The entire slope of the palace eminence1 is studded with thatched magazines and out-houses; and these, shame to the Christian2 monarch3, form the scene of the daily labours of three thousand slaves. In one quarter are to be seen groups of busy females, engaged in the manufacture of beer and hydromel. Flat cakes of teff and wheat are preparing by the hundred under the next roof, and from the dark recesses4 of the building arises the plaintive5 ditty of those who grind the corn by the sweat of their brow. Here cauldrons of red pepper soup yield up their potent6 steam; and in the adjacent compartment7, long twisted strips of old cotton rag are being dipped in bees’ wax. Throughout the female establishment the bloated and cross-grained eunuch presides; and his unsparing rod admonishes8 his giggling9 charges that they are not there to gaze at the passing stranger.
In the sunny verandah of the wardrobe, tailors and curriers are achieving all manner of curious amulets10 and devices—the offspring of a savage11 brain. Blacksmiths are banging away at the anvil12 under the eaves of the banqueting hall. Turbaned priests, seated in the porch, armed with a party-coloured cow’s tail, indolently drive away the flies from volumes which are elevated on a rack before their ancient eyes, and detail the miracles of the saints. Under one shed, notaries13 are diligently14 committing to parchment elaborate inventories15 of tribute received. Sacred books are being bound in a second. In a crowded corner painters are perpetrating on the illuminated16 page atrocious daubs of our first father carrying spear and buckler in the Garden of Eden; and in the long shadow thrown by the slaughterhouse, whence a stream of blood is ever flowing across the road, carpenters are destroying bad wood in a clumsy attempt to fashion a gun stock with a farrier’s rasp, for the reception of an old honeycombed barrel which promises to burst upon the very first discharge.
Governors and nobles, with shields and silver swords, are seated above. Clamourous paupers17, itinerant18 monks19, and applicants20 for justice, fill the lower courts. The open Aráda before the great-gate is choked with idlers, gossips, and immoveable beggars, who, from the rising up to the going down of the sun, maintain one incessant21 howl of importunity22. Oxen and asses23, goats and sheep, have established their head-quarters in every filthy24 avenue. Newly-picked bones and bullocks’ skulls25 strew26 the rugged27 descent; and on the last terrace, surrounded by stagnant28 mire29, behold30 Ayto Wolda Hana himself, seated in magisterial31 dignity, arranging the affairs of the nation. Hundreds tremble at his uncompromising nod; and appellant and respondent, accuser and accused, alike bared to the girdle, bend in cringing32 submission33, as in a cracked and querulous voice the despotic legislator delivers his arbitrary fiat34.
During the absence of the Negoos on military expeditions, the most inquisitorial espionage35 is exercised over the actions of every foreigner, and the strictest police established, to insure the safety of the almost deserted36 capital. Every avenue is vigilantly37 guarded, and no stranger allowed to enter the town without permission of the viceroy. Children only are suffered to leave the houses after dark; and watchmen, patrolling in all directions, apprehend38 every adult who may be found abroad during the night.
But Ankóber was now thronged39 to overflowing40. Brawls41 disturbed the streets, and, during the early hours of each evening, drunken parties were to be seen streaming home from the royal banquet, shouting the war chorus, and not unfrequently preceded by one of the court buffoons42, engaged in the performance of the most absurd follies43, antics, and grimaces44. Day and night the invocations of a host of mendicants arose from every lane and alley45, and the importunity to which we were exposed on the part of the wealthy had attained46 the point beyond which it was scarcely possible to advance. Each ruffian who had destroyed an infant considered that he possessed47 an undeniable right to be “decorated from head to foot, and completely ornamented48.” Villains49, streaming with rancid butter, entered the Residency, and desired that the “Gyptzis’s bead50 shop might be opened, as they had brought salt to purchase a necklace;” whilst the king’s three fiddlers, who had each slain51 a foe52 during the foray, appearing with the vaunting green saréti, attuned53 their voices and their squeaking54 instruments to the detail of their prowess, and demanded the merited reward. “The gun is the medicine for the cowardly Pagan who ascends55 a tree,” was the maxim56 of many who aspired57 to the possession of one of these weapons; and for hours together men stood before the door with cocks and hens and loaves of bread, to establish their claim to the possession of “pleasing things.”
With the design of aiding his fast-swelling collection of natural history. Dr Roth had offered rewards to all who chose to contribute, and the king’s pages were kept well supplied with ammunition58 for the destruction of birds; but the unconquerable love of sticking a feather in the hair almost invariably spoiled the specimen59. A bat, firmly wedged between the prongs of a split cane60, was one day brought by a boy, who extended the prize at arm’s length: “I’ve caught him at last,” he exclaimed with exultation—“It is the Devil, who had got into the monastery61 of Aferbeine; I’ve caught the rascal62; min abát?” “what is his father?”
After this strong invective63, which is indiscriminately applied64 also as occasion demands, to man, beast, and every inanimate thing, the youth was not a little surprised to perceive the naturalist65 quietly extricate66 the much-dreaded animal with his fingers. A party of females, who carried pitchers67 of water at their backs, had halted in the road, and looking over the hedge, were silent spectators of the proceeding68. “Erág, erág,” they exclaimed with one accord, placing their hands before their months as they ran horror-stricken from the spot—“O wai Gypt,” “Alas, Egyptians! far be such things from us!”
On the festival of Michael the Archangel, whose church immediately adjoins the palace, the monarch received the holy sacrament in the middle of the night, and returned thanks for his victory, a chair having previously69 been obtained from the Residency to obviate70 the fatigue71 stated to have resulted from former orisons. The holy ark, which had brought success to his arms, was again placed under the silver canopy72, and thrice carried in solemn procession around the sacred edifice73, under a salute74 of musketry and ordnance75. Large offerings were as usual made to it, alms distributed among the poor, a new cloth given to each of the king’s slaves, and a feast prepared for every inhabitant of Ankóber. Rejoicings, which had continued throughout the city since the triumphal entry, were this day renewed with increased energy, even girls and young children whooping76 war-songs in celebration of the safe return of the warriors77 from battle.
But the voice of lamentation78 succeeded to the strains of joy. An eclipse had suddenly inumbrated the moon, and as the black shadow was perceived stealing rapidly onwards, and casting a mysterious gloom over the face of nature, late so bright, the exulting79 Christians80 were seized with the direst consternation81. The sound of the drum was hushed, and the wild chorus was heard no more. Believing the orb82 to be dead, and that her demise83 prognosticated war, pestilence84, and famine, the entire town and suburbs became a scene of panic, tumult85, and uproar86, whilst women and men, priests and laity87, collecting together in the streets and in the churches, cried aloud upon the “Saviour of the world to take pity on them—to screen them from the wrath88 of God—and to cover them with a veil of mercy, for the sake of Mary, the mother of our Lord.”
The pagan Galla, of whom there are many in Ankóber, lifting up their voices, joined in the general petition, and, from not comprehending the Amháric tongue, placed upon it the most absurd construction. During the whole period of the moon’s obscuration, the wailing89 continued without intermission; and when the planet, emerging, sailed again through the firmament90 in all her wonted brilliancy, a universal shout of joy burst from the lips of the savages91, in the firm belief that the prayers and sobs92 of the multitude had prevailed, and awakened93 her from the sleep of death.
His Majesty94 had been previously apprised95 of the precise hour and minute at which the obscuration was to commence and terminate, and his incredulity in the first instance was followed by equally unfeigned surprise at the powers of divination96 displayed. “Eclipses are bad omens,” said the king, when their causes had been explained. “Was Subagádis not slain on the appearance of one, and did another not bring defeat to Ras Ali?” The chief smith was, nevertheless, instructed to make himself thoroughly97 acquainted with the use of logarithmic tables, and of “the instruments that read the heavens;” and the royal attention was temporarily diverted from the study of medicine to the contemplation of the celestial98 bodies.
In Shoa, the silver sword is the emblem99 of rank and authority, and it is girded on the loins of none but those who enjoy an exalted100 place in the sovereign’s favour. The forfeiture101 of government and the loss of the cumbrous badge go hand in hand, and many are the weary hours of attendance indispensable towards the restoration of either. On no foreigner who had yet visited the Christian land had this mark of distinction been conferred, but the despot now suddenly resolved that the fluted102 tulip scabbard should adorn103 his English guests. “You bring the stars upon earth, and foretell104 coming events,” said His Majesty, as he presented these tokens of favour and confidence—“you are my children; you possess strong medicine. You must wear these swords in assurance of my permanent love, that your name may be great in the eyes of all my people.”
点击收听单词发音
1 eminence | |
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家 | |
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2 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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3 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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4 recesses | |
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭 | |
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5 plaintive | |
adj.可怜的,伤心的 | |
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6 potent | |
adj.强有力的,有权势的;有效力的 | |
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7 compartment | |
n.卧车包房,隔间;分隔的空间 | |
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8 admonishes | |
n.劝告( admonish的名词复数 );训诫;(温和地)责备;轻责v.劝告( admonish的第三人称单数 );训诫;(温和地)责备;轻责 | |
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9 giggling | |
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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10 amulets | |
n.护身符( amulet的名词复数 ) | |
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11 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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12 anvil | |
n.铁钻 | |
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13 notaries | |
n.公证人,公证员( notary的名词复数 ) | |
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14 diligently | |
ad.industriously;carefully | |
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15 inventories | |
n.总结( inventory的名词复数 );细账;存货清单(或财产目录)的编制 | |
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16 illuminated | |
adj.被照明的;受启迪的 | |
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17 paupers | |
n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 );贫民;贫穷 | |
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18 itinerant | |
adj.巡回的;流动的 | |
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19 monks | |
n.修道士,僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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20 applicants | |
申请人,求职人( applicant的名词复数 ) | |
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21 incessant | |
adj.不停的,连续的 | |
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22 importunity | |
n.硬要,强求 | |
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23 asses | |
n. 驴,愚蠢的人,臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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24 filthy | |
adj.卑劣的;恶劣的,肮脏的 | |
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25 skulls | |
颅骨( skull的名词复数 ); 脑袋; 脑子; 脑瓜 | |
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26 strew | |
vt.撒;使散落;撒在…上,散布于 | |
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27 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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28 stagnant | |
adj.不流动的,停滞的,不景气的 | |
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29 mire | |
n.泥沼,泥泞;v.使...陷于泥泞,使...陷入困境 | |
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30 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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31 magisterial | |
adj.威风的,有权威的;adv.威严地 | |
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32 cringing | |
adj.谄媚,奉承 | |
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33 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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34 fiat | |
n.命令,法令,批准;vt.批准,颁布 | |
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35 espionage | |
n.间谍行为,谍报活动 | |
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36 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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37 vigilantly | |
adv.警觉地,警惕地 | |
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38 apprehend | |
vt.理解,领悟,逮捕,拘捕,忧虑 | |
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39 thronged | |
v.成群,挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 overflowing | |
n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的,充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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41 brawls | |
吵架,打架( brawl的名词复数 ) | |
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42 buffoons | |
n.愚蠢的人( buffoon的名词复数 );傻瓜;逗乐小丑;滑稽的人 | |
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43 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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44 grimaces | |
n.(表蔑视、厌恶等)面部扭曲,鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相,做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 ) | |
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45 alley | |
n.小巷,胡同;小径,小路 | |
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46 attained | |
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
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47 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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48 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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49 villains | |
n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 );罪犯;(小说、戏剧等中的)反面人物;淘气鬼 | |
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50 bead | |
n.念珠;(pl.)珠子项链;水珠 | |
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51 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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52 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
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53 attuned | |
v.使协调( attune的过去式和过去分词 );调音 | |
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54 squeaking | |
v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 );吱吱叫;告密;充当告密者 | |
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55 ascends | |
v.上升,攀登( ascend的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56 maxim | |
n.格言,箴言 | |
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57 aspired | |
v.渴望,追求( aspire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58 ammunition | |
n.军火,弹药 | |
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59 specimen | |
n.样本,标本 | |
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60 cane | |
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的 | |
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61 monastery | |
n.修道院,僧院,寺院 | |
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62 rascal | |
n.流氓;不诚实的人 | |
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63 invective | |
n.痛骂,恶意抨击 | |
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64 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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65 naturalist | |
n.博物学家(尤指直接观察动植物者) | |
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66 extricate | |
v.拯救,救出;解脱 | |
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67 pitchers | |
大水罐( pitcher的名词复数 ) | |
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68 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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69 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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70 obviate | |
v.除去,排除,避免,预防 | |
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71 fatigue | |
n.疲劳,劳累 | |
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72 canopy | |
n.天篷,遮篷 | |
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73 edifice | |
n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿,教室) | |
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74 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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75 ordnance | |
n.大炮,军械 | |
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76 whooping | |
发嗬嗬声的,发咳声的 | |
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77 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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78 lamentation | |
n.悲叹,哀悼 | |
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79 exulting | |
vi. 欢欣鼓舞,狂喜 | |
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80 Christians | |
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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81 consternation | |
n.大为吃惊,惊骇 | |
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82 orb | |
n.太阳;星球;v.弄圆;成球形 | |
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83 demise | |
n.死亡;v.让渡,遗赠,转让 | |
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84 pestilence | |
n.瘟疫 | |
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85 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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86 uproar | |
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸 | |
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87 laity | |
n.俗人;门外汉 | |
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88 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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89 wailing | |
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的现在分词 );沱 | |
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90 firmament | |
n.苍穹;最高层 | |
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91 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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92 sobs | |
啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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93 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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94 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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95 apprised | |
v.告知,通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 );评价 | |
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96 divination | |
n.占卜,预测 | |
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97 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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98 celestial | |
adj.天体的;天上的 | |
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99 emblem | |
n.象征,标志;徽章 | |
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100 exalted | |
adj.(地位等)高的,崇高的;尊贵的,高尚的 | |
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101 forfeiture | |
n.(名誉等)丧失 | |
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102 fluted | |
a.有凹槽的 | |
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103 adorn | |
vt.使美化,装饰 | |
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104 foretell | |
v.预言,预告,预示 | |
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