The civil war continued, meanwhile, to rage with great expenditure1 of life, and with alternate success on either side. Enticed2 into the plain, the enemy were generally worsted by the royal troops, but among the recesses3 of their native rocks the mountaineers had always the advantage. No sign of intended submission4 could be observed; and the monarch5, becoming suspicious of the Jesuits, who were erecting6 forts and strongholds under the guise7 of churches and residences, lent a favourable8 ear to the entreaties9 of his subjects.
A second remonstrance10 was penned, wherein he forcibly set forth11 to the Portuguese12 bishop13, “that the Roman religion had not been introduced into the country by the miracles or the preaching of the fathers, but by royal edict and ordinance14, in opposition15 to the wish of the entire population; and that the prelate must devise some milder measures for the furtherance of the true faith.”
Foreseeing a heavy storm in case of refusal, Mendez reluctantly complied with the proposal of a modified church code, under the restriction16 that no public manifesto17 should announce the change, which must be gradually and silently introduced. The ancient liturgy18 and the ancient holydays were thus restored, and the celebration of the Jewish Sabbath once again permitted.
But the concession19 was insufficient20, and came too late to pacify21 the turbulent mountaineers of Lasta, who had been altogether victorious22 during the war. They would listen to no modification23 of their first demand; but imperatively24 insisted upon the complete re-establishment of their ancient ecclesiastical institution, together with the expulsion of the foreigners from the land.
The liberty and the customs of highlanders are seldom invaded with success; and a religion detested25 by the common people cannot, without much difficulty, be introduced by the prince. Weary of so many rebellions, and murders, and excommunications, the king, in his advanced age, began to view with an unfavourable eye the firebrand authors of these disturbances27. Suspecting his brother and the patriarch of seditious views—offended by the contumacy of his subjects, and the increasing diminution28 of his own authority—disgusted with the present state of affairs, and apprehensive29 of future events—he now seriously bethought him of restoring the church to its original footing. But the rebellion must, in the first instance, be quelled31; and having with this view concluded an alliance with the Galla, he marched towards Lasta.
Twenty thousand peasants, confident of victory, descending32 from their mountains, rushed into the plain to meet the royal force. The two armies for a time remained in sight in that still calmness which precedes the earthquake. At length the Galla cavalry33 dashing at speed on the crowded masses of the enemy, threw them into complete confusion—a fierce combat lasted until the going down of the sun—and the field of battle was left covered with eight thousand bodies of the insurgents34.
Throwing themselves prostrate35 before the triumphant36 monarch on this scene of carnage, the vanquished37 peasants expressed their grief in the following lively terms:—“Who are these men,” they asked with groans38, “whom you now behold39 bathed in blood? Are they Moslems, or Pagans, or even the enemies of the kingdom? No, they are Christians—they are all thy subjects, knit together by the most tender bonds of blood, friendship, and affection. Those warriors40 who now lie lifeless at thy feet, would, under a better government, have proved the bulwarks41 of thy throne, and the terror of those very men by whose hands they have fallen. The very heathen blush at thy cruelty, and call thee renegade for having abandoned the religion of thy fathers. Cease, O emperor! in mercy cease to prolong a struggle which must end in the downfall of the throne, and the ruin of all religion in the land!”
The empress also mingled42 her tears with the groans of the wounded petitioners43, and adjured44 the king for the love of God, and in the name of future generations, to take pity upon his subjects, and desist from preparing a sepulchre for himself and for his family. “What have you gained by this battle?” she exclaimed. “You have introduced into the kingdom hordes45 of pagan Galla, who detest26 yourself equally with your religion; but futile46 will be your attempt to establish in Ethiopia a form of worship which is unknown to the greater part of your people, and to the remainder is known only to be resisted to the last drop of their blood.”
These representations sunk deep into the heart of the emperor; and instead of proceeding47 in triumph to his capital, he retired48 to a secluded49 spot to give vent30 to his feelings, and bewail the loss he had created. The Galla troops were dismissed; and having collected all the principal monks50 and clergy51, he announced his resolution of allowing the nation to return to the faith of their forefathers52.
Immediately on this intelligence, the patriarch hurried with all the Jesuit fathers to soothe54 the ruffled55 mood of the monarch. “I had fondly imagined,” exclaimed Mendez, “that we were the victors, but behold we are the vanquished; and the rebels, routed and put to flight, have obtained all that they desire. Call to mind how many fields thou hast won with the assistance of God and the Portuguese, and remember that thou didst embrace the true faith of thine own free will. We have been sent unto thy charge by the Pope of Rome, and by the King of Portugal. Beware of irritating great potentates56 to just indignation. They be indeed far off, but God is nigh at hand; and thy apostasy57 will defile58 thy name and that of thy nation, and will leave an everlasting59 tarnish60 upon the Lion of the tribe of Judah, which now glitters in the standard of Ethiopia.” On the conclusion of this harangue61, all threw themselves at his feet, and entreated62 an immediate53 order to execution, rather than a confirmation63 from his lips of the rash resolution that he had taken.
Retaining a too lively recollection of the streams of blood that had been poured out upon the plains of Lasta, the emperor quietly allowed the Jesuits to arise, and unmoved by their earnest prayers and entreaties, replied shortly, “that his adherence64 to the Catholic faith had already caused the slaughter65 of a great portion of his subjects, and that he would have no further dealings whatever with their doctrines67.”
The film fell from before the eyes of the discomfited68 monks. The friends of the Alexandrian faith, rallying round the throne, united their utmost efforts to strengthen the emperor in his resolves; and the rumour69 spread abroad that on the feast of Saint John the Baptist the ancient religion was to be re-established throughout the land. Thousands assembled in the capital on that day to assist in the ceremony; and, although temporarily disappointed, the event clearly proved that this act of justice could no longer he safely delayed.
Every art and stratagem70 was still resorted to by the patriarch to put off the evil day; but the Emperor, roused at length by the harsh and uncompromising character of the Jesuit, fiercely exclaimed, “Has, then, the sceptre departed from mine hand for ever?”—and the royal trumpets71 suddenly sounded through the streets of Gondar, as the herald72 announced the following proclamation to the empire:—
“Listen and hear! We formerly73 recommended to you the adoption74 of the Roman Catholic creed75, on the firm conviction that it was the only true one; but numbers of our subjects having sacrificed their lives for the religion of their ancestors, we henceforth accord its free exercise unto all. Let the priests resume possession of their churches, and worship the God of their forefathers. Farewell, and rejoice.”
It is not possible to describe the rapture76 with which this welcome edict was received. The praises of the Emperor resounded77 from every quarter. The rosaries and the chaplets of the Jesuits were tossed out of doors, and burned in a heap. Men and women danced for joy in the streets, and the song of liberation burst from the lips of the disenthralled multitude.
“The flock of Ethiopia has escaped from the hyenas78 of the West.
The doctrine66 of Saint Mark is the column of our church.
Let all rejoice and sing hallelujahs,
For the sun of our deliverance has lighted up the land.”
Thus perished the hopes of a mission which, for craft and cruelty, has been seldom equalled in the annals of time. Whilst Rome must indeed have been prompted by no ordinary motive79 to persevere80 so pertinaciously81 in a work of conversion82, through all the horrors of banishment83 and martyrdom, the unworthy means resorted to by the dauntless but unsuccessful agents employed in the enterprise, have left an indelible stain upon the page of her history.
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1 expenditure | |
n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出;使用,消耗 | |
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2 enticed | |
诱惑,怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3 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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4 submission | |
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出 | |
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5 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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6 erecting | |
v.使直立,竖起( erect的现在分词 );建立 | |
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7 guise | |
n.外表,伪装的姿态 | |
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8 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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9 entreaties | |
n.恳求,乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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10 remonstrance | |
n抗议,抱怨 | |
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11 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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12 Portuguese | |
n.葡萄牙人;葡萄牙语 | |
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13 bishop | |
n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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14 ordinance | |
n.法令;条令;条例 | |
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15 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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16 restriction | |
n.限制,约束 | |
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17 manifesto | |
n.宣言,声明 | |
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18 liturgy | |
n.礼拜仪式 | |
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19 concession | |
n.让步,妥协;特许(权) | |
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20 insufficient | |
adj.(for,of)不足的,不够的 | |
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21 pacify | |
vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒);抚慰 | |
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22 victorious | |
adj.胜利的,得胜的 | |
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23 modification | |
n.修改,改进,缓和,减轻 | |
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24 imperatively | |
adv.命令式地 | |
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25 detested | |
v.憎恶,嫌恶,痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26 detest | |
vt.痛恨,憎恶 | |
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27 disturbances | |
n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 );打扰;困扰;障碍 | |
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28 diminution | |
n.减少;变小 | |
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29 apprehensive | |
adj.担心的,恐惧的,善于领会的 | |
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30 vent | |
n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄 | |
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31 quelled | |
v.(用武力)制止,结束,镇压( quell的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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33 cavalry | |
n.骑兵;轻装甲部队 | |
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34 insurgents | |
n.起义,暴动,造反( insurgent的名词复数 ) | |
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35 prostrate | |
v.拜倒,平卧,衰竭;adj.拜倒的,平卧的,衰竭的 | |
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36 triumphant | |
adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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37 vanquished | |
v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 );战胜;克服;抑制 | |
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38 groans | |
n.呻吟,叹息( groan的名词复数 );呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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39 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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40 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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41 bulwarks | |
n.堡垒( bulwark的名词复数 );保障;支柱;舷墙 | |
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42 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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43 petitioners | |
n.请求人,请愿人( petitioner的名词复数 );离婚案原告 | |
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44 adjured | |
v.(以起誓或诅咒等形式)命令要求( adjure的过去式和过去分词 );祈求;恳求 | |
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45 hordes | |
n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 );部落 | |
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46 futile | |
adj.无效的,无用的,无希望的 | |
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47 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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48 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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49 secluded | |
adj.与世隔绝的;隐退的;偏僻的v.使隔开,使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词) | |
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50 monks | |
n.修道士,僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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51 clergy | |
n.[总称]牧师,神职人员 | |
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52 forefathers | |
n.祖先,先人;祖先,祖宗( forefather的名词复数 );列祖列宗;前人 | |
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53 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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54 soothe | |
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
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55 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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56 potentates | |
n.君主,统治者( potentate的名词复数 );有权势的人 | |
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57 apostasy | |
n.背教,脱党 | |
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58 defile | |
v.弄污,弄脏;n.(山间)小道 | |
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59 everlasting | |
adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的 | |
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60 tarnish | |
n.晦暗,污点;vt.使失去光泽;玷污 | |
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61 harangue | |
n.慷慨冗长的训话,言辞激烈的讲话 | |
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62 entreated | |
恳求,乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63 confirmation | |
n.证实,确认,批准 | |
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64 adherence | |
n.信奉,依附,坚持,固着 | |
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65 slaughter | |
n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
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66 doctrine | |
n.教义;主义;学说 | |
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67 doctrines | |
n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 );教义;学说;(政府政策的)正式声明 | |
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68 discomfited | |
v.使为难( discomfit的过去式和过去分词);使狼狈;使挫折;挫败 | |
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69 rumour | |
n.谣言,谣传,传闻 | |
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70 stratagem | |
n.诡计,计谋 | |
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71 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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72 herald | |
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎 | |
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73 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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74 adoption | |
n.采用,采纳,通过;收养 | |
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75 creed | |
n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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76 rapture | |
n.狂喜;全神贯注;着迷;v.使狂喜 | |
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77 resounded | |
v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音 | |
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78 hyenas | |
n.鬣狗( hyena的名词复数 ) | |
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79 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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80 persevere | |
v.坚持,坚忍,不屈不挠 | |
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81 pertinaciously | |
adv.坚持地;固执地;坚决地;执拗地 | |
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82 conversion | |
n.转化,转换,转变 | |
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83 banishment | |
n.放逐,驱逐 | |
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