Their First Attempt; with a Digression which Some Readers May Think Impertinent.
Be this as it will, our lovers, though real voluptuaries, amidst the first transports of their enjoyment1 did not neglect the great political aim of their conjunction. Teresa’s bedchamber, to which our hero constantly repaired at midnight, was the scene of their deliberations, and there it was determined2 that the damsel, in order to avoid suspicion, should feign3 herself irritated at the indifference4 of Ferdinand, her passion for whom was by this time no secret in the family; and that, with a view to countenance5 this affectation, he should upon all occasions treat her with an air of loftiness and disdain6.
So screened from all imputation7 of fraud, she was furnished by him with artful instructions how to sound the inclinations8 of her young mistress, how to recommend his person and qualifications by the sure methods of contradiction, comparisons, revilings, and reproach; how to watch the paroxysms of her disposition9, inflame10 her passions, and improve, for his advantage, those moments of frailty11 from which no woman is exempted12. In short, this consummate13 politician taught his agent to poison the young lady’s mind with insidious14 conversation, tending to inspire her with the love of guilty pleasure, to debauch15 her sentiments, and confound her ideas of dignity and virtue16. After all, the task is not difficult to lead the unpractised heart astray, by dint17 of those opportunities her seducer18 possessed19. The seeds of insinuation seasonably sown upon the warm luxuriant soil of youth, could hardly fail of shooting up into such intemperate20 desires as he wanted to produce, especially when cultured and cherished in her unguarded hours, by that stimulating21 discourse22 which familiarity admits, and the looser passions, ingrafted in every breast, are apt to relish23 and excuse.
Fathom24 had previously25 reconnoitred the ground, and discovered some marks of inflammability in Mademoiselle’s constitution; her beauty was not such as to engage her in those gaieties of amusement which could flatter her vanity and dissipate her ideas; and she was of an age when the little loves and young desires take possession of the fancy; he therefore concluded, that she had the more leisure to indulge these enticing26 images of pleasure that youth never fails to create, particularly in those who, like her, were addicted27 to solitude28 and study.
Teresa, full fraught29 with the wily injunctions of her confederate, took the field, and opened the campaign with such remarkable30 sourness in her aspect when Ferdinand appeared, that her young lady could not help taking notice of her affected31 chagrin32, and asked the reason of such apparent alteration33 in her way of thinking. Prepared for this question, the other replied, in a manner calculated for giving Mademoiselle to understand, that, whatever impressions Ferdinand might have formerly34 made on her heart, they were now altogether effaced35 by the pride and insolence36 with which he had received her advances; and that her breast now glowed with all the revenge of a slighted lover.
To evince the sincerity37 of this declaration, she bitterly inveighed38 against him, and even affected to depreciate39 those talents, in which she knew his chief merit to consist; hoping, by these means, to interest Mademoiselle’s candour in his defence. So far the train succeeded. That young lady’s love for truth was offended at the calumnies40 that were vented41 against Ferdinand in his absence. She chid42 her woman for the rancour of her remarks, and undertook to refute the articles of his dispraise. Teresa supported her own assertions with great obstinacy43, and a dispute ensued, in which her mistress was heated into some extravagant44 commendations of our adventurer.
His supposed enemy did not fail to make a report of her success, and to magnify every advantage they had gained; believing, in good earnest, that her lady’s warmth was the effect of a real passion for the fortunate Mr. Fathom. But he himself viewed the adventure in a different light, and rightly imputed45 the violence of Mademoiselle’s behaviour to the contradiction she had sustained from her maid, or to the fire of her natural generosity46 glowing in behalf of innocence47 traduced48. Nevertheless, he was perfectly49 well pleased with the nature of the contest; because, in the course of such debates, he foresaw that he should become habitually50 her hero, and that, in time, she would actually believe those exaggerations of his merit, which she herself had feigned51, for the honour of her own arguments.
This presage52, founded upon that principle of self-respect, without which no individual exists, may certainly be justified53 by manifold occurrences in life. We ourselves have known a very pregnant example, which we shall relate, for the emolument54 of the reader. A certain needy55 author having found means to present a manuscript to one of those sons of fortune who are dignified56 with the appellation57 of patrons, instead of reaping that applause and advantage with which he had regaled his fancy, had the mortification58 to find his performance treated with infinite irreverence59 and contempt, and, in high dudgeon and disappointment, appealed to the judgment60 of another critic, who, he knew, had no veneration61 for the first.
This common consolation62, to which all baffled authors have recourse, was productive of very happy consequences to our bard63; for, though the opinions of both judges concerning the piece were altogether the same, the latter, either out of compassion64 to the appellant, or desire of rendering65 his rival ridiculous in the eye of taste, undertook to repair the misfortune, and in this manner executed the plan. In a meeting of literati, to which both these wits belonged, he who had espoused66 the poet’s cause, having previously desired another member to bring his composition on the carpet, no sooner heard it mentioned, than he began to censure67 it with flagrant marks of scorn, and, with an ironical68 air, looking at its first condemner, observed, that he must be furiously infected with the rage of patronising, who could take such a deplorable performance into his protection. The sarcasm69 took effect.
The person against whom it was levelled, taking umbrage70 at his presumption71, assumed an aspect of disdain, and replied with great animosity, that nothing was more easily supported than the character of a Zoilus, because no production was altogether free from blemishes72; and any man might pronounce against any piece by the lump, without interesting his own discernment; but to perceive the beauties of a work, it was requisite73 to have learning, judgment, and taste; and therefore he did not wonder that the gentleman had overlooked a great many in the composition which he so contemptuously decried74. A rejoinder succeeded this reply, and produced a long train of altercation75, in which the gentleman, who had formerly treated the book with such disrespect, now professed76 himself its passionate77 admirer, and held forth78 in praise of it with great warmth and elocution.
Not contented79 with having exhibited this instance of regard, he next morning sent a message to the owner, importing, that he had but superficially glanced over the manuscript, and desiring the favour of perusing80 it a second time. Being indulged in this request, he recommended it in terms of rapture81 to all his friends and dependants82, and, by dint of unwearied solicitation83, procured84 a very ample subscription85 for the author.
But, to resume the thread of our story. Teresa’s practices were not confined to simple defamation86. Her reproaches were contrived87 so as to imply some intelligence in favour of the person she reviled88. In exemplifying his pertness and arrogance89, she repeated his witty90 repartee91; on pretence92 of blaming his ferocity, she recounted proofs of his spirit and prowess; and, in explaining the source of his vanity, gave her mistress to understand, that a certain young lady of fashion was said to be enamoured of his person. Nor did this well-instructed understrapper omit those other parts of her cue which the principal judged necessary for the furtherance of his scheme. Her conversation became less guarded, and took a freer turn than usual; she seized all opportunities of introducing little amorous93 stories, the greatest part of which were invented for the purposes of warming her passions, and lowering the price of chastity in her esteem94; for she represented all the young lady’s contemporaries in point of age and situation, as so many sensualists, who, without scruple95, indulged themselves in the stolen pleasures of youth.
Meanwhile, Ferdinand seconded these endeavours with his whole industry and address. He redoubled, if possible, his deference96 and respect, whetting97 his assiduity to the keenest edge of attention; and, in short, regulated his dress, conversation, and deportment, according to the fancy, turn, and prevailing98 humour of his young mistress. He, moreover, attempted to profit by her curiosity, which he knew to be truly feminine; and having culled99 from the library of his patron certain dangerous books, calculated to debauch the minds of young people, left them occasionally upon the table in his apartment, after having directed Teresa to pick them up, as if by accident, in his absence, and carry them off for the entertainment of Mademoiselle; nay100, this crafty101 projector102 found means to furnish his associate with some mischievous103 preparations, which were mingled104 in her chocolate, tea, or coffee, as provocations105 to warm her constitution; yet all these machinations, ingenious as they were, failed, not only in fulfilling their aim, but even in shaking the foundations of her virtue or pride, which stood their assaults unmoved, like a strong tower built upon a rock, impregnable to all the tempestuous106 blasts of heaven.
Not but that the conspirators107 were more than once mistaken in the effects of their artifices108, and disposed to applaud themselves on the progress they had made. When at any time she expressed a desire to examine those performances which were laid before her as snares109 to entrap110 her chastity, they attributed that, which was no other than curiosity, to a looseness of sentiment; and when she discovered no aversion to hear those anecdotes111 concerning the frailty of her neighbours, they imputed to abatement112 of chastity that satisfaction which was the result of self-congratulation on her own superior virtue.
So far did the treacherous113 accomplice114 of Fathom presume upon these misconstructions, that she at length divested115 her tongue of all restraint, and behaved in such a manner, that the young lady, confounded and incensed116 at her indecency and impudence117, rebuked118 her with great severity, and commanded her to reform her discourse, on pain of being dismissed with disgrace from her service.
1 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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2 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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3 feign | |
vt.假装,佯作 | |
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4 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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5 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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6 disdain | |
n.鄙视,轻视;v.轻视,鄙视,不屑 | |
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7 imputation | |
n.归罪,责难 | |
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8 inclinations | |
倾向( inclination的名词复数 ); 倾斜; 爱好; 斜坡 | |
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9 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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10 inflame | |
v.使燃烧;使极度激动;使发炎 | |
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11 frailty | |
n.脆弱;意志薄弱 | |
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12 exempted | |
使免除[豁免]( exempt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13 consummate | |
adj.完美的;v.成婚;使完美 [反]baffle | |
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14 insidious | |
adj.阴险的,隐匿的,暗中为害的,(疾病)不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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15 debauch | |
v.使堕落,放纵 | |
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16 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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17 dint | |
n.由于,靠;凹坑 | |
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18 seducer | |
n.诱惑者,骗子,玩弄女性的人 | |
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19 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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20 intemperate | |
adj.无节制的,放纵的 | |
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21 stimulating | |
adj.有启发性的,能激发人思考的 | |
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22 discourse | |
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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23 relish | |
n.滋味,享受,爱好,调味品;vt.加调味料,享受,品味;vi.有滋味 | |
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24 fathom | |
v.领悟,彻底了解 | |
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25 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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26 enticing | |
adj.迷人的;诱人的 | |
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27 addicted | |
adj.沉溺于....的,对...上瘾的 | |
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28 solitude | |
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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29 fraught | |
adj.充满…的,伴有(危险等)的;忧虑的 | |
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30 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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31 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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32 chagrin | |
n.懊恼;气愤;委屈 | |
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33 alteration | |
n.变更,改变;蚀变 | |
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34 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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35 effaced | |
v.擦掉( efface的过去式和过去分词 );抹去;超越;使黯然失色 | |
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36 insolence | |
n.傲慢;无礼;厚颜;傲慢的态度 | |
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37 sincerity | |
n.真诚,诚意;真实 | |
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38 inveighed | |
v.猛烈抨击,痛骂,谩骂( inveigh的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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39 depreciate | |
v.降价,贬值,折旧 | |
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40 calumnies | |
n.诬蔑,诽谤,中伤(的话)( calumny的名词复数 ) | |
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41 vented | |
表达,发泄(感情,尤指愤怒)( vent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42 chid | |
v.责骂,责备( chide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43 obstinacy | |
n.顽固;(病痛等)难治 | |
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44 extravagant | |
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的 | |
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45 imputed | |
v.把(错误等)归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46 generosity | |
n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 | |
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47 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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48 traduced | |
v.诋毁( traduce的过去式和过去分词 );诽谤;违反;背叛 | |
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49 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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50 habitually | |
ad.习惯地,通常地 | |
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51 feigned | |
a.假装的,不真诚的 | |
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52 presage | |
n.预感,不祥感;v.预示 | |
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53 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
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54 emolument | |
n.报酬,薪水 | |
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55 needy | |
adj.贫穷的,贫困的,生活艰苦的 | |
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56 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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57 appellation | |
n.名称,称呼 | |
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58 mortification | |
n.耻辱,屈辱 | |
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59 irreverence | |
n.不尊敬 | |
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60 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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61 veneration | |
n.尊敬,崇拜 | |
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62 consolation | |
n.安慰,慰问 | |
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63 bard | |
n.吟游诗人 | |
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64 compassion | |
n.同情,怜悯 | |
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65 rendering | |
n.表现,描写 | |
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66 espoused | |
v.(决定)支持,拥护(目标、主张等)( espouse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67 censure | |
v./n.责备;非难;责难 | |
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68 ironical | |
adj.讽刺的,冷嘲的 | |
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69 sarcasm | |
n.讥讽,讽刺,嘲弄,反话 (adj.sarcastic) | |
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70 umbrage | |
n.不快;树荫 | |
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71 presumption | |
n.推测,可能性,冒昧,放肆,[法律]推定 | |
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72 blemishes | |
n.(身体的)瘢点( blemish的名词复数 );伤疤;瑕疵;污点 | |
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73 requisite | |
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品 | |
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74 decried | |
v.公开反对,谴责( decry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75 altercation | |
n.争吵,争论 | |
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76 professed | |
公开声称的,伪称的,已立誓信教的 | |
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77 passionate | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 | |
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78 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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79 contented | |
adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 | |
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80 perusing | |
v.读(某篇文字)( peruse的现在分词 );(尤指)细阅;审阅;匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览(某篇文字) | |
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81 rapture | |
n.狂喜;全神贯注;着迷;v.使狂喜 | |
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82 dependants | |
受赡养者,受扶养的家属( dependant的名词复数 ) | |
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83 solicitation | |
n.诱惑;揽货;恳切地要求;游说 | |
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84 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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85 subscription | |
n.预订,预订费,亲笔签名,调配法,下标(处方) | |
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86 defamation | |
n.诽谤;中伤 | |
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87 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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88 reviled | |
v.辱骂,痛斥( revile的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89 arrogance | |
n.傲慢,自大 | |
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90 witty | |
adj.机智的,风趣的 | |
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91 repartee | |
n.机敏的应答 | |
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92 pretence | |
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰 | |
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93 amorous | |
adj.多情的;有关爱情的 | |
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94 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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95 scruple | |
n./v.顾忌,迟疑 | |
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96 deference | |
n.尊重,顺从;敬意 | |
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97 whetting | |
v.(在石头上)磨(刀、斧等)( whet的现在分词 );引起,刺激(食欲、欲望、兴趣等) | |
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98 prevailing | |
adj.盛行的;占优势的;主要的 | |
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99 culled | |
v.挑选,剔除( cull的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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100 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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101 crafty | |
adj.狡猾的,诡诈的 | |
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102 projector | |
n.投影机,放映机,幻灯机 | |
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103 mischievous | |
adj.调皮的,恶作剧的,有害的,伤人的 | |
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104 mingled | |
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] | |
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105 provocations | |
n.挑衅( provocation的名词复数 );激怒;刺激;愤怒的原因 | |
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106 tempestuous | |
adj.狂暴的 | |
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107 conspirators | |
n.共谋者,阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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108 artifices | |
n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 );诡计;巧妙办法;虚伪行为 | |
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109 snares | |
n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 );圈套;诱人遭受失败(丢脸、损失等)的东西;诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉,诱陷,陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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110 entrap | |
v.以网或陷阱捕捉,使陷入圈套 | |
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111 anecdotes | |
n.掌故,趣闻,轶事( anecdote的名词复数 ) | |
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112 abatement | |
n.减(免)税,打折扣,冲销 | |
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113 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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114 accomplice | |
n.从犯,帮凶,同谋 | |
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115 divested | |
v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 );脱去(衣服);2。从…取去…;1。(给某人)脱衣服 | |
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116 incensed | |
盛怒的 | |
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117 impudence | |
n.厚颜无耻;冒失;无礼 | |
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118 rebuked | |
责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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