I shall pass lightly over the events of several succeeding months. The summer passed away, with its intense heat and its fierce simooms. Then came heavier dews by night, and temperature gradually decreased by day. The harvest was ended, but few of the inhabitants of Jerusalem had ventured to observe Pentecostal solemnities. The time for the Feast of Tabernacles arrived, but none dared raise leafy booths of palm and willow--to spend therein the week of rejoicing, according to the custom of happier years.
Early in the summer Antiochus Epiphanes had quitted Judaea for Persia, to quell1 an insurrection which his cupidity2 had provoked in the latter country. The absence of the tyrant3 had somewhat mitigated4 the fierceness of the persecution5 against such Hebrews as sought to obey the law of Moses; but still no one dared openly to practise Jewish rites6 in Jerusalem, and the image of Jupiter Olympus still profaned7 the temple on Mount Zion.
Judas Maccabeus, in the meantime, still maintained a bold front in Southern Judaea and the tract8 of country called Idumea; the power of his name was felt from the rich pasture-lands surrounding Hebron as far as the fair plains of Beersheba on the south-west--or on the south-east the desolate9 valley of salt. Wherever the Asmonean's influence extended, fields were sown or their harvests gathered in peace; the husbandman followed his team, and the shepherd folded his flocks; mothers rejoiced over the infants whom they could now present to the Lord without fear.
But again the portentous10 war-cloud was rolling up from the direction of Antioch. Lycias, the regent of the western provinces, by the command of Antiochus had gathered around him a very large army, a force yet more formidable than that which had been led by Nicanor, and Syria was again collecting her hordes11 to crush by overwhelming numbers Judas and his patriot12 band.
And how had the last half-year sped with Zarah? Very slowly and very heavily, as time usually passes with those who mourn. And deeply did Zarah mourn for Hadassah--her more than mother, her counsellor, her guide--the being round whom maiden13's affections so closely had twined that she had felt that she could hardly sustain existence deprived of Hadassah. And much Zarah wept for her father--though in remembering him a deep spring of joy mingled14 with her sorrow. A thousand times did Zarah repeat to herself his words of blessing--a thousand times fervently15 thank God that she and her parent had met. The words of Lysimachus had lightened her heart of what would otherwise have painfully pressed upon it. Those words had told her that Pollux was a doomed16 man; that apostasy17 on her part could not have saved his life; that had he not fallen by the Syrian's dagger18, he would have been but reserved for the headsman's axe19. And had Pollux perished thus, there would have been none of that gleam of hope which, at least in Zarah's eyes, now rested upon his grave.
Zarah never left the precincts of her secluded20 dwelling21, except to visit her parents' grave--where she went as often as she dared venture forth22, accompanied by the faithful Anna. No feet but their own ever crossed the threshold of their home. Zarah's simple wants were always supplied. Anna disposed in Jerusalem of the flax which her young mistress spun23, as soon as Zarah had regained24 sufficient strength to resume her humble25 labours. During the period of the maiden's severe illness, Anna had secretly disposed of the precious rolls of Scripture26 from which Hadassah had made her copies, and had obtained for them such a price as enabled her for many weeks to procure27 every comfort and even luxury required by the sufferer. The copies themselves, traced by the dear hand now mouldering28 into dust, Zarah counted as her most precious possession; her most soothing29 occupation was to read them, pray over them, commit to memory their contents.
During all this long period of time, Zarah never saw Lycidas, but she had an instinctive30 persuasion31 that he was not far away--that, like an unseen good angel, he was protecting her still. The name of the Athenian was never forgotten in Zarah's prayers. She felt that she owed a debt of gratitude32 to one who had struck down her father's murderer, who had paid the last honours to his remains33 and those of Hadassah, and to whose care she believed that she owed her own freedom and life. If there was something more than gratitude in the maiden's feelings towards the Greek, it was a sentiment so refined and purified by grief that it cast no dimness over the mirror of conscience.
But Zarah knew that her life could not always flow on thus. It was a most unusual thing in her land for a maiden thus to dwell alone, without any apparent protection save that of a single handmaid. It was a violation34 of all the customs of her people, an unseemly thing which could only be justified35 by necessity. The daughter of Abner was also in constant peril36 of having her retreat discovered by those who had searched for herself and her father in vain, but who might at any day or any hour find and seize her as a condemned37 criminal, and either put her to death, or send her as a captive to Antiochus Epiphanes.
Often, very often had Zarah turned over the subject of her peculiar38 position in her mind, and considered whether she ought not to leave the precincts of Jerusalem, and secretly depart for Bethsura. There the orphan39 could claim the hospitality of her aged40 relative Rachel, should she be living yet, or the protection of the Asmonean brothers, who, being her next of kin41, were, according to Jewish customs, the maiden's natural guardians42. But Zarah shrank from taking this difficult step. Very formidable to her was the idea of undertaking43 a journey even of but twenty miles' length, through a country where she would be liable to meet enemies at every step of the way. Zarah had no means of travelling save on foot, unless she disposed of some of the few jewels which she had inherited from her parents; and this she was not only unwilling44 to do, but she feared to do it lest, through the sale of these gems45 in Jerusalem, she should be tracked to her place of retreat. Anna was faithful as a servant, but could never be leaned upon as an adviser--she would obey, but she could not counsel; and her young mistress, timid and gentle, with no one to guide and protect her, felt her strength and courage alike insufficient46 for an adventurous47 journey from Jerusalem to Bethsura.
The possible necessity which might arise of her having to place herself under the protection of Maccabeus, should Rachel be no longer living at Bethsura, greatly increased Zarah's reluctance48 to leave her present abode49. The maiden remembered too well what Hadassah had disclosed of a proposed union between herself and Judas, not to feel that it would be peculiarly painful to have to throw herself upon the kindness of her brave kinsman50. Zarah could not, as she thought, tell him why the idea of such a union was hateful to her soul--why she was averse51 to fulfilling the wishes of Mattathias and Hadassah. While Maccabeus often experienced an almost irrepressible yearning52 once more to look upon Zarah, whom he believed to be still with Hadassah, of whose death he never had heard, Zarah shrank with emotions of fear from meeting the Hebrew chieftain.
Tender affection also made the orphan girl cling to her parents' grave and the home of her youth. Dear associations were linked with almost every object on which her eyes rested. Those to whom the present is a thorny53 waste, and the future a prospect54 darkened by gloomy mists, are wont55 to dwell more than others on the green spots which memory yet can survey in the past. It is natural to youth to look forward. Zarah, as regarded this world, dared only look back. It was well for her that she could do so with so little of remorse56 or regret.
"Not to have known a treasure's worth
Till time hath stolen away the slighted boon57,
Is cause of half the misery58 we feel,
And makes this world the wilderness59 it is."
When winter was drawing near, when the bursting cotton-pods had been gathered, and the vintage season was over, when the leaves were beginning to fall fast, and the cold grew sharp after sunset, circumstances occurred which compelled a change in Zarah's quiet routine of existence. She could no longer be left to indulge her lonely sorrow; the current of life was about to take a sudden turn which must of necessity bring her amongst new scenes, and expose her to fresh trials.
收听单词发音 |
1
quell
|
|
| v.压制，平息，减轻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
cupidity
|
|
| n.贪心，贪财 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
tyrant
|
|
| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
mitigated
|
|
| v.减轻，缓和( mitigate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
persecution
|
|
| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
rites
|
|
| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
profaned
|
|
| v.不敬( profane的过去式和过去分词 )；亵渎，玷污 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
tract
|
|
| n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
desolate
|
|
| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
portentous
|
|
| adj.不祥的，可怕的，装腔作势的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
hordes
|
|
| n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
patriot
|
|
| n.爱国者，爱国主义者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
maiden
|
|
| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
mingled
|
|
| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
fervently
|
|
| adv.热烈地，热情地，强烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
apostasy
|
|
| n.背教，脱党 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
dagger
|
|
| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
axe
|
|
| n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
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) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
spun
|
|
| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
humble
|
|
| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
scripture
|
|
| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
procure
|
|
| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
mouldering
|
|
| v.腐朽( moulder的现在分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
soothing
|
|
| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
instinctive
|
|
| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
persuasion
|
|
| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
violation
|
|
| n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
justified
|
|
| a.正当的，有理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
condemned
|
|
| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
orphan
|
|
| n.孤儿；adj.无父母的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
aged
|
|
| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
kin
|
|
| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
guardians
|
|
| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
undertaking
|
|
| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
gems
|
|
| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
insufficient
|
|
| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
adventurous
|
|
| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
reluctance
|
|
| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
abode
|
|
| n.住处，住所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
kinsman
|
|
| n.男亲属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
averse
|
|
| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
yearning
|
|
| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
thorny
|
|
| adj.多刺的，棘手的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
prospect
|
|
| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
wont
|
|
| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
boon
|
|
| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
misery
|
|
| n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
wilderness
|
|
| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |