At Kondie, in the church dedicated1 to the patron saint of England, lie interred2 the remains3 of Woosen Suggud, and thither4, according to wont5, the despot proceeded on Saint George’s day. The sepulchre of the departed monarch6 is screened from gaze amid a sombre grove7 of evergreen8 juniper, assuming the shapes, some of the cedar9, others of the cypress10 and the yew:—
“Dark trees still sad when others’ grief is fled,
The only constant mourners o’er the dead.”
Kings alone are honoured with a coffin11. Manufactured of sweet wood, and perforated with many apertures12, it is placed on stone trestles amid clouds of frankincense, and after a season removed into the mausoleum; the walls of which are usually bedaubed with clumsy designs, intended to commemorate13 the exploits in the hunting field, the military actions, and the heroic achievements of the royal occupant. His Majesty14’s orisons at the shrine15 of his father being concluded, he turned his steps to the palace, now fast falling to decay, which formed the scene of the assassination16 of the despotic tyrant17. Surrounded by the former capital of Shoa, it occupies the bleak18 summit of one of the loftiest mountains in the range, and commands a magnificent prospect19 over the greater portion of Efát. Mamrat, now diminished from thirteen to one thousand feet, no longer loomed20 a giant. Through the clouds which flitted across its stern bosom21 lay revealed the only path by which the royal treasures are accessible; and the white peak of Wóti, rising from dense22 masses of timber, and terminating in a basaltic column, now formed the most conspicuous23 feature in the rugged24 landscape.
“You observe those woods,” inquired His Majesty, pointing after a long silence to the gloomy forests which stretched away towards the long white storehouses of Arámba: “they conceal25 a cavern26 into which no creature can enter and five. The man who should venture one step beyond the entrance would be seen no more. If a dog goes in, or a bird, or even a serpent, it will surely die. There is no bottom to that cave, and none can say whither it leads. Formerly27 people went to cut wood in the neighbourhood. A man lost his way, and was unheard of for months. His friends believed him dead. They mourned for him, and scratched their temples, and he was forgotten. Suddenly he re-appeared, reduced to a skeleton, and looking like a ghost. They brought him to me to know what should be done with him. He had lived like the guréza upon wild berries, and when I asked him what he had seen, he replied that he had seen the devil. Wóti is a bad place, and the forests take fire, and all my subjects fear to go thither.”
A catastrophe28 of this nature had recently taken place; and a quantity of fuel stored for the royal kitchen having been destroyed, it was the king’s present object to ascertain29 the extent of damage sustained. Ayto Wolda Hana exerted his cracked voice in loud complaints of others, and so that himself escaped the much-dreaded30 censure31, the old man evidently cared not much who suffered. Herein he was so far successful, that the sub-governor of the district was fined in the amount of one hundred dollars, about ten times the value of property destroyed, and every male inhabitant of the neighbourhood received sentence of imprisonment32.
The cold summit of Kondie is clothed with heather and with the jibera, a lofty species of lobelia, which attains33 the height of fifteen or twenty feet. As it is believed to exert a prejudicial effect upon the passer by, and often to cause death, the royal cortege waged active war against every plant by the way-side—His Majesty in person sustaining a part in hostilities34 designed to counteract35 the evil influence. Bands of warriors37 charging on horseback, delivered their spears simultaneously38, and the doomed39 tree, if not cut over, was at least transfixed by a score of shafts40. Excelling in skill, the monarch betted heavily upon every throw, and rarely did he lose. At forty yards the lance left his hand with unerring precision, and perforating the soft pulpy41 stem immediately below the bushy head, often passed quite through, to fall on the other side.
“Where did the commander learn to throw a spear?” he suddenly exclaimed in merry mood, elevating his voice, and looking round towards the spot on which I was taking share in the proceedings42. “Now, Gaita,” he continued, as I approached, “I will give you a mule44 if you hit that tree, and if you do not, by the death of Woosen Suggud you shall forfeit45 your best rifle.” Frequent practice having rendered me tolerably expert, my first lance fortunately passed through the stem, and the second threw its crown upon the ground. His Majesty was obviously satisfied; but whilst the mule completely escaped his treacherous46 recollection, my “best rifle,” alas47! had been already doomed to change hands. It remained but a brief period in those of the lawful48 proprietor49, and Ayto Habti, the master armourer, was to be seen the very next morning engraving50 on the barrel with punch and hammer certain ominous51 Amháric characters, signifying, “Sáhela Selássie, who is the Negoos of Shoa, Efát, and the Galla.”
Hunting down the partridge with dogs occupied the residue52 of the day. Parties stationed themselves at intervals53 along the heather-grown slopes of the hills, where the bird abounds54, and by dint55 of unceasing persecution56 kept the victim selected so perpetually on the wing, that after three or four long flights it was unable to rise again. Many were thus killed with sticks, or taken alive; but wherever His Majesty was forthcoming, he rested a long double-barrelled fowling57 piece over the shoulder of an attendant to insure steady aim—and the wearied quarry58, believing itself safe in a bush, was suddenly blown to atoms.
Northern Abyssinia was now in a more disturbed state than ever; and numerous youths who had attempted to proceed to Gondar for the purpose of being ordained59, had been compelled to abandon the journey, and return to Ankóber. They brought tidings of an engagement between Ras Ali and Dedjasmach Oubié (see Note 1), which had been fought at Salem Okko, in the vicinity of Debra Tabor. The Ras being personally opposed to his rebel vassal60, was believed to have fallen early in the day. His rumoured61 death proving the signal for disorder62 and retreat, the camp was left in possession of the enemy, who consigned63 it to the flames, under the conviction that victory was theirs. But the leader had merely fled; and as the evening closed, his partisans64, recovering from their panic, rallied, and fell with irresistible65 fury on the victors, who were little prepared for further hostilities, and the execrated66 tyrant Oubié, who carries with him the curses of his oppressed subjects, was, with his two sons, made prisoner.
Abba Salama, the Abuna, who is equally respected by all parties, was in the camp of the vanquished67, but the holy man found an honourable68 asylum69. The spiritual despotism exercised by the primate70 from the first moment of his arrival in Abyssinia calls vividly71 to mind the period when the mandates72 of the pope were as implicitly73 obeyed, and his ghostly influence similarly dreaded, by the potentates75 of Europe; and independently of his spiritual power, which exalts76 him greatly above the most potent74 of the rulers of the land, his holiness is far from being contemptible77 as a temporal prince. The hundred and eighth successor to Saint Mark the Evangelist, reclining in his humble78 divan79 within the Coptic quarters at Grand-Cairo, surrounded by the dignity of coffee and pipes, would ill recognise his juvenile80 delegate at Gondar, where both these luxuries are held in abomination, could he behold81 him in the enjoyment82 of revenues many times in excess of his own—ordaining a thousand priests in a single day—and receiving the homage83 of all the proud actors engaged in the troubled drama of Abyssinian politics.
War had not visited Shoa; but the peace of many a family was yet destined84 to be disturbed by an arbitrary proceeding43 on the part of the crown. As the period of the king’s departure from the capital drew nigh, many of the royal slaves who had voluntarily sold their liberty during the great famine of Saint Luke, (each year is in Abyssinia dedicated to one of the four Evangelists, according to the order of the Gospels,) casting themselves at the footstool of the throne, implored85 the restoration of their freedom in consideration of many long years of servitude. Enraged86 at what he termed the ingratitude87 of those whom he had fed when they must otherwise have starved, His Majesty, labouring under a strange infatuation, bade them “begone,” and, in utter defiance88 of all the existing laws of the realm, that day promulgated89 an edict through the royal herald90, that from thenceforth the progeny91 of all his numerous slaves, whether the offspring of free fathers or of free mothers, should be accounted his sole property, and forthwith render themselves to be enrolled92 by his drivers, in order to have their daily task allotted93.
The capital was in a state of wild confusion and consternation94. Weeping and wailing95 resounded96 in every hut, and no Abyssinian possessed97 sufficient courage to oppose the dictates98 of the angry despot. The presence of the British Embassy now proved of that salutary and commanding influence which humanity and civilisation99 must ever exert over barbarity and savage100 ignorance. Deeming the opportunity imperative101, and considering the chance of success to be well worth the risk of a misunderstanding with the court, I earnestly entreated102 His Majesty to reflect, “that the name of Sáhela Selássie, hitherto so beloved of all, would lose a portion of its lustre103 and brightness. That all men are mortal. That kings do not reign104 for ever; and that the groans105 of his unhappy subjects, the props106 of his power and kingdom, who had heretofore lived in the enjoyment of the liberty to which they were born, but were now pining heart-broken in the thraldom107 of slavery, would add little to the comfort of the close of his illustrious life.”
My petition was accompanied by the enquiry, “how I should be able to represent his proceedings to the Government by which I had been sent?” and it was attended with the most satisfactory results. The king, who had still the fear of God before his eyes, avowed108, “that the act had proceeded in a hurried moment of wrath109, and that his European children had made him thoroughly110 sensible of its injustice111 and cruelty.” The offensive proclamation was on the instant annulled112; and four thousand seven hundred unfortunate victims to its promulgation113, released from the house of bondage114, and from the degrading shackles115 of slavery, after they had renounced116 all hope of redemption, returned to their homes and to their families, blessing117 as they went the name of “the white men.”
Note 1. Dedjasmach, often contracted to Dedjach, signifies “the warrior36 of the door,” and is the title of governors under the puppet emperor of Ethiopia. As in the Ottoman empire the Pacha is distinguished118 by the number of his tails, so is the Dedjasmach by the number of his kettle-drums. He is entitled to one for each province under his control, and loses no opportunity of finding his account in the troubled waters by asserting independence.
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1 dedicated | |
adj.一心一意的;献身的;热诚的 | |
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2 interred | |
v.埋,葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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4 thither | |
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 | |
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5 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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6 monarch | |
n.帝王,君主,最高统治者 | |
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7 grove | |
n.林子,小树林,园林 | |
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8 evergreen | |
n.常青树;adj.四季常青的 | |
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9 cedar | |
n.雪松,香柏(木) | |
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10 cypress | |
n.柏树 | |
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11 coffin | |
n.棺材,灵柩 | |
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12 apertures | |
n.孔( aperture的名词复数 );隙缝;(照相机的)光圈;孔径 | |
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13 commemorate | |
vt.纪念,庆祝 | |
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14 majesty | |
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 | |
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15 shrine | |
n.圣地,神龛,庙;v.将...置于神龛内,把...奉为神圣 | |
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16 assassination | |
n.暗杀;暗杀事件 | |
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17 tyrant | |
n.暴君,专制的君主,残暴的人 | |
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18 bleak | |
adj.(天气)阴冷的;凄凉的;暗淡的 | |
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19 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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20 loomed | |
v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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21 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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22 dense | |
a.密集的,稠密的,浓密的;密度大的 | |
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23 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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24 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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25 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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26 cavern | |
n.洞穴,大山洞 | |
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27 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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28 catastrophe | |
n.大灾难,大祸 | |
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29 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
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30 dreaded | |
adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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31 censure | |
v./n.责备;非难;责难 | |
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32 imprisonment | |
n.关押,监禁,坐牢 | |
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33 attains | |
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的第三人称单数 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
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34 hostilities | |
n.战争;敌意(hostility的复数);敌对状态;战事 | |
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35 counteract | |
vt.对…起反作用,对抗,抵消 | |
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36 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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37 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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38 simultaneously | |
adv.同时发生地,同时进行地 | |
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39 doomed | |
命定的 | |
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40 shafts | |
n.轴( shaft的名词复数 );(箭、高尔夫球棒等的)杆;通风井;一阵(疼痛、害怕等) | |
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41 pulpy | |
果肉状的,多汁的,柔软的; 烂糊; 稀烂 | |
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42 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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43 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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44 mule | |
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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45 forfeit | |
vt.丧失;n.罚金,罚款,没收物 | |
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46 treacherous | |
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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47 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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48 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
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49 proprietor | |
n.所有人;业主;经营者 | |
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50 engraving | |
n.版画;雕刻(作品);雕刻艺术;镌版术v.在(硬物)上雕刻(字,画等)( engrave的现在分词 );将某事物深深印在(记忆或头脑中) | |
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51 ominous | |
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的 | |
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52 residue | |
n.残余,剩余,残渣 | |
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53 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 | |
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54 abounds | |
v.大量存在,充满,富于( abound的第三人称单数 ) | |
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55 dint | |
n.由于,靠;凹坑 | |
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56 persecution | |
n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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57 fowling | |
捕鸟,打鸟 | |
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58 quarry | |
n.采石场;v.采石;费力地找 | |
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59 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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60 vassal | |
n.附庸的;属下;adj.奴仆的 | |
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61 rumoured | |
adj.谣传的;传说的;风 | |
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62 disorder | |
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调 | |
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63 consigned | |
v.把…置于(令人不快的境地)( consign的过去式和过去分词 );把…托付给;把…托人代售;丟弃 | |
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64 partisans | |
游击队员( partisan的名词复数 ); 党人; 党羽; 帮伙 | |
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65 irresistible | |
adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 | |
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66 execrated | |
v.憎恶( execrate的过去式和过去分词 );厌恶;诅咒;咒骂 | |
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67 vanquished | |
v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 );战胜;克服;抑制 | |
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68 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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69 asylum | |
n.避难所,庇护所,避难 | |
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70 primate | |
n.灵长类(目)动物,首席主教;adj.首要的 | |
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71 vividly | |
adv.清楚地,鲜明地,生动地 | |
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72 mandates | |
托管(mandate的第三人称单数形式) | |
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73 implicitly | |
adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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74 potent | |
adj.强有力的,有权势的;有效力的 | |
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75 potentates | |
n.君主,统治者( potentate的名词复数 );有权势的人 | |
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76 exalts | |
赞扬( exalt的第三人称单数 ); 歌颂; 提升; 提拔 | |
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77 contemptible | |
adj.可鄙的,可轻视的,卑劣的 | |
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78 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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79 divan | |
n.长沙发;(波斯或其他东方诗人的)诗集 | |
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80 juvenile | |
n.青少年,少年读物;adj.青少年的,幼稚的 | |
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81 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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82 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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83 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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84 destined | |
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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85 implored | |
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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86 enraged | |
使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 ); 歜; 激愤 | |
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87 ingratitude | |
n.忘恩负义 | |
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88 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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89 promulgated | |
v.宣扬(某事物)( promulgate的过去式和过去分词 );传播;公布;颁布(法令、新法律等) | |
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90 herald | |
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎 | |
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91 progeny | |
n.后代,子孙;结果 | |
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92 enrolled | |
adj.入学登记了的v.[亦作enrol]( enroll的过去式和过去分词 );登记,招收,使入伍(或入会、入学等),参加,成为成员;记入名册;卷起,包起 | |
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93 allotted | |
分配,拨给,摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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94 consternation | |
n.大为吃惊,惊骇 | |
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95 wailing | |
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的现在分词 );沱 | |
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96 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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97 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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98 dictates | |
n.命令,规定,要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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99 civilisation | |
n.文明,文化,开化,教化 | |
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100 savage | |
adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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101 imperative | |
n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的 | |
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102 entreated | |
恳求,乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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103 lustre | |
n.光亮,光泽;荣誉 | |
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104 reign | |
n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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105 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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106 props | |
小道具; 支柱( prop的名词复数 ); 支持者; 道具; (橄榄球中的)支柱前锋 | |
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107 thraldom | |
n.奴隶的身份,奴役,束缚 | |
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108 avowed | |
adj.公开声明的,承认的v.公开声明,承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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109 wrath | |
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒 | |
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110 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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111 injustice | |
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利 | |
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112 annulled | |
v.宣告无效( annul的过去式和过去分词 );取消;使消失;抹去 | |
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113 promulgation | |
n.颁布 | |
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114 bondage | |
n.奴役,束缚 | |
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115 shackles | |
手铐( shackle的名词复数 ); 脚镣; 束缚; 羁绊 | |
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116 renounced | |
v.声明放弃( renounce的过去式和过去分词 );宣布放弃;宣布与…决裂;宣布摒弃 | |
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117 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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118 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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