As for the ladies of Gilderoy, they reverenced5 Master Aurelius with a loyalty7 that became perhaps less remarkable8 the more one considered the character of the worthy9 charlatan10. Aurelius was an Æsculap in court clothing. He was ignorant, but as no one realised the fact, the soul of Hippocrates would have been wasted in his body. Discretion11 was his crowning virtue12. He was so sage13, so intelligent, so full of a simple understanding for the ways of women, that the frail14 creatures could not love him enough. The confidences granted to a priest were nothing compared to the truths that were unmasked to his tactful ken16. The physician is the priest of the body, a privileged person, suffered to enter the bed-chamber17 before the solemn rites18 of the toilet have been performed. He sees many strange truths, beholds19 fine and wonderful transfigurations, presides over the confessional of the flesh. And Aurelius never whispered of these mysteries; never displayed astonishment20; always discovered extraordinary justification21 for the quaintest22 inconsistencies, the most romantic failings. He carried a sweet and sympathetic air of propriety23 about with him, like a perfume that exhaled24 a most comfortable odour of religion. His salves were delectable25 to a degree, his unguents and cosmetics26 remarkable productions. Dames28 took his potions in lieu of Malmsey, his powders in place of sweetmeats. Never did a more pleasant, a more tactful old hypocrite pander29 to the failings of an unregenerate world.
Aurelius stood in his laboratory one June morning, balancing a money-bag in his chubby31 pink palm. He seemed tickled32 by some subtlety33 of thought, and wonderfully well pleased with his own good-humour. He smiled, locked the money-bag in a drawer that stood in a confidential34 cupboard, and, taking his cap and walking-staff, repaired to the street. Pacing the narrow pavement like a veritable potentate35, pretentious36 as any peacock, yet mightily37 amiable38 from the superb self-satisfaction that roared in him like a furnace, he acknowledged the greetings of passers-by with the elevation39 of a hand, a solemn movement of the head. It was well to seem unutterably serious when under the eyes of the mob. Only educated folk can properly understand levity40 in a sage.
In the Erminois, a stately highway that ran northwards from the cathedral, he halted before a mansion41 whose windows were rich with scutcheons and proud blazonry. Aurelius prospered42 with the rich. The atmosphere of the mean quarters was like a miasma43 to him; he loved sunlight and high places where he might bask44 like a lizard45. He passed by a great gateway46 into the inner court, and was admitted into the house with that ready deference47 that speaks of familiarity and respect.
Aurelius climbed the broad stairway, and sailed like a stately carrack into my lady's chamber. A dame27 in blue and silver greeted him from an oriel. The compounder of cosmetics bowed, disposed his staff and velvet49 cap upon a table, and appropriated the chair the lady had assigned to him.
"Superb weather, madame."
"Too sultry, though I am a warm-souled person."
"True, madame, true, Gilderoy would be fresher if there were no mean folk to stifle50 up the streets like weeds. The alleys51 send up such an unpleasant stench upon the breeze, that it makes the cultured sense revolt from poverty."
The Lady Duessa's lips curled approvingly,
"Poverty, poverty, my dear Aurelius, is like a carcase, fit only for quicklime. If I had the rule of the place, I would make poverty a crime, and cram53 all our human sweepings54 into lazar quarters."
The man of physic nodded for sympathy.
"Exactly so, madame, but one would have to deal with the inevitable55 religious instinct."
"That would be simple enough," she simpered. "I should confine religion to shadows and twinkling tapers56, lights streaming in through enamelled casements57 upon solemn colours bowing before dreamy music; pardons and absolutions bought with a purse of gold. It is sad, Aurelius, but who doubts but that religion makes scavengers of us all? Away with your smug widows, your frouzy burgher saints, your yellow-skinned priest-hunters! I would rather have picturesque58 sin than vulgar piety59."
The man of herbs sighed like an organ pipe.
"Everything can be pardoned before coarseness," he said; "give me a dirty heart before a dirty face, provided the sinner be pretty. I trust that madame was satisfied with my endeavours, that the perfumes were such as she desired, the oil of Arabia pleasant and fragrant60?"
"Magical, my Æsculap. The oil makes the skin like velvet, and the drugs are paradisic and full of languors. Ah, woman, set the tray beside Master Aurelius' chair."
The man's eyes glistened61 over the salver and the cup. He bowed to his hostess, sniffed62, and pursed his lips over the wine.
"Madame knows how to warm the heart."
"Truth to you. Who have you been renovating63 of late? What carcase have you been painting, you useful rogue64?"
"I see your work everywhere. There is the little brown-faced thing who is to marry John of Brissac. Well, she needed art severely66. Now the lady has a complexion67 like apple-blossom."
The old man's eyes twinkled.
"Madame is pleased to jest," he said, "and to think her fancies--realities. Were all ladies as fresh as Madame Duessa, what, think you, would become of my delectable art, my science of beauty? I should be a poor bankrupt old man, ruined by too much comeliness68."
Aurelius always had the wit to say the pleasantest thing possible, and to press the uttermost drop of honey from the comb of flattery. A surly tongue will break a man, a glib69 intelligence ensure him a fortune. Aurelius earned many a fee by a pretty speech, or a tactful suggestion. Then of course he was never hindered by sincerity70.
"Holy Dominic," laughed the lady, "I have proved a good patron to you in many ways."
"And I trust I shall always deserve madame's trust."
"Madame's voice recalls Delphi."
"Ah, the Greeks were poets; they knew how to fit their religion to their pleasures. 'Tis only we, poor fools, who measure sin by a priest's pardon. Give me a torch before an aspergill."
"The chief aim in life, madame," he said, "should be the perfecting of one's own comfort. 'Tis my contention74 that a fat bishop75 is a finer Christian76 than a lean friar. The truism is obvious. Is not my soul the more mellifluous77 and benign78 if its shell is gilded79 and its vest of velvet?"
"Give me a warm bed," she laughed, "and I will pity creation. The world's saints are plump and comely82; the true goddess has a supple83 knee. Am I the worse for being buxom84!"
"Madame," said the sage with great unction, "only beggars denounce gold, and heaven is the dream of diseased souls. The cult52 of pleasure is the seal of health. Discontent is the seed of religion."
The door opened a few inches, and there was the sound of voices in muffled85 debate in the gallery. The Lady Duessa listened, rose from her chair, appeared restless. The man of physic comprehended the situation, and with that tact15 that characterised him, declared that he had patronage86 elsewhere to assuage87. The lady did not detain him, but dismissed him with a smile--a smile that on such a face as hers often took the place of words. So Master Aurelius took his departure.
Five minutes later Sforza, Gonfaloniere of Gilderoy, occupied the vacant chair in the oriel.
There are many ways to fame. By the broad, embattled gate where the Cerberus of War crouches88; by the glistening89 stair of glass where all the beauty of the world gleams as in a thousand mirrors; by the cloaca of diplomacy90 and cunning, that tunnels under truth and honour. Sforza of Gilderoy was a man who never took his finger off a guinea till he had seen ten dropped into the other palm. He was a narrow-faced, long-whiskered rat, ever nibbling91, ever poking92 his keen snout into prospective93 prosperity. He had no real reverence6 for anything under the sun. To speak metaphorically94, he would as soon steal the sacrificial wafer from the altar as the cheese from a burgher's larder95. When he lived in earnest, he lived in moral nebulosity, that is to say, he had no light save his own lantern. Publicly, he appeared a sleek96, dignified97 person, quick with his figures, apt at oratory30, a man who could quote scripture98 by the ell and swear by every saint in the calendar.
Sforza, Gonfaloniere of Gilderoy, sat and faced Dame Duessa over a little table that held wine and a bowl of roses. His large hands rested on the carved arms of the chair. He had a debonair99 smirk100 on his face, a mask of complacency that suffered him to be vigilant101 in a polite and courteous102 fashion.
"Madame has considered my proposition?"
The woman leant back in her chair and worked her full lower lip against her teeth.
"I recognise your infallibility, Gonfaloniere."
"You have a longer nose than most men."
"I take the insinuation as a compliment."
He contemplated104 her awhile in silence.
"How am I to know that you are sincere?" he said.
"Need you disbelieve me?"
"It is my custom to disbelieve in everybody."
"Till they have satisfied you?"
"Exactly."
Duessa looked out of the window, and played with her chatelaine.
"You know women?"
"Nevertheless you are no fool."
"I am no fool."
"And you imagine my protestations are not sincere, even after what I have suffered?"
He smiled at her most cunningly.
"You want proof?"
"I do not like unsigned documents."
"Fanatic107 fools have often made some show of fortitude," she said, "by thrusting a hand into the fire, or the like. See now if I am a liar48 or a coward."
Before he could stay her she drew a small stiletto from her belt, spread her left hand on the table, and then smote108 the steel through the thick of the palm, and held it there without flinching109 as the blood flowed.
"My signature," she said, with her cheeks a shade paler.
"Madame, you have spirit."
"Do you believe in me?"
"I may say so."
"You will include me in your schemes?"
"I will."
"I remember it."
She withdrew the stiletto and wrapped her bleeding hand in her robe.
"To-morrow, madame, you shall go with me to the council."
点击收听单词发音
1 rubicund | |
adj.(脸色)红润的 | |
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2 dome | |
n.圆屋顶,拱顶 | |
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3 sprightly | |
adj.愉快的,活泼的 | |
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4 reverent | |
adj.恭敬的,虔诚的 | |
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5 reverenced | |
v.尊敬,崇敬( reverence的过去式和过去分词 );敬礼 | |
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6 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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7 loyalty | |
n.忠诚,忠心 | |
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8 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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9 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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10 charlatan | |
n.骗子;江湖医生;假内行 | |
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11 discretion | |
n.谨慎;随意处理 | |
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12 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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13 sage | |
n.圣人,哲人;adj.贤明的,明智的 | |
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14 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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15 tact | |
n.机敏,圆滑,得体 | |
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16 ken | |
n.视野,知识领域 | |
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17 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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18 rites | |
仪式,典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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19 beholds | |
v.看,注视( behold的第三人称单数 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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20 astonishment | |
n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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21 justification | |
n.正当的理由;辩解的理由 | |
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22 quaintest | |
adj.古色古香的( quaint的最高级 );少见的,古怪的 | |
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23 propriety | |
n.正当行为;正当;适当 | |
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24 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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25 delectable | |
adj.使人愉快的;美味的 | |
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26 cosmetics | |
n.化妆品 | |
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27 dame | |
n.女士 | |
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28 dames | |
n.(在英国)夫人(一种封号),夫人(爵士妻子的称号)( dame的名词复数 );女人 | |
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29 pander | |
v.迎合;n.拉皮条者,勾引者;帮人做坏事的人 | |
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30 oratory | |
n.演讲术;词藻华丽的言辞 | |
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31 chubby | |
adj.丰满的,圆胖的 | |
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32 tickled | |
(使)发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)愉快,逗乐 | |
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33 subtlety | |
n.微妙,敏锐,精巧;微妙之处,细微的区别 | |
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34 confidential | |
adj.秘(机)密的,表示信任的,担任机密工作的 | |
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35 potentate | |
n.统治者;君主 | |
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36 pretentious | |
adj.自命不凡的,自负的,炫耀的 | |
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37 mightily | |
ad.强烈地;非常地 | |
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38 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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39 elevation | |
n.高度;海拔;高地;上升;提高 | |
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40 levity | |
n.轻率,轻浮,不稳定,多变 | |
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41 mansion | |
n.大厦,大楼;宅第 | |
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42 prospered | |
成功,兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43 miasma | |
n.毒气;不良气氛 | |
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44 bask | |
vt.取暖,晒太阳,沐浴于 | |
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45 lizard | |
n.蜥蜴,壁虎 | |
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46 gateway | |
n.大门口,出入口,途径,方法 | |
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47 deference | |
n.尊重,顺从;敬意 | |
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48 liar | |
n.说谎的人 | |
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49 velvet | |
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
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50 stifle | |
vt.使窒息;闷死;扼杀;抑止,阻止 | |
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51 alleys | |
胡同,小巷( alley的名词复数 ); 小径 | |
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52 cult | |
n.异教,邪教;时尚,狂热的崇拜 | |
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53 cram | |
v.填塞,塞满,临时抱佛脚,为考试而学习 | |
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54 sweepings | |
n.笼统的( sweeping的名词复数 );(在投票等中的)大胜;影响广泛的;包罗万象的 | |
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55 inevitable | |
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的 | |
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56 tapers | |
(长形物体的)逐渐变窄( taper的名词复数 ); 微弱的光; 极细的蜡烛 | |
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57 casements | |
n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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58 picturesque | |
adj.美丽如画的,(语言)生动的,绘声绘色的 | |
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59 piety | |
n.虔诚,虔敬 | |
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60 fragrant | |
adj.芬香的,馥郁的,愉快的 | |
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61 glistened | |
v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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62 sniffed | |
v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说 | |
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63 renovating | |
翻新,修复,整修( renovate的现在分词 ) | |
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64 rogue | |
n.流氓;v.游手好闲 | |
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65 discreet | |
adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的 | |
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66 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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67 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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68 comeliness | |
n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜 | |
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69 glib | |
adj.圆滑的,油嘴滑舌的 | |
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70 sincerity | |
n.真诚,诚意;真实 | |
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71 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
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72 sipped | |
v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73 cogitating | |
v.认真思考,深思熟虑( cogitate的现在分词 ) | |
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74 contention | |
n.争论,争辩,论战;论点,主张 | |
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75 bishop | |
n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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76 Christian | |
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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77 mellifluous | |
adj.(音乐等)柔美流畅的 | |
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78 benign | |
adj.善良的,慈祥的;良性的,无危险的 | |
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79 gilded | |
a.镀金的,富有的 | |
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80 chuckled | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81 flipped | |
轻弹( flip的过去式和过去分词 ); 按(开关); 快速翻转; 急挥 | |
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82 comely | |
adj.漂亮的,合宜的 | |
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83 supple | |
adj.柔软的,易弯的,逢迎的,顺从的,灵活的;vt.使柔软,使柔顺,使顺从;vi.变柔软,变柔顺 | |
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84 buxom | |
adj.(妇女)丰满的,有健康美的 | |
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85 muffled | |
adj.(声音)被隔的;听不太清的;(衣服)裹严的;蒙住的v.压抑,捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 );用厚厚的衣帽包着(自己) | |
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86 patronage | |
n.赞助,支援,援助;光顾,捧场 | |
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87 assuage | |
v.缓和,减轻,镇定 | |
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88 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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89 glistening | |
adj.闪耀的,反光的v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的现在分词 ) | |
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90 diplomacy | |
n.外交;外交手腕,交际手腕 | |
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91 nibbling | |
v.啃,一点一点地咬(吃)( nibble的现在分词 );啃出(洞),一点一点咬出(洞);慢慢减少;小口咬 | |
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92 poking | |
n. 刺,戳,袋 vt. 拨开,刺,戳 vi. 戳,刺,捅,搜索,伸出,行动散慢 | |
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93 prospective | |
adj.预期的,未来的,前瞻性的 | |
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94 metaphorically | |
adv. 用比喻地 | |
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95 larder | |
n.食物贮藏室,食品橱 | |
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96 sleek | |
adj.光滑的,井然有序的;v.使光滑,梳拢 | |
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97 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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98 scripture | |
n.经文,圣书,手稿;Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》,《圣经》中的一段 | |
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99 debonair | |
adj.殷勤的,快乐的 | |
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100 smirk | |
n.得意地笑;v.傻笑;假笑着说 | |
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101 vigilant | |
adj.警觉的,警戒的,警惕的 | |
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102 courteous | |
adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 | |
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103 foresight | |
n.先见之明,深谋远虑 | |
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104 contemplated | |
adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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105 arrogance | |
n.傲慢,自大 | |
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106 strenuous | |
adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的 | |
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107 fanatic | |
n.狂热者,入迷者;adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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108 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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109 flinching | |
v.(因危险和痛苦)退缩,畏惧( flinch的现在分词 ) | |
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110 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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111 initiate | |
vt.开始,创始,发动;启蒙,使入门;引入 | |
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