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Chapter Eight. As a Little Child.
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 If you put a single straw into an eddying1 stream, other straws and bits of rubbish of all sorts will come and join it, until by and bye it looks like a little island in the midst of the water. And we often see something like this going on in men’s minds. A man drops one idea, which another man takes up and considers, till ideas of his own come to join it, many things seen and heard contribute their help, and at last the single sentence grows into a mountain of action.
 
Avice would have been astonished if any one had told her that she had made an island. But her simple suggestion fell like an odd straw into the stream of Father Thomas’s thoughts, and grew and grew there, until a few days later it led to decided2 action.
 
Father Thomas was by nature a quiet man. His temper was gentle and even; he hated everything like noise and bustle3, far more tumult4 and quarrelling. He was not fond even of conversation, except now and then as a pleasant variety to a quiet life, full of thinking and reading. A man of this sort is generally an innocent man—by which I mean, a man who does no harm to his neighbours: and considering how many men and women spend their lives in doing their neighbours harm of one sort or another, that is a good deal to say of any man. But there is another point to be taken into account, namely, what good does such a man do? Why, no more than a chrysalis. And he is a poor specimen5 of manhood who is content to be of no more use in the world than a chrysalis, and to be as little missed when he goes out of it. This was the point which troubled Father Thomas’s meditations6. It was as if an angel had come down to him, and pointed7 to the old smithy on the green, and said, “What are you doing for those people? God will demand an account of their souls, some day, and from somebody. Are you not your brothers’ keeper?” Hitherto Father Thomas had gone on very comfortably, with a reflection which serves a great many of us to excuse our pride or our laziness—I wish it might never be heard again from human lips—“It is not my place.” It was true, in one sense. The smithy was in Newport parish, and Father Thomas belonged to the Cathedral. He tried to quiet the angel—which was really his own conscience—with the thought that he had no business to intrude8 into somebody else’s parish. But the angel would not be quiet.
 
“Will God take that answer at the Judgment9 Day?” he said. “You know very well that the Vicar of Newport is an idle, careless man, who never troubles himself about the souls of his people: that so long as you observe the proper forms of civility, and ask his leave to visit these people, he will give it you in a minute, and be glad enough to think he is saved the trouble. That is the truth, and you know it.”
 
Now, it is very unpleasant when one’s conscience says in that blunt, downright, cutting way, “You know it:” and Father Thomas found it so. He made a few more excuses, which his conscience blew to the winds before they were well finished: and at last it laid hold of him, as it were, by the shoulders, and said, “Look there!”
 
Father Thomas looked there—at the cross which then hung in every clergyman’s room. There were two lines carved on the wood at the bottom of this—lines which it was then not unusual to put at the bottom of these crosses.
 
“This did I for thee; What dost thou for Me?”
 
“Look there!” cried the Angel Conscience. “Christ bore that heavy cross for you—bore the reviling11 and the agony, the spitting, the scourging12, and the shame; and you won’t face the Vicar of Newport for Him! You can’t walk half a mile, and ask a civil question of a man from whom you expect a civil answer, for love of the Man who came down all the way from Heaven to earth, and endured all the contradiction of sinners for three-and-thirty years, and faced all the malice13 of the devil, for the love of you! Are you ashamed of yourself, Thomas de Vaux, or are you not?”
 
When it reached that point, Father Thomas was painting in a book. Books in those days were often ornamented14 with very beautiful paintings: and the one on which the priest was working, represented Peter denying Christ in the High Priest’s palace. He had just painted one side of Peter’s hair, but the other side was still blank. But when the Angel asked that question, down went the brush.
 
“Lord, pardon Thy servant!” said Father Thomas humbly15. “I am not worthy16 to carry so much as the corner of Thy cross after Thee. But I will take it up, and go forth17. Indeed, I did not know I was such a selfish, lazy, ease-loving man as I am!”
 
Saint Peter had to put up with only half his hair for the rest of that day, for Father Thomas determinately washed and wiped his brush, threw a cloth over his book and painting tools to keep them from the dust, put on his fur cap, and went off to see the Vicar of Newport.
 
When a man braces18 himself up to do something which he does not like for the love of God, sometimes God makes it a great deal easier and less disagreeable than he expected to find it. The Vicar was just coming out of his door as Father Thomas reached it.
 
“A fine day—peace be with thee!” said he. “Whither go you, Brother?”
 
“May I have your leave, Father, to visit one of your parishioners—the smith that dwells about a mile hence, on the Newport road?”
 
“The saints love you! you may visit every man Jack19 of my parishioners, and take my blessing20 with you!” said the Vicar with a hearty21 laugh. “I am not over fond of that same visiting of smiths and tailors and fellows of that sort. I never know what to say to them, save hear confession22, and they never have nought23 to say to me. You are cut from another quality of stuff, I reckon. Go your way, Brother Thomas, and make decent Christians24 of them if you can. There’s a she-bear lives there: I wish you luck with her.”
 
And with a farewell nod, the careless Vicar strode away.
 
“And into such hands as these, men’s souls are given!” thought Father Thomas. “Lord, purify Thy Church! Ah, dear old Bishop25! you might well weep in dying.”
 
He walked on rapidly till he came within sight of the forge. Daniel Greensmith’s ringing blows on the anvil26 grew more and more distinct and at last the words he was singing as he worked came to the priest’s ears:
 
“All things turn unto decay,
Fall, and die, and pass away.
Sinketh tower and droppeth wall,
Cloth shall fray27 and horse shall fall,
Flesh shall die and iron rust28,
Pass and perish all things must.
Well I understand and say,
All shall die, both priest and lay;
And small time, for praise or blame,
When man dieth, lives his fame.”
Note. This is translated from an old French poem, written before the time of the story.
 
Father Thomas stopped beside the anvil, but the smith’s back was turned, so that he did not see him.
 
“A sad song, my friend—if that were all.”
 
“Eh?” said Dan, looking behind him, and then immediately throwing down the hammer, and giving a pull to his forelock. Great respect was paid to priests at that day. “Axe29 your pardon, Father! Didn’t see who it were.”
 
“I came to see thy wife, my son. Shall I go forward?”
 
“Not if you’re o’ my mind. Happen you aren’t.”
 
“Is she not at home?”
 
“Oh, ay, she’s at home!”
 
The smith’s tone might have meant that he could have wished she was somewhere else. Father Thomas waited, till Dan flung down the hammer, and looked up at him.
 
“Had ye e’er a mother?” asked he.
 
“Ay,” replied the priest.
 
“Was she one ’at took th’ andirons to you when you didn’t suit her?”
 
“Truly, no. She was a full good and gentle woman.”
 
“And had ye e’er a sister?”
 
“Ay; three.”
 
“Was they given to rugging your hair when they wasn’t pleased?”
 
“Not at all, my son.”
 
“Ah! you’d best go home, I reckon.”
 
“What meanest thou?” asked Father Thomas, feeling much amused at the very unusual style of Dan’s reception.
 
“Well!” said Dan, passing his fingers through his hair, “I mean, if that’s the way you was fetched up, you don’t know the animal you’ve got to deal with here. There’s five dragons i’ that house o’ mine: and each on ’em’s got teeth and claws, and they knows how to use ’em, they does. If one on ’em wern’t a bit better nor t’others, and did not come and stand by me now and then, I should ne’er ha’ lived to talk to you this even. Nay30, I shouldn’t! Best go home, Father, while you’ve getten a coat on your back, and some hair on your head.”
 
“Is it so bad as that?”
 
“Ah, it is!” was Dan’s short but emphatic31 reply.
 
“But surely, my son, thy wife would never use a man ill that meant her good?”
 
“Think she’ll stop to ask your meanin’?” said Dan, with a contemptuous grunt32. “If she’s not changed sin’ I come fro’ dinner, she’ll be a-top of you before you can say ‘mercy.’ And she’s none a comfortable thing to have a-top of you, I give you fair warning.”
 
“How was she at supper, then?—no better?”
 
“Supper! I durstn’t go in for no supper. I likes hunger better nor a fray. Happen El’nor ’ll steal out to me with a crust after dark. She does, sometimes.”
 
“And how long does it take thy wife to cool down?”
 
Dan rubbed his forehead with his blackened hand.
 
“I was wed33 to her,” said he, “th’ year afore the great frost, if you know when that were—and I’d better have been fruz, a deal. I’ve had it mortal hot ever since. She’s had that time to cool down in, and she’s no cooler nor she were then. Rather, if either, t’other way on, I reckon.”
 
Before Father Thomas could reply, the shrillest scream that had ever met his ears came out of the window of the smithy.
 
“Ankaret!” it said. “Ankaret! An-ka-ret!”
 
“Ha! That’s Her!” whispered Dan, as if he were awed35 by the sound.
 
An answering scream, as shrill34, but scarcely so loud, came from the neighbouring cottage.
 
“Whatever do you want now?” said the second shriek36.
 
“What dost thou yonder, thou slatternly minx?” returned the first. “I’ll mash37 every bone of thee, if thou doesn’t come in this minute!”
 
“Then I sha’n’t!” shrieked38 the second voice. “Two can play at that.”
 
“Who is Ankaret?” asked Father Thomas of the smith.
 
“She’s th’ eldest39 o’ th’ dragons—that’s our Ank’ret,” said Dan in the same half-frightened whisper. “If you mun face Her, you’d best do it while Ank’ret’s next door: both on ’em’s too much for any man. Th’ Angel Gabriel couldn’t match the pair on ’em: leastwise, if he comes down to axe me, I sha’n’t send him forward. And don’t you go and say I sent you, now. For pity’s sake, don’t!”
 
Father Thomas walked off, and knocked at the house door. He was beginning to think that if the former part of his task had been easier than he expected, the latter was going to prove more difficult. The door was opened by a young woman.
 
“Good day, my daughter. Is thy mother within?”
 
“She’s here, Father. Pray you, come in.”
 
The priest stepped inside, and sat down on a bench. For those times, the house was comfortable, and it was very clean. The young woman disappeared, and presently a pair of heavy boots came clattering40 down the stairs, and Father Thomas felt pretty sure that the sweet Filomena herself stood before him.
 
“Now then, what do you want?” quoth she, in a tone which did not sound as if she were delighted to see her visitor.
 
“My daughter, I am a priest,” said Father Thomas gently; “and I am come to see thee for thy good.”
 
“I’ve got eyes!” snapped Filomena. “Can’t I see you’re a priest? What’s the good of such as you? Fat, lazy fellows that lives on the best o’ the land, wrung41 out of the hard earnings42 o’ the poor, and never does a stroke o’ work theirselves, but sits a-twirling o’ their thumbs all day long. That’s what you are—the whole boiling of you! Get you out o’ my house, or I’ll help you!”
 
And Filomena took up a formidable-looking mop which stood in the corner, as if to let the priest clearly understand the sort of help which she proposed to give him. She had tried this style of reception when the Vicar took the liberty of calling on her some months before, with the result that the appalled43 gentleman in question never ventured to renew his visit, and told the anecdote44 with many shakes of the head over “that she-bear up at the smithy.” She understood how to deal with a man of the Vicar’s stamp, and she mistakenly fancied that all priests were of his sort. Sadly too many of them were such lazy, careless, self-indulgent men, who, having just done as much work as served to prevent the Bishop or their consciences (when they kept any) from becoming troublesome, let all the rest go, and thought their duty done. But Father Thomas, as the Vicar had said, was cut from another kind of stuff. Very sensitive to rudeness or unkindness, his feelings were not permitted to override45 his duty of perseverance46: and while he dearly loved peace, he was not ready to buy it at the cost of something more valuable than itself. While he might be slow to see his duty, yet once seen, it would not escape him again.
 
The personal taunts47 which Filomena had launched at him he simply put aside as not worth an answer. They did not apply to him. He was neither fat nor lazy: and if Filomena were so ignorant as to fancy that the clergy10 were paid out of the earnings of the poor, what did it matter, when he knew they were not? He went straight to the root of the thing. His words were gentle enough, but his tone was one of authority.
 
“Daughter, what an unhappy woman thou art!”
 
Filomena’s fingers slowly unclosed from the mop, which fell back into the corner. Father Thomas said no more: he merely kept his eyes upon her. His calm dignity took effect at last. Her angry eyes fell before his unchanged look. She was not accustomed to hear her abuse answered in this manner.
 
“I just am!” she muttered with intense bitterness.
 
“Dost thou wish to be happy?”
 
“That’s none for the like of us. It’s only for rich folks, isn’t that,—folks as has all they wants, and a bit over.”
 
“No man has that,” said Father Thomas, “except the little children who sit at the feet of Jesus Christ. Become thou as a little child, and happiness shall come to seek thee.”
 
“Me a little child!” There was no merriment in the laugh which accompanied the words.
 
“Ay, even thou. For ‘if there be a new creature in Christ, old things pass away; behold48, all things are made new.’ (Note. 3 Corinthians five 17, Vulgate version.) That is the very childhood, my daughter—to be made new. Will thou have it? It may be had for the asking, if it be asked of God by a true heart—that childhood of grace, which is meek49, patient, gentle, loving, obedient, humble50. For it is not thou that canst conquer Satan, but Christ in thee, that shall first conquer thee. Thou in Christ—this is safety: Christ in thee—here is strength. Seek, and thou shalt find. Farewell.”
 
And without giving Filomena time to answer, Father Thomas turned away, and was lost in a moment behind the bushes which separated the cottage from the smithy. She stood for a minute where he left her, as if she had been struck to stone. The whole style of his address was to her something completely new, and so unlike anything she had expected that for once in her life she was at a loss.
 
Filomena took up the corner of her apron51 and wiped her forehead, as if she were settling her brains into their places.
 
“Well, that’s a queer set-out!” said she at last, to nobody, for she was left alone. “Me a baby! Whatever would the fellow be at? I reckon I was one once. Eh, but it would be some queer to get back again! What did he say? ‘Meek, patient, gentle, loving, obedient, humble.’ That’s not me! Old Dan wouldn’t think he’d picked up his own wife, if I were made new o’ that fashion. It didn’t sound so bad, though. Wonder how it ’d be if I tried it! That chap said it would make me happy. I’m none that, neither, nor haven’t been these many years. Eh deary me! to think of me a baby!”
 
While these extremely new ideas were seething52 in Filomena’s mind, Father Thomas reached the smithy.
 
“Glad to see you!” said Dan, laying down his hammer. “You did not ’bide so long!” with a grim smile.
 
“Long enough,” said the priest shortly.
 
“I believe you! If you wasn’t glad to get your back turned, you liked a tussle53 wi’ a dragon better nor most folks. Was she white-hot, or no-but (Only) red? El’nor, she came down to me while you was in there, wi’ a hunch54 o’ bread and cheese, and she said it were gettin’ smoother a bit nor it had been most part o’ th’ day. What said she to you?”
 
“Less than I said to her.”
 
“You dunnot mean she hearkened you?”
 
“Not at first. But in the end, she hearkened me, and made me no answer.”
 
Dan looked his visitor all over from head to foot.
 
“Well!” said he, and shook his head slowly. “Well!” and wiped his face with his apron, “Well!” he exclaimed a third time. “If I’d ha’ knowed! I’d ha’ given forty marks (Note 1.) to see th’ like o’ that. Eh, do ’bide a minute, and let me take th’ measure on you! T’ chap that could strike our Filomena dumb mun ha’ come straight fro’ Heaven, for there isn’t his like o’ earth! Now, Father, do just tell a body, what did you say to her?”
 
“I told her how to be happy.”
 
Dan stared. “She wants no tellin’ that, I’ll go bail55! she’s got every mortal thing her own way.”
 
“That is not the way to be happy,” answered the priest. “Nay, my son, she is a most unhappy woman, and her face shows it. Thou art happier far than she.”
 
Dan dropped the big hammer in sheer astonishment56, and if Father Thomas had not made a rapid retreat, more than his eyes and ears would have told him so.
 
“Me happier nor our Filomena! Me! Father, dunnot be angered wi’ me, but either you’re downright silly, or you’re somewhat more nor other folks.”
 
“I have told thee the truth, my son. Now, wilt57 thou do somewhat to help thy wife to be happy? If she is happy, she will be humble and meek—happy, that is, in the way I mean.”
 
“I’ll do aught as ’ll make our Filomena meek,” replied Dan, with a shake of his grizzled head: “but how that’s going to be shaped beats me, I can tell you. Mun I climb up to th’ sky and stick nails into th’ moon?”
 
“Nay,” said the priest with a smile. “Thou shalt pray God to make her as a little child.”
 
“That’s a corker, that is!” Dan picked up the hammer, and began meditatively58 to fashion a nail. “Our Ank’ret were a babby once,” said he, as if to himself. “She were a bonnie un, too. She were, so! I used to sit o’ th’ bench at th’ door of an even, wi’ her on my knee, a-smilin’ up like—eh, Father, but I’ll tell you what, if them times could come back, it ’d be enough to make a chap think he’d getten into Heaven by mistake.”
 
“I trust, my son, thou wilt some day find thee in Heaven, not by mistake,” said the priest. “But if so, Daniel, thou must have a care to go the right road thither59.”
 
“Which road’s that, Father?”
 
“It is a straight road, my son, and it is a narrow road. And the door to it goes right through the cross whereon Jesus Christ died for thee and me. Daniel, dost thou love the Lord Jesus?”
 
“Well, you see, Father, I’m not much acquaint wi’ Him. He’s a great way up, and I’m down here i’ t’ smithy.”
 
“He will come down here and abide60 with thee, my son, if thou wilt but ask Him. So dear He loveth man, that He will come any whither on earth save into sin, if so be He may have man’s company. ‘Greater than this love hath no man, that he give his life for his friends.’”
 
“Well, that stands to reason,” said Dan. “When man gives his life, he gives all there is of him.”
 
“Thou sayest well. And is it hard to love man that giveth his life to save thine?”
 
“I reckon it ’d be harder to help it, Father.”
 
Father Thomas turned as if to go. “My son,” said he, “wilt thou let the Lord Jesus say to the angels round His Throne,—‘I gave all there was of Me for Daniel Greensmith, and he doth not love Me for it?’”
 
The big smith had never had such an idea presented to him before. His simple, transparent61, child-like nature came up into his eyes, and ran over. Men did not think it in those earlier ages any discredit62 to their manliness63 to let their hearts be seen. Perhaps they were wiser than we are.
 
“Eh, Father, but you never mean it’d be like that?” cried poor Dan. “Somehow, it never come real to me, like as you’ve put it. Do you mean ’at He cares—that it makes any matter to Him up yonder, whether old Dan at t’ smithy loves Him or not? I’m no-but a common smith. There’s hundreds just like me. Does He really care, think you?”
 
“Thou art a man,” said the priest, “and it was for men Christ died. And there is none other of thee, though there were millions like thee. Is a true mother content with any babe in exchange for her own, because there are hundreds of babes in the world? Nay, Daniel Greensmith, it was for thee the Lord Christ shed His blood on the cruel cross, and it is thyself whose love and thanksgivings He will miss, though all the harps64 of all the angels make music around His ear. Shall He miss them any longer, my son?”
 
Once more Dan threw aside the big hammer—this time on the inner side of the smithy.
 
“Father,” said he, “you’ve knocked me clean o’er. I never knowed till now as it were real.”
 
“As a little child!” said Father Thomas to himself, as he went back to Lincoln. “The road into the kingdom will be far smoother for him than her. Yet the good Lord can lead them both there.”
 
The very next visit that Dan paid to Avice and Bertha showed them plainly that a change of some sort had come over him, and as time went on they saw it still more plainly. His heart had opened to the love of Christ like a flower to the sunlight. The moment that he really saw Him, he accepted Him. With how many is it not the case that they do not love Christ because they do not know Him, and they do not know Him because no one of those who do puts Him plainly before them?
 
It was much longer before Father Thomas and Avice saw any fruit of their prayers for Filomena. There was so much more to undo65 in her case than in her husband’s, that the growth was a great deal slower and less apparent. Avice discovered that Dan’s complaints were fewer, but she set it down entirely66 to the change in himself, long before she noticed that Filomena’s voice was less sharp, and her fats of fury less frequent. But at length the day came when Filomena, having been betrayed into a very mild copy of one of her old storms of temper, would suddenly catch herself up and walk determinately out of the back door till she grew cool: and when she came back would lay her hand upon her husband’s shoulder, and say—
 
“Dan, old man, I’m sorry I was bad to thee. Forgive me!”
 
And Dan, at first astounded67 beyond measure, grew to accept this conclusion as a matter of course, and to say—
 
“Let her alone, and she’ll come round.”
 
And then Avice’s eyes were opened.
 
One day, when she was unusually softened68 by the death of Susanna’s baby, Filomena opened her heart to her niece.
 
“Eh, Avice, it’s hard work! Nobody knows how hard, that hasn’t had a temper as mastered ’em. I’ve pretty nigh to bite my tongue through, many a time a day. I wish I’d begun sooner—I do! It’d ha’ come easier a deal then. But I’m trying hard, and I hope our Lord’ll help me. Thou does think He’ll help me, doesn’t thou, Avice? I’m not too bad, am I?”
 
“Father Thomas says, Aunt,” replied Avice, “that God helps all those who want His help: and the worse we are, the more we want of His mercy.”
 
“That’s true!” said Filomena.
 
“And Father Thomas says,” continued Avice, “that we must all go to our Lord just like little children, ready to take what He sees good for us, and telling Him all our needs of body and soul, as a child would tell its mother.”
 
They were walking slowly up Steephill when Avice said this.
 
“Father Thomas has one apt scholar,” said the priest’s unexpected voice behind her. “But it was a Greater than I, my daughter, who told His disciples69 that ‘whosoever did not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, should in no wise enter therein.’”
 
Note 1. A mark was 13 shillings 4 pence, and was the largest piece of money then known.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 eddying 66c0ffa4a2e8509b312eb4799fd0876d     
涡流,涡流的形成
参考例句:
  • The Rhine flowed on, swirling and eddying, at six or seven miles an hour. 莱茵河不断以每小时六、七哩的速度,滔滔滚流,波涛起伏。
2 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
3 bustle esazC     
v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹
参考例句:
  • The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深,喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
  • There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。
4 tumult LKrzm     
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹
参考例句:
  • The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
  • His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。
5 specimen Xvtwm     
n.样本,标本
参考例句:
  • You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
  • This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。
6 meditations f4b300324e129a004479aa8f4c41e44a     
默想( meditation的名词复数 ); 默念; 沉思; 冥想
参考例句:
  • Each sentence seems a quarry of rich meditations. 每一句话似乎都给人以许多冥思默想。
  • I'm sorry to interrupt your meditations. 我很抱歉,打断你思考问题了。
7 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
8 intrude Lakzv     
vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰
参考例句:
  • I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
  • I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。
9 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见
参考例句:
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
10 clergy SnZy2     
n.[总称]牧师,神职人员
参考例句:
  • I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望,我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。
  • All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。
11 reviling 213de76a9f3e8aa84e8febef9ac41d05     
v.辱骂,痛斥( revile的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • A man stood on a wooden box in the park, reviling against civilization. 一个人站在公园的一个木盒上,大肆攻击文明世界。 来自互联网
  • The speaker stood on a table, reviling at the evil doings of the reactionaries. 那位演讲者站在桌上痛斥反动派的罪恶行径。 来自互联网
12 scourging 5bf93af0c4874226c0372834975a75c0     
鞭打( scourge的现在分词 ); 惩罚,压迫
参考例句:
  • I should not deserve such a scourging to the bone as this. 我也不应该受这样痛澈骨髓的鞭打呀。
  • The shroud also contains traces of blood and marks consistent with scourging and crucifixion. 这张裹尸布上有着鲜血的痕迹以及带有苦难与拷问的标记。
13 malice P8LzW     
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋
参考例句:
  • I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
  • There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。
14 ornamented af417c68be20f209790a9366e9da8dbb     
adj.花式字体的v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The desk was ornamented with many carvings. 这桌子装饰有很多雕刻物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She ornamented her dress with lace. 她用花边装饰衣服。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 humbly humbly     
adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地
参考例句:
  • We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
  • "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的,先生,”约翰恭顺地说道。
16 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
参考例句:
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
17 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
18 braces ca4b7fc327bd02465aeaf6e4ce63bfcd     
n.吊带,背带;托架( brace的名词复数 );箍子;括弧;(儿童)牙箍v.支住( brace的第三人称单数 );撑牢;使自己站稳;振作起来
参考例句:
  • The table is shaky because the braces are loose. 这张桌子摇摇晃晃,因为支架全松了。
  • You don't need braces if you're wearing a belt! 要系腰带,就用不着吊带了。
19 jack 53Hxp     
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克
参考例句:
  • I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
  • He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
20 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
21 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
参考例句:
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
22 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白,供认,承认
参考例句:
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。
23 nought gHGx3     
n./adj.无,零
参考例句:
  • We must bring their schemes to nought.我们必须使他们的阴谋彻底破产。
  • One minus one leaves nought.一减一等于零。
24 Christians 28e6e30f94480962cc721493f76ca6c6     
n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
  • His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。
25 bishop AtNzd     
n.主教,(国际象棋)象
参考例句:
  • He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
  • Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。
26 anvil HVxzH     
n.铁钻
参考例句:
  • The blacksmith shaped a horseshoe on his anvil.铁匠在他的铁砧上打出一个马蹄形。
  • The anvil onto which the staples are pressed was not assemble correctly.订书机上的铁砧安装错位。
27 fray NfDzp     
v.争吵;打斗;磨损,磨破;n.吵架;打斗
参考例句:
  • Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢?
  • Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。
28 rust XYIxu     
n.锈;v.生锈;(脑子)衰退
参考例句:
  • She scraped the rust off the kitchen knife.她擦掉了菜刀上的锈。
  • The rain will rust the iron roof.雨水会使铁皮屋顶生锈。
29 axe 2oVyI     
n.斧子;v.用斧头砍,削减
参考例句:
  • Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利,你要当心。
  • The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。
30 nay unjzAQ     
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者
参考例句:
  • He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的,不,应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
  • Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章,不,应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。
31 emphatic 0P1zA     
adj.强调的,着重的;无可置疑的,明显的
参考例句:
  • Their reply was too emphatic for anyone to doubt them.他们的回答很坚决,不容有任何人怀疑。
  • He was emphatic about the importance of being punctual.他强调严守时间的重要性。
32 grunt eeazI     
v.嘟哝;作呼噜声;n.呼噜声,嘟哝
参考例句:
  • He lifted the heavy suitcase with a grunt.他咕噜着把沉重的提箱拎了起来。
  • I ask him what he think,but he just grunt.我问他在想什麽,他只哼了一声。
33 wed MgFwc     
v.娶,嫁,与…结婚
参考例句:
  • The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。
  • The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。
34 shrill EEize     
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫
参考例句:
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
35 awed a0ab9008d911a954b6ce264ddc63f5c8     
adj.充满敬畏的,表示敬畏的v.使敬畏,使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The audience was awed into silence by her stunning performance. 观众席上鸦雀无声,人们对他出色的表演感到惊叹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I was awed by the huge gorilla. 那只大猩猩使我惊惧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 shriek fEgya     
v./n.尖叫,叫喊
参考例句:
  • Suddenly he began to shriek loudly.突然他开始大声尖叫起来。
  • People sometimes shriek because of terror,anger,or pain.人们有时会因为恐惧,气愤或疼痛而尖叫。
37 mash o7Szl     
n.麦芽浆,糊状物,土豆泥;v.把…捣成糊状,挑逗,调情
参考例句:
  • He beat the potato into a mash before eating it.他把马铃薯捣烂后再吃。
  • Whiskey,originating in Scotland,is distilled from a mash of grains.威士忌源于苏格兰,是从一种大麦芽提纯出来的。
38 shrieked dc12d0d25b0f5d980f524cd70c1de8fe     
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
  • Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫,陆子潇尖声叫:“告诉什么? 来自汉英文学 - 围城
39 eldest bqkx6     
adj.最年长的,最年老的
参考例句:
  • The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
  • The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
40 clattering f876829075e287eeb8e4dc1cb4972cc5     
发出咔哒声(clatter的现在分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Typewriters keep clattering away. 打字机在不停地嗒嗒作响。
  • The typewriter was clattering away. 打字机啪嗒啪嗒地响着。
41 wrung b11606a7aab3e4f9eebce4222a9397b1     
绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水)
参考例句:
  • He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
  • He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。
42 earnings rrWxJ     
n.工资收人;利润,利益,所得
参考例句:
  • That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
  • Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。
43 appalled ec524998aec3c30241ea748ac1e5dbba     
v.使惊骇,使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的;丧胆的
参考例句:
  • The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
  • They were appalled by the reports of the nuclear war. 他们被核战争的报道吓坏了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
44 anecdote 7wRzd     
n.轶事,趣闻,短故事
参考例句:
  • He departed from the text to tell an anecdote.他偏离课文讲起了一则轶事。
  • It had never been more than a family anecdote.那不过是个家庭趣谈罢了。
45 override sK4xu     
vt.不顾,不理睬,否决;压倒,优先于
参考例句:
  • The welfare of a child should always override the wishes of its parents.孩子的幸福安康应该永远比父母的愿望来得更重要。
  • I'm applying in advance for the authority to override him.我提前申请当局对他进行否决。
46 perseverance oMaxH     
n.坚持不懈,不屈不挠
参考例句:
  • It may take some perseverance to find the right people.要找到合适的人也许需要有点锲而不舍的精神。
  • Perseverance leads to success.有恒心就能胜利。
47 taunts 479d1f381c532d68e660e720738c03e2     
嘲弄的言语,嘲笑,奚落( taunt的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • He had to endure the racist taunts of the crowd. 他不得不忍受那群人种族歧视的奚落。
  • He had to endure the taunts of his successful rival. 他不得不忍受成功了的对手的讥笑。
48 behold jQKy9     
v.看,注视,看到
参考例句:
  • The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
  • The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。
49 meek x7qz9     
adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的
参考例句:
  • He expects his wife to be meek and submissive.他期望妻子温顺而且听他摆布。
  • The little girl is as meek as a lamb.那个小姑娘像羔羊一般温顺。
50 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低
参考例句:
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
51 apron Lvzzo     
n.围裙;工作裙
参考例句:
  • We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
  • She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。
52 seething e6f773e71251620fed3d8d4245606fcf     
沸腾的,火热的
参考例句:
  • The stadium was a seething cauldron of emotion. 体育场内群情沸腾。
  • The meeting hall was seething at once. 会场上顿时沸腾起来了。
53 tussle DgcyB     
n.&v.扭打,搏斗,争辩
参考例句:
  • They began to tussle with each other for the handgun.他们互相扭打起来,抢夺那支手枪。
  • We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。
54 hunch CdVzZ     
n.预感,直觉
参考例句:
  • I have a hunch that he didn't really want to go.我有这么一种感觉,他并不真正想去。
  • I had a hunch that Susan and I would work well together.我有预感和苏珊共事会很融洽。
55 bail Aupz4     
v.舀(水),保释;n.保证金,保释,保释人
参考例句:
  • One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
  • She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。
56 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
57 wilt oMNz5     
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱
参考例句:
  • Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
  • Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。
58 meditatively 1840c96c2541871bf074763dc24f786a     
adv.冥想地
参考例句:
  • The old man looked meditatively at the darts board. 老头儿沉思不语,看着那投镖板。 来自英汉文学
  • "Well,'said the foreman, scratching his ear meditatively, "we do need a stitcher. “这--"工头沉思地搔了搔耳朵。 "我们确实需要一个缝纫工。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
59 thither cgRz1o     
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的
参考例句:
  • He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
  • He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。
60 abide UfVyk     
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受
参考例句:
  • You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
  • If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部,你就得遵守它的规章。
61 transparent Smhwx     
adj.明显的,无疑的;透明的
参考例句:
  • The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明,可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
  • The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。
62 discredit fu3xX     
vt.使不可置信;n.丧失信义;不信,怀疑
参考例句:
  • Their behaviour has bought discredit on English football.他们的行为败坏了英国足球运动的声誉。
  • They no longer try to discredit the technology itself.他们不再试图怀疑这种技术本身。
63 manliness 8212c0384b8e200519825a99755ad0bc     
刚毅
参考例句:
  • She was really fond of his strength, his wholesome looks, his manliness. 她真喜欢他的坚强,他那健康的容貌,他的男子气概。
  • His confidence, his manliness and bravery, turn his wit into wisdom. 他的自信、男子气概和勇敢将他的风趣变为智慧。
64 harps 43af3ccaaa52a4643b9e0a0261914c63     
abbr.harpsichord 拨弦古钢琴n.竖琴( harp的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • She continually harps on lack of money. 她总唠叨说缺钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He could turn on the harps of the blessed. 他能召来天使的竖琴为他奏乐。 来自辞典例句
65 undo Ok5wj     
vt.解开,松开;取消,撤销
参考例句:
  • His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
  • I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。
66 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
67 astounded 7541fb163e816944b5753491cad6f61a     
v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词);愕然;愕;惊讶
参考例句:
  • His arrogance astounded her. 他的傲慢使她震惊。
  • How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. 你怎么能说出那种话?我感到大为震惊。
68 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰
参考例句:
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
69 disciples e24b5e52634d7118146b7b4e56748cac     
n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 );门徒;耶稣的信徒;(尤指)耶稣十二门徒之一
参考例句:
  • Judas was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. 犹大是耶稣十二门徒之一。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • "The names of the first two disciples were --" “最初的两个门徒的名字是——” 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险


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