The first British camp with which the sea-port of Tajúra had been honoured since its foundation, raised its head on the afternoon of the 18th of May; when the Embassy, accompanied by the officers of both ships of war in the harbour, landed under a salute1 of seventeen guns from the “Euphrates,” (commanded by Lieutenant2 J. Young, I.N.,) and in a spacious3 crimson4 pavilion, erected6 as a hall of audience, received a visit of ceremony from the Sultán and his principal chiefs. A more unprincely object can scarcely be conceived than was presented in the imbecile, attenuated7, and ghastly form of this most meagre potentate9, who, as he tottered10 into the marquee, supported by a long witch-like wand, tendered his hideous11 bony claws to each of the party in succession, with all the repulsive12 coldness that characterises a Dankáli shake of the hand. An encourager of the staple13 manufactures of his own country, his decrepit14 frame was enveloped15 in a coarse cotton mantle16, which, with a blue-checked wrapper about his loins, and an ample turban perched on the very apex17 of his shaven crown, was admirably in keeping with the harmony of dirt that pervaded18 the attire19 of his privy20 council and attendants. Projecting triangles of leather graced the toes of his rude sandals; a huge quarto Korán, slung21 over his bent22 shoulder, rested beneath the left arm, on the hilt of a brass-mounted creese, which was girded to the right side; and his illustrious person was further defended against evil influence by a zone and bandolier thickly studded with mystic amulets23 and most potent8 charms, extracted from the sacred book. Enfeebled by years, his deeply-furrowed countenance24, bearing an ebony polish, was fringed by a straggling white beard, and it needed not the science of Lavater to detect, in the indifference25 of his dull leaden eye, and the puckered26 corners of his toothless mouth, the lines of cruelty, cunning, and sordid27 avarice28.
His Highness’s haggard form was supported by the chief ministers of Church and State—Abdool Rahmán Sowáhil, the judge, civil, criminal, and ecclesiastic29, and Hámed Buna?to, the pursy Wazir, whose bodily circumference30 was in strict unison31 with the pomposity32 of his carriage. One Sáleh Shehém, too, occupied a prominent seat in the upper ranks—a wealthy slave-merchant, whose frightful33 deformities have ennobled him with the title of “Ashrem,” which being interpreted signifies, “he of the hare-lip.” This trio alone, of all the unwashed retinue34, showed turbaned heads, every lesser35 satellite wearing either a natural or artificial full-bottomed peruke, graced with a yellow wooden skewer36, something after the model of a salad fork, stuck erect5 in hair well stiffened37 with a goodly accumulation of sheep’s-tail fat, the rancid odour whereof was far from enhancing the agrémens of the interview. Izhák and Hajji Kásim, two elders of the blood-royal, with whom a much closer acquaintance was in store, were perfectly38 bald,—their patriarchal bearing and goodly presence affording no bad imitation of the scriptural illustrations by the old masters of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. True to his word, the wag Aboo Bekr, as full of pleasantries as ever, had donned a preposterous39 tawny40 wig41, quaintly42 manufactured of the fleece of a sheep; and in his smirking43, facetious44 physiognomy was found the principal relief to the scowling45 satanic glances of the ill-favoured rabble46, dripping with tallow, and redolent of abominable47 smells, who crowded the tent to the choking of every doorway48.
It having heretofore been the invariable maxim49 of the Sultán to exact a visit from the stranger before condescending50 to pay one himself, the departure from established rule in favour of the liege subjects of Her Britannic Majesty51 could not fail to prove eminently52 gratifying. Compliments of the most fulsome53 nature were bandied about with compound interest, as the coffee-cup passed round to the more distinguished54 of the Danákil guests. Promises of assistance the most specious55 were lavished56 by the authorities, in grateful acknowledgment whereof, Cachemire shawls, and Delhi embroidered57 scarfs of exquisite58 workmanship, were liberally distributed, and as greedily tucked under the dirty cloth of the avaricious59 recipients60; and although, in accordance with the unpolished custom of the country, no sort of salutation was offered when the conference broke up, the filthy61 guests departed with a semblance62 of good humour, that had been observable in none at their first entrance.
Widely different was the mood of the son of Ali Abi, chief of the Rookhba, as he rushed into the pavilion on the exit of his rival, the hereditary63 Sultán of the Danákil. Lucifer, when gazing forth64 upon the newly created Paradise, and plotting the downfall of the sinless inmates65 of the garden of Eden, looked not half so fiend-like as Mohammad Ali, whilst, trembling with jealousy66 and rage, he demanded the reason of having been so insultingly omitted in the distribution of valuables? “Am I then a dog,” he continued, in the highest indignation, “and not worth the trouble of propitiating67? whereas that old dotard yonder is to have his empty skull68 bound with rich shawls from India, and his powerless relatives decorated from head to foot. Inshállah, we shall see anon whether the Sultán of the sea-beach, or the son of Ali Abi, keeps the key of the road to Hábesh.”
Unlike the succession of every other government in the universe, the nominal69 sovereignty of the united tribes composing the Ada?el of Danákil nation, whereof Tajúra is the seat, is alternately vested in the Adáli and the Abli, a Sultán drawn70 from the one, being succeeded by his Wazir, who is invariably a member of the other, whilst the individual to fill the post vacated by the latter, is elected by suffrage71 from the family of the Sultán deceased. The town is besides the rendezvous72 of the petty chiefs of all the surrounding clans73, who, to the number of eight or ten, claim an equal voice in the senate, and with about an hundred litigious followers74 each, make it their head-quarters during the greater portion of the year. Mohammad Ali is the principal of these, and his powerful tribe occupying a central position on the road to Abyssinia, he asserts the right to escort all parties proceeding75 thither—a right which the Sultán denies. The necessity of propitiating at one time, and in the same place, two rival savages76, possessing equally the means of annoyance77, whilst neither is sufficiently78 strong to afford protection against the interference of the other, rendered the negotiation79 one of considerable difficulty and delicacy80; nor was it without a vast expenditure81 of honied words, that the ruffled82 temper of the malcontent83 was finally soothed84, and he was persuaded to waive85 the assertion of his recognised claim, until a more suitable opportunity.
All the tents having been erected, the steeds landed and picketed86 in the rear, and the heterogeneous87 mass of property which strewed88 the sea-beach reduced to a something less chaotic89 state, a return visit to His Highness was paid in full uniform; and the cortège being swelled90 by the naval91 officers, an exceedingly gay procession of cocked hats, plumes92, and gold lace, passed along the strand93 to the palace, under a befitting salute from the Brig of war. The lounging population were altogether lost in amazement94 at the sight of such magnificence—old and young, of both sexes, thronging95 the wayside, with features indicative of unequivocal admiration96 at the brilliancy of so unwonted a display.
The thunder of artillery97, to which the nervous old Sultán does not conceal98 his insuperable aversion, still shook the unpretending couch whereon he quailed99, as the procession entered the fragile tenement100 of stakes and matting which constituted the Divan101; and which, without possessing any pretensions102 to exclude either sun or rain, proved just sufficiently large to include the entire party. A renewal103 of hand-shaking in its coldest form, and a repetition of yesterday’s compliments, and of yesterday’s promises mode only to be broken, was followed by a general sipping104 of coffee, prepared, not in the royal kitchen, but in the cuisine105 of the Embassy; and after being scrutinised during ten minutes of suffocating106 heat by numerous female eyes glistening107 through an infinity108 of chinks and perforations in the envious109 matting, the party returned, bearing as a costly110 token of His Highness’s regard, a cloth similar to that composing the royal mantle.
It did indeed, in this instance, form matter of heartfelt congratulation, that the regal custom was dispensed111 with, of investing the honoured guest with a garment from the imperial wardrobe! As the cavalcade112, duly impressed with this sentiment, remounted at the gate of the thorn inclosure which fortifies113 the palace, the Sultana vouchsafed114 a glimpse of her bedizened person from the stern cabin window of the “Mary Anne”—the withered115 frame of the ancient beldame, embedded116 in spells, beads117, amulets, and grease, forcibly reminding the spectator of the witch of Endor, and rendering118 her in very truth, a right seemly partner for her wrinkled lord.
点击收听单词发音
1 salute | |
vi.行礼,致意,问候,放礼炮;vt.向…致意,迎接,赞扬;n.招呼,敬礼,礼炮 | |
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2 lieutenant | |
n.陆军中尉,海军上尉;代理官员,副职官员 | |
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3 spacious | |
adj.广阔的,宽敞的 | |
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4 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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5 erect | |
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 | |
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6 ERECTED | |
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立 | |
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7 attenuated | |
v.(使)变细( attenuate的过去式和过去分词 );(使)变薄;(使)变小;减弱 | |
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8 potent | |
adj.强有力的,有权势的;有效力的 | |
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9 potentate | |
n.统治者;君主 | |
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10 tottered | |
v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 );踉跄;蹒跚;摇摇欲坠 | |
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11 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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12 repulsive | |
adj.排斥的,使人反感的 | |
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13 staple | |
n.主要产物,常用品,主要要素,原料,订书钉,钩环;adj.主要的,重要的;vt.分类 | |
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14 decrepit | |
adj.衰老的,破旧的 | |
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15 enveloped | |
v.包围,笼罩,包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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17 apex | |
n.顶点,最高点 | |
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18 pervaded | |
v.遍及,弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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19 attire | |
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装 | |
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20 privy | |
adj.私用的;隐密的 | |
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21 slung | |
抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 ); 吊挂; 遣送; 押往 | |
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22 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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23 amulets | |
n.护身符( amulet的名词复数 ) | |
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24 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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25 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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26 puckered | |
v.(使某物)起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27 sordid | |
adj.肮脏的,不干净的,卑鄙的,暗淡的 | |
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28 avarice | |
n.贪婪;贪心 | |
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29 ecclesiastic | |
n.教士,基督教会;adj.神职者的,牧师的,教会的 | |
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30 circumference | |
n.圆周,周长,圆周线 | |
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31 unison | |
n.步调一致,行动一致 | |
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32 pomposity | |
n.浮华;虚夸;炫耀;自负 | |
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33 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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34 retinue | |
n.侍从;随员 | |
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35 lesser | |
adj.次要的,较小的;adv.较小地,较少地 | |
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36 skewer | |
n.(烤肉用的)串肉杆;v.用杆串好 | |
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37 stiffened | |
加强的 | |
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38 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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39 preposterous | |
adj.荒谬的,可笑的 | |
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40 tawny | |
adj.茶色的,黄褐色的;n.黄褐色 | |
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41 wig | |
n.假发 | |
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42 quaintly | |
adv.古怪离奇地 | |
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43 smirking | |
v.傻笑( smirk的现在分词 ) | |
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44 facetious | |
adj.轻浮的,好开玩笑的 | |
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45 scowling | |
怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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46 rabble | |
n.乌合之众,暴民;下等人 | |
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47 abominable | |
adj.可厌的,令人憎恶的 | |
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48 doorway | |
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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49 maxim | |
n.格言,箴言 | |
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50 condescending | |
adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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51 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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52 eminently | |
adv.突出地;显著地;不寻常地 | |
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53 fulsome | |
adj.可恶的,虚伪的,过分恭维的 | |
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54 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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55 specious | |
adj.似是而非的;adv.似是而非地 | |
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56 lavished | |
v.过分给予,滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57 embroidered | |
adj.绣花的 | |
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58 exquisite | |
adj.精美的;敏锐的;剧烈的,感觉强烈的 | |
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59 avaricious | |
adj.贪婪的,贪心的 | |
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60 recipients | |
adj.接受的;受领的;容纳的;愿意接受的n.收件人;接受者;受领者;接受器 | |
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61 filthy | |
adj.卑劣的;恶劣的,肮脏的 | |
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62 semblance | |
n.外貌,外表 | |
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63 hereditary | |
adj.遗传的,遗传性的,可继承的,世袭的 | |
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64 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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65 inmates | |
n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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66 jealousy | |
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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67 propitiating | |
v.劝解,抚慰,使息怒( propitiate的现在分词 ) | |
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68 skull | |
n.头骨;颅骨 | |
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69 nominal | |
adj.名义上的;(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
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70 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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71 suffrage | |
n.投票,选举权,参政权 | |
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72 rendezvous | |
n.约会,约会地点,汇合点;vi.汇合,集合;vt.使汇合,使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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73 clans | |
宗族( clan的名词复数 ); 氏族; 庞大的家族; 宗派 | |
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74 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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75 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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76 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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77 annoyance | |
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼 | |
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78 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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79 negotiation | |
n.谈判,协商 | |
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80 delicacy | |
n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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81 expenditure | |
n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出;使用,消耗 | |
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82 ruffled | |
adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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83 malcontent | |
n.不满者,不平者;adj.抱不平的,不满的 | |
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84 soothed | |
v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 );抚慰;使舒服;减轻痛苦 | |
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85 waive | |
vt.放弃,不坚持(规定、要求、权力等) | |
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86 picketed | |
用尖桩围住(picket的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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87 heterogeneous | |
adj.庞杂的;异类的 | |
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88 strewed | |
v.撒在…上( strew的过去式和过去分词 );散落于;点缀;撒满 | |
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89 chaotic | |
adj.混沌的,一片混乱的,一团糟的 | |
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90 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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91 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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92 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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93 strand | |
vt.使(船)搁浅,使(某人)困于(某地) | |
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94 amazement | |
n.惊奇,惊讶 | |
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95 thronging | |
v.成群,挤满( throng的现在分词 ) | |
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96 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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97 artillery | |
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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98 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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99 quailed | |
害怕,发抖,畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100 tenement | |
n.公寓;房屋 | |
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101 divan | |
n.长沙发;(波斯或其他东方诗人的)诗集 | |
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102 pretensions | |
自称( pretension的名词复数 ); 自命不凡; 要求; 权力 | |
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103 renewal | |
adj.(契约)延期,续订,更新,复活,重来 | |
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104 sipping | |
v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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105 cuisine | |
n.烹调,烹饪法 | |
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106 suffocating | |
a.使人窒息的 | |
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107 glistening | |
adj.闪耀的,反光的v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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108 infinity | |
n.无限,无穷,大量 | |
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109 envious | |
adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的 | |
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110 costly | |
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 | |
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111 dispensed | |
v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 );施与;配(药) | |
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112 cavalcade | |
n.车队等的行列 | |
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113 fortifies | |
筑防御工事于( fortify的第三人称单数 ); 筑堡于; 增强; 强化(食品) | |
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114 vouchsafed | |
v.给予,赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 );允诺 | |
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115 withered | |
adj. 枯萎的,干瘪的,(人身体的部分器官)因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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116 embedded | |
a.扎牢的 | |
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117 beads | |
n.(空心)小珠子( bead的名词复数 );水珠;珠子项链 | |
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118 rendering | |
n.表现,描写 | |
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