Ay, this is be who wears die wreath of bays
Wove by Apollo and the Sisters Nine,
Which Jove’s dread1 lightning scathes2 not. He hath doft
The cumbrous helm of steel, and flung aside
The yet more galling3 diadem4 of gold;
While, with a leafy circlet round his brows,
He reigns5 the King of Lover and of Poets.
A cautious approach to the chimney, that is, the favorite walk of the King, who is described by Shakspeare as bearing
??— the style of King of Naples,
?Of both the Sicilies, and Jerusalem,
Yet not so wealthy as an English yeoman,
gave Arthur the perfect survey of his Majesty6 in person. He saw an old man, with locks and beard, which, in amplitude7 and whiteness, nearly rivalled those of the envoy8 from Schwytz, but wit a fresh and ruddy color in his cheek, and an eye of great vivacity9. His dress was showy to a degree almost inconsistent with his years; and his step, not only firm, but full of alertness and vivacity, while occupied in traversing the short and sheltered walk, which he had chosen, rather for comfort than fot privacy, showed juvenile10 vigor11 still animating12 an aged13 frame. The old King carried his tablets and a pencil in his hand, seeming totally abstracted in his own thoughts, and indifferent to being observed by several persons from the public street beneath his elevated promenade14.
Of these, some, from their dress and manner, seemed themselves Troubadours; for they held in their hands rebecks, rotes, small portable harps15, and other indications of their profession Such appeared to be stationary17, as if engaged in observing and recording18 their remarks on the meditations20 of their Prince. Other passengers, bent21 on their own more serious affairs, looked up to the King as to some one whom they were accustomed to see daily, but never passed without doffing22 their bonnets23, and expressing, by a suitable obeisance24, a respect and affection towards his person, which appeared to make up in cordiality of feeling what it wanted in deep and solemn deference25.
Rene, in the meanwhile, was apparently26 unconscious both of the gaze of such as stood still, or the greeting of those who passed on, his mind seeming altogether engrossed27 with the apparent labor28 of some arduous29 task in poetry or music. He walked fast or slow as best suited the progress of composition. At times he stopped to mark hastily down on his tablets something which seemed to occur to him as deserving of preservation31; at other times he dashed out what he had written, and flung down the pencil as if in a sort of despair. On these occasions, the Sibylline32 leaf was carefully picked up by a beautiful page, his only attendant, who reverently33 observed the first suitable opportunity of restoring it again to his royal hand. The same youth bore a viol, on which, at a signal from his master, he occasionally struck a few musical notes, to which the old King listened, now with a soothed34 and satisfied air, now with a discontented and anxious brow. At times, his enthusiasm Tose so high, that he even hopped37 and skipped with an activity which his years did not promise; at other times his motions were extremely slow, and occasionally he stood still, like one wrapped in the deepest and most anxious meditation19. When he chanced to look on the group which seemed to watch his motions, and who ventured even to salute38 him with a murmur39 of applause, it was only to distinguish them with a friendly and good-humored nod; a salutation with which, likewise, he failed not to reply to the greeting of the occasional passengers, when his earnest attention to his task, whatever it might be, permitted him to observe them.
At length the royal eye lighted upon Arthur, whose attitude of silent observation, and the distinction of ~is figure, pointed40 him out as a stranger. Rene beckoned41 to his page, who, receiving his master’s commands in a whisper, descended42 from the royal chimney, to the broader platform beneath, which was open to general resort. The youth, addressing Arthur with much courtesy, informed him the King desired to speak with him. The young Englishman had no alternative but that of approaching, though pondering much in his own mind how he ought to comport43 himself towards such a singular specimen44 of royalty45.
When he drew near, King Rene addressed him in a tone of courtesy not unmingled with dignity, and Arthur’s awe47 in his immediate48 presence was greater than he himself could have anticipated from his previous conception of the royal character.
“You are, from your appearance, fair sir,” said King Rene a stranger in this country. By what name must we call you, and to what business are we to ascribe the happiness of seeing you at our court?”
Arthur remained a moment silent, and the good old man imputing49 it to awe and timidity, proceeded in an encouraging tone.
“Modesty in youth is ever commendable50 you are doubtless an acolyte51 in the noble and joyous52 science of Minstrelsy and Music, drawn53 hither by the willing welcome which we afford to the professors of those arts, in which — praise be to Our Lady and the Saints! — we have ourself been deemed a proficient54.”
“I do not aspire55 to the honors of a Troubadour,” answered Arthur.
“I believe you,” answered the King, “for your speech smacks56 of the northern, or Norman-French, such as is spoken in England and other unrefined nations. But you are a minstrel perhaps, from these ultramontane parts. Be assured we despise not their efforts; for we have listened, not without pleasure and instruction, to many of their bold and wild romaunts, which, though rude in device and language, and therefore far inferior to the regulated poetry of our Troubadours, have yet something in their powerful and rough measure, which occasionally rouses the heart like the sound of a trumpet58.”
“I have felt the truth of your Grace’s observation, when I have heard the songs of my country,” said Arthur; “but I have neither skill nor audacity59 to imitate what I admire — My latest residence has been in Italy”
“You are perhaps then a proficient in painting,” said Rene; “an art which applies itself to the eye as poetry and music do to the ear, and is scarce less in esteem60 with us. If you arc skilful61 in the art, you have come to a monarch62 who loves it, and the fair country in which it is practised.”
“In simple truth, Sire, I am an Englishman, and my hand has been too much welk’d and hardened by practice of the bow, the lance, and the sword, to touch the harp16, or even the pencil.”
“An Englishman!” said Rene obviously relaxing in the warmth of his welcome; “and what brings you here? England and I have long had little friendship together.”
“It is even on that account that I am here,” said Arthur. “I come to pay my homage63 to your Grace’s daughter, the Princess Margaret of Anjon, whom I and many true English-men regard still as our Queen, though traitors64 have usurped65 her title.”
“Alas66, good youth,” said Rene, “I must grieve for you, while I respect your loyalty67 and faith. Had my daughter Margaret been of my mind, she had long since abandoned pretensions68, which have drowned in seas of blood the noblest and bravest of her adherents69.”
The King seemed about to say more, but checked himself.
“Go to my palace,” he said; “inquire for the Seneschal Hugh de Saint Cyr, he will give thee the means of seeing Margaret, that is, if it be her will to see thee. If not, good English youth, return to my palace, and thou shalt have hospitable70 entertainment; for a King who loves minstrelsy, music, and painting, is ever more sensible to the claims of honor, virtue71, and loyalty; and I read in thy looks thou art possessed72 of these qualities, and willingly believe thou may’st, in more quiet times, aspire to share the honors of the joyous science. But if thou hast a heart to be touched by the sense of beauty and fair proportion, it will leap within thee at the first sight of my palace, the stately grace of which may be compared to the faultless form of some high-bred dame73, or the artful, yet seemingly simple modulations of such a tune74 as we have been now composing.”
The King seemed disposed to take his instrument, an dindulge the youth with a rehearsal75 of the strain he had just arranged; but Arthur at that moment experienced the painful internal feeling of that peculiar76 spedes of shame, which well-constructed minds feel when they see others express a great assumption of importance, with a confidence that they are exciting admiration77, when in fact they are only exposing themselves to ridicule78. Arthur, in short, took leave, “in very shame.” of the King of Naples, both the Sicilies, and Jerusalem, in a manner somewhat more abrupt79 than ceremony demanded. The King looked after him, with some wonder at this want of breeding, which, however, he imputed80 to his visitor’s insular81 education, and then again began to twangle his viol.
“The old fool!” said Arthur; “his daughter is dethroned, his dominions83 crumbling84 to pieces, his family on the eve of becoming extinct, his grandson driven from one lurking-place to another, and expelled from his mother’s inheritance, — and he can find amusement in these fopperies! I thought him with his long white beard, like Nicholas Bonstetten; but the old Swiss is a Solomon compared with him.”
As these and other reflections, highly disparaging85 to King Rene, passed through Arthur’s mind, he reached the place of rendezvous86, and found Thiebault, beneath the steaming fountain, forced from one of those hot springs which had been the delight of the Romans from an early period. Thiebault, having assured his master that his retinue87, horse and man, were so disposed as to be ready on an instant’s call, readily undertook to guide him to King Rene’s palace, which, from its singularity, and indeed its beauty of architecture, deserved the eulogium which the old monarch had bestowed88 upon it. The front consisted of three towers of Roman architecture, two of them being placed on the angles of the palace, and the third, which served the purpose of a mausoleum, forming a part of the group, though somewhat detached from the other buildings. This last was a structure of beautiful proportions. The lower part of the edifice89 was square, serving as a sort of pedestal to the upper part, which was circular, and surrounded by columns of massive granite90. The other two towers at the angles of the palace were round, and also ornamented92 with pillars, and with a double row of windows. In front of, and connected with, these Roman remains93, to which a date has been assigned as early as the fifth or sixth century, arose the ancient palace of the Counts of Provence, built a century or two later, but where a rich Gothic or Moorish94 front contrasted, and yet harmonized, with the more regular and massive architecture of the lords of the world. It is not more than thirty or forty years since this very curious remnant of antique art was destroyed to make mom for new public buildings, which have never yet been erected95.
Arthur really experienced some sensation of the kind which the old King had prophesied96, and stood looking with wonder at the ever-open gate of the palace, into which men of all kinds seemed to enter freely. After looking around for a few minutes, the young Englishman ascended98 the steps of a noble portico99, and asked of a porter, as old and as lazy as a great man’s domestic ought to be, for the seneschal named to him by the King. The corpulent janitor100, with great politeness, put the stranger under the charge of a page, who ushered101 him to a chamber102, in which be found another aged functionary103 of higher rank, with a comely104 face, a clear composed eye, and a brow which, having never been knit into gravity, intimated that the seneschal of Aix was a proficient in the philosophy of his royal master. He recognized Arthur the moment he addressed him.
“You speak northern French, fair sir; you have lighter105 haji and a fairer complexion106 than the natives of this country — You ask after Queen Margaret — By all these marks I read you English — Her Grace of England is at this moment paying a vow107 at the monastery108 of Mont Saint Victoire, and if your name be Arthur Philipson, I have commission to forward you to her presence immediately, that is, as soon as you have tasted of the royal provision.”
The young man would have remonstrated109, but the senesehal left him no leisure.
“Meat and mass,” he said, “never hindered work — it is perilous110 to youth to journey too far on an empty stomach-he himself would take a mouthful with the Queen’s guest, and pledge him to boot in a flask111 of old Hermitage.”
The board was covered with an alacrity112 which showed that hospitality was familiarly exercised in King Rene’s dominions Pasties, dishes of game, the galiant boar’s head, and other delicacies113, were placed on the table, and the seneschal played the merry host, frequently apologizing (unnecessarily) for showing an indifferent example, as it was his duty to carve before King Rene, and the good King was never pleased unless he saw him feed lustily as well as carve featly.
“But for you, sir guest, eat freely, since you may not see food again till sunset; for the good Queen takes her misfortunes so to heart that sighs are her food, and her tears a bottle of drink, as the Psalmist bath it. But I bethink me you will need steeds for yourself and your equipage to reach Mont Saint Victoire, which is seven miles from Aix.”
Arthur intimated that he had a guide and horses in attendance, and begged permission to take his adieu. The worthy115 seneschal, his fair round belly116 graced with a gold chain, accompanied him to the gate with a step, which a gentle fit of the gout had rendered uncertain, but which, he assured Arthur, would vanish before three days’ use of the hot springs. Thiebault appeared before the gate, not with the tired steeds from which they had dismounted an hour since, but with fresh palfreys from the stable of the King.
“They are yours from the moment you have put foot in stirrup,” said the senesehal; “the good King Rene never received back as his property a horse which he had lent to a guest; and that is perhaps one reason why his Highness and we of his household must walk often a-foot.”
Here the seneschal exchanged greetings with his young visitors, who rode forth117 to seek Queen Margaret’s place of temporary retirement118 at the celebrated119 monastery of Saint Victoire. He demanded of his guide in which direction it lay, who pointed, with an air of triumph, to a mountain three thousand feet and upwards120 in height, which arose at five or six miles’ distance from the town, and which its bold and rocky summit rendered the most distinguished121 object of the landscape. Thiebault spoke57 of it with unusual glee and energy, so much so as to lead Arthur to conceive that his trusty squire122 had not neglected to avail himself of the lavish123 hospitality of Le bon Roi Rene. Thiebault, however, continued to expatiate124 on the fame of the mountain and monastery. They derived125 their name, he said, from a great victory which was gained by a Roman general, named Caio Mario, against two large armies of Saracens with ultramoritane names (the Teutones probably and Cimbri) in gratitude126 to Heaven for which victory Caio Mario vowed127 to build a monastery on the mountain for the service of the Virgin128 Mary, in honor of whom he had been baptized. With all the importance of a local connoisseur129, Thiebault proceeded to prove his general assertion by specific facts.
“Yonder,” he said, “was the camp of the Saracens, from which, when the battle was apparently decided130, their wives and women rushed, with horrible screams, dishevelled hair, and the gestures of furies, and for a time prevailed in stopping the flight of the men.” He pointed out too the river, for access to which, cut off by the superior generalship of the Romans, the barbarians131, whom he called Saracens, hazarded the action, and whose streams they empurpled with their blood. In short, he mentioned many circumstances which showed how accurately132 tradition will preserve the particulars of ancient events, even whilst forgetting, misstating, and confounding dates and persons.
Perceiving that Arthur lent him a not unwilling133 ear, — for it may be supposed that the education of a youth bred up in the hcat of civil wars was not well qualified134 to criticize his account of the wars of a distant period, — the Provencal, when he had exhausted135 this topic, drew up close to his master’s side, arid136 asked, in a suppressed tone, whether he knew, or was desirous of being made acquainted with, the cause of Margaret’s having left Aix, to establish herself in the monastery of Saint Victoire?
“For the accomplishment137 of a vow,” answered Arthur; “all the world knows it.”
“All Aix knows the contrary,” said Thiebault; “and I can tell you the truth, so I were sure it would not offend your seignorie.
“The truth can offend no reasonable man, so it be expressed in the terms of which Queen Margaret must be spoken in the presence of an Englishman.”
Thus replied Arthur, willing to receive what information he could gather, and desirous, at the same time, to check the petulance138 of his attendant.
“I have nothing,” replied his follower139, “to state in disparagement140 of the gracious Queen, whose only misfortune is, that, like her royal father, she has more titles than towns. Besides, I know well that you Englishmen, though you speak wildly of your sovereigns yourselves, will not permit others to fail in respect to them.”
“Say on, then,” answered Arthur.
“Your seignorie must know, then,” said Thiebault, “that the good King Rene has been much disturbed by the deep melancholy141 which afflicted142 Queen Margaret, and has bent himself with all his power to change it into a gayer humor. He made entertainments in public and in private; he assembled minstrels and troubadours, whose music and poetry might have drawn smiles from one on his deathbed. The whole country resounded143 with mirth and glee, and the gracious Queen could not Stir abroad in the most private manner, but before she had gone a hundred paces, she lighted on an ambush144, consisting of some pretty pageant145, or festivious mummery, composed often by the good King himself, which interrupted her solitude146, in purpose of relieving her heavy thoughts with some pleasant pastime. But the Queen’s deep melancholy rejected all these modes of dispelling147 it, and at length she confined herself to her own apartments, and absolutely refused to see even her royal father, because he generally brought into her presence those whose productions he thought likely to soothe35 her sorrow. Indeed she seemed to hear the harpers with loathing148, and excepting one wandering Englishman, who sang a rude and melancholy ballad149, which threw her into a flood of tears, and to whom she gave a chain of price, she never seemed to look at or be conscious of the presence of any one. And at length, as I have had the honor to tell your seignorie, she refused to see even her royal father unless he came alone and that he found no heart to do.”
“I wonder not at it,” said the young man; “by the White Swan, I am rather surprised his mummery drove her not to frenzy150.”
Something like it indeed took place,” said Thiebault; “and I will tell your seignorie how it chanced. You must know that good King Rene, unwilling to abandon his daughter to the foul151 fiend of melancholy, bethought him of making a grand effort. You must know further, that the King, powerful in all the craft of Troubadours and Jongleurs, is held in peculiar esteem for conducting mysteries, and other of those gamesome and delightful152 sports and processions with which our holy Church permits her graver ceremonies to be relieved and diversified154, to the cheering of the hearts of all true children of religion. It is admitted that no one has ever been able to approach his excellence155 in the arrangement of the Fete-Dieu; and the tune to which the devils cudgel King Herod, to the great edification of all Christian156 spectators, is of our good King’s royal composition. He bath danced at Tarascon in the ballet of Saint Martha and the Dragon, and was accounted in his own person the only actor competent to present the Tarrasque. His Highness introduced also a new ritual into the consecration157 of the Boy Bishop158, and composed an entire set of grotesque159 music for the Festival of Asses160. In short, his Grace’s strength lies in those pleasing and becoming festivities which strew161 the path of edification with flowers, and send men dancing and singing on their way to Heaven.
“Now the good King Rene, feeling his own genius for such recreative compositions, resolved to exert it to the utmost, in the hope that he might there by relieve the melancholy in which his daughter was plunged162, and which infected all that approached her. It chanced, some short time since, that the Queen was absent for certain days, I know not where or on what business, but it gave the good King time to make his preparations. So when his daughter returned, he with much importunity163 prevailed on her to make part of a religious processon to Saint Sauveur, the principal church in Aix. The Queen, innocent of what was intended, decked herself with solemnity, to witness and partake of what she expected would prove a work of grave piety164. But no sooner had she appeared on the esplanade in front of the palace than more than a hundred in asks, dressed up like Turks, Jews, Saracens, Moors165, and I know not whom besides, crowded around to offer her their homage, in the character of the Queen of Sheba; and a grotesque piece of music called them to arrange themselves for a ludicrous ballet, in which they addressed the Queen in the most entertaining manner, and with the most extravagant166 gestures. The queen, stunned167 with the noise, and affronted168 with the petulance of this unexpected onset169, would have gone back into the palace but the doors had been shut by the King’s order so soon as she set forth; and her retreat in that direction was cut off. Finding herself excluded from the palace, the Queen advanced to the front of the facade170, and endeavored by signs and words to appease171 the hubbub172, but the maskers, who had their instructions, only answered with songs, music, and shouts.”
“I would,” said Arthur, “there had been a score of English yeomen in presence, with their quarter-staves, to teach the bawling173 villains174 respect for one that has worn the crown of England!”
“All the noise that was made before was silence and soft music, continued Thiebault, “till that when the good King himself appeared, grotesquely175 dressed in the character of King Solomon — ”
“To whom, of all princes, he has the least resemblance,” said Arthur —
“With such capers176 and gesticulations of welcome to the Queen of Sheba, as, I am assured by those who saw it; would have brought a dead man alive again, or killed a living man with laughing. Among other properties, he had in his hand a truncheon, somewhat formed like a fool’s bauble177 — ”
“A most fit sceptre for such a sovereign,” said Arthur —
“Which was headed,” continued Thiebault, “by a model of the Jewish Temple, finely gilded178 and curiously179 cut in pasteboard. He managed this with the utmost grace, and delighted every spectator by his gayety and activity, excepting the Queen, who, the more he skipped and capered180, seemed to be the more incensed181, until, on his approaching her to conduct her to the procession, she seemed roused to a sort of frenzy, struck the truncheon out of his hand, and breaking through the crowd, who felt as if a tigress had leapt amongst them from a showman’s cart, rushed into the royal courtyard. Ere the order of the scenic182 representation, which her violence had interrupted could be restored, the Queen again issued forth, mounted, and attended by two or three English cavaliers of her Majesty’s suite30. She forced her way through the crowd, without regarding either their safety or her own, flew like a hail-storm along the streets, and never drew bridle183 till she was as far up this same Mont Saint Victoire as the road would permit. She was then received into the convent, and has since remained there; and a vow of penance184 is the pretext185 to cover over the quarrel betwixt her and her father.”
“How long may it be,” said Arthur, “since these things chanced?”
“It is but three days since Queen Margaret left Aix in the manner I have told you. — But we are come as far up the mountain as men usually ride. See, yonder is the monastery rising betwixt two huge rocks, which form the very top of Mont Saint Victoire. There is no more open ground than is afforded by the cleft186, into which the convent of Saint Mary of Victory is, as it were, niched; and the access is guarded by the most dangerous precipices187. To ascend97 the mountain, you must keep that narrow path which, winding189 and turning among the cliffs, leads at length to the summit of the hill, and the gate of the monastery.”
“And what becomes of you and the horses?” said Arthur.
“We will rest,” said Thiebault, “in the hospital maintained by the good fathers at the bottom of the mountain, for the accommodation of those who attend on pilgrims; — for I promise you the shrine190 is visited by many who come from afar, and are attended both by man and horse. — Care not for me, — I shall be first under cover; but there muster191 yonder in the west some threatening clouds, from which your seignorie may suffer inconvenience, unless you reach the convent in time. I will give you an hour to do the feat114, and will say you are as active as a chamois bunter, if you reach it within the time.”
Arthur looked around him, and did indeed remark a mustering192 of clouds in the distant west, which threatened soon to change the character of the day, which had hitherto been brilliantly clear, and so serene193 that the falling of a leaf might have been heard. He therefore turned him to the steep and rocky path which ascended the mountains, sometimes by scaling almost precipitous rocks, and sometimes by reaching their tops by a more circuitous194 process. It winded through thickets195 of wild boxwood and other low aromatic196 shrubs197, which afforded some pasture for the mountain goats, but were a bitter annoyance198 to the traveller who had to press through them. Such obstacles were so frequent that the full hour allowed by Thiebault had elapsed before he stood on the summit of Mont Saint Victoire, and in front of the singular convent of the same name.
We have already said, that the crest199 of the mountain, consisting entirely200 of one bare and solid rock, was divided by cleft or opening into two heads or peaks, between which the convent was built, occupying all the space between them. The front of the building was of the most ancient and sombre cast of the old Gothic, or rather, as it has been termed, the Saxon and in that respect corresponded with the savage201 exterior202 of the naked cliffs, of which the structure seemed to make a part, and by which it was entirely surrounded, excepting a small open space of more level ground, where, at the expense of much toil203, and by carrying earth up the hill, from different spots where they could collect it in small quantities, the good fathers had been able to arrange the accommodations of a garden.
A bell summoned a lay-brother, the porter of this singularly situated204 monastery, to whom Arthur announced himself as an English merchant, Philipson by name, who came to pay his duty to Queen Margaret. The porter, with much respect, showed the stranger into the convent, and ushered him into a parlor205, which, looking towards Aix, commanded an extensive and splendid prospect206 over the southern and western parts of Provence. This was the direction in which Arthur had approached the mountain from Aix; but the circuitous path by which he had ascended had completely carried him round the hill. The western side of the monastery, to which the parlor looked, commanded the noble view we have mentioned and a species of balcony, which, connecting the two twin crags, at this place not above four or five yards asunder207, ran along the front of the building, and appeared to be constructed for the purpose of enjoying it. But on stepping from one of the windows of the parlor upon this battlemented bartisan, Arthur became aware that the wall on which the parapet rested stretched along the edge of a precipice188, which sank sheer down five hundred feet at least from the foundations of the convent. Surprised and startled at finding himself on so giddy a verge208, Arthur turned his eyes from the gulf209 beneath him to admire the distant landscape, partly illuminated210, with ominous211 lustre212, by the now westerly sun. The setting beams showed in dark red splendor213 a vast variety of hill and dale, champaign and cultivated ground, with towns, churches, and castles, some of which rose from among trees, while others seemed founded on rocky eminences214, others again lurked215 by the side of streams or lakes, to which the heat and drought of the climate naturally attracted them.
The rest of the landscape presented similar objects when the weather was serene, but they were now rendered indistinct, or altogether obliterated216, by the sullen217 shade of the approaching clouds, which gradually spread over great part of the horizon, and threatened altogether to eclipse the sun, though the lord of the horizon still struggled to maintain his influence, and, like a dying hero, seemed most glorious even in the moment of defeat. Wild sounds, like groans218 and howls, formed by the wind, in the numerous caverns219 of the rocky mountain, added to the terrors of the scene, and seemed to foretell221 the fury of some distant storm, though the air in general was even unnaturally222 calm and breathless. In gazing on this extraordinary scene, Arthur did justice to the monks223 who had chosen this wild and grotesque situation, from which they could witness Nature in her wildest and grandest demonstrations224, and compare the nothingness of humanity with her awful convulsions.
So much was Arthur awed226 by the scene before him, that he had almost forgotten, while gazing from the bartisan, the important business which had brought him to this place, when it was suddenly recalled by finding himself in the presence of Margaret of Anjou, who, not seeing him in the parlor of reception, had stepped upon the balcony, that she might meet with him the sooner.
The Queen’s dress was black, without any ornament91 except a gold coronal of an inch in breadth, restraining her long black tresses, of which advancing years, and misfortunes, had partly altered the hue227. There was placed within the circlet a black plume228 with a red rose, the last of the season, which the good father who kept the garden had presented to her that morning as the badge of her husband’s house. Care, fatigue229, and sorrow, seemed to dwell on her brow and her features. To another messenger, she would in all probability have administered a sharp rebuke230, for not being alert in his duty to receive her as she entered; but Arthur’s age and appearance corresponded with that of her loved and lost son. He was the son of a lady whom Margaret had loved with almost sisterly affection, and the presence of Arthur continued to excite in the dethroned Queen the same feelings of maternal231 tenderness which had been awakened232 on their first meeting in the Cathedral of Strassburg. She raised him as he kneeled at her feet, spoke to him with much kindness, and encouraged him to detail at full length his father’s message, and such other news as his brief residence at Dijon had made him acquainted with.
She demanded which way Duke Charles had moved with his army.
“As I was given to understand by the master of his artillery,” said Arthur, “towards the Lake of Neufchatel, on which ude he proposes his first attack on the Swiss.”
“The headstrong fool!” said Queen Margaret, — “he resembles the poor lunatic, who went to the summit of the mountain, that he might meet the rain half-way. — Does thy father, then,” continued Margaret, “advise me to give up the last remains of the extensive territories, once the dominions of our royal House, and for some thousand crowns, and the paltry233 aid of a few hundred lances, to relinquish234 what is left of our patrimony235 to our proud and selfish kinsman236 of Burgundy, who extends his claim to our all, and affords so little help, or even promise of help, in return?”
“I should have ill discharged my father’s commission, said Arthur, “if I had left your Highness to think that he recommends so great a sacrifice. He feels most deeply the Duke of Burgundy’s grasping desire of dominion82. Nevertheless, he thinks that Provence must, on King Rene’s death, or sooner, fall either to the share of Duke Charles, or to Louis of France, whatever opposition237 your Highness may make to such a destination; and it may be that my father, as a knight238 and a soldier, hopes much from obtaining the means to make another attempt on Britain. But the decision must rest with your Highness.”
“Young man,” said the Queen, “the contemplation of a question so doubtful almost deprives me of reason!”
As she spoke, she sank down, as one who needs rest, on a stone seat placed on the very verge of the balcony, regardless of the storm, which now began to rise with dreadful gusts239 of wind, the course of which being intermitted and altered by the crags round which they howled, it seemed as if in very deed Boreas, and Eurus, and Caurus, unchaining the winds from every quarter of heaven, were contending for mastery around the convent of our Lady of Victory. Amid this tumult241, and amid billows of mist which concealed242 the bottom of the precipice, and masses of clouds which racked fearfully over their heads, the roar of the descending243 waters rather resembled the fall of cataracts244 than the rushing of torrents245 of rain. The seat on which Margaret had placed herself was in a considerable degree sheltered from the storm, but its eddies246, varying in every direction, often tossed aloft her dishevelled hair; and we cannot describe the appearance of her noble and beautiful, yet ghastly and wasted features, agitated247 strongly by anxious hesitation248 and conflicting thoughts, unless to those of our readers who have had the advantage of having seen our inimitable Siddons 22 in such a character as this. Arthur, confounded by anxiety and terror, could only beseech249 her Majesty to retire before the fury of the approaching storm, into the interior of the convent.
“No,” she replied with firmness; “roofs and walls have ears, and monks, though they have forsworn the world, are not the less curious to know what passes beyond their cells. It is in this place you must hear what I have to say; as a soldier you should scorn a blast of wind or a shower of rain; and to me, who have often held counsel amidst the sound of trumpets250 and clash of arms, prompt for instant fight, the war of elements is an unnoticed trifle. I tell thee, young Arthur Vere, as I would to your father — as I would to my son — if indeed Heaven had left such a blessing251 to a wretch252 forlorn — ”
She paused, and then proceeded.
“I tell thee, as I would have told my beloved Edward, that Margaret, whose resolutions were once firm and immovable as these rocks among which we are placed, is now doubtful and variable as the clouds which are drifting around us. I told your father, in the joy of meeting once more a subject of such inappreciable loyalty, of the sacrifices I would make to assure the assistance of Charles of Burgundy to so gallant253 an undertaking254 as that proposed to him by the faithful Oxford255. But since I saw him I have had cause of deep reflection. I met my aged father only to offend, and, I say it with shame, to insult the old man in presence of his people. Our tempers are as opposed as the sunshine, which a short space since gilded a serene and beautiful landscape, differs from the tempests which are now wasting it. I spurned256 with open scorn and contempt what he, in his mistaken affection, had devised for means of consolation257, and, disgusted with the idle follies258 which he had devised for curing the melancholy of a dethroned Queen, a widowed spouse259 - and, alas! a childless mother, — I retired260 hither from the noisy and idle mirth, which was the bitterest aggravation261 of my sorrows. Such and so gentle is Rene’s temper, that even my unfilial conduct will not diminish my influence over him; and if your father had announced, that the Duke of Burgundy, like a knight and a sovereign, had cordially and nobly entered into the plan of the faithful Oxford, I could have found it in my heart to obtain the cession153 of territory his cold and ambitious policy requires, in order to ensure the assistance, which he now postpones262 to afford till he has gratified his own haughty263 humor by settling needless quarrels with his unoffending neighbors. Since I have been here, and calmness and solitude have given me time to reflect, I have thought on the offences I have given the old man, and on the wrongs I was about to do him. My father, let me do him justice, is also the father of his people. They have dwelt under their vines and fig-trees, in ignoble264 ease perhaps, but free from oppression and exaction265, and their happiness has been that of their good King. Must I change all this? — Must I aid in turning over these contented36 people to a fierce, headlong, arbitrary prince? — May I not break even the easy and thoughtless heart of my poor old father, should I succeed in urging him to do so? — These are questions which I shudder266 even to ask myself. On the other hand, to disappoint the toils267, the venturous hopes of your father, to forego the only opportunity which may ever again offer itself, of revenge on the bloody268 traitors of York, and restoration of the House of Lancaster! — Arthur, the scene around us is not so convulsed by the fearful tempest and the driving clouds, as my mind is by doubt and uncertainty269.”
“Alas!”. replied Arthur, “I am too young and inexperienced to be your Majesty’s adviser270 in a case so arduous. I would my father had been in presence himself.”
“I know what he would have said,” replied the Queen; “but, knowing all, I despair of aid from human counsellors — I have sought others, but they also are deaf to my entreaties271. Yes, Arthur, Margaret’s misfortunes have rendered her superstitious272. Know, that beneath these rocks, and under the foundation of this convent, there runs a cavern220, entering by a secret and defended passage a little to the westward273 of the summit, and running through the mountain, having an opening to the south, from which, as from this partisan274, you can view the landscape so lately seen from this balcony, or the strife275 of winds and confusion of clouds which we now behold276. In the middle of this cavernous thoroughfare is a natural pit, or perforation, of great but unknown depth. A stone dropped into it is heard to dash from side to side, until the noise of its descent, thundering from cliff to cliff, dies away in distant and faint tinkling277, less loud than that of a sheep’s bell at a mile’s distance. The common people, in their jargon278, call this fearful gulf Lou Garagoule; and the traditions of the monastery annex279 wild and tearful recollections to a place in itself sufficiently280 terrible. Oracles281, it is said, spoke from thence in pagan days by subterranean282 voices, arising from the abyss; and from these the Roman general is said to have heard, in strange and uncouth283 rhymes, promises of the victory which gives name to this mountain. These oracles, it is averred284, may be yet consulted after performance of strange rites285, in which heathen ceremonies are mixed with Christian acts of devotion. The abbots of Mont Saint Victoire have denounced the consultation286 of Lou Garagoule, and the spirits who reside there, to be criminal. But as the sin may be expiated287 by presents to the Church, by masses, and penances288, the door is sometimes opened by the complaisant289 fathers to those whose daring curiosity leads them, at all risks, and by whatever means, to search into futurity. Arthur, I have made the experiment, and am even now returned from the gloomy cavern in which according to the traditional ritual, I have spent six hours by the margin290 of the gulf, a place so dismal291, that after its horrors even this tempestuous292 scene is refreshing293.”
The Queen stopped, and Arthur, the more struck with the wild tale, that it reminded him of his place of imprisonment294 at La Ferette, asked anxiously if her inquiries295 had obtained any answer.
“None whatever,” replied the unhappy princess. “The demons225 of Garagoule, if there be such, are deaf to the suit of an unfortunate wretch like me, to whom neither friends nor fiends will afford counsel or assistance. It is my father’s circumstances which prevent my instant and strong resolution. Were my own claims on this piping and paltry nation of Troubadours alone interested, I could, for the chance of once more setting my foot in merry England, as easily and willingly resign them and their paltry coronet, as I commit to the storm this idle emblem296 of the royal rank which I have lost.”
As Margaret spoke, she tore from her hair the sable297 feather and rose which the tempest had detached from the circlet in which they were placed, and tossed them from the battlement with a gesture of wild energy. They were instantly whirled off in a bickering298 eddy299 of the agitated clouds, which swept the feather far distant into empty space, through which the eye could not pursue it. But while that of Arthur involuntarily strove to follow its course, a contrary gust240 of wind caught the red rose, and drove it back against his breast, so that it was easy for him to catch hold of and retain it.
“Joy, joy, and good fortune, royal mistress!” he said, returning to her the emblematic300 flower “the tempest brings back the badge of Lancaster to its proper owner.”
“I accept the omen,” said Margaret but it concerns yourself, noble youth, and not me. The feather which is borne away to waste and desolation is Margaret’s emblem. My eyes will never see the restoration of the line of Lancaster. But you will live to behold it, and to aid to achieve it, and to dye our red rose deeper yet in the blood of tyrants301 and traitors. My thoughts are so strangely poised302, that a feather or a flower may turn the scale. But my head is still giddy, and my heart sick. — To-morrow you shall see another Margaret, and till then adieu.”
It was time to retire, for the tempest began to be mingled46 with fiercer showers of rain. When they re-entered the parlor, the Queen clapped her hands, and two female attendants entered.”
“Let the Father Abbot know,” she said, “that it is out desire that this young gentleman receive for this night such hospitality as befits an esteemed303 friend of ours. — Till to-morrow, young sir, farewell.”
With a countenance304 which betrayed not the late emotion of her mind, and with a stately courtesy that would have become her when she graced the halls of Windsor, she extended her hand, which the youth saluted305 respectfully. After her leaving the parlor, the Abbot entered, and in his attention to Arthur’s entertainment and accommodation for the evening, showed his anxiety to meet and obey Queen Margaret’s wishes.
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1
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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scathes
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| vt.伤害，损害（scathe的第三人称单数形式） | |
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galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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diadem
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| n.王冠，冕 | |
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reigns
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| n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 )；君主统治时期；任期；当政期 | |
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majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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amplitude
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| n.广大；充足；振幅 | |
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envoy
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| n.使节，使者，代表，公使 | |
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vivacity
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| n.快活，活泼，精神充沛 | |
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juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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animating
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| v.使有生气( animate的现在分词 )；驱动；使栩栩如生地动作；赋予…以生命 | |
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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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promenade
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| n./v.散步 | |
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harps
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| abbr.harpsichord 拨弦古钢琴n.竖琴( harp的名词复数 ) | |
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harp
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| n.竖琴；天琴座 | |
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stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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recording
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| n.录音，记录 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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meditations
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| 默想( meditation的名词复数 )； 默念； 沉思； 冥想 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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doffing
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| n.下筒，落纱v.脱去，（尤指）脱帽( doff的现在分词 ) | |
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bonnets
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| n.童帽( bonnet的名词复数 )；（烟囱等的）覆盖物；（苏格兰男子的）无边呢帽；（女子戴的）任何一种帽子 | |
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obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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engrossed
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| adj.全神贯注的 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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arduous
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| adj.艰苦的，费力的，陡峭的 | |
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suite
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| n.一套(家具)；套房；随从人员 | |
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preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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sibylline
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| adj.预言的；神巫的 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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soothe
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| v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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41
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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42
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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43
comport
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| vi.相称，适合 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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mingled
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| 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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47
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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48
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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49
imputing
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的现在分词 ) | |
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50
commendable
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| adj.值得称赞的 | |
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51
acolyte
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| n.助手，侍僧 | |
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52
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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53
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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54
proficient
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| adj.熟练的，精通的；n.能手，专家 | |
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55
aspire
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| vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于 | |
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56
smacks
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| 掌掴（声）( smack的名词复数 )； 海洛因； （打的）一拳； 打巴掌 | |
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57
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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58
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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59
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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60
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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64
traitors
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| 卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 )； 叛徒； 背叛者； 背信弃义的人 | |
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65
usurped
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| 篡夺，霸占( usurp的过去式和过去分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权 | |
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66
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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67
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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pretensions
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| 自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力 | |
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adherents
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| n.支持者，拥护者( adherent的名词复数 )；党羽；徒子徒孙 | |
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70
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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71
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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72
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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73
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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74
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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75
rehearsal
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| n.排练，排演；练习 | |
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76
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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77
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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78
ridicule
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| v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄 | |
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abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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imputed
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| v.把（错误等）归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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81
insular
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| adj.岛屿的，心胸狭窄的 | |
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82
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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dominions
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| 统治权( dominion的名词复数 )； 领土； 疆土； 版图 | |
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84
crumbling
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| adj.摇摇欲坠的 | |
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85
disparaging
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| adj.轻蔑的，毁谤的v.轻视( disparage的现在分词 )；贬低；批评；非难 | |
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86
rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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87
retinue
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| n.侍从；随员 | |
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88
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
edifice
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| n.宏伟的建筑物(如宫殿，教室) | |
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90
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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91
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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92
ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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93
remains
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|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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94
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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95
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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96
prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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97
ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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98
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
portico
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| n.柱廊，门廊 | |
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100
janitor
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| n.看门人，管门人 | |
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101
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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102
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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103
functionary
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| n.官员；公职人员 | |
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104
comely
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| adj.漂亮的，合宜的 | |
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105
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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106
complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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107
vow
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| n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓 | |
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108
monastery
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|
| n.修道院，僧院，寺院 | |
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109
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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110
perilous
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|
| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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111
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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112
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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113
delicacies
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|
| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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114
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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115
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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116
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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117
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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118
retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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119
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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120
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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121
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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122
squire
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| n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅 | |
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123
lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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124
expatiate
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| v.细说，详述 | |
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125
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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126
gratitude
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|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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127
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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128
virgin
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|
| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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129
connoisseur
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|
| n.鉴赏家，行家，内行 | |
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130
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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131
barbarians
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|
| n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 )；外国人；粗野的人；无教养的人 | |
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132
accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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133
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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134
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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135
exhausted
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|
| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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136
arid
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| adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的 | |
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137
accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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138
petulance
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| n.发脾气，生气，易怒，暴躁，性急 | |
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139
follower
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| n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒 | |
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140
disparagement
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| n.轻视，轻蔑 | |
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141
melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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142
afflicted
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| 使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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143
resounded
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|
| v.（指声音等）回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 )；产生回响；（指某处）回荡着声音 | |
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144
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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145
pageant
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| n.壮观的游行；露天历史剧 | |
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146
solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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147
dispelling
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的现在分词 ) | |
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148
loathing
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|
| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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149
ballad
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| n.歌谣，民谣，流行爱情歌曲 | |
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150
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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151
foul
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|
| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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152
delightful
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|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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153
cession
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| n.割让，转让 | |
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154
diversified
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|
| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
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155
excellence
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|
| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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156
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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157
consecration
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| n.供献，奉献，献祭仪式 | |
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158
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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159
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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160
asses
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| n. 驴，愚蠢的人，臀部 adv. (常用作后置)用于贬损或骂人 | |
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161
strew
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| vt.撒；使散落；撒在…上，散布于 | |
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162
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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163
importunity
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| n.硬要，强求 | |
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164
piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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165
moors
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| v.停泊，系泊（船只）( moor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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166
extravagant
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|
| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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167
stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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168
affronted
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|
| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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169
onset
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|
| n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始 | |
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170
facade
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| n.(建筑物的)正面，临街正面；外表 | |
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171
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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172
hubbub
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| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
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173
bawling
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|
| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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174
villains
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|
| n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼 | |
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175
grotesquely
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|
| adv. 奇异地,荒诞地 | |
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176
capers
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|
| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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177
bauble
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| n.美观而无价值的饰物 | |
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178
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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179
curiously
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|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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180
capered
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|
| v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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181
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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182
scenic
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| adj.自然景色的，景色优美的 | |
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183
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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184
penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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185
pretext
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|
| n.借口，托词 | |
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186
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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187
precipices
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| n.悬崖，峭壁( precipice的名词复数 ) | |
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188
precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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189
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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190
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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191
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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192
mustering
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| v.集合，召集，集结（尤指部队）( muster的现在分词 )；（自他人处）搜集某事物；聚集；激发 | |
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193
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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194
circuitous
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| adj.迂回的路的，迂曲的，绕行的 | |
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195
thickets
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| n.灌木丛( thicket的名词复数 )；丛状物 | |
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196
aromatic
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| adj.芳香的，有香味的 | |
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197
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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198
annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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199
crest
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|
| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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200
entirely
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|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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201
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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202
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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203
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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204
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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205
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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206
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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207
asunder
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| adj.分离的，化为碎片 | |
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208
verge
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| n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临 | |
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209
gulf
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| n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂 | |
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210
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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211
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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212
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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213
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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214
eminences
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| 卓越( eminence的名词复数 )； 著名； 高地； 山丘 | |
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215
lurked
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| vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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216
obliterated
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|
| v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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217
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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218
groans
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| n.呻吟，叹息( groan的名词复数 )；呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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219
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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220
cavern
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| n.洞穴，大山洞 | |
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221
foretell
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| v.预言，预告，预示 | |
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222
unnaturally
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| adv.违反习俗地；不自然地；勉强地；不近人情地 | |
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223
monks
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| n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 ) | |
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224
demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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225
demons
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| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
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226
awed
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| 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 ) | |
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227
hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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228
plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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229
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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230
rebuke
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| v.指责，非难，斥责 [反]praise | |
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231
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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232
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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233
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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234
relinquish
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| v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手 | |
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235
patrimony
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| n.世袭财产，继承物 | |
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236
kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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237
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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238
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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239
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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240
gust
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| n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发 | |
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241
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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242
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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243
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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244
cataracts
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| n.大瀑布( cataract的名词复数 )；白内障 | |
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245
torrents
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| n.倾注；奔流( torrent的名词复数 )；急流；爆发；连续不断 | |
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246
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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247
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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248
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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249
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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250
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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251
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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252
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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253
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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undertaking
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| n.保证，许诺，事业 | |
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255
Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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256
spurned
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| v.一脚踢开，拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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257
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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258
follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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259
spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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260
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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261
aggravation
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| n.烦恼，恼火 | |
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262
postpones
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| v.延期，推迟( postpone的第三人称单数 ) | |
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263
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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264
ignoble
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| adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的 | |
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265
exaction
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| n.强求，强征；杂税 | |
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266
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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267
toils
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| 网 | |
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268
bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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269
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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270
adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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271
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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272
superstitious
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| adj.迷信的 | |
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273
westward
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| n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西 | |
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274
partisan
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| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
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275
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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276
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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277
tinkling
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| n.丁当作响声 | |
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278
jargon
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| n.术语，行话 | |
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279
annex
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| vt.兼并，吞并；n.附属建筑物 | |
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280
sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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281
oracles
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| 神示所( oracle的名词复数 )； 神谕； 圣贤； 哲人 | |
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282
subterranean
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| adj.地下的，地表下的 | |
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283
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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284
averred
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| v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出 | |
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285
rites
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| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
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286
consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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287
expiated
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| v.为（所犯罪过）接受惩罚，赎（罪）( expiate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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288
penances
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| n.（赎罪的）苦行，苦修( penance的名词复数 ) | |
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289
complaisant
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| adj.顺从的，讨好的 | |
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290
margin
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| n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘 | |
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291
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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292
tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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293
refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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294
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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295
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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296
emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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297
sable
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| n.黑貂；adj.黑色的 | |
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298
bickering
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| v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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299
eddy
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| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
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300
emblematic
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| adj.象征的，可当标志的；象征性 | |
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301
tyrants
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| 专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物 | |
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302
poised
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| a.摆好姿势不动的 | |
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303
esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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304
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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305
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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