The court had meanwhile removed to Angollála; but a paternal1 letter from the royal pen awaited the return of the Embassy to the capital. “Are my children well?—have they entered in safety? I have heard with joy of your success. Horsemen were dispatched, and they brought me the glad tidings that you had killed. Hasten hither, that I may confer upon you the reward due unto those who have slain2 forty Galla in the battle.”
No time was lost in accepting this invitation, and a guard of honour met us on the road. Together with sheep and oxen from the king, and barilles of hydromel from the queen, visits of congratulation were received from all the principal courtiers present. Amongst others, came Ayto Egázoo, whose hospitality had been extended to us on our way to Giddem; and Ayto Zowdoo (i.e. My crown) formerly3 governor of the important province of Geshe on the northern frontier, who was dismissed for bravely fighting against the Worra Káloo, on the occasion when the son of Birroo Lubo fell—an event which, although highly gratifying to His Majesty4, policy had induced him to punish by the imprisonment5 and disgrace of all the principal Amhára engaged. Both of these visitors had, with sorrowful hearts, taken leave of us on our departure; and they now repeated the inward conviction entertained, that the animals against which rash war was to be waged, would have “consumed the assailants”—a persuasion6 which had led them to cherish not the smallest hope of seeing any one of us again. But greater than all was the delight of the chief smith, when he gave his assurance, after a careful admeasurement, that the circumference7 of the ivory trophies8 then lying in the tent for presentation to his royal master, yielded two full spans in excess of any tusk9 in the royal magazines. A band of fusiliers were at dawn the ensuing morning directed to escort us to the presence; and whilst ascending10 the hill through the various courtyards, they chanted the war chorus of death before the spoils of the vanquished11 elephant. A successful expedition against the Loomi Galla having recently returned, the walls of the reception-hall were decorated with numerous trophies hanging above scrolls12 of parchment closely written with blessings13 from the priesthood. But the whole court was in deep mourning, in consequence of the demise14 of Ayto Baimoot, the chief eunuch, who was nurse to the king in infancy15, and had been through after-life his principal adviser16. Heads were close shaven, temples scarified; and those immediately about the royal person were clothed in sackcloth and ashes.
“Your joy is my joy,” exclaimed His Majesty, so soon as the usual salutations had been concluded, “and I am delighted when my children are happy. I feared that the elephants would destroy you; but you have achieved a triumph which none other have accomplished17 during the reign18 of Sáhela Selássie.”
The ivory was now laid at the feet of the king, who listened with great interest and seeming astonishment19 to the detail of our proceedings20, and to the assurance that the monarch21 of the forest might always be vanquished by a single bullet, if properly directed. A long confession22 of the personal dread23 entertained of the elephant by His Majesty was followed by an anecdote24 formerly touched upon at Machal-wans, of his own discomfiture25, and that of his entire host, by a herd26 encountered during a foray against the Metcha Galla, when, being firmly convinced that the army would be destroyed, he had deemed it prudent27 to retreat with all expedition. “I ran,” he repeated several times with emphasis—“I ran, and every one of my followers28 did the same. You evidently understand the mode of dealing29 with these monsters; but if ten thousand of my people ventured to oppose a troop, the elephants would consume them all.”
After this candid30 avowal31 on the part of the despot, I took the opportunity of intimating that a strong desire had been entertained to bring from Giddem the spoils also of a wild buffalo32, but that Ayto Tsánna declared to me that His Majesty, during an expedition made some years previously33, had fairly exterminated34 the species.
“Oonut now,” “that is true,” he replied, “and you must not attempt to kill the ‘Gosh,’ for it is a most ferocious35 and dangerous beast. What answer should I give if my children were to be demolished36 by buffaloes37 in the kingdom of Shoa? They consume men and horses. When I slew38 a buffalo in Giddem, there were ten men and ten horses destroyed. They reside in the thickets39 where they cannot be seen; and putting their heads to the ground, annihilate40 all who approach their lair41. As soon as they have killed a horse, we close round them in vast numbers, and overwhelm them with spears and guns; but you are few, and cannot attempt this.”
As this paternal remonstrance42 might be traced to a desire on the part of the monarch to place his own exploit in a superior point of view, I changed the subject by an assurance of the uniform kindness and hospitality that we had experienced on the road, at the hands of Ayto Tsánna, and at those of the Emabiet in Mahhfood more especially; and each pause was followed by an ejaculation from the royal lips: “Did I not command him? Is not Birkenich my daughter?”
Certain rewards and immunities43 are in Shoa attached to the destruction of enemies of the state, and of formidable wild beasts, which are regulated according to a fixed44 scale, and never withheld45. These His Majesty now signified his intention of conferring; and one of the ministers of the crown entering the hall, accordingly proceeded, by the royal command, to invest the victors with the decorations due to the downfall of an elephant.
“You have each slain forty Galla,” repeated the king, “and are henceforth entitled to wear upon the right arm this bitówa, or silver gauntlet, surmounted47 by this choofa, or silver bracelet48; and on the left shoulder the spoils of a he lion, in token of your prowess, that it may be manifest unto all men.”
His Majesty then with his own hand presented newly-plucked sprigs of wild asparagus, to be worn in the hair during forty days, and to be replaced at the expiration49 of that period by the erkoom feather. Thus honoured, we took our way down through the court-yards of the palace, a band of warriors50 again preceding, who discharged their muskets51 at intervals52, whilst they chanted the Amhára war chorus, and danced the death triumph.
The rebellion of the Loomi, which had now with infinite difficulty been quelled53, affords an excellent commentary upon the nature of Sáhela Selássie’s Galla tenures. A portion of this tribe had failed to pay their tribute to the now disgraced governor of Mentshar, who was wounded in the attempt to levy54 it, and the royal forces took the field against them. Bótha, who presided over a portion of the Yerrur district, was also a defaulter, though not in open revolt; but at the entreaty55 of his brother Dogmo, a faithful vassal56 of the king, he came in with his arrears57 as the army drew nigh; and having been mildly reproached for the delay, was dismissed with pardon. No sooner, however, had he left the camp, than he went over to the Galla on the plain of the Háwash, and aided the Loomi in a projected attack upon the Amhára. Upon this defection, Shambo, his elder brother, became apprehensive58 of consequences; for he conceived it by no means improbable that he might be held responsible for an offence in which he had no participation59, as in the case of Súmmad Negoos, late governor of Geshe, who is to this day a state prisoner in consequence of his brother Negooso going over to the ruler of Argobba. He therefore determined60 to renounce61 his allegiance, but deferred62 the execution of his design until after joining Ayto Shishigo, who commanded the troops acting63 against the Loomi; and it being then proposed to burn a village on the summit of an adjacent hill, belonging to the tribe of Bótha, he immediately took part with the enemy, and heading an onset64 in person, slew a vast number of the Christians65.
One half of the Loomi hamlets were already in flames, but the work of destruction was now discontinued; and the royal forces retreating in disorder66, were again attacked by the rebel brothers, and defeated with great loss within sight of the camp at Cholie. Perceiving his warriors flying in all directions, the king seized spear and shield, and commanded his steed to be saddled, to the end that he might take the field in person. But a wily monk67, believing that His Majesty felt no real anxiety to place himself in a position of such imminent68 peril69, threatened him with excommunication if he stirred, and thus the day was irretrievably lost.
Háwash Oosha (i.e. “The dog of the Háwash”), who governs the subjugated70 sections of the Aroosi, Soddo, Liban, and Jillé tribes, having meanwhile joined the insurgents71, the whole Galla border was in arms. This powerful chieftain, who was for many years the open enemy of the despot, had been finally gained over to the royal interest by large presents, and by the espousal of his daughter; since which period he has held, in nominal72 subjection to the crown, an important portion of the plain of the Háwash. He soon repented73 him of the part he had taken in the present insurrection; and the usual dissensions arising among the rebels, a deputation, assured of personal safety, fell on the ground before the footstool of the throne with overtures74 of future fealty75. But the country was rich in flocks and herds76; and under the peculiar77 circumstances of aggravation78 attending the revolt, the delegates were commanded to arise, and to return whence they came, with an assurance to the contrite79 rebel that his fair plains were shortly to be the scene of pillage80 and desolation.
Two successful inroads followed close upon this threat, and ample vengeance81 was taken. The wealth of the Pagans was transferred to the royal meadows. Women wrung82 their hands in captivity83, and a black and burning monument attested84 the lava-like course of the chastising85 hordes86. The season of retribution again drew nigh, and Shambo and Bótha trembled at the fate that awaited them. The powerful intercession of the church was sought with bribes87, and obtained. A hooded88 monk from the cloisters89 of Affaf Woira stood before the throne with a peace-offering from those who supplicated90 pardon, and clemency91 was graciously extended. As the Embassy entered the palace-court at the royal invitation, the traitors92 were perceived prostrate93 on their faces, heaping dust upon their heads in token of abject94 humiliation95. The fear of the heavy fetters96 of Góncho was before their eyes; and the half inebriated97 state gaoler scowled98 at them like a basilisk from the ladder of the balcony. But for once he was cheated of his prey99. Five hundred head of choice black cattle, which the caitiffs had treacherously100 swept from those whose cause they so lately espoused101, were accepted as the price of pardon; and with an eloquent102 harangue103 from the throne, setting forth46 the duties of a liege subject, Shambo and Bótha were dismissed in peace.
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
paternal
|
|
| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
slain
|
|
| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
formerly
|
|
| adv.从前，以前 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
majesty
|
|
| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
imprisonment
|
|
| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
persuasion
|
|
| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
circumference
|
|
| n.圆周，周长，圆周线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
trophies
|
|
| n.（为竞赛获胜者颁发的）奖品( trophy的名词复数 )；奖杯；（尤指狩猎或战争中获得的）纪念品；（用于比赛或赛跑名称）奖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
tusk
|
|
| n.獠牙，长牙，象牙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
ascending
|
|
| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
vanquished
|
|
| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
scrolls
|
|
| n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
blessings
|
|
| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
demise
|
|
| n.死亡；v.让渡，遗赠，转让 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
infancy
|
|
| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
adviser
|
|
| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
accomplished
|
|
| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
reign
|
|
| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
astonishment
|
|
| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
monarch
|
|
| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
dread
|
|
| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
anecdote
|
|
| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
discomfiture
|
|
| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
herd
|
|
| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
prudent
|
|
| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
dealing
|
|
| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
candid
|
|
| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
avowal
|
|
| n.公开宣称，坦白承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
buffalo
|
|
| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
previously
|
|
| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
exterminated
|
|
| v.消灭，根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
ferocious
|
|
| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
demolished
|
|
| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
buffaloes
|
|
| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
slew
|
|
| v.（使）旋转；n.大量，许多 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
thickets
|
|
| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
annihilate
|
|
| v.使无效；毁灭；取消 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
lair
|
|
| n.野兽的巢穴；躲藏处 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
remonstrance
|
|
| n抗议，抱怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
immunities
|
|
| 免除，豁免( immunity的名词复数 )； 免疫力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
withheld
|
|
| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
surmounted
|
|
| 战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
bracelet
|
|
| n.手镯，臂镯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
expiration
|
|
| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
warriors
|
|
| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
muskets
|
|
| n.火枪，（尤指）滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
intervals
|
|
| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
quelled
|
|
| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
levy
|
|
| n.征收税或其他款项，征收额 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
entreaty
|
|
| n.恳求，哀求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
vassal
|
|
| n.附庸的；属下；adj.奴仆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
arrears
|
|
| n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
apprehensive
|
|
| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
participation
|
|
| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
determined
|
|
| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
renounce
|
|
| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
deferred
|
|
| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
onset
|
|
| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
Christians
|
|
| n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
monk
|
|
| n.和尚，僧侣，修道士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
imminent
|
|
| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
subjugated
|
|
| v.征服，降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
insurgents
|
|
| n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
nominal
|
|
| adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
repented
|
|
| 对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
overtures
|
|
| n.主动的表示，提议；（向某人做出的）友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 )；（歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的）序曲，前奏曲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
fealty
|
|
| n.忠贞，忠节 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
herds
|
|
| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
aggravation
|
|
| n.烦恼，恼火 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
contrite
|
|
| adj.悔悟了的，后悔的，痛悔的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
pillage
|
|
| v.抢劫；掠夺；n.抢劫，掠夺；掠夺物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
vengeance
|
|
| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
wrung
|
|
| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
captivity
|
|
| n.囚禁；被俘；束缚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
attested
|
|
| adj.经检验证明无病的，经检验证明无菌的v.证明( attest的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
chastising
|
|
| v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
hordes
|
|
| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
bribes
|
|
| n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
hooded
|
|
| adj.戴头巾的；有罩盖的；颈部因肋骨运动而膨胀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
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 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
supplicated
|
|
| v.祈求，哀求，恳求( supplicate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
clemency
|
|
| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
traitors
|
|
| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
abject
|
|
| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
humiliation
|
|
| n.羞辱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
fetters
|
|
| n.脚镣( fetter的名词复数 )；束缚v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
inebriated
|
|
| adj.酒醉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
scowled
|
|
| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
prey
|
|
| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
treacherously
|
|
| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
espoused
|
|
| v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
eloquent
|
|
| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
harangue
|
|
| n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |