Renaldo’s Distress1 Deepens, and Fathom2’s Plot Thickens.
Such aggravated3 misfortune could not fail to affect his temper and deportment. The continual efforts he made to conceal5 his vexation produced a manifest distraction6 in his behaviour and discourse7. He began to be seized with horror at the sight of poor Monimia, whom he therefore shunned8 as much as the circumstances of their correspondence would allow; and every evening he went forth9 alone to some solitary10 place, where he could, unperceived, give a loose to the transports of his sorrow, and in silence meditate11 some means to lighten the burden of his woe12. His heart was sometimes so savaged13 with despair, which represented mankind as his inveterate14 enemies, that he entertained thoughts of denouncing war against the whole community, and supplying his own wants with the spoils he should win. At other times he was tempted15 with the desire of putting an end to his miseries16 and life together. Yet these were but the transitory suggestions of temporary madness, that soon yielded to the dictates17 of reason. From the execution of the first he was restrained by his own notions of honour and morality; and, from using the other expedient18, he was deterred19 by his love for Monimia, together with the motives20 of philosophy and religion.
While in this manner he secretly nursed the worm of grief that preyed21 upon his vitals, the alteration22 in his countenance23 and conduct did not escape the eyes of that discerning young lady. She was alarmed at the change, yet afraid to inquire into the source of it; for, being ignorant of his distress, she could impute24 it to no cause in which her happiness was not deeply interested. She had observed his strained complaisance25 and extraordinary emotion. She had detected him in repeated attempts to avoid her company, and taken notice of his regular excursions in the dark. These were alarming symptoms to a lover of her delicacy26 and pride. She strove in vain to put the most favourable27 construction on what she saw; and, finally, imputed28 the effects of his despondence to the alienation29 of his heart. Made miserable30 beyond expression by these suspicions, she imparted them to Fathom, who, by this time, was in full possession of her confidence and esteem31, and implored32 his advice touching33 her conduct in such a nice conjuncture.
This artful politician, who rejoiced at the effect of her penetration34, no sooner heard himself questioned on the subject, than he gave tokens of surprise and confusion, signifying his concern to find she had discovered what, for the honour of his friend, he wished had never come to light. His behaviour on this occasion confirmed her fatal conjecture35; and she conjured36 him, in the most pathetic manner, to tell her if he thought Renaldo’s heart had contracted any new engagement. At this question, he started with signs of extreme agitation37, and stifling38 an artificial sigh, “Sure, madam,” said he, “you cannot doubt the Count’s constancy — I am confident — he is certainly — I protest, madam, I am so shocked.”
Here he made a full pause, as if the conflict between his integrity and his friendship would not allow him to proceed, and summoned the moisture into either eye —“Then are my doubts removed,” cried the afflicted39 Monimia; “I see your candour in the midst of your attachment40 to Renaldo; and will no longer torment41 you with impertinent interrogations and vain complaints.” With these words, a flood of tears gushed42 from her enchanting43 eyes, and she instantly withdrew into her own apartment, where she indulged her sorrow to excess. Nor was her grief unanimated with resentment44. She was by birth, nature, and education inspired with that dignity of pride which ennobles the human heart; and this, by the circumstance of her present dependence45, was rendered extremely jealous and susceptible46; insomuch that she could not brook47 the least shadow of indifference48, much less an injury of such a nature, from the man whom she had honoured with her affections, and for whom she had disobliged and deserted49 her family and friends.
Though her love was so unalterably fixed50 on this unhappy youth, that, without the continuation of reciprocal regard, her life would have become an unsupportable burden, even amidst all the splendour of affluence51 and pomp; and although she foresaw, that, when his protection should cease, she must be left a wretched orphan53 in a foreign land, exposed to all the miseries of want; yet, such was the loftiness of her displeasure, that she disdained54 to complain, or even demand an explanation from the supposed author of her wrongs.
While she continued undetermined in her purpose, and fluctuating on this sea of torture, Fathom, believing that now was the season for working upon her passions, while they were all in commotion55, became, if possible, more assiduous than ever about the fair mourner, modelled his features into a melancholy56 cast, pretended to share her distress with the most emphatic57 sympathy, and endeavoured to keep her resentment glowing by cunning insinuations, which, though apparently58 designed to apologise for his friend, served only to aggravate4 the guilt59 of his perfidy60 and dishonour61. This pretext62 of friendly concern is the most effectual vehicle for the conveyance63 of malice64 and slander65; and a man’s reputation is never so mortally stabbed, as when the assassin begins with the preamble66 of, “For my own part, I can safely say that no man upon earth has a greater regard for him than I have; and it is with the utmost anguish67 and concern that I see him misbehave in such a manner.” Then he proceeds to mangle68 his character, and the good-natured hearers, concluding he is even blacker than he is represented, on the supposition that the most atrocious circumstances are softened69 or suppressed by the tenderness or friendship of the accuser, exclaim, “Good lack! what a wretch52 he must be, when his best friends will no longer attempt to defend him!” Nay70, sometimes these well-wishers undertake his defence, and treacherously71 betray the cause they have espoused72, by omitting the reasons that may be urged in his vindication73.
Both these methods were practised by the wily Ferdinand, according to the predominant passion of Monimia. When her indignation prevailed, he expatiated74 upon his love and sincere regard for Renaldo, which, he said, had grown up from the cradle, to such a degree of fervour, that he would willingly part with life for his advantage. He shed tears for his apostasy75; but every drop made an indelible stain upon his character; and, in the bitterness of his grief, swore, notwithstanding his fondness for Renaldo, which had become a part of his constitution, that the young Hungarian deserved the most infamous76 destiny for having injured such perfection. At other times, when he found her melted into silent sorrow, he affected77 to excuse the conduct of his friend. He informed her, that the young gentleman’s temper had been uneven78 from his infancy79; that frailty80 was natural to man; that he might in time be reclaimed81 by self-conviction; he even hinted, that she might have probably ascribed to inconstancy, what was really the effect of some chagrin82 which he industriously83 concealed84 from his participation85. But, when he found her disposed to listen to this last suggestion, he destroyed the force of it, by recollecting86 the circumstances of his nocturnal rambles88, which, he owned, would admit of no favourable construction.
By these means he blew the coals of her jealousy89, and enhanced the value of his own character at the same time; for she looked upon him as a mirror of faith and integrity, and the mind being overcharged with woe, naturally seeks some confidant, upon whose sympathy it can repose90 itself. Indeed, his great aim was to make himself necessary to her affliction, and settle a gossiping correspondence, in the familiarity of which he hoped his purpose would certainly be answered.
Yet the exertion91 of these talents was not limited to her alone. While he laid these trains for the hapless young lady, he was preparing snares92 of another kind for her unsuspecting lover, who, for the completion of his misery93, about this time began to perceive marks of disquiet94 and displeasure in the countenance and deportment of his adored Monimia. For that young lady, in the midst of her grief, remembered her origin, and over her vexation affected to throw a veil of tranquillity95, which served only to give an air of disgust to her internal disturbance96.
Renaldo, whose patience and philosophy were barely sufficient to bear the load of his other evils, would have been quite overwhelmed with the additional burden of Monimia’s woe, if it had not assumed this appearance of disesteem, which, as he knew he had not deserved it, brought his resentment to his assistance. Yet this was but a wretched cordial to support him against the baleful reflections that assaulted him from every quarter; it operated like those desperate remedies, which, while they stimulate97 exhausted98 nature, help to destroy the very fundamentals of the constitution. He reviewed his own conduct with the utmost severity, and could not recollect87 one circumstance which could justly offend the idol99 of his soul. The more blameless he appeared to himself in this examination, the less excusable did her behaviour appear. He tasked his penetration to discover the cause of this alteration; he burned with impatience100 to know it; his discernment failed him, and he was afraid, though he knew not why, to demand an explanation. His thoughts were so circumstanced, that he durst not even unbosom himself to Fathom, though his own virtue101 and friendship resisted those sentiments that began to intrude102 upon his mind, with suggestions to the prejudice of our adventurer’s fidelity103.
Nevertheless, unable to endure the torments104 of such interesting suspense105, he at length made an effort to expostulate with the fair orphan; and in an abrupt106 address, the effect of his fear and confusion, begged to know if he had inadvertently done anything to incur107 her displeasure. Monimia, hearing herself bluntly accosted108 in this unusual strain, after repeated instances of his reserve and supposed inconstancy, considered the question as a fresh insult, and, summoning her whole pride to her assistance, replied, with affected tranquillity, or rather with an air of scorn, that she had no title to judge, neither did she pretend to condemn109 his conduct. This answer, so wide of that tenderness and concern which had hitherto manifested itself in the disposition110 of his amiable111 mistress, deprived him of all power to carry on the conversation, and he retired112 with a low bow, fully113 convinced of his having irretrievably lost the place he had possessed114 in her affection; for, to his imagination, warped115 and blinded by his misfortunes, her demeanour seemed fraught116, not with a transient gleam of anger, which a respectful lover would soon have appeased117, but with that contempt and indifference which denote a total absence of affection and esteem. She, on the other hand, misconstrued his sudden retreat; and now they beheld118 the actions of each other through the false medium of prejudice and resentment. To such fatal misunderstandings the peace and happiness of whole families often fall a sacrifice.
1 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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2 fathom | |
v.领悟,彻底了解 | |
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3 aggravated | |
使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 ); 使更严重; 激怒; 使恼火 | |
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4 aggravate | |
vt.加重(剧),使恶化;激怒,使恼火 | |
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5 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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6 distraction | |
n.精神涣散,精神不集中,消遣,娱乐 | |
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7 discourse | |
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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8 shunned | |
v.避开,回避,避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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9 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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10 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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11 meditate | |
v.想,考虑,(尤指宗教上的)沉思,冥想 | |
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12 woe | |
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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13 savaged | |
(动物)凶狠地攻击(或伤害)( savage的过去式和过去分词 ); 残害; 猛烈批评; 激烈抨击 | |
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14 inveterate | |
adj.积习已深的,根深蒂固的 | |
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15 tempted | |
v.怂恿(某人)干不正当的事;冒…的险(tempt的过去分词) | |
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16 miseries | |
n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 );痛苦的事;穷困;常发牢骚的人 | |
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17 dictates | |
n.命令,规定,要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 );口授;支配;摆布 | |
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18 expedient | |
adj.有用的,有利的;n.紧急的办法,权宜之计 | |
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19 deterred | |
v.阻止,制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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21 preyed | |
v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 );掠食;折磨;(人)靠欺诈为生 | |
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22 alteration | |
n.变更,改变;蚀变 | |
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23 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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24 impute | |
v.归咎于 | |
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25 complaisance | |
n.彬彬有礼,殷勤,柔顺 | |
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26 delicacy | |
n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 | |
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27 favourable | |
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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28 imputed | |
v.把(错误等)归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29 alienation | |
n.疏远;离间;异化 | |
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30 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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31 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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32 implored | |
恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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33 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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34 penetration | |
n.穿透,穿人,渗透 | |
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35 conjecture | |
n./v.推测,猜测 | |
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36 conjured | |
用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 ); 祈求,恳求; 变戏法; (变魔术般地) 使…出现 | |
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37 agitation | |
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动 | |
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38 stifling | |
a.令人窒息的 | |
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39 afflicted | |
使受痛苦,折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40 attachment | |
n.附属物,附件;依恋;依附 | |
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41 torment | |
n.折磨;令人痛苦的东西(人);vt.折磨;纠缠 | |
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42 gushed | |
v.喷,涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 );滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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43 enchanting | |
a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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44 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
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45 dependence | |
n.依靠,依赖;信任,信赖;隶属 | |
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46 susceptible | |
adj.过敏的,敏感的;易动感情的,易受感动的 | |
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47 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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48 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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49 deserted | |
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 | |
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50 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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51 affluence | |
n.充裕,富足 | |
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52 wretch | |
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人 | |
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53 orphan | |
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 | |
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54 disdained | |
鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 ); 不屑于做,不愿意做 | |
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55 commotion | |
n.骚动,动乱 | |
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56 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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57 emphatic | |
adj.强调的,着重的;无可置疑的,明显的 | |
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58 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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59 guilt | |
n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责 | |
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60 perfidy | |
n.背信弃义,不忠贞 | |
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61 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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62 pretext | |
n.借口,托词 | |
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63 conveyance | |
n.(不动产等的)转让,让与;转让证书;传送;运送;表达;(正)运输工具 | |
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64 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
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65 slander | |
n./v.诽谤,污蔑 | |
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66 preamble | |
n.前言;序文 | |
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67 anguish | |
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 | |
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68 mangle | |
vt.乱砍,撕裂,破坏,毁损,损坏,轧布 | |
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69 softened | |
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 | |
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70 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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71 treacherously | |
背信弃义地; 背叛地; 靠不住地; 危险地 | |
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72 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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73 vindication | |
n.洗冤,证实 | |
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74 expatiated | |
v.详述,细说( expatiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75 apostasy | |
n.背教,脱党 | |
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76 infamous | |
adj.声名狼藉的,臭名昭著的,邪恶的 | |
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77 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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78 uneven | |
adj.不平坦的,不规则的,不均匀的 | |
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79 infancy | |
n.婴儿期;幼年期;初期 | |
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80 frailty | |
n.脆弱;意志薄弱 | |
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81 reclaimed | |
adj.再生的;翻造的;收复的;回收的v.开拓( reclaim的过去式和过去分词 );要求收回;从废料中回收(有用的材料);挽救 | |
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82 chagrin | |
n.懊恼;气愤;委屈 | |
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83 industriously | |
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84 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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85 participation | |
n.参与,参加,分享 | |
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86 recollecting | |
v.记起,想起( recollect的现在分词 ) | |
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87 recollect | |
v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得 | |
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88 rambles | |
(无目的地)漫游( ramble的第三人称单数 ); (喻)漫谈; 扯淡; 长篇大论 | |
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89 jealousy | |
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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90 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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91 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
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92 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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93 misery | |
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦 | |
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94 disquiet | |
n.担心,焦虑 | |
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95 tranquillity | |
n. 平静, 安静 | |
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96 disturbance | |
n.动乱,骚动;打扰,干扰;(身心)失调 | |
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97 stimulate | |
vt.刺激,使兴奋;激励,使…振奋 | |
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98 exhausted | |
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的 | |
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99 idol | |
n.偶像,红人,宠儿 | |
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100 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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101 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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102 intrude | |
vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰 | |
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103 fidelity | |
n.忠诚,忠实;精确 | |
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104 torments | |
(肉体或精神上的)折磨,痛苦( torment的名词复数 ); 造成痛苦的事物[人] | |
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105 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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106 abrupt | |
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的 | |
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107 incur | |
vt.招致,蒙受,遭遇 | |
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108 accosted | |
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 );跟…搭讪;(乞丐等)上前向…乞讨;(妓女等)勾搭 | |
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109 condemn | |
vt.谴责,指责;宣判(罪犯),判刑 | |
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110 disposition | |
n.性情,性格;意向,倾向;排列,部署 | |
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111 amiable | |
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的 | |
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112 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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113 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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114 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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115 warped | |
adj.反常的;乖戾的;(变)弯曲的;变形的v.弄弯,变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 );使(行为等)不合情理,使乖戾, | |
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116 fraught | |
adj.充满…的,伴有(危险等)的;忧虑的 | |
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117 appeased | |
安抚,抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 ); 绥靖(满足另一国的要求以避免战争) | |
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118 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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