | |
adj.小巧可爱的,小的 | |
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37 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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38 majestic | |
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的 | |
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39 mien | |
n.风采;态度 | |
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40 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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41 portray | |
v.描写,描述;画(人物、景象等) | |
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42 sate | |
v.使充分满足 | |
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43 bevy | |
n.一群 | |
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44 trumpets | |
喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 ); 小号; 喇叭形物; (尤指)绽开的水仙花 | |
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45 clarion | |
n.尖音小号声;尖音小号 | |
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46 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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47 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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48 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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49 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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50 truant | |
n.懒惰鬼,旷课者;adj.偷懒的,旷课的,游荡的;v.偷懒,旷课 | |
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51 exertions | |
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使 | |
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52 monarchs | |
君主,帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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53 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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54 gallantly | |
adv. 漂亮地,勇敢地,献殷勤地 | |
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55 rusted | |
v.(使)生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56 infancy | |
n.婴儿期;幼年期;初期 | |
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57 doffed | |
v.脱去,(尤指)脱帽( doff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58 garb | |
n.服装,装束 | |
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59 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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60 riveted | |
铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 ); 把…固定住; 吸引; 引起某人的注意 | |
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61 rivet | |
n.铆钉;vt.铆接,铆牢;集中(目光或注意力) | |
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62 heralds | |
n.使者( herald的名词复数 );预报者;预兆;传令官v.预示( herald的第三人称单数 );宣布(好或重要) | |
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63 implore | |
vt.乞求,恳求,哀求 | |
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64 avert | |
v.防止,避免;转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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65 accrue | |
v.(利息等)增大,增多 | |
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66 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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67 agitated | |
adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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68 reassure | |
v.使放心,使消除疑虑 | |
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69 solicitation | |
n.诱惑;揽货;恳切地要求;游说 | |
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70 knightly | |
adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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71 imploring | |
恳求的,哀求的 | |
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72 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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73 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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74 entreaty | |
n.恳求,哀求 | |
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75 joyously | |
ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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76 tingle | |
vi.感到刺痛,感到激动;n.刺痛,激动 | |
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77 tilt | |
v.(使)倾侧;(使)倾斜;n.倾侧;倾斜 | |
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78 dishonour | |
n./vt.拒付(支票、汇票、票据等);vt.凌辱,使丢脸;n.不名誉,耻辱,不光彩 | |
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79 presumption | |
n.推测,可能性,冒昧,放肆,[法律]推定 | |
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80 folly | |
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
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81 foes | |
敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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82 beseech | |
v.祈求,恳求 | |
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83 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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84 frankly | |
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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85 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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86 scathe | |
v.损伤;n.伤害 | |
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87 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
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88 absolving | |
宣告…无罪,赦免…的罪行,宽恕…的罪行( absolve的现在分词 ); 不受责难,免除责任 [义务] ,开脱(罪责) | |
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89 intentional | |
adj.故意的,有意(识)的 | |
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90 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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91 advisers | |
顾问,劝告者( adviser的名词复数 ); (指导大学新生学科问题等的)指导教授 | |
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92 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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93 gracefully | |
ad.大大方方地;优美地 | |
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94 doffing | |
n.下筒,落纱v.脱去,(尤指)脱帽( doff的现在分词 ) | |
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95 galloped | |
(使马)飞奔,奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 ); 快速做[说]某事 | |
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96 plumes | |
羽毛( plume的名词复数 ); 羽毛饰; 羽毛状物; 升上空中的羽状物 | |
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97 vowed | |
起誓,发誓(vow的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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98 marvel | |
vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事 | |
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99 reigned | |
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式) | |
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100 extremities | |
n.端点( extremity的名词复数 );尽头;手和足;极窘迫的境地 | |
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101 saluted | |
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 | |
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102 awakened | |
v.(使)醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到 | |
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103 reluctance | |
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿 | |
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104 bass | |
n.男低音(歌手);低音乐器;低音大提琴 | |
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105 wailing | |
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的现在分词 );沱 | |
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106 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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107 rumour | |
n.谣言,谣传,传闻 | |
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108 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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109 ferment | |
vt.使发酵;n./vt.(使)激动,(使)动乱 | |
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110 muffled | |
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己) | |
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111 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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112 calamity | |
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
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113 animated | |
adj.生气勃勃的,活跃的,愉快的 | |
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114 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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