The Lady Duessa was not a woman who could trail tamely in anterooms. A restless temper chafed8 her pride that evening, and kept her footing the polished floor like a love-lorn nun9 treading a cloister10. The casements11 were open to the garden, and the multitudinous sounds of the city flooded in--the thunder of the tumbrils in the narrow streets, the distant blare of trumpets12 from the castle, the clangour of the cathedral bells. A solitary13 figure companioned the Lady Duessa in the anteroom, cloaked and masked as was the dame14 herself. It was Balthasar the Dominican, who followed her now in secular15 habit, having forsworn his black mantle16 and taken refuge in her service. From time to time the two spoke17 together in whispering undertones; more than once their lips touched.
The Lady Duessa turned and stood by a casement with her large white hands on the sill. She appeared to grow more restive18 as the minutes passed, as though the antique clock on the mantle clicked its tongue at her each gibing19 second.
"Peter kept Paul before the gate of heaven," quoth he, with a curl of the lip. "Sforza is a meddler22 in many matters, a god-busied Mercury. As for me, I am content."
Their hands touched, and intertwined with a quick straining of the fingers.
Balthasar sniggered.
"See, the sky burns," he said; "yon garden is packed with colour. We could play a love chase amid those dark hedges of yew24."
"My mouth, man."
She pouted26 out her full red lips to his; suffered his arms to possess her; they kissed often, and were out of breath. A door creaked. The two started asunder27 in the shadows with an impatient stare into each other's eyes.
Sforza the Gonfaloniere stood on the threshold, clad plainly in a suit of black velvet28, with a sword buckled29 at his side. He bowed over Duessa's hand, kissed her finger tips, excusing himself the while for the delay. He was very suave30, very facile, as was his wont31. The Lady Duessa took his excuses with good grace, remembering their compact, and the common purpose of their ambitions.
"Gonfaloniere, we wait our initiation32."
"Very good, madame."
"Remember; Lord Flavian's head, that is to be my guerdon."
"Madame, we will remember it. And this gentleman?"
"Is the friend of whom I spoke."
"A most loyal friend, methinks?"
"True."
"You are ready to risk everything?"
"Expect no blood and thunder ceremonial," he said to them; "we are grim folk, but very simple. Your presence will incriminate you both. Be convinced of that."
He led them by a little closet into the state-room of the palace, a rich chamber1 lit by many tapers37, its doorway38 held by a guard of armed men. Statues in the antique gleamed in the alcoves39. The panelling shone with gem-brilliant colouring. Armoires and carved cabinets stood against the walls. The ceiling was of purple, with the signs of the Zodiac in gold thereon.
In the centre of the room, before a slightly raised dais, stood a round table inlaid with diverse-coloured stones. Scrolls42, quills44, and inkhorns covered it. Some twoscore men were gathered round the table, staring with masked faces at a map spread before them--a map showing all the provinces of the south, with towns and castles marked in vermilion ink thereon. A big man in a red cloak stood conning45 the parchment, pointing out with a long forefinger46 certain marches to the masked folk about him.
"Have the patience to listen for an hour," he said, turning to join the men about the table.
A silver bell tinkled48, and a priest came forward to patter a few prayers in Latin. At the end thereof, the masked Samson in the red cloak stood forward on the dais with uplifted fist. Instant silence held throughout the room. The man in red began to speak in deep, full-throated tones that seemed to vibrate from his sonorous49 chest.
His theme was the revolt, his arguments, the grim bleak50 facts that bulked large in the brain of a leader of men. He dealt with realism, with iron detail, and the strong suggestions of success. Revolt, in the flesh, bubbled like lava51 at a crater's brim, seething52 to overflow53 and scorch54 the land. It was plain that the speaker had great schemes, and a will of adamant55. His ardour ran down like a cataract56, smiting57 into foam58 the duller courage of the multitude.
When he had ended his heroic challenge to the world, he took by the hand a girl who stood unmasked at his side. She was clad all in white with a cross of gold over her bosom59, and her face shone nigh as pallid60 as her mantle. The men around the table craned forward to get the better view of her. Nor was it her temporal beauty alone that set the fanatical chins straining towards her figure. There was a radiance as of other worlds upon her forehead, a glamour61 of sanctity as though some sacred lamp shed a divine lustre62 through all her flesh.
At the moment that the man in the red mask had drawn63 the girl forward beside him on the dais, Balthasar, with a stifled64 cry, had plucked the Lady Duessa by the sleeve. She had started, and stared in the friar's face as he spoke to her in a whisper, a scintillant65 malice66 gathering67 in her eyes. Balthasar held her close to him by the wrist. They were observed of none save by Fulviac, whose care it was to watch all men.
As Balthasar muttered to her, Duessa's frame seemed to straighten, to dilate68, to stiffen69. She did not glance at the friar, but sat staring at the girl in white upon the dais. The Madonna of the chapel70 of Avalon had risen before her as by magic; her dispossessor stood before her in the flesh. Balthasar's tongue bore witness to the truth. In the packed passion of a moment, Duessa remembered her shame, her dishonour71, her hunger for revenge.
The girl upon the dais had been speaking to the men assembled round her with the simple calm of one whose soul is assured of faith. For all her fierce distraction72 each word had fallen into Duessa's brain like pebbles73 into a well. A mocking, riotous74 scorn chuckled75 and leapt in her like the laughter of some lewd76 faun. She heard not the zealous77 mutterings that eddied78 through the room. Her eyes were fixed on the man in the red cloak, as he bent79 to kiss the girl's slim hand.
She saw Fulviac turn and point to a roll of parchment on the table.
"We swim, sirs, or sink together," were his words; "there can be no traitors80 to the cause. In three days we hoist81 our banner. In three days Gilderoy shall rise. Sign, gentlemen, sign, in the name of God and of our Lady."
The leaders of Gilderoy crowded about the table where Prosper82 the Preacher waited with quill43 and testament83, Sforza standing84 with drawn sword beside him. Fulviac had headed those who took the oath, and had drawn back from the press on to the dais. Meanwhile Duessa, with Balthasar muttering discretions in her ear, had skirted the black knot of conspirators85 and come close upon Fulviac. While Sforza and the rest were intent upon the scroll41, she plucked the man in red by the sleeve, and spoke to him in an undertone.
Fulviac stared, but drew aside from the group none the less and followed her. She had moved to an oriel and sat down on the cushioned seat, her black robe sweeping86 the crimson87 cloth. Fulviac stood and faced her, thus closing her escape from the oriel. Midway between them and the table, Balthasar stood biting his nails in sullen vexation, ignorant of where the woman's headstrong passions might be bearing them.
Duessa soon had Fulviac at the tongue's point.
"You are the first man in this assemblage?" she had asked him.
"Madame, that is so."
"I have a truth to make known."
"Unmask to me."
She hesitated, then obeyed him.
"Possibly I am known to you," she said.
Fulviac stood back a step, and looked at her as a man might look at an old love. A knot of wrinkles showed on his forehead.
"Duessa of the Black Hair."
"Ah, in the old days."
"What would you now, madame?"
"Let me see your face."
"No."
"You hold me at a disadvantage."
"That is well. Tell me this tale of yours."
His voice was cold as a frost, and there was an inclement88 look about him that should have warned the woman had she been less blinded by her own malice. She had lost her cunning in her fuming89 passion, and denounced when she should have suggested, blurted90 the whole when a hint would have sufficed her.
"I was the Lord Flavian of Gambrevault's wife," she said.
"That man!"
"That devil!"
Fulviac drew a deep breath.
"Well?" he said.
"The fellow has divorced me; I will tell you why. You are the man they call Fulviac. It was you who took the Lord Flavian in an ambuscade, to kill him, for the sake of Yeoland of Cambremont, who stands yonder. The whole tale is mine. It was that girl who let the Lord Flavian escape out of your hands. A fine fool she is making of you, my friend. A saint, forsooth! Flavian of Avalon might sing you a strange song."
Duessa took breath. She had prophesied91 passion, a volcanic92 outburst. Fulviac leant against the wainscotting with folded arms, his masked face impenetrable, and calm as stone. He stirred never a muscle. Duessa had ventured forth93 into the deeps.
The man thrust a question at her suddenly.
"You can prove the truth of this?"
Duessa pointed him to Fra Balthasar.
"Wait."
"Ah!"
"Does Sforza know of this?"
"None know it, save I and yonder priest."
"Then I uncover to you."
He jerked his mask away, and stood half stooping towards her with a peculiar95 lustre in his eyes. Duessa stared at him as at one risen from the dead. Her face blanched96 and stiffened97 into a bleak, gaping98 terror, and she could not speak.
"Your tale dies with you."
He smote99 her suddenly in the bosom with his poniard, smote her so heavily that the blow dragged her to her knees. She screamed like a trapped hare, pressed her hands over her bosom, blood oozing100 over them. A last malevolence101 leapt into her eyes; she panted and strove to speak.
"Listen, sirs, hear me----"
Fulviac, standing over her like a Titan, smote her again to silence, and for ever. With arms thrust upwards102, she fell forward along the floor, her white face hidden by her hood103. A red ringlet curled away over the polished oak. Fulviac had sprung away with jaw104 clenched105, his face as stone. He drew his sword, plucked Balthasar by the throat, hurled106 him back against the wainscotting.
"A spy, poniard him."
The great room rushed into uproar107; the guards came running from the door. Fulviac had passed his sword through Balthasar's body. The friar rolled upon the floor, yelping108, and clutching at the swords that stabbed him. It was soon over; not a moan, not a whimper. Sforza, white as a corpse109, gripped Fulviac by the shoulder.
"Know you whom you have killed?"
"Well enough, Gonfaloniere."
"What means it?"
"That I am a brave man."
Sforza quailed110 from him and ran to the oriel, where several men had lifted the woman in their arms. Her lustrous111 hair fell down from under her hood; her hands, stained with her own blood, trailed limply on the floor. She was a pathetic figure with her pale, fair face and drooping112 lids. The men murmured as they held her, like some poor bird, still warm and plastic, with the life but half flown from her body.
Fulviac stood and looked down into her face. His sword still smoked with Balthasar's blood.
"Sirs," he said, and his strong voice shook, "hear me, I will tell you the truth. Once I loved that woman, but she was evil, evil to the core. To-night she came bringing discord113 and treachery amongst us. I have done murder before God for the sake of the cause. Cover her face; it was ever too fair to look upon. Heaven rest her soul!"
点击收听单词发音
1 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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2 chaos | |
n.混乱,无秩序 | |
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3 spires | |
n.(教堂的) 塔尖,尖顶( spire的名词复数 ) | |
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4 casement | |
n.竖铰链窗;窗扉 | |
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5 cypresses | |
n.柏属植物,柏树( cypress的名词复数 ) | |
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6 myriad | |
adj.无数的;n.无数,极大数量 | |
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7 sullen | |
adj.愠怒的,闷闷不乐的,(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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8 chafed | |
v.擦热(尤指皮肤)( chafe的过去式 );擦痛;发怒;惹怒 | |
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9 nun | |
n.修女,尼姑 | |
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10 cloister | |
n.修道院;v.隐退,使与世隔绝 | |
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11 casements | |
n.窗扉( casement的名词复数 ) | |
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12 trumpets | |
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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13 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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14 dame | |
n.女士 | |
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15 secular | |
n.牧师,凡人;adj.世俗的,现世的,不朽的 | |
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16 mantle | |
n.斗篷,覆罩之物,罩子;v.罩住,覆盖,脸红 | |
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17 spoke | |
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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18 restive | |
adj.不安宁的,不安静的 | |
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19 gibing | |
adj.讥刺的,嘲弄的v.嘲笑,嘲弄( gibe的现在分词 ) | |
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20 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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21 debonair | |
adj.殷勤的,快乐的 | |
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22 meddler | |
n.爱管闲事的人,干涉者 | |
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23 marrow | |
n.骨髓;精华;活力 | |
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24 yew | |
n.紫杉属树木 | |
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25 amethysts | |
n.紫蓝色宝石( amethyst的名词复数 );紫晶;紫水晶;紫色 | |
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26 pouted | |
v.撅(嘴)( pout的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27 asunder | |
adj.分离的,化为碎片 | |
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28 velvet | |
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 | |
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29 buckled | |
a. 有带扣的 | |
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30 suave | |
adj.温和的;柔和的;文雅的 | |
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31 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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32 initiation | |
n.开始 | |
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33 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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34 ironical | |
adj.讽刺的,冷嘲的 | |
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35 tenor | |
n.男高音(歌手),次中音(乐器),要旨,大意 | |
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36 reassured | |
adj.使消除疑虑的;使放心的v.再保证,恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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37 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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38 doorway | |
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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39 alcoves | |
n.凹室( alcove的名词复数 );(花园)凉亭;僻静处;壁龛 | |
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40 alcove | |
n.凹室 | |
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41 scroll | |
n.卷轴,纸卷;(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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42 scrolls | |
n.(常用于录写正式文件的)纸卷( scroll的名词复数 );卷轴;涡卷形(装饰);卷形花纹v.(电脑屏幕上)从上到下移动(资料等),卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 );(似卷轴般)卷起;(像展开卷轴般地)将文字显示于屏幕 | |
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43 quill | |
n.羽毛管;v.给(织物或衣服)作皱褶 | |
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44 quills | |
n.(刺猬或豪猪的)刺( quill的名词复数 );羽毛管;翮;纡管 | |
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45 conning | |
v.诈骗,哄骗( con的现在分词 );指挥操舵( conn的现在分词 ) | |
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46 forefinger | |
n.食指 | |
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47 pointed | |
adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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48 tinkled | |
(使)发出丁当声,(使)发铃铃声( tinkle的过去式和过去分词 ); 叮当响着发出,铃铃响着报出 | |
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49 sonorous | |
adj.响亮的,回响的;adv.圆润低沉地;感人地;n.感人,堂皇 | |
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50 bleak | |
adj.(天气)阴冷的;凄凉的;暗淡的 | |
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51 lava | |
n.熔岩,火山岩 | |
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52 seething | |
沸腾的,火热的 | |
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53 overflow | |
v.(使)外溢,(使)溢出;溢出,流出,漫出 | |
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54 scorch | |
v.烧焦,烤焦;高速疾驶;n.烧焦处,焦痕 | |
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55 adamant | |
adj.坚硬的,固执的 | |
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56 cataract | |
n.大瀑布,奔流,洪水,白内障 | |
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57 smiting | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的现在分词 ) | |
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58 foam | |
v./n.泡沫,起泡沫 | |
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59 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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60 pallid | |
adj.苍白的,呆板的 | |
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61 glamour | |
n.魔力,魅力;vt.迷住 | |
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62 lustre | |
n.光亮,光泽;荣誉 | |
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63 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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64 stifled | |
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵 | |
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65 scintillant | |
adj.产生火花的,闪烁(耀)的 | |
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66 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
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67 gathering | |
n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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68 dilate | |
vt.使膨胀,使扩大 | |
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69 stiffen | |
v.(使)硬,(使)变挺,(使)变僵硬 | |
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70 chapel | |
n.小教堂,殡仪馆 | |
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71 dishonour | |
n./vt.拒付(支票、汇票、票据等);vt.凌辱,使丢脸;n.不名誉,耻辱,不光彩 | |
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72 distraction | |
n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐 | |
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73 pebbles | |
[复数]鹅卵石; 沙砾; 卵石,小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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74 riotous | |
adj.骚乱的;狂欢的 | |
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75 chuckled | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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76 lewd | |
adj.淫荡的 | |
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77 zealous | |
adj.狂热的,热心的 | |
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78 eddied | |
起漩涡,旋转( eddy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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80 traitors | |
卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 ); 叛徒; 背叛者; 背信弃义的人 | |
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81 hoist | |
n.升高,起重机,推动;v.升起,升高,举起 | |
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82 prosper | |
v.成功,兴隆,昌盛;使成功,使昌隆,繁荣 | |
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83 testament | |
n.遗嘱;证明 | |
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84 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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85 conspirators | |
n.共谋者,阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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86 sweeping | |
adj.范围广大的,一扫无遗的 | |
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87 crimson | |
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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88 inclement | |
adj.严酷的,严厉的,恶劣的 | |
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89 fuming | |
愤怒( fume的现在分词 ); 大怒; 发怒; 冒烟 | |
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90 blurted | |
v.突然说出,脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91 prophesied | |
v.预告,预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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92 volcanic | |
adj.火山的;象火山的;由火山引起的 | |
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93 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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94 beckon | |
v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意,召唤 | |
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95 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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96 blanched | |
v.使变白( blanch的过去式 );使(植物)不见阳光而变白;酸洗(金属)使有光泽;用沸水烫(杏仁等)以便去皮 | |
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97 stiffened | |
加强的 | |
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98 gaping | |
adj.口的;张口的;敞口的;多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 );张开,张大 | |
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99 smote | |
v.猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
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100 oozing | |
v.(浓液等)慢慢地冒出,渗出( ooze的现在分词 );使(液体)缓缓流出;(浓液)渗出,慢慢流出 | |
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101 malevolence | |
n.恶意,狠毒 | |
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102 upwards | |
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 | |
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103 hood | |
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖 | |
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104 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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105 clenched | |
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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106 hurled | |
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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107 uproar | |
n.骚动,喧嚣,鼎沸 | |
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108 yelping | |
v.发出短而尖的叫声( yelp的现在分词 ) | |
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109 corpse | |
n.尸体,死尸 | |
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110 quailed | |
害怕,发抖,畏缩( quail的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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111 lustrous | |
adj.有光泽的;光辉的 | |
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112 drooping | |
adj. 下垂的,无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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113 discord | |
n.不和,意见不合,争论,(音乐)不和谐 | |
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