"Adieu! the joys of La Valette."
* * * * *
"No more! no more! No! never more on me
The freshness of the heart shall fall like dew."
* * * * *
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder,
Isle1 of Beauty! fare thee well."
Malta! the snowy sail shivers in the wind--the waves, chafed2 by our intruding3 keel, are proudly foaming--sea birds soar, screaming their farewell aloft--as we wave our hand to thee for ever! What is our feeling, as we see thee diminish hourly?
Regret! unfeigned regret!
Albeit4 we speed to our native land, on the wing of a bark as fleet as ever--but it matters not--thou hast seen the best of our days.
Visions conjured5 up by thee, have the unusual power, to banish6 anticipations7 of Almack's glories, and of home flirtations.
We are recalling balls enjoyed in thee, loved island! the valse spun8 round with the darling fleet-footed Maltese, who during its pauses leant back on our arm, against which her spangled zone throbbed9, from the pulsations of her heart.
Dreams of turtle and of grand master--the fish, not the official--and of consecutive11 iced champagne12, mock our sight! But more--yes! far more than all, are we reminded of thy abode--thou dispenser of cheering liquids! thou promoter of convivial13 happiness! meek14 Saverio! How swiftly glided15 the mirth-loving nights as--the enchanting16 strains of the prima donna hushed--we adjourned17 to thy ever to be praised bottegua!
With what precision didst thou there mete18 out the many varied19 ingredients--the exact relative proportions--which can alone embody21 our conception of the nectar of the Gods, punch a la Romaine!
Whose cigars ever equalled thine, thou prince of Ganymedes? and when were cigars more justly appreciated, than as our puffs22 kept time with the trolling ditty, resounding23 through the walls of thy domain24?
The luxury of those days!
Then would Sol come peeping in upon us; as unwelcome and unlooked-for a visitant, as to the enamoured Juliet, when she sighing told her lover that
"'Twas but a meteor that the sun exhaled25,
To be to him that night a torch-bearer,
And light him on his way to Mantua."
Then, with head dizzy from its gladness, with heart unduly26 elate, has the Strada Teatro seen us, imperiously calling for the submissive caleche. Arrived in our chamber27, how gravely did we close its shutters28! With what a feeling of satisfied enjoyment29, did we court the downy freshness of the snow-white sheet!
Sweet and deep were our slumbers--for youth's spell was upon us, and our fifth lustre30 had not yet heralded31 us to serious thoughts and anxious cares.
Awoke by the officious valet, and remorseless friend, deemest though our debauch32 was felt? No! an effervescent draught33 of soda34 calmed us; we ate a blood orange, and smoked a cigar!
We often hear Malta abused. Byron is the stale authority; and every snub-nosed cynic turns up his prominent organ, and talks of "sirocco, sun, and sweat." Byron disliked it--he had cause. He was there at a bad season, and was suffering from an attack of bile. We know of no place abroad, where the English eye will meet with so little to offend it, and so much to please and impress.
There is such a blending together of European, Asiatic, and African customs; there is such a variety in the costumes one meets; there is such grandeur35 in their palaces--such glory in their annals; such novelty in their manners and habits; such devotion in their religious observances; such simplicity36 and yet such beauty, in the dress of the women; and their wearers possess such fascinations37; that we defy the most fastidious of critics, who has really resided there, to deny to Malta many of those attributes, with which he would invest that place, on whose beauty and agremens, he may prefer of all others to descant38.
With the commonplace observer, its superb harbour, studded with gilded39 boats; its powerful fortifications, where art towers over nature, and where the eye looks up a rock, and catches a bristling40 battery; the glare of its scenery, with no foliage41 to cover the white stone;--all these, together with the different way in which the minutiae42 of life are transacted,--will call forth43 his attention, and demand his notice.
Art thou a poet, or a fancied warrior44? What scene has been more replete45 with noble exploits? In whose breasts did the flame of chivalry46 burn brighter, than in those of the knights47 of St. John of Jerusalem? Not a name meets thee, that has not belonged to a hero! If thou grievest to find all dissimilar but the name; yet mayest thou still muse48, contemplative, over the tomb and ashes of him, whom thy mind has shadowed forth, as a noble light in a more romantic age.
Art thou a moralist, a thinking Christian49? Thou mayest there trace--and the pursuit shall profit thee--the steps of the sainted apostle; he who was so signally called forth, to hear witness to the truth of ONE, whom he had erst reviled50. Yon cordelier will show you the bay, where his vessel51 took refuge in its distress52; and will tell you, that yon jagged rock first gave its dangerous welcome, to the bark of his patron saint.
Lovest thou music? hast loved? or been beloved? or both perchance?
Steal forth when night holds her starry53 court, and the guitars around are tinkling54, as more than one rich voice deplores55 his mistress's cruelty, in hopes she may now relent. But see! there is one, who puts in requisition neither music's spell, nor flattery's lay.
See! he approaches. His cloak wrapped around him, he cautiously treads the tranquil56 street.
He gains the portico57--the signal is given. Who but an expectant maiden58 could hear one so slight?
Hark! a sound! cautiously the lattice opens--above him blushes the fair one! How brightly her dark eye flashes! how silver soft the tones of her voice!
The stern father--the querulous mother--the tricked duenna--all--all are slumbering59. She leans forward, and her ear drinks in his honied words; as her head is supported by her snowy arm.
And now he whispers more passionately60. She answers not, but hides her face in her hands. She starts! she throws back her hair from her brow; she waves a white fazzolet, and is gone.
Not thus flies the lover. He crouches61 beneath the Ionic portico, his figure hardly discernible. A bolt--the last bolt is withdrawn62. A form is dimly seen within--retiring, timid, repentant63.
Sweet the task to calm that throbbing64 heart, or teach it to throb10 no more with fear!
But let him of melancholy65 mood, wander to the deserted66 village. A more fearful calamity67 has befallen it, than ever attended the soft shades, of the one conjured up by the poet.
Here the demon68 Plague, with baneful69 wing, and pestilential influence, tarried for many days; till not one--no! not one soul of that village train--that did not join his bygone fathers.
Stray along its grass-grown roofless tenements70! where your echo alone breaks the silence, as it startles from its resting-place the slumbering owl--for who would dwell in abodes71 so marked for destruction? Stray there! think of the gentle contadina diffusing72 happiness around her! then think of her as she supports the youth she loves--as she clasps his faint form--and drinks in a poisonous contagion73 from his pallid74 lip.
Think of her as the disease seizes on its new victim--still attempting to prop20 up his head--to reach the cup, that may relieve his maddening thirst,--until, giddy and overpowered, she sinks at last; but--beside him!
Think of their dying together! that at least is a solace75.
Do not the scene and the thought draw a tear?
If your eye be dry, come--come away--your step should not sound there!
The wind continued fair during the whole of the first day. Every trace of Valletta was soon lost; and the good barque Boston swept by the rocky coast of the island, where few human habitations meet the eye, swiftly and cheerily. The sea birds sported round the tall masts--the canvas bulged76 out bravely--the Captain forgot his shore griefs, and commenced a colloquy77 with Sir Henry. The sailors sung in chorus; whilst poor Acme78,--we grieve to confess the fact, for never was a Mediterranean79 sea looked down on by brighter sun, or more cloudless sky,--retired to her cabin, supported by George, a prey80 to that unsentimental malady82, sea sickness. The following day, the wind shifted some points; and the Captain judged it most prudent83 to forego his original intention of steering84 direct for Palermo; but to take advantage of the breeze, and adopt the passage through the Faro of Messina.
Delme felt glad of this change; for Scylla and Charybdis to an Englishman, are as familiar as Whittington and his cat. For the first two days Acme continued unwell; and George, who already appeared improved by the sea air, never left her side.
Delme had therefore a dull time of it; which he strove to enliven by conversing85, one after the other, with the Captain and his two mates. From all of them, he learnt something; but from all he turned away, as they commenced discussing the comparative merits of the United States, and the old country; a subject he had neither the wish to enter on, nor fortitude86 to prosecute87. Not daunted88, he attacked mate the third; and was led to infer better things, as the young gentleman commenced expatiating89 on the "purple sky," and "dark blue sea." This hope did not last long; for this lover of nature turned round to Sir Henry, and asked him in a nasal twang, if he preferred Cooper's or Mr. Scott's novels? Delme was not naturally a rude man, but as he turned away, he hummed something very like Yankee-doodle.
And then the moon got up; and Sir Henry felt lonely and sentimental81. He leant over the vessel's side, and watched it pictured on the ocean, and quivering as the transient billow swept onwards. And he thought of home, and Emily. He thought of his brother, his heir,--if he died, the only male to inherit the ancient honours of his house,--married to a stranger, and--but Acme was too sweet a being, not to have already enlisted90 all his sympathies with her. And as if all these thoughts, like rays converged91 in a burning glass, did but tend to one object, the image of Julia Vernon suddenly rose before him.
He saw her beautiful as ever--gentleness in her eye--fascination in her smile!
And the air got cold--and he went to bed.
1 isle | |
n.小岛,岛 | |
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2 chafed | |
v.擦热(尤指皮肤)( chafe的过去式 );擦痛;发怒;惹怒 | |
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3 intruding | |
v.侵入,侵扰,打扰( intrude的现在分词);把…强加于 | |
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4 albeit | |
conj.即使;纵使;虽然 | |
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5 conjured | |
用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 ); 祈求,恳求; 变戏法; (变魔术般地) 使…出现 | |
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6 banish | |
vt.放逐,驱逐;消除,排除 | |
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7 anticipations | |
预期( anticipation的名词复数 ); 预测; (信托财产收益的)预支; 预期的事物 | |
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8 spun | |
v.纺,杜撰,急转身 | |
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9 throbbed | |
抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 ); (心脏、脉搏等)跳动 | |
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10 throb | |
v.震颤,颤动;(急速强烈地)跳动,搏动 | |
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11 consecutive | |
adj.连续的,联贯的,始终一贯的 | |
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12 champagne | |
n.香槟酒;微黄色 | |
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13 convivial | |
adj.狂欢的,欢乐的 | |
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14 meek | |
adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的 | |
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15 glided | |
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
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16 enchanting | |
a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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17 adjourned | |
(使)休会, (使)休庭( adjourn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18 mete | |
v.分配;给予 | |
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19 varied | |
adj.多样的,多变化的 | |
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20 prop | |
vt.支撑;n.支柱,支撑物;支持者,靠山 | |
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21 embody | |
vt.具体表达,使具体化;包含,收录 | |
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22 puffs | |
n.吸( puff的名词复数 );(烟斗或香烟的)一吸;一缕(烟、蒸汽等);(呼吸或风的)呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧 | |
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23 resounding | |
adj. 响亮的 | |
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24 domain | |
n.(活动等)领域,范围;领地,势力范围 | |
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25 exhaled | |
v.呼出,发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 );吐出(肺中的空气、烟等),呼气 | |
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26 unduly | |
adv.过度地,不适当地 | |
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27 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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28 shutters | |
百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 ); (照相机的)快门 | |
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29 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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30 lustre | |
n.光亮,光泽;荣誉 | |
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31 heralded | |
v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 );宣布(好或重要) | |
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32 debauch | |
v.使堕落,放纵 | |
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33 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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34 soda | |
n.苏打水;汽水 | |
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35 grandeur | |
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 | |
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36 simplicity | |
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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37 fascinations | |
n.魅力( fascination的名词复数 );有魅力的东西;迷恋;陶醉 | |
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38 descant | |
v.详论,絮说;n.高音部 | |
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39 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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40 bristling | |
a.竖立的 | |
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41 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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42 minutiae | |
n.微小的细节,细枝末节;(常复数)细节,小事( minutia的名词复数 ) | |
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43 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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44 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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45 replete | |
adj.饱满的,塞满的;n.贮蜜蚁 | |
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46 chivalry | |
n.骑士气概,侠义;(男人)对女人彬彬有礼,献殷勤 | |
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47 knights | |
骑士; (中古时代的)武士( knight的名词复数 ); 骑士; 爵士; (国际象棋中)马 | |
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48 muse | |
n.缪斯(希腊神话中的女神),创作灵感 | |
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49 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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50 reviled | |
v.辱骂,痛斥( revile的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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51 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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52 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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53 starry | |
adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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54 tinkling | |
n.丁当作响声 | |
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55 deplores | |
v.悲叹,痛惜,强烈反对( deplore的第三人称单数 ) | |
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56 tranquil | |
adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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57 portico | |
n.柱廊,门廊 | |
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58 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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59 slumbering | |
微睡,睡眠(slumber的现在分词形式) | |
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60 passionately | |
ad.热烈地,激烈地 | |
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61 crouches | |
n.蹲着的姿势( crouch的名词复数 )v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的第三人称单数 ) | |
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62 withdrawn | |
vt.收回;使退出;vi.撤退,退出 | |
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63 repentant | |
adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
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64 throbbing | |
a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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65 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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66 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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67 calamity | |
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
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68 demon | |
n.魔鬼,恶魔 | |
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69 baneful | |
adj.有害的 | |
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70 tenements | |
n.房屋,住户,租房子( tenement的名词复数 ) | |
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71 abodes | |
住所( abode的名词复数 ); 公寓; (在某地的)暂住; 逗留 | |
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72 diffusing | |
(使光)模糊,漫射,漫散( diffuse的现在分词 ); (使)扩散; (使)弥漫; (使)传播 | |
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73 contagion | |
n.(通过接触的疾病)传染;蔓延 | |
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74 pallid | |
adj.苍白的,呆板的 | |
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75 solace | |
n.安慰;v.使快乐;vt.安慰(物),缓和 | |
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76 bulged | |
凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 ); 充满; 塞满(某物) | |
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77 colloquy | |
n.谈话,自由讨论 | |
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78 acme | |
n.顶点,极点 | |
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79 Mediterranean | |
adj.地中海的;地中海沿岸的 | |
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80 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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81 sentimental | |
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的 | |
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82 malady | |
n.病,疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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83 prudent | |
adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的 | |
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84 steering | |
n.操舵装置 | |
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85 conversing | |
v.交谈,谈话( converse的现在分词 ) | |
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86 fortitude | |
n.坚忍不拔;刚毅 | |
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87 prosecute | |
vt.告发;进行;vi.告发,起诉,作检察官 | |
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88 daunted | |
使(某人)气馁,威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89 expatiating | |
v.详述,细说( expatiate的现在分词 ) | |
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90 enlisted | |
adj.应募入伍的v.(使)入伍, (使)参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 );获得(帮助或支持) | |
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91 converged | |
v.(线条、运动的物体等)会于一点( converge的过去式 );(趋于)相似或相同;人或车辆汇集;聚集 | |
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