Joan went quickly up to her lover, asking him with a look of fear to explain the cause of his distress2.
"I told you, madam," cried the young baron3 excitedly, "you will end by ruining us all, as you will never take any advice from me."
"For God's sake, Bertrand, speak plainly: what has happened? What advice have I neglected?"
"Madam, your noble husband, Andre of Hungary, has just been made King of Jerusalem and Sicily, and acknowledged by the court of Avignon, so henceforth you will be no better than his slave."
"Count of Artois, you are dreaming."
"No, madam, I am not dreaming: I have this fact to prove the truth of my words, that the pope's ambassadors are arrived at Capua with the bull for his coronation, and if they do not enter Castel Nuovo this very evening, the delay is only to give the new king time to make his preparations."
"When I told you before," said the count, with growing fury, "that we ought to use force to make a stand against him, that we ought to break the yoke5 of this infamous6 tyranny and get rid of the man before he had the means of hurting you, you always drew back in childish fear, with a woman's cowardly hesitation7."
Joan turned a tearful look upon her lover.
"God, my God!" she cried, clasping her hands in desperation, "am I to hear for ever this awful cry of death! You too, Bertrand, you too say the word, like Robert of Cabane, like Charles of Duras? Wretched man, why would you raise this bloody9 spectre between us, to check with icy hand our adulterous kisses? Enough of such crimes; if his wretched ambition makes him long to reign10, let him be king: what matters his power to me, if he leaves me with your love?"
"It is not so sure that our love will last much longer."
"What is this, Bertrand? You rejoice in this merciless torture."
"I tell you, madam, that the King of Naples has a black flag ready, and on the day of his coronation it will be carried before him."
"And you believe," said Joan, pale as a corpse11 in its shroud12, "—you believe that this flag is a threat?"
"Ay, and the threat begins to be put in execution."
The queen staggered, and leaned against a table to save herself from falling.
"Tell me all," she cried in a choking voice; "fear not to shock me; see, I am not trembling. O Bertrand, I entreat13 you!"
"The traitors14 have begun with the man you most esteemed15, the wisest counsellor of the crown, the best of magistrates18, the noblest-hearted, most rigidly19 virtuous——"
"Andrea of Isernia!"
"Madam, he is no more."
Joan uttered a cry, as though the noble old man had been slain20 before her eyes: she respected him as a father; then, sinking back, she remained profoundly silent.
"How did they kill him?" she asked at last, fixing her great eyes in terror on the count.
"Yesterday evening, as he left this castle, on the way to his own home, a man suddenly sprang out upon him before the Porta Petruccia: it was one of Andre's favourites, Conrad of Gottis chosen no doubt because he had a grievance21 against the incorruptible magistrate17 on account of some sentence passed against him, and the murder would therefore be put down to motives22 of private revenge. The cowardly wretch8 gave a sign to two or three companions, who surrounded the victim and robbed him of all means of escape. The poor old man looked fixedly23 at his assassin, and asked him what he wanted. 'I want you to lose your life at my hands, as I lost my case at yours!' cried the murderer, and leaving him no time to answer, he ran him through with his sword. Then the rest fell upon the poor man, who did not even try to call for help, and his body was riddled25 with wounds and horribly mutilated, and then left bathed in its blood."
"Terrible!" murmured the queen, covering her face.
"It was only their first effort; the proscription26 lists are already full: Andre must needs have blood to celebrate his accession to the throne of Naples. And do you know, Joan, whose name stands first in the doomed27 list?"
"Whose?" cried the queen, shuddering28 from head to foot.
"Mine," said the count calmly.
"Yours!" cried Joan, drawing herself up to her full height; "are you to be killed next! Oh, be careful, Andre; you have pronounced your own death-sentence. Long have I turned aside the dagger29 pointing to your breast, but you put an end to all my patience. Woe30 to you, Prince of Hungary! the blood which you have spilt shall fall on your own head."
As she spoke31 she had lost her pallor; her lovely face was fired with revenge, her eyes flashed lightning. This child of sixteen was terrible to behold32; she pressed her lover's hand with convulsive tenderness, and clung to him as if she would screen him with her own body.
"Your anger is awakened33 too late," said he gently and sadly; for at this moment Joan seemed so lovely that he could reproach her with nothing. "You do not know that his mother has left him a talisman34 preserving him from sword and poison?"
"He will die," said Joan firmly; the smile that lighted up her face was so unnatural35 that the count was dismayed, and dropped his eyes.
The next day the young Queen of Naples, lovelier, more smiling than ever, sitting carelessly in a graceful36 attitude beside a window which looked out on the magnificent view of the bay, was busy weaving a cord of silk and gold. The sun had run nearly two-thirds of his fiery37 course, and was gradually sinking his rays in the clear blue waters where Posilippo's head is reflected with its green and flowery crown. A warm, balmy breeze that had passed over the orange trees of Sorrento and Amalfi felt deliciously refreshing38 to the inhabitants of the capital, who had succumbed39 to torpor40 in the enervating41 softness of the day. The whole town was waking from a long siesta42, breathing freely after a sleepy interval43; the Molo was covered with a crowd of eager people dressed out in the brightest colours; the many cries of a festival, joyous44 songs, love ditties sounded from all quarters of the vast amphitheatre, which is one of the chief marvels45 of creation; they came to the ears of Joan, and she listened as she bent over her work, absorbed in deep thought. Suddenly, when she seemed most busily occupied, the indefinable feeling of someone near at hand, and the touch of something on her shoulder, made her start: she turned as though waked from a dream by contact with a serpent, and perceived her husband, magnificently dressed, carelessly leaning against the back of her chair. For a long time past the prince had not come to his wife in this familiar fashion, and to the queen the pretence46 of affection and careless behaviour augured47 ill. Andre did not appear to notice the look of hatred48 and terror that had escaped Joan in spite of herself, and assuming the best expression of gentleness as that his straight hard features could contrive49 to put on in such circumstances as these, he smilingly asked—
"Why are you making this pretty cord, dear dutiful wife?"
"To hang you with, my lord," replied the queen, with a smile.
Andre shrugged50 his shoulders, seeing in the threat so incredibly rash nothing more than a pleasantry in rather bad taste. But when he saw that Joan resumed her work, he tried to renew the conversation.
"I admit," he said, in a perfectly51 calm voice, "that my question is quite unnecessary: from your eagerness to finish this handsome piece of work, I ought to suspect that it is destined52 for some fine knight53 of yours whom you propose to send on a dangerous enterprise wearing your colours. If so, my fair queen, I claim to receive my orders from your lips: appoint the time and place for the trial, and I am sure beforehand of carrying off a prize that I shall dispute with all your adorers."
"That is not so certain," said Joan, "if you are as valiant54 in war as in love." And she cast on her husband a look at once seductive and scornful, beneath which the young man blushed up to his eyes.
"I hope," said Andre, repressing his feelings, "I hope soon to give you such proofs of my affection that you will never doubt it again."
"And what makes you fancy that, my lord?"
"I would tell you, if you would listen seriously."
"I am listening."
"Well, it is a dream I had last night that gives me such confidence in the future."
"A dream! You surely ought to explain that."
"I dreamed that there was a grand fete in the town: an immense crowd filled the streets like an overflowing55 torrent56, and the heavens were ringing with their shouts of joy; the gloomy granite57 facades58 were hidden by hangings of silk and festoons of flowers; the churches were decorated as though for some grand ceremony. I was riding side by side with you." Joan made a haughty59 movement: "Forgive me, madam, it was only a dream: I was on your right, riding a fine white horse, magnificently caparisoned, and the chief-justice of the kingdom carried before me a flag unfolded in sign of honour. After riding in triumph through the main thoroughfares of the city, we arrived, to the sound of trumpets60 and clarions, at the royal church of Saint Clara, where your grandfather and my uncle are buried, and there, before the high altar, the pope's ambassador laid your hand in mine and pronounced a long discourse61, and then on our two heads in turn placed the crown of Jerusalem and Sicily; after which the nobles and the people shouted in one voice, 'Long live the King and Queen of Naples!' And I, wishing to perpetuate62 the memory of so glorious a day, proceeded to create knights63 among the most zealous64 in our court."
"And do you not remember the names of the chosen persons whom you judged worthy65 of your royal favours?"
"Assuredly, madam: Bertrand, Count of Artois."
"Enough, my lord; I excuse you from naming the rest: I always supposed you were loyal and generous, but you give me fresh proof of it by showing favour to men whom I most honour and trust. I cannot tell if your wishes are likely soon to be realised, but in any case feel sure of my perpetual gratitude66."
Joan's voice did not betray the slightest emotion; her look had became kind, and the sweetest smile was on her lips. But in her heart Andre's death was from that moment decided67 upon. The prince, too much preoccupied68 with his own projects of vengeance69, and too confident in his all-powerful talisman and his personal valour, had no suspicion that his plans could be anticipated. He conversed70 a long time with his wife in a chatting, friendly way, trying to spy out her secret, and exposing his own by his interrupted phrases and mysterious reserves. When he fancied that every cloud of former resentment71, even the lightest, had disappeared from Joan's brow, he begged her to go with her suite72 on a magnificent hunting expedition that he was organising for the 20th of August, adding that such a kindness on her part would be for him a sure pledge of their reconciliation73 and complete forgetfulness of the past. Joan promised with a charming grace, and the prince retired74 fully75 satisfied with the interview, carrying with him the conviction that he had only to threaten to strike a blow at the queen's favourite to ensure her obedience76, perhaps even her love.
But on the eve of the 20th of August a strange and terrible scene was being enacted77 in the basement storey of one of the lateral78 towers of Castel Nuovo. Charles of Durazzo, who had never ceased to brood secretly over his infernal plans, had been informed by the notary79 whom he had charged to spy upon the conspirators81, that on that particular evening they were about to hold a decisive meeting, and therefore, wrapped in a black cloak, he glided82 into the underground corridor and hid himself behind a pillar, there to await the issue of the conference. After two dreadful hours of suspense83, every second marked out by the beating of his heart, Charles fancied he heard the sound of a door very carefully opened; the feeble ray of a lantern in the vault84 scarcely served to dispel85 the darkness, but a man coming away from the wall approached him walking like a living statue. Charles gave a slight cough, the sign agreed upon. The man put out his light and hid away the dagger he had drawn86 in case of a surprise.
"Is it you, Master Nicholas?" asked the duke in a low voice.
"It is I, my lord."
"What is it?"
"Did you recognise every conspirator80?"
"Every one, though their faces were masked; when they gave their vote for death, I knew them by their voices."
"Could you point out to me who they are?"
"Yes, this very minute; they are going to pass along at the end of this corridor. And see, here is Tommaso Pace walking in front of them to light their way."
Indeed, a tall spectral87 figure, black from head to foot, his face carefully hidden under a velvet88 mask, walked at the end of the corridor, lamp in hand, and stopped at the first step of a staircase which led to the upper floors. The conspirators advanced slowly, two by two, like a procession of ghosts, appeared for one moment in the circle of light made by the torch, and again disappeared into shadow.
"See, there are Charles and Bertrand of Artois," said the notary; "there are the Counts of Terlizzi and Catanzaro; the grand admiral and grand seneschal, Godfrey of Marsan, Count of Squillace, and Robert of Cabane, Count of Eboli; the two women talking in a low voice with the eager gesticulations are Catherine of Tarentum, Empress of Constantinople, and Philippa the Catanese, the queen's governess and chief lady; there is Dona Cancha, chamberwoman and confidante of Joan; and there is the Countess of Morcone."
The notary stopped on beholding90 a shadow alone, its head bowed, with arms hanging loosely, choking back her sobs91 beneath a hood92 of black.
"Who is the woman who seems to drag herself so painfully along in their train?" asked the duke, pressing his companion's arm.
"That woman," said the notary, "is the queen." "Ah, now I see," thought Charles, breathing freely, with the same sort of satisfaction that Satan no doubt feels when a long coveted93 soul falls at length into his power.
"And now, my lord," continued Master Nicholas, when all had returned once more into silence and darkness, "if you have bidden me spy on these conspirators with a view to saving the young prince you are protecting with love and vigilance, you must hurry forward, for to-morrow maybe it will be too late."
"Follow me," cried the duke imperiously; "it is time you should know my real intention, and then carry out my orders with scrupulous94 exactness."
With these words he drew him aside to a place opposite to where the conspirators had just disappeared. The notary mechanically followed through a labyrinth95 of dark corridors and secret staircases, quite at a loss how to account for the sudden change that had come over his master—crossing one of the ante-chambers in the castle, they came upon Andre, who joyfully96 accosted97 them; grasping the hand of his cousin Duras in his affectionate manner, he asked him in a pressing way that would brook98 no refusal, "Will you be of our hunting party to-morrow, duke?"
"Excuse me, my lord," said Charles, bowing down to the ground; "it will be impossible for me to go to-morrow, for my wife is very unwell; but I entreat you to accept the best falcon99 I have."
And here he cast upon the notary a petrifying100 glance.
The morning of the 20th of August was fine and calm—the irony101 of nature contrasting cruelly with the fate of mankind. From break of day masters and valets, pages and knights, princes and courtiers, all were on foot; cries of joy were heard on every side when the queen arrived on a snow-white horse, at the head of the young and brilliant throng102. Joan was perhaps paler than usual, but that might be because she had been obliged to rise very early. Andre, mounted on one of the most fiery of all the steeds he had tamed, galloped103 beside his wife, noble and proud, happy in his own powers, his youth, and the thousand gilded104 hopes that a brilliant future seemed to offer. Never had the court of Naples shown so brave an aspect: every feeling of distrust and hatred seemed entirely105 forgotten; Friar Robert himself, suspicious as he was by nature, when he saw the joyous cavalcade106 go by under his window, looked out with pride, and stroking his beard, laughed at his own seriousness.
Andre's intention was to spend several days hunting between Capua and Aversa, and only to return to Naples when all was in readiness for his coronation. Thus the first day they hunted round about Melito, and went through two or three villages in the land of Labore. Towards evening the court stopped at Aversa, with a view to passing the night there, and since at that period there was no castle in the place worthy of entertaining the queen with her husband and numerous court, the convent of St. Peter's at Majella was converted into a royal residence: this convent had been built by Charles II in the year of our Lord 1309.
While the grand seneschal was giving orders for supper and the preparation of a room for Andre and his wife, the prince, who during the whole day had abandoned himself entirely to his favourite amusement, went up on the terrace to enjoy the evening air, accompanied by the good Isolda, his beloved nurse, who loved him more even than his mother, and would not leave his side for a moment. Never had the prince appeared so animated107 and happy: he was in ecstasies108 over the beauty of the country, the clear air, the scent109 of the trees around; he besieged110 his nurse with a thousand queries111, never waiting for an answer; and they were indeed long in coming, for poor Isolda was gazing upon him with that appearance of fascination112 which makes a mother absent-minded when her child is talking: Andre was eagerly telling her about a terrible boar he had chased that morning across the woods, how it had lain foaming113 at his feet, and Isolda interrupted him to say he had a grain of dust in his eye. Then Andre was full of his plans for the future, and Isolda stroked his fair hair, remarking that he must be feeling very tired. Then, heeding114 nothing but his own joy and excitement, the young prince hurled115 defiance116 at destiny, calling by all his gods on dangers to come forward, so that he might have the chance of quelling117 them, and the poor nurse exclaimed, in a flood of tears, "My child, you love me no longer."
Out of all patience with these constant interruptions, Andre scolded her kindly118 enough, and mocked at her childish fears. Then, paying no attention to a sort of melancholy119 that was coming over him, he bade her tell him old tales of his childhood, and had a long talk about his brother Louis, his absent mother, and tears were in his eyes when he recalled her last farewell. Isolda listened joyfully, and answered all he asked; but no fell presentiment120 shook her heart: the poor woman loved Andre with all the strength of her soul; for him she would have given up her life in this world and in the world to come; yet she was not his mother.
When all was ready, Robert of Cabane came to tell the prince that the queen awaited him; Andre cast one last look at the smiling fields beneath the starry121 heavens, pressed his nurse's hand to his lips and to his heart, and followed the grand seneschal slowly and, it seemed, with some regret. But soon the brilliant lights of the room, the wine that circulated freely, the gay talk, the eager recitals122 of that day's exploits served to disperse123 the cloud of gloom that had for a moment overspread the countenance124 of the prince. The queen alone, leaning on the table with fixed eyes and lips that never moved, sat at this strange feast pale and cold as a baleful ghost summoned from the tomb to disturb the joy of the party. Andre, whose brain began to be affected125 by the draughts126 of wine from Capri and Syracuse, was annoyed at his wife's look, and attributing it to contempt, filled a goblet127 to the brim and presented it to the queen. Joan visibly trembled, her lips moved convulsively; but the conspirators drowned in their noisy talk the involuntary groan128 that escaped her. In the midst of a general uproar129, Robert of Cabane proposed that they should serve generous supplies of the same wine drunk at the royal table to the Hungarian guards who were keeping watch at the approaches to the convent, and this liberality evoked130 frenzied131 applause. The shouting of the soldiers soon gave witness to their gratitude for the unexpected gift, and mingled132 with the hilarious133 toasts of the banqueters. To put the finishing touch to Andre's excitement, there were cries on every side of "Long live the Queen! Long live His Majesty134 the King of Naples!"
The orgy lasted far into the night: the pleasures of the next day were discussed with enthusiasm, and Bertrand of Artois protested in a loud voice that if they were so late now some would not rise early on the morrow. Andre declared that, for his part, an hour or two's rest would be enough to get over his fatigue135, and he eagerly protested that it would be well for others to follow his example. The Count of Terlizzi seemed to express some doubt as to the prince's punctuality. Andre insisted, and challenging all the barons136 present to see who would be up first, he retired with the queen to the room that had been reserved for them, where he very soon fell into a deep and heavy sleep. About two o'clock in the morning, Tommaso Pace, the prince's valet and first usher137 of the royal apartments, knocked at his master's door to rouse him for the chase. At the first knock, all was silence; at the second, Joan, who had not closed her eyes all night, moved as if to rouse her husband and warn him of the threatened danger; but at the third knock the unfortunate young man suddenly awoke, and hearing in the next room sounds of laughter and whispering, fancied that they were making a joke of his laziness, and jumped out of bed bareheaded, in nothing but his shirt, his shoes half on and half off. He opened the door; and at this point we translate literally138 the account of Domenico Gravina, a historian of much esteem16. As soon as the prince appeared, the conspirators all at once fell upon him, to strangle him with their hands; believing he could not die by poison or sword, because of the charmed ring given him by his poor mother. But Andre was so strong and active, that when he perceived the infamous treason he defended himself with more than human strength, and with dreadful cries got free from his murderers, his face all bloody, his fair hair pulled out in handfuls. The unhappy young man tried to gain his own bedroom, so as to get some weapon and valiantly139 resist the assassins; but as he reached the door, Nicholas of Melazzo, putting his dagger like a bolt into the lock, stopped his entrance. The prince, calling aloud the whole time and imploring140 the protection of his friends, returned to the hall; but all the doors were shut, and no one held out a helping141 hand; for the queen was silent, showing no uneasiness about her husband's death.
But the nurse Isolda, terrified by the shouting of her beloved son and lord, leapt from her bed and went to the window, filling the house with dreadful cries. The traitors, alarmed by the mighty142 uproar, although the place was lonely and so far from the centre of the town that nobody could have come to see what the noise was, were on the point of letting their victim go, when Bertrand of Artois, who felt he was more guilty than the others, seized the prince with hellish fury round the waist, and after a desperate struggle got him down; then dragging him by the hair of his head to a balcony which gave upon the garden, and pressing one knee upon his chest, cried out to the others—
"Come here, barons: I have what we want to strangle him with."
And round his neck he passed a long cord of silk and gold, while the wretched man struggled all he could. Bertrand quickly drew up the knot, and the others threw the body over the parapet of the balcony, leaving it hanging between earth and sky until death ensued. When the Count of Terlizzi averted143 his eyes from the horrid144 spectacle, Robert of Cabane cried out imperiously—
"What are you doing there? The cord is long enough for us all to hold: we want not witnesses, we want accomplices145!"
As soon as the last convulsive movements of the dying man had ceased, they let the corpse drop the whole height of the three storeys, and opening the doors of the hall, departed as though nothing had happened.
Isolda, when at last she contrived146 to get a light, rapidly ran to the queen's chamber89, and finding the door shut on the inside, began to call loudly on her Andre. There was no answer, though the queen was in the room. The poor nurse, distracted, trembling, desperate, ran down all the corridors, knocked at all the cells and woke the monks147 one by one, begging them to help her look for the prince. The monks said that they had indeed heard a noise, but thinking it was a quarrel between soldiers drunken perhaps or mutinous148, they had not thought it their business to interfere149. Isolda eagerly, entreated150: the alarm spread through the convent; the monks followed the nurse, who went on before with a torch. She entered the garden, saw something white upon the grass, advanced trembling, gave one piercing cry, and fell backward.
The wretched Andre was lying in his blood, a cord round his neck as though he were a thief, his head crushed in by the height from which he fell. Then two monks went upstairs to the queen's room, and respectfully knocking at the door, asked in sepulchral151 tones—
"Madam, what would you have us do with your husband's corpse?"
And when the queen made no answer, they went down again slowly to the garden, and kneeling one at the head, the other at the foot of the dead man, they began to recite penitential psalms152 in a low voice. When they had spent an hour in prayer, two other monks went up in the same way to Joan's chamber, repeating the same question and getting no answer, whereupon they relieved the first two, and began themselves to pray. Next a third couple went to the door of this inexorable room, and coming away perturbed153 by their want of success, perceived that there was a disturbance154 of people outside the convent, while vengeful cries were heard amongst the indignant crowd. The groups became more and more thronged155, threatening voices were raised, a torrent of invaders156 threatened the royal dwelling157, when the queen's guard appeared, lance in readiness, and a litter closely shut, surrounded by the principal barons of the court, passed through the crowd, which stood stupidly gazing. Joan, wrapped in a black veil, went back to Castel Nuovo, amid her escort; and nobody, say the historians, had the courage to say a word about this terrible deed.
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1
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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corpse
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| n.尸体，死尸 | |
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shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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riddled
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proscription
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| n.禁止，剥夺权利 | |
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doomed
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| 命定的 | |
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shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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30
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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31
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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32
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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33
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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34
talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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35
unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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36
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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37
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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38
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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39
succumbed
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| 不再抵抗（诱惑、疾病、攻击等）( succumb的过去式和过去分词 )； 屈从； 被压垮； 死 | |
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40
torpor
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| n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠 | |
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41
enervating
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| v.使衰弱，使失去活力( enervate的现在分词 ) | |
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42
siesta
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| n.午睡 | |
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43
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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44
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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45
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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47
augured
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| v.预示，预兆，预言( augur的过去式和过去分词 )；成为预兆；占卜 | |
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48
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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49
contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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50
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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51
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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52
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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53
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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54
valiant
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| adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人 | |
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55
overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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56
torrent
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| n.激流，洪流；爆发，(话语等的)连发 | |
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57
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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58
facades
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| n.（房屋的）正面( facade的名词复数 )；假象，外观 | |
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59
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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60
trumpets
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| 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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61
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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62
perpetuate
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| v.使永存，使永记不忘 | |
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63
knights
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| 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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64
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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65
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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66
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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67
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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68
preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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69
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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70
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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71
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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72
suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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73
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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74
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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75
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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76
obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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77
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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78
lateral
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| adj.侧面的，旁边的 | |
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79
notary
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| n.公证人，公证员 | |
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80
conspirator
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| n.阴谋者，谋叛者 | |
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81
conspirators
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| n.共谋者，阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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82
glided
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| 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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83
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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84
vault
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| n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室 | |
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85
dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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86
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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87
spectral
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| adj.幽灵的，鬼魂的 | |
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88
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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89
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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90
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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91
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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92
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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93
coveted
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| adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图 | |
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94
scrupulous
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| adj.审慎的，小心翼翼的，完全的，纯粹的 | |
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95
labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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96
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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97
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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98
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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99
falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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100
petrifying
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| v.吓呆，使麻木( petrify的现在分词 )；使吓呆，使惊呆；僵化 | |
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101
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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102
throng
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| n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集 | |
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103
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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104
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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105
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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106
cavalcade
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| n.车队等的行列 | |
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107
animated
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| adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的 | |
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108
ecstasies
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| 狂喜( ecstasy的名词复数 )； 出神； 入迷； 迷幻药 | |
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109
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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110
besieged
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| 包围，围困，围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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111
queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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112
fascination
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| n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋 | |
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113
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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114
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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115
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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116
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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117
quelling
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| v.（用武力）制止，结束，镇压( quell的现在分词 ) | |
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118
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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119
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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120
presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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121
starry
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| adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的 | |
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122
recitals
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| n.独唱会( recital的名词复数 )；独奏会；小型音乐会、舞蹈表演会等；一系列事件等的详述 | |
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123
disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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124
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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125
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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126
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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127
goblet
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| n.高脚酒杯 | |
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128
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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129
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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130
evoked
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| [医]诱发的 | |
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131
frenzied
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| a.激怒的；疯狂的 | |
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132
mingled
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| 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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133
hilarious
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| adj.充满笑声的，欢闹的；[反]depressed | |
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134
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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135
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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136
barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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137
usher
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| n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员 | |
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138
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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139
valiantly
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| adv.勇敢地，英勇地；雄赳赳 | |
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140
imploring
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| 恳求的，哀求的 | |
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141
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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142
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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143
averted
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| 防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移 | |
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144
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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145
accomplices
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| 从犯，帮凶，同谋( accomplice的名词复数 ) | |
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146
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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147
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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148
mutinous
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| adj.叛变的，反抗的；adv.反抗地，叛变地；n.反抗，叛变 | |
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149
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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150
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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151
sepulchral
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| adj.坟墓的，阴深的 | |
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152
psalms
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| n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的) | |
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153
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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154
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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155
thronged
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| v.成群，挤满( throng的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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156
invaders
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| 入侵者，侵略者，侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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157
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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