Engages in Partnership1 with a Female Associate, in Order to Put His Talents in Action.
While he displayed his qualifications in order to entrap2 the heart of his young mistress, he had unwittingly enslaved the affections of her maid. This attendant was also a favourite of the young lady, and, though her senior by two or three good years at least, unquestionably her superior in point of personal beauty; she moreover possessed3 a good stock of cunning and discernment, and was furnished by nature with a very amorous4 complexion5. These circumstances being premised, the reader will not be surprised to find her smitten6 by those uncommon7 qualifications which we have celebrated8 in young Fathom9. She had in good sooth long sighed in secret, under the powerful influence of his charms, and practised upon him all those little arts, by which a woman strives to attract the admiration10, and ensnare the heart of a man she loves; but all his faculties11 were employed upon the plan which he had already projected; that was the goal of his whole attention, to which all his measures tended; and whether or not he perceived the impression he had made upon Teresa, he never gave her the least reason to believe he was conscious of his victory, until he found himself baffled in his design upon the heart of her mistress.— She therefore persevered12 in her distant attempts to allure13 him, with the usual coquetries of dress and address, and, in the sweet hope of profiting by his susceptibility, made shift to suppress her feelings, and keep her passion within bounds, until his supposed danger alarmed her fears, and raised such a tumult14 within her breast, that she could no longer conceal15 her love, but gave a loose to her sorrow in the most immoderate expressions of anguish16 and affliction, and, while his delirium17 lasted, behaved with all the agitation18 of a despairing shepherdess.
Ferdinand was, or pretended to be, the last person in the family who understood the situation of her thoughts; when he perceived her passion, he entered into deliberation with himself, and tasked his reflection and foresight19, in order to discover how best he might convert this conquest to his own advantage. Here, then, that we may neglect no opportunity of doing justice to our hero, it will be proper to observe, that, howsoever unapt his understanding might be to receive and retain the usual culture of the schools, he was naturally a genius self-taught, in point of sagacity and invention.— He dived into the characters of mankind, with a penetration20 peculiar21 to himself, and, had he been admitted as a pupil in any political academy, would have certainly become one of the ablest statesmen in Europe.
Having revolved22 all the probable consequences of such a connexion, he determined23 to prosecute24 an amour with the lady whose affection he had subdued25; because he hoped to interest her as an auxiliary26 in his grand scheme upon Mademoiselle, which he did not as yet think proper to lay aside; for he was not more ambitious in the plan, than indefatigable27 in the prosecution28 of it. He knew it would be impossible to execute his aims upon the Count’s daughter under the eye of Teresa, whose natural discernment would be whetted29 with jealousy30, and who would watch his conduct, and thwart31 his progress with all the vigilance and spite of a slighted maiden32. On the other hand, he did not doubt of being able to bring her over to his interest, by the influence he had already gained, or might afterwards acquire over her passions; in which case, she would effectually espouse33 his cause, and employ her good offices with her mistress in his behalf; besides, he was induced by another motive34, which, though secondary, did not fail in this case to have an effect upon his determination. He looked upon Teresa with the eyes of appetite, which he longed to gratify; for he was not at all dead to the instigations of the flesh, though he had philosophy enough to resist them, when he thought they interfered35 with his interest. Here the case was quite different. His desire happened to be upon the side of his advantage, and therefore, resolving to indulge it, he no sooner found himself in a condition to manage such an adventure, than he began to make gradual advances in point of warmth and particular complacency to the love-sick maid.
He first of all thanked her, in the most grateful terms, for the concern she had manifested at his distemper, and the kind services he had received from her during the course of it; he treated her upon all occasions with unusual affability and regard, assiduously courted her acquaintance and conversation, and contracted an intimacy36 that in a little time produced a declaration of love. Although her heart was too much intendered to hold out against all the forms of assault, far from yielding at discretion37, she stood upon honourable38 terms, with great obstinacy39 of punctilio, and, while she owned he was master of her inclinations40, gave him to understand, with a peremptory41 and resolute42 air, that he should never make a conquest of her virtue43; observing, that, if the passion he professed44 was genuine, he would not scruple45 to give such a proof of it as would at once convince her of his sincerity46; and that he could have no just cause to refuse her that satisfaction, she being his equal in point of birth and situation; for, if he was the companion and favourite of the young Count, she was the friend and confidant of Mademoiselle.
He acknowledged the strength of her argument, and that her condescension47 was greater than his deserts, but objected against the proposal, as infinitely48 prejudicial to the fortunes of them both. He represented the state of dependence49 in which they mutually stood; their utter incapacity to support one another under the consequences of a precipitate51 match, clandestinely52 made, without the consent and concurrence53 of their patrons. He displayed, with great eloquence54, all those gay expectations they had reason to entertain, from that eminent55 degree of favour which they had already secured in the family; and set forth56, in the most alluring57 colours, those enchanting58 scenes of pleasure they might enjoy in each other, without that disagreeable consciousness of a nuptial59 chain, provided she would be his associate in the execution of a plan which he had projected for their reciprocal convenience.
Having thus inflamed60 her love of pleasure and curiosity, he, with great caution, hinted his design upon the young lady’s fortune, and, perceiving her listening with the most greedy attention, and perfectly61 ripe for the conspiracy62, he disclosed his intention at full length, assuring her, with the most solemn protestations of love and attachment63, that, could he once make himself legal possessor of an estate which Mademoiselle inherited by the will of a deceased aunt, his dear Teresa should reap the happy fruits of his affluence64, and wholly engross65 his time and attention.
Such a base declaration our hero would not have ventured to make, had he not implicitly66 believed the damsel was as great a latitudinarian as himself, in point of morals and principle; and been well assured, that, though he should be mistaken in her way of thinking, so far as to be threatened with a detection of his purpose, he would always have it in his power to refute her accusation67 as mere68 calumny69, by the character he had hitherto maintained, and the circumspection70 of his future conduct.
He seldom or never erred71 in his observations on the human heart. Teresa, instead of disapproving72, relished73 the plan in general, with demonstrations74 of singular satisfaction. She at once conceived all the advantageous75 consequences of such a scheme, and perceived in it only one flaw, which, however, she did not think incurable76. This defect was no other than a sufficient bond of union, by which they might be effectually tied down to their mutual50 interest. She foresaw, that, in case Ferdinand should obtain possession of the prize, he might, with great ease, deny their contract, and disavow her claim of participation77. She therefore demanded security, and proposed, as a preliminary of the agreement, that he should privately78 take her to wife, with a view to dispel79 all her apprehensions80 of his inconstancy or deceit, as such a previous engagement would be a check upon his behaviour, and keep him strictly81 to the letter of their contract.
He could not help subscribing82 to the righteousness of this proposal, which, nevertheless, he would have willingly waived83, on the supposition that they could not possibly be joined in the bands of wedlock84 with such secrecy85 as the nature of the case absolutely required. This would have been a difficulty soon removed, had the scene of the transaction been laid in the metropolis86 of England, where passengers are plied87 in the streets by clergymen, who prostitute their characters and consciences for hire, in defiance88 of all decency89 and law; but in the kingdom of Hungary, ecclesiastics90 are more scrupulous91 in the exercise of their function, and the objection was, or supposed to be, altogether insurmountable; so that they were fain to have recourse to an expedient92, with which, after some hesitation93, our she-adventurer was satisfied. They joined hands in the sight of Heaven, which they called to witness, and to judge the sincerity of their vows94, and engaged, in a voluntary oath, to confirm their union by the sanction of the church, whenever a convenient opportunity for so doing should occur.
The scruples95 of Teresa being thus removed, she admitted Ferdinand to the privileges of a husband, which he enjoyed in stolen interviews, and readily undertook to exert her whole power in promoting his suit with her young mistress, because she now considered his interest as inseparably connected with her own. Surely nothing could be more absurd or preposterous96 than the articles of this covenant97, which she insisted upon with such inflexibility98. How could she suppose that her pretended lover would be restrained by an oath, when the very occasion of incurring99 it was an intention to act in violation100 of all laws human and divine? and yet such ridiculous conjuration is commonly the cement of every conspiracy, how dark, how treacherous101, how impious soever it may be: a certain sign that there are some remains102 of religion left in the human mind, even after every moral sentiment hath abandoned it; and that the most execrable ruffian finds means to quiet the suggestions of his conscience, by some reversionary hope of Heaven’s forgiveness.
1 partnership | |
n.合作关系,伙伴关系 | |
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2 entrap | |
v.以网或陷阱捕捉,使陷入圈套 | |
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3 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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4 amorous | |
adj.多情的;有关爱情的 | |
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5 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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6 smitten | |
猛打,重击,打击( smite的过去分词 ) | |
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7 uncommon | |
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的 | |
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8 celebrated | |
adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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9 fathom | |
v.领悟,彻底了解 | |
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10 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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11 faculties | |
n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 | |
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12 persevered | |
v.坚忍,坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13 allure | |
n.诱惑力,魅力;vt.诱惑,引诱,吸引 | |
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14 tumult | |
n.喧哗;激动,混乱;吵闹 | |
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15 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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16 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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17 delirium | |
n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋 | |
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18 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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19 foresight | |
n.先见之明,深谋远虑 | |
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20 penetration | |
n.穿透,穿人,渗透 | |
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21 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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22 revolved | |
v.(使)旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 );细想 | |
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23 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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24 prosecute | |
vt.告发;进行;vi.告发,起诉,作检察官 | |
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25 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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26 auxiliary | |
adj.辅助的,备用的 | |
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27 indefatigable | |
adj.不知疲倦的,不屈不挠的 | |
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28 prosecution | |
n.起诉,告发,检举,执行,经营 | |
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29 whetted | |
v.(在石头上)磨(刀、斧等)( whet的过去式和过去分词 );引起,刺激(食欲、欲望、兴趣等) | |
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30 jealousy | |
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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31 thwart | |
v.阻挠,妨碍,反对;adj.横(断的) | |
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32 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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33 espouse | |
v.支持,赞成,嫁娶 | |
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34 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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35 interfered | |
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉 | |
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36 intimacy | |
n.熟悉,亲密,密切关系,亲昵的言行 | |
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37 discretion | |
n.谨慎;随意处理 | |
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38 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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39 obstinacy | |
n.顽固;(病痛等)难治 | |
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40 inclinations | |
倾向( inclination的名词复数 ); 倾斜; 爱好; 斜坡 | |
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41 peremptory | |
adj.紧急的,专横的,断然的 | |
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42 resolute | |
adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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43 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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44 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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45 scruple | |
n./v.顾忌,迟疑 | |
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46 sincerity | |
n.真诚,诚意;真实 | |
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47 condescension | |
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人) | |
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48 infinitely | |
adv.无限地,无穷地 | |
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49 dependence | |
n.依靠,依赖;信任,信赖;隶属 | |
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50 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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51 precipitate | |
adj.突如其来的;vt.使突然发生;n.沉淀物 | |
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52 clandestinely | |
adv.秘密地,暗中地 | |
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53 concurrence | |
n.同意;并发 | |
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54 eloquence | |
n.雄辩;口才,修辞 | |
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55 eminent | |
adj.显赫的,杰出的,有名的,优良的 | |
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56 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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57 alluring | |
adj.吸引人的,迷人的 | |
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58 enchanting | |
a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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59 nuptial | |
adj.婚姻的,婚礼的 | |
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60 inflamed | |
adj.发炎的,红肿的v.(使)变红,发怒,过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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62 conspiracy | |
n.阴谋,密谋,共谋 | |
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63 attachment | |
n.附属物,附件;依恋;依附 | |
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64 affluence | |
n.充裕,富足 | |
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65 engross | |
v.使全神贯注 | |
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66 implicitly | |
adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地 | |
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67 accusation | |
n.控告,指责,谴责 | |
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68 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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69 calumny | |
n.诽谤,污蔑,中伤 | |
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70 circumspection | |
n.细心,慎重 | |
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71 erred | |
犯错误,做错事( err的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72 disapproving | |
adj.不满的,反对的v.不赞成( disapprove的现在分词 ) | |
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73 relished | |
v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 );从…获得乐趣;渴望 | |
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74 demonstrations | |
证明( demonstration的名词复数 ); 表明; 表达; 游行示威 | |
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75 advantageous | |
adj.有利的;有帮助的 | |
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76 incurable | |
adj.不能医治的,不能矫正的,无救的;n.不治的病人,无救的人 | |
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77 participation | |
n.参与,参加,分享 | |
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78 privately | |
adv.以私人的身份,悄悄地,私下地 | |
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79 dispel | |
vt.驱走,驱散,消除 | |
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80 apprehensions | |
疑惧 | |
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81 strictly | |
adv.严厉地,严格地;严密地 | |
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82 subscribing | |
v.捐助( subscribe的现在分词 );签署,题词;订阅;同意 | |
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83 waived | |
v.宣布放弃( waive的过去式和过去分词 );搁置;推迟;放弃(权利、要求等) | |
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84 wedlock | |
n.婚姻,已婚状态 | |
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85 secrecy | |
n.秘密,保密,隐蔽 | |
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86 metropolis | |
n.首府;大城市 | |
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87 plied | |
v.使用(工具)( ply的过去式和过去分词 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意 | |
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88 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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89 decency | |
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重 | |
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90 ecclesiastics | |
n.神职者,教会,牧师( ecclesiastic的名词复数 ) | |
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91 scrupulous | |
adj.审慎的,小心翼翼的,完全的,纯粹的 | |
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92 expedient | |
adj.有用的,有利的;n.紧急的办法,权宜之计 | |
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93 hesitation | |
n.犹豫,踌躇 | |
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94 vows | |
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿 | |
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95 scruples | |
n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 );顾虑,顾忌v.感到于心不安,有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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96 preposterous | |
adj.荒谬的,可笑的 | |
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97 covenant | |
n.盟约,契约;v.订盟约 | |
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98 inflexibility | |
n.不屈性,顽固,不变性;不可弯曲;非挠性;刚性 | |
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99 incurring | |
遭受,招致,引起( incur的现在分词 ) | |
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100 violation | |
n.违反(行为),违背(行为),侵犯 | |
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101 treacherous | |
adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的 | |
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102 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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