The dearest remembrances are those which are accompanied by tenderness of heart. The sports of infancy7, the first loves, the perils8 we have forever escaped, and the faults we have learned to repair, are of the number. Whoever will recollect9 the happiest moments of his life, will find them to have produced this emotion.
But there are two kinds of melancholy; or rather, we must not confound melancholy with gloom. Will the slight tenderness of sorrow which imparts a new charm to the fugitive10 pleasures of existence be inspired by those gloomy books which this age has attempted to bring into fashion; by those terrific and wild dreams in which hideous12 personages enact13 revolting scenes? Modern imagination has painted melancholy a tall and unearthly spectre enveloped14 in a winding15 sheet. The real traits of her countenance16 are those of innocence17 occupied in pleasant revery; and at the same time that tears are in her eyes, a smile dwells on her lips.
It is the resort of a sterile18 imagination and a cold heart, to invest even the tomb with borrowed ideas of darkness; to wait for night in which to visit it; and to torment19 the fancy to people it with sinister20 phantoms21. Real sensibility would not require such an effort to be awakened22. It fills my mind with a pleasing sadness to wander in the church-yard, under the melancholy radiance of the moon, among monuments of white marble, and hear the night breeze sigh among the weeping willows23. I am deeply affected24 with, here and there, a touching25 inscription26.[52] I remember one in which a[150] father says, that he has had five children, and that here sleeps the last that remained to him for consolation27. In another, a father and mother announce that their daughter died at seventeen, a victim of their weak indulgence, and of the extravagant28 modes of the time. This sojourn29 of repose30, these words written in the abodes31 of silence, which inspire tenderness for those that are no more, and those whose treasured affection still remembers them, always penetrate32 the soul with an emotion not without its charms. In the view of tombs, we immediately direct our thoughts to an internal survey of ourselves. I mark out my place among the peaceful mansions34. I imagine the vernal grass and flowers reviving over my place of rest. My imagination transports me to the days which I shall not see, and sounds for me the soothing35 dirge36 of the adieus of friendship pronounced over the spot where I am laid.[53]
I generally carry from my sojourn in these our last mansions, one painful sentiment. I remark that many tombs are raised by parents for their children; by husbands for their wives; by widows for their husbands. I observe that there are but few erected37 by children for their fathers. Perhaps it is right that love should ascend38 in that scale, rather than descend39 in the other.
Occasional visits to ruins and tombs inspire salutary melancholy. But the habit of frequently contemplating40 these lugubrious41 objects is dangerous. It blunts sensibility and creates the necessity of always requiring strong emotions. It nourishes in the soul sombre ideas which do not associate with happiness. Without doubt, there are those who are so unhappy as to long for the repose of the grave; who find solace42 in these gloomy[151] spectacles. Young, after having lost his only daughter, after having in vain solicited43 a little consecrated44 earth to cover the remains45 of the youthful victim; after being reduced to the necessity of interring46 the loved one with his own hands, might be tempted11 to fly his kind and love only night, solitude47 and tombs. There have been men, condemned48 by the award of nature, to such reverses as nourish an incurable49 and perpetual melancholy. Their frigid50 imitators, without their reason and profound feeling, in wishing to render themselves singular, become tiresome51 and ridiculous in their melancholy.
Writers of the most splendid genius of the age have consecrated their talents to celebrate melancholy; not that melancholy which has a smile of profound sensibility, but that which has been cradled in tombs and which holds out to us the full draught52 of sadness. There is something in these heart-rending scenes, these lugubrious spectacles, which the age seeks with avidity. A writer whose talent tends to render his errors seducing53, has taken pleasure in viewing the christian54 religion as opening an inexhaustible source of melancholy. It seems to exalt55 his mind, most of all, when it presents itself to him under a funereal56 aspect.
He paints religion as born in the forests of Horeb and Sinai, forever surrounded with a formidable gloom; and offering to our adorations a God who died for men. He describes the invasion of the barbarians57, the persecutions of the first believers, cloisters59 arising from deep and dark groves60, and melancholy continually receiving new accessions from the austere61 rules imposed upon the pious62 inmates63.
‘There,’ said he, ‘the tenants64 of these religious seclusions[152] dug their own tombs, by the light of the moon, in the cemeteries65 of their own cloisters. Their couch was a coffin66. Some of them occasionally wandered away to sojourn among the ruins of Memphis and Babylon, striking the chords of the harp67 of David, surrounded by beasts of prey68. Some condemned themselves to perpetual silence. Others sung a continual hymn69, echoing the sighs of Job, the lamentations of Jeremiah, or the penitential songs of the prophet king. Their monasteries70 were built on sites the most savage71, on the summits of Lebanon, in the deep forests of Gaul, or on the crags of the British shores. How sad the knell72 of the religious bells, heard at the noon of night, must have sounded when calling the vestals to their vigils and prayers! The sounds, as they swelled73 and died away, mingled74 the last strains of the hymns75 with the distant dashing of the waves. How profound must have been the meditations76 of the solitary77 who, from his grated window, indulged in revery, as his eye wandered over the illimitable sea, perhaps agitated78 with a tempest! What a contrast between the fury of the waves and the calm of his retreat! The expiring cries of men are heard as they dash upon the rocks at the foot of the asylum79 of peace. Infinity80 stretches out on one side of their cell; and on the other the slab81 of a tomb alone separates between eternity82 and life. All the different forms of misfortune, remembrance, manners, and the scenes of nature concurred83 to render the christian religion the genius of melancholy.’[53a]
Can it be thought, for a moment, possible that sighs without end, the love of deserts and the hope of the tomb are all the consolations84 that this divine religion is[153] calculated to bring to the heart of man? Such an error could only have had its origin in an unregulated imagination. The christian religion, though pensive85 and serious, is not sad. Less brilliant, less imaginative than paganism, less friendly to pleasure, she is far more favorable to happiness.
My opinion in regard to the legitimate86 tendency of religion, is not only different but directly opposite. A pure religion must produce tranquillity87, confidence and joy. It is departure from religious views which are true and just, that is followed by a vague sadness, gloom and despondency.
These funereal and yet eloquent88 paintings, traced with the enthusiasm of melancholy, must have had the effect to increase the number of men of atrabilious temperament89, weary of the world, and tired of themselves. Were it true that the christian religion inspired an insatiate craving90 for funereal reveries, far from considering it as I do, divine, I should estimate it anti-social.—The true friends of the christian religion always paint it as it is, more powerful than even human misery91; giving clothing to the naked, bread to the hungry, an asylum to the sick, a peaceful home to the returning prodigal92, and a mother to the orphan93; wiping away the tears of innocence with a celestial94 hand, and filling the eyes of the culpable95 and contrite96 with tears of consolation. Let pious thankfulness and a calm courage, which even death cannot shake, environ its modest heroes. Let its martyrs97 be those of charity and toleration;—the protestant opening an asylum to catholic, falling under the fanatical fury of his brethren; and when bloody98 and impious mandates99 order the massacre100 of protestants, the catholic[154] sheltering them in his mansion33. Such was the spirit of Erasmus; such, of the divine Fenelon; such, of William Penn, and a few tolerant lights that have gleamed through ages of persecution58 and darkness. Such are the men whose disciples101 we desire to multiply. Let us cease to incorporate melancholy errors and gloomy follies102 with the religion of peace, confidence and hope. Eloquence103 was imparted for a nobler use.
点击收听单词发音
1 tinge | |
vt.(较淡)着色于,染色;使带有…气息;n.淡淡色彩,些微的气息 | |
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2 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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3 convalescence | |
n.病后康复期 | |
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4 mingle | |
vt.使混合,使相混;vi.混合起来;相交往 | |
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5 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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6 ordained | |
v.任命(某人)为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 );授予(某人)圣职;(上帝、法律等)命令;判定 | |
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7 infancy | |
n.婴儿期;幼年期;初期 | |
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8 perils | |
极大危险( peril的名词复数 ); 危险的事(或环境) | |
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9 recollect | |
v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得 | |
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10 fugitive | |
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者 | |
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11 tempted | |
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
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12 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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13 enact | |
vt.制定(法律);上演,扮演 | |
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14 enveloped | |
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15 winding | |
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈 | |
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16 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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17 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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18 sterile | |
adj.不毛的,不孕的,无菌的,枯燥的,贫瘠的 | |
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19 torment | |
n.折磨;令人痛苦的东西(人);vt.折磨;纠缠 | |
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20 sinister | |
adj.不吉利的,凶恶的,左边的 | |
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21 phantoms | |
n.鬼怪,幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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22 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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23 willows | |
n.柳树( willow的名词复数 );柳木 | |
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24 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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25 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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26 inscription | |
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文 | |
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27 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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28 extravagant | |
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的 | |
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29 sojourn | |
v./n.旅居,寄居;逗留 | |
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30 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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31 abodes | |
住所( abode的名词复数 ); 公寓; (在某地的)暂住; 逗留 | |
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32 penetrate | |
v.透(渗)入;刺入,刺穿;洞察,了解 | |
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33 mansion | |
n.大厦,大楼;宅第 | |
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34 mansions | |
n.宅第,公馆,大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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35 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
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36 dirge | |
n.哀乐,挽歌,庄重悲哀的乐曲 | |
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37 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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38 ascend | |
vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上 | |
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39 descend | |
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
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40 contemplating | |
深思,细想,仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 ); 注视,凝视; 考虑接受(发生某事的可能性); 深思熟虑,沉思,苦思冥想 | |
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41 lugubrious | |
adj.悲哀的,忧郁的 | |
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42 solace | |
n.安慰;v.使快乐;vt.安慰(物),缓和 | |
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43 solicited | |
v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 );(指娼妇)拉客;索求;征求 | |
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44 consecrated | |
adj.神圣的,被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣,给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 );奉献 | |
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45 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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46 interring | |
v.埋,葬( inter的现在分词 ) | |
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47 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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48 condemned | |
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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49 incurable | |
adj.不能医治的,不能矫正的,无救的;n.不治的病人,无救的人 | |
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50 frigid | |
adj.寒冷的,凛冽的;冷淡的;拘禁的 | |
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51 tiresome | |
adj.令人疲劳的,令人厌倦的 | |
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52 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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53 seducing | |
诱奸( seduce的现在分词 ); 勾引; 诱使堕落; 使入迷 | |
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54 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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55 exalt | |
v.赞扬,歌颂,晋升,提升 | |
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56 funereal | |
adj.悲哀的;送葬的 | |
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57 barbarians | |
n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 );外国人;粗野的人;无教养的人 | |
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58 persecution | |
n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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59 cloisters | |
n.(学院、修道院、教堂等建筑的)走廊( cloister的名词复数 );回廊;修道院的生活;隐居v.隐退,使与世隔绝( cloister的第三人称单数 ) | |
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60 groves | |
树丛,小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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61 austere | |
adj.艰苦的;朴素的,朴实无华的;严峻的 | |
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62 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
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63 inmates | |
n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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64 tenants | |
n.房客( tenant的名词复数 );佃户;占用者;占有者 | |
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65 cemeteries | |
n.(非教堂的)墓地,公墓( cemetery的名词复数 ) | |
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66 coffin | |
n.棺材,灵柩 | |
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67 harp | |
n.竖琴;天琴座 | |
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68 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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69 hymn | |
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌 | |
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70 monasteries | |
修道院( monastery的名词复数 ) | |
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71 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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72 knell | |
n.丧钟声;v.敲丧钟 | |
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73 swelled | |
增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 ); 肿胀; (使)凸出; 充满(激情) | |
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74 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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75 hymns | |
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌( hymn的名词复数 ) | |
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76 meditations | |
默想( meditation的名词复数 ); 默念; 沉思; 冥想 | |
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77 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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78 agitated | |
adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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79 asylum | |
n.避难所,庇护所,避难 | |
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80 infinity | |
n.无限,无穷,大量 | |
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81 slab | |
n.平板,厚的切片;v.切成厚板,以平板盖上 | |
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82 eternity | |
n.不朽,来世;永恒,无穷 | |
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83 concurred | |
同意(concur的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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84 consolations | |
n.安慰,慰问( consolation的名词复数 );起安慰作用的人(或事物) | |
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85 pensive | |
a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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86 legitimate | |
adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法 | |
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87 tranquillity | |
n. 平静, 安静 | |
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88 eloquent | |
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的 | |
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89 temperament | |
n.气质,性格,性情 | |
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90 craving | |
n.渴望,热望 | |
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91 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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92 prodigal | |
adj.浪费的,挥霍的,放荡的 | |
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93 orphan | |
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 | |
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94 celestial | |
adj.天体的;天上的 | |
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95 culpable | |
adj.有罪的,该受谴责的 | |
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96 contrite | |
adj.悔悟了的,后悔的,痛悔的 | |
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97 martyrs | |
n.martyr的复数形式;烈士( martyr的名词复数 );殉道者;殉教者;乞怜者(向人诉苦以博取同情) | |
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98 bloody | |
adj.非常的的;流血的;残忍的;adv.很;vt.血染 | |
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99 mandates | |
托管(mandate的第三人称单数形式) | |
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100 massacre | |
n.残杀,大屠杀;v.残杀,集体屠杀 | |
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101 disciples | |
n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 );门徒;耶稣的信徒;(尤指)耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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102 follies | |
罪恶,时事讽刺剧; 愚蠢,蠢笨,愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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103 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
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