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Chapter 19 The Child At The Brook-side
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"THOU wilt1 love her dearly," repeated Hester Prynne, as she and the minister sat watching little Pearl. "Dost thou not think her beautiful? And see with what natural skill she has made those simple flowers adorn2 her! Had she gathered pearls, and diamonds, and rubies3, in the wood, they could not have become her better. She is a splendid child! But I know whose brow she has!"

"Dost thou know, Hester," said Arthur Dimmesdale, with an unquiet smile, "that this dear child, tripping about always at thy side, hath caused me many an alarm? Methought- O Hester, what a thought is that, and how terrible to dread4 it!- that my own features were partly repeated in her face, and so strikingly that the world might see them! But she is mostly thine!"

"No, no! Not mostly!" answered the mother, with a tender smile. "A little longer and thou needest not be afraid to trace whose child she is. But how strangely beautiful she looks, with those wild flowers in her hair! It is as if one of the fairies, whom we left in our dear old England, had decked her out to meet us."

It was with a feeling which neither of them had ever before experienced, that they sat and watched Pearl's slow advance. In her was visible the tie that united them. She had been offered to the world, these seven years past, as the living hieroglyphic5, in which was revealed the secret they so darkly sought to hide- all written in this symbol- all plainly manifest- had there been a prophet or magician skilled to read the character of flame! And Pearl was the oneness of their being. Be the foregone evil what it might, how could they doubt that their earthly lives and future destinies were conjoined, when they beheld6 at once the material union, and the spiritual idea, in whom they met, and were to dwell immortally7 together? Thoughts like these- and perhaps other thoughts, which they did not acknowledge or define- threw an awe8 about the child, as she came onward9.

"Let her see nothing strange- no passion nor eagerness- in thy way of accosting10 her," whispered Hester. "Our Pearl is a fitful and fantastic little elf, sometimes. Especially, she is seldom tolerant of emotion, when she does not fully11 comprehend the why and wherefore. But the child hath strong affections! She loves me, and will love thee!"

"Thou canst not think," said the minister, glancing aside at Hester Prynne, "how my heart dreads12 this interview, and yearns13 for it! But, in truth, as I already told thee, children are not readily won to be familiar with me. They will not climb my knee, nor prattle14 in my ear, nor answer to my smile; but stand apart, and eye me strangely. Even little babes, when I take them in my arms, weep bitterly. Yet Pearl, twice in her little lifetime, hath been kind to me! The first time- thou knowest it well! The last was when thou ledst her with thee to the house of yonder stern old Governor."

"And thou didst plead so bravely in her behalf and mine!" answered the mother. "I remember it; and so shall little Pearl. Fear nothing! She may be strange and shy at first, but will soon learn to love thee!"

By this time Pearl had reached the margin15 of the brook16, and stood on the farther side, gazing silently at Hester and the clergyman, who still sat together on the mossy tree-trunk, waiting to receive her. Just where she had paused, the brook chanced to form a pool, so smooth and quiet that it reflected a perfect image of her little figure, with all the brilliant picturesqueness17 of her beauty, in its adornment18 of flowers and wreathed foliage19, but more refined and spiritualised than the reality. This image, so nearly identical with the living Pearl, seemed to communicate somewhat of its own shadowy and intangible quality to the child herself. It was strange, the way in which Pearl stood, looking so steadfastly20 at them through the dim medium of the forest-gloom; herself, meanwhile, all glorified21 with a ray of sunshine, that was attracted thitherward as by a certain sympathy. In the brook beneath stood another child- another and the same- with likewise its ray of golden light. Hester felt herself, in some indistinct and tantalising manner, estranged22 from Pearl; as if the child, in her lonely, ramble23 through the forest, had strayed out of the sphere in which she and her mother dwelt together, and was now vainly seeking to return to it.

There was both truth and error in the impression; the child and mother were estranged, but through Hester's fault, not Pearl's. Since the latter rambled24 from her side, another inmate25 had been admitted within the circle of the mother's feelings, and so modified the aspect of them all, that Pearl, the returning wanderer, could not find her wonted place, and hardly knew where she was.

"I have a strange fancy," observed the sensitive minister, "that this brook is the boundary between two worlds, and that thou canst never meet thy Pearl again. Or is she an elfish spirit, who, as the legends of our childhood taught us, is forbidden to cross a running stream? Pray hasten her; for this delay has already imparted a tremor26 to my nerves."

"Come, dearest child!" said Hester encouragingly, and stretching out both her arms. "How slow thou art! When hast thou been so sluggish27 before now? Here is a friend of mine, who must be thy friend also. Thou wilt have twice as much love, henceforward, as thy mother alone could give thee! Leap across the brook, and come to us. Thou canst leap like a young deer!"

Pearl, without responding in any manner to these honey-sweet expressions, remained on the other side of the brook. Now she fixed28 her bright, wild eyes on her mother, now on the minister, and now included them both in the same glance; as if to detect and explain to herself the relation which they bore to one another. For some unaccountable reason, as Arthur Dimmesdale felt the child's eyes upon himself, his hand- with that gesture so habitual29 as to have become involuntary- stole over his heart. At length, assuming a singular air of authority, Pearl stretched out her hand, with the small forefinger30 extended, and pointing evidently towards her mother's breast. And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too.

"Thou strange child, why dost thou not come to me?" exclaimed Hester.

Pearl still pointed31 with her forefinger; and a frown gathered on her brow; the more impressive from the childish, the almost baby-like aspect of the features that conveyed it. As her mother still kept beckoning32 to her, and arraying her face in a holiday suit of unaccustomed smiles, the child stamped her foot with a yet more imperious look and gesture. In the brook, again, was the fantastic beauty of the image, with its reflected frown, its pointed finger, and imperious gesture, giving emphasis to the aspect of little Pearl.

"Hasten, Pearl; or I shall be angry with thee!" cried Hester Prynne, who, however inured33 to such behaviour on the elf-child's part at other seasons, was naturally anxious for a more seemly deportment now. "Leap across the brook, naughty child, and run hither! Else I must come to thee!"

But Pearl, not a whit34 startled at her mother's threats, any more than mollified by her entreaties36, now suddenly burst into a fit of passion, gesticulating violently, and throwing her small figure into the most extravagant37 contortions38. She accompanied this wild outbreak with piercing shrieks39, which the woods reverberated40 on all sides; so that, alone as she was in her childish and unreasonable41 wrath42, it seemed as if a hidden multitude were lending her their sympathy and encouragement. Seen in the brook, once more, was the shadowy wraith43 of Pearl's image, crowned and girdled with flowers, but stamping its foot, wildly gesticulating, and, in the midst of all, still pointing its small forefinger at Hester's bosom44!

"I see what ails45 the child," whispered Hester to the clergyman, and turning pale in spite of a strong effort to conceal46 her trouble and annoyance47. "Children will not abide48 any, the slightest, change in the accustomed aspect of things that are daily before their eyes. Pearl misses something which she has always seen me wear!"

"I pray you," answered the minister, "if thou hast any means of pacifying49 the child, do it forthwith! Save it were the cankered wrath of an old witch, like Mistress Hibbins," added he, attempting to smile, "I know nothing that I would not sooner encounter than this passion in a child. In Pearl's young beauty, as in the wrinkled witch, it has a preternatural effect. Pacify50 her, if thou lovest me!"

Hester turned again towards Pearl, with a crimson51 blush upon her cheek, a conscious glance aside at the clergyman, and then a heavy sigh; while, even before she had time to speak, the blush yielded to a deadly pallor.

"Pearl," said she sadly, "look down at thy feet! There- before thee!- the hither side of the brook!"

The child turned her eyes to the point indicated; and there lay the scarlet52 letter, so close upon the margin of the stream, that the gold embroidery53 was reflected in it.

"Bring it hither!" said Hester.

"Come thou and take it up!" answered Pearl.

"Was ever such a child!" observed Hester, aside to the minister. "Oh, I have much to tell thee about her! But, in very truth, she is right as regards this hateful token. I must bear its torture yet a little longer- only a few days longer- until we shall have left this region, and look back hither as to a land which we have dreamed of. The forest cannot hide it! The mid-ocean shall take it from my hand, and swallow it up for ever!"

With these words, she advanced to the margin of the brook, took up the scarlet letter, and fastened it again into her bosom. Hopefully, but a moment ago, as Hester had spoken of drowning it in the deep sea, there was a sense of inevitable54 doom55 upon her, as she thus received back this deadly symbol from the hand of fate. She had flung it into infinite space!- she had drawn56 an hour's free breath!- and here again was the scarlet misery57, glittering on the old spot! So it ever is, whether thus typified or no, that an evil deed invests itself with the character of doom. Hester next gathered up the heavy tresses of her hair, and confined them beneath her cap. As if there were a withering58 spell in the sad letter, her beauty, the warmth and richness of her womanhood, departed, like fading sunshine; and a grey shadow seemed to fall across her.

When the dreary59 change was wrought60, she extended her hand to Pearl.

"Dost thou know thy mother now, child?" asked she reproachfully, but with a subdued61 tone. "Wilt thou come across the brook, and own thy mother, now that she has her shame upon her- now that she is sad?"

"Yes; now I will!" answered the child, bounding across the brook, and clasping Hester in her arms. "Now thou art my mother indeed! And I am thy little Pearl!"

In a mood of tenderness that was not usual with her, she drew down her mother's head, and kissed her brow and both her cheeks. But then- by a kind of necessity that always impelled62 this child to alloy63 whatever comfort she might chance to give with a throb64 of anguish- Pearl put up her mouth, and kissed the scarlet letter too!

"That was not kind!" said Hester. "When thou hast shown me a little love, thou mockest me!"

"Why doth the minister sit yonder?" asked Pearl.

"He waits to welcome thee," replied her mother. "Come thou, and entreat35 his blessing65! He loves thee, my little Pearl, and loves thy mother too. Wilt thou not love him? Come! he longs to greet thee!"

"Doth he love us?" said Pearl, looking up, with acute intelligence, into her mother's face. "Will he go back with us, hand in hand, we three together into the town?"

"Not now, dear child," answered Hester. "But in days to come he will walk hand in hand with us. We will have a home and fireside of our own; and thou shalt sit upon his knee; and he will teach thee many things, and love thee dearly. Thou wilt love him; wilt thou not?"

"And will he always keep his hand over his heart?" inquired Pearl.

"Foolish child, what a question is that!" exclaimed her mother. "Come and ask his blessing!"

But, whether influenced by the jealousy66 that seems instinctive67 with every petted child towards a dangerous rival, or from whatever caprice of her freakish nature, Pearl would show no favour to the clergyman. It was only by an exertion68 of force that her mother brought her up to him, hanging back, and manifesting her reluctance69 by odd grimaces70; of which, ever since her babyhood, she had possessed71 a singular variety, and could transform her mobile physiognomy into a series of different aspects, with a new mischief72 in them, each and all. The minister- painfully embarrassed, but hoping that a kiss might prove a talisman73 to admit him into the child's kindlier regards-bent forward, and impressed one on her brow. Hereupon, Pearl broke away from her mother, and, running to the brook, stooped over it, and bathed her forehead, until the unwelcome kiss was quite washed off, and diffused74 through a long lapse75 of the gliding76 water. She then remained apart, silently watching Hester and the clergyman: while they talked together, and made such arrangements as were suggested by their new position, and the purposes soon to be fulfilled.

And now this fateful interview had come to a close. The dell was to be left a solitude77 among its dark, old trees, which, with their multitudinous tongues, would whisper long of what had passed there, and no mortal be the wiser. And the melancholy78 brook would add this other tale to the mystery with which its little heart was already overburdened, and whereof it still kept up a murmuring babble79, with not a whit more cheerfulness of tone than for ages heretofore.


“你会十分喜爱她的,”海丝特·白兰又说了下遍,这时她和牧师正坐在那里瞅着小珠儿。“你难道不认为她很美吗?你看,她天生有多大的本事用那些普通的花朵来装扮自己啊!就算她能在林中采到珍珠、钻石和红宝石,也不会把自己打扮得比这更漂亮了。她是一个十分出色的孩子!但我知道她的额头长得象谁!”

“你知道,海丝特,”阿瑟·丁梅斯代尔带着不安的微笑说,

“这个总是在你身边蹦蹦跳跳的可爱的孩子,曾经多次引起我心惊肉跳吗?我认为,——噢,海丝特,这是个什么样的念头,而且产生这种顾虑又是多么可怕啊!——我自己的一部分面容重现在她的脸上,而且那么酷似,我真怕人们会认出来!不过,她主要还是象你!”

“不,不!不是主要象我!”做母亲的露出温柔的微笑回答说。“过不多久,你就不必担心人们会追究她是谁的孩子了。她头发上戴着那些野花,显得她的模样漂亮得多么不平常啊!仿佛有一个被我们留在我们亲爱的老英格兰的仙子,把自己打扮好,跑来迎接我们了。”

他俩坐在那里,正是怀着一种他们谁也没有体验过的感情来注视着珠儿慢慢走来。在她身上能够看出把他俩连系在一起的纽带。过去这七年里,她作为如同有生命的象形文字,被奉献给人类社会,在她身上揭示了他们竭力要隐藏的秘密,要是有一位先知或法师有本领破解这个火焰般的文字的话,就会懂得一切全都写在这个象征之中,一切全都显示得明明白自!而珠儿就是他俩生命的合而为一。不管以往的邪恶可能是什么,当他们一起看到,由他们交汇并将永在一起共存的肉体结晶和精神概念时,他们怎么可能会怀疑,他们在凡世的生命和未来的命运已经密不可分呢?象这样的想法,以及其它一些他们没有承认或尚未定形的可能的想法,当那孩子向前走着的时候,在她身上投射出一种使人敬畏的色彩。

“你跟她搭话的时候,别让她看出什么不同寻常的地方,既不要太热情,也不要太急切,”海丝特轻声说。“我们的珠儿有时候是个一阵阵让人捉摸不定的小精灵。尤其是在她不大明白缘由的时候,很难接受别人的激情。不过,这孩子有着强烈的爱!她爱我,而且也会爱你的!”

“你难以想象,”牧师说着,偏过头来瞥了一眼海丝特·白兰,“我又害怕这次见面,又盼着这次见面的那种心理!不过,说实话,就象我刚才跟你说的,孩子们是不大乐于同我亲近的。他们不会爬上我的膝头,不肯和我说悄悄话,也不愿回报我的微笑,而只是远远地站着,奇怪地打量着我。连小小的婴儿都一样;我把他们抱在怀里时,他们就使劲哭。可珠儿长这么大,竟有两次对我特别好!头一次,——你知道得很清楚!第二次就是你领她到板着面孔的老总督的那所房子里去的时候。”

“那次你大胆地为了她和我进行了申辩!”做母亲的回答。

“我记得清清楚楚,小珠儿也会记得的。别怕!她开头也许会认生、害躁,但很快就会爱起你来的!”

这时,珠儿已经来到小溪对岸,站在那儿不出声地瞅着海丝特和牧师,他俩依旧并肩坐在长满青苔的树干上,等着见她。就在她停下脚步的地方,小溪恰好聚成一个池塘,水面平静而光滑,把珠儿那小小的身影完满地映砚出来:她腰缠嫩枝编的花带,使她的美貌绚丽如画,比本人还要精美,更象仙女。那映象几乎与真的珠儿分毫不爽,似乎将其自身的某种阴影般莫测的品性传递给孩子本人了。奇妙的是,珠儿站在那里,不错眼珠地透过林中的幽暗盯视着他们;与此同时,她全身都沐浴在仿佛是被某种感应吸引到她身上的一道阳光中。在她脚下的小溪中站着另一个孩子——是另外一个,但又一模一样——身上同样洒满阳光。海丝特模糊而痛心地感到,她自己好象同珠儿变得陌生起来;好象那孩子独自在森林中游荡时,走出了她和她母亲同居的范围,如今正在徒劳地想回来。

这种印象有正确的一面,也有错误的一面;孩子和母亲是变得生疏了,但那要归咎于海丝特,而不是珠儿。自从孩子从她身边走开,另外一个亲人来到了母亲的感情圈内,从而改变了他们三人的地位,以致珠儿这个归来的流浪儿,找不到她一向的位置,几乎不知自己身在何方了。

“我有一种奇怪的幻想,”敏感的牧师说,“这条小溪是两个世界之间的分界线,你永远不会再和珠儿相会了。要不,说不定她是个小精灵,象我们儿时的童话所教的,她是不准渡过流淌的溪流的吧?请你赶快催催她;这么耽搁着,已经把我的神经弄得颤抖起来了。”

“过来,乖宝贝儿!”海丝特给孩子鼓劲说,同时伸出了双臂。

“你走得太慢慢腾腾了!你什么时候象现在这样懒洋洋过?这儿有我的一个朋友,他也该是你的朋友。从今以后,你就不只有你妈妈一个人的爱了,你要得到双倍的爱的!跳过小溪,到我们这儿来。你不是可以象一头小鹿一样地跳嘛!”

珠儿对这些甜蜜的话语不理不睬,仍然呆在小溪的对岸。此时她那一对明亮而狂野的脖子,时而盯着她母亲,时而盯着牧师,时而同时盯住他们两个;仿佛耍想弄清并给自己解释他们两人之间的关系。出于某种难以名状的原因,阿瑟·丁梅斯代尔感到孩子助目光落在他身上时,他的手以习惯成自然的姿势,悄悄捂到了心口上。最后,珠儿作出一副独特的不容置辩的神情,伸出她小小的食指,显然是指着她母亲的胸部。在她脚下,映在镜面般的溪水中的那个戴着花环、浴满阳光的小珠儿的影象,也指点着她的小小的食指。

“你这个怪孩子,为什么不到我身边来呢?”海丝特叫道。

珠儿依旧用她的食指指点着;眉间渐渐皱起;由于这姿态表情来自一个满脸稚气、甚至象婴儿般面孔的孩子,就给人印象尤深。而由于她母亲仍在不断呼唤她,而且脸上堆满非比寻常的笑容,那孩子便以更加专横的神情和姿态使劲跺着两脚。同样,在小溪中那个美得出奇的形象,也映出了皱着的眉头、伸出的手指和专横的姿态,为小珠儿的模样平添了效果。

“快点,珠儿;要不我可要跟你生气了!”海丝特·白兰嚷道,她平时尽管已经熟习了这小精灵似的孩子的这种举止,但此时自然巴不得她能表现得更懂规矩些。“跳过小溪来,顽皮的孩子,跑过来!要不我就过去了!”

珠儿刚才对她母亲的请求无动于衷,此时对母亲的吓唬也毫不惊惶;却突然大发脾气,做出激烈的姿态,把她小小的身躯弄得七扭八歪。她一边这样狂暴地扭动着,一边厉声尖叫,震得四下的树木一起回响;因此,虽说她只是独自一人毫无道理地大发小孩脾气,却象是有一群不露面的人在同情地绘她助威。此时在小溪中又一次看到殊儿温怒的身影:头戴花冠,腰缠花带,脚下使劲地跺着,身子狂暴地扭着,同时那小小的食指也始终指着海丝特的胸口!

“我明白这孩子是怎么回事了,”海丝特对牧师低声说着,由于强按心中的忧烦而变得面色苍白。“孩子们对于每日在眼前司空见惯的东西容不得有丝毫改变。珠儿是看不见我不离身地佩戴的东西了!”

“我恳求你了,”牧师回答说,“如果你有什么办法能让这孩子安静下来,赶紧拿出来吧!除去象西宾斯太太那样的老妖婆发疯式的愤怒,”他强笑着补充说,“再没有比看到这孩子发脾气更让人不情愿的了。在年幼、美丽的珠儿身上,和那满脸皱纹的老妖婆一样,准有一种超自然的力量。要是你爱我,就让她安静下来吧!”

海丝特又转向珠儿,这时她脸上泛起红潮,故意斜睨了牧师一眼,然后重重地叹了口气;但她还没来得及开口,红潮就褪成死一般的苍白了。

“珠儿,”她伤心地说,“往你脚下瞧!就在那儿!——在你跟前!——在小溪的这边岸上!”

那孩子的目光转向指给她看的地方;红字就躺在那里,紧靠着岸边,金丝刺绣还在溪中反着光。

“把它拣回来!”海丝特说。

“你过来拾吧!”珠儿回答道。

“哪有这样的孩子!”海丝特回头对牧师评论着。“噢,我有好多她的事要告诉你呢!不过,的的确确,她对这可恨的标记的看法是没错的。我还得再忍受一下这折磨人的玩艺儿,——也就是几天吧,——到那时我们就已经离开这块地方,再回头看看,就只是一块我们曾经梦想过的土地了。这片森林还藏不住它!但汪洋大海可以从我手里把它取走,并且永远把它吞没!”她一边这样说着,一边走到小溪边上,把红字拣起来,重新钉到胸前。仅仅片刻之前,海丝特还满怀希望地谈到要把红字沉进深深的海底,但当她从命运之神的手中重新接过这死一般的象征时,就感到一种难以避免的阴沉笼罩着她。她已经把它抛进了无限的空间!——她曾经吸进了一小时的自由空气!——可现在那红色的悲惨又重新在老地方闪闪发光了!事情从来如此,一种邪恶的行为不管有否这种表征,从来都带有这种厄运的品性。接着,海丝特挽起她浓密的发绺,用帽子罩了起来。似乎在这令人哀伤的字母中有一种枯萎的符咒,她的美丽,她那女性的丰满和温暖,都象落日般地离去了;一抹灰蒙蒙的阴影似是落在了她身上。

这一阴郁的变化完成之后,她向珠儿伸出了手。

“现在你认识你妈妈了吧,孩子?”她压着声音责问说。“现在你妈妈又戴上了她的耻辱,——她又悲伤了,你愿意走过河来,认她了吧?”

“是啊;现在我愿意过去了!”孩子回答着,跳过小溪,抱住了海丝特。“现在你才真是我妈妈了!而我也是你的小珠儿了!”珠儿以一种她不常有的温柔劲,往下拽着她母亲的头,亲了她母亲的额头和双颊。可是,似乎有一种必要推动着这孩子,在她偶然给人的某种安慰中溶进一阵极度的苦恼,接着,珠儿抬起她的嘴唇,也把那红字亲吻了一下。

“这可不好!”海丝特说。“你对我表示出一点点爱的时候,却要嘲弄我!”

“牧师干嘛坐在那儿?”珠儿问。

“他等着欢迎你呢,”她母亲回答。“你过来,恳求他的祝福吧!他爱你,我的小珠儿,而且也爱你妈妈。难道你不肯爱他吗?来啊!他可想问候你呢!”

“他爱我们吗?”珠儿说着,目光中流露出明察秋毫的聪慧,抬起眼睛瞅着她母亲的面孔。“他会跟我们手拉着手一起回去——我们三个人一起进镇子去吗?”

“这会儿还不成,我的乖孩子,”海丝特回答说。“但是在未来的日子里,他会跟我们手拉手地一起走的。我们会有我们的一个家和壁炉;你呢,将要坐在他的膝头;而他会教给你许多事情,会亲亲热热地爱你。你也会爱他的;不是吗?”

“那他还会用手捂着心口吗?”珠儿探询着。

“傻孩子,这算什么问题啊!”她母亲惊讶地大声说。“过来请脑祝福吧!”

但是,不知是出于一切受宠的小孩子那种似乎是本能的对危险的对手的妒嫉,还是她那种异想天开的天性又发作了出来,珠儿不肯对牧师表示丝毫好感。只是在她母亲连拉带拽之后,才总算把她领到了他跟前,可她还是往后坠着,脸上还做着怪样,表示她的不情愿;从她还是婴儿时期起,她就会做出各色各样的怪模样,把她那活泼的面容变成一系列的不同表情,每一种表情中都带有一种新的恶作剧。牧师给弄得既难过又尴尬,但他想,一次亲吻或许可以起到一种奇异的效果,让孩子能把他看得亲近些,抱着这样的希望,他弯腰向前,在她的额头上亲了一下。珠儿立刻挣脱她母亲拉着她的手,跑到小溪边上,猫下身子,洗起她的额头,直到那不受欢迎的亲吻完全给洗净,散进潺潺流逝的溪水之中。然后她便远远地呆在一边,默默地望着海丝特和牧师;此时,两个大人正在一起谈着,根据他们很快要去实现的新目标和新处境,做出种种安排。

这次命运恢关的会见此时已接近尾声。那小小的山谷将被遗弃在幽暗和古老的树木中间,孤独而寂寞地聆听着那些树木的众多舌头长时间地悄声议论着在这里发生过的不为人知的事情。而这条忧郁的小溪也将在它那已经过于沉重的小小心灵中再加上另一个神秘的故事,它将继续潺潺向前,悄声低语,其音调比起先前的多少世纪绝不会有半点欢快。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 wilt oMNz5     
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎;(指人)疲倦,衰弱
参考例句:
  • Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。
  • Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。
2 adorn PydzZ     
vt.使美化,装饰
参考例句:
  • She loved to adorn herself with finery.她喜欢穿戴华丽的服饰。
  • His watercolour designs adorn a wide range of books.他的水彩设计使许多图书大为生色。
3 rubies 534be3a5d4dab7c1e30149143213b88f     
红宝石( ruby的名词复数 ); 红宝石色,深红色
参考例句:
  • a necklace of rubies intertwined with pearls 缠着珍珠的红宝石项链
  • The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。
4 dread Ekpz8     
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧
参考例句:
  • We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
  • Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
5 hieroglyphic 5dKxO     
n.象形文字
参考例句:
  • For centuries hieroglyphic word pictures painted on Egyptian ruins were a mystery.几世纪以来,刻划在埃及废墟中的象形文字一直是个谜。
  • Dongba is an ancient hieroglyphic language.东巴文是中国一种古老的象形文字。
6 beheld 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
参考例句:
  • His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
7 immortally 2f94d9c97f3695f3e262e64d6eb33777     
不朽地,永世地,无限地
参考例句:
  • Game developer can walk on royal shoulder, bring up class jointly make immortally. 游戏开发者可以踩在盛大的肩膀上,共同造就世界级的不朽之作。
8 awe WNqzC     
n.敬畏,惊惧;vt.使敬畏,使惊惧
参考例句:
  • The sight filled us with awe.这景色使我们大为惊叹。
  • The approaching tornado struck awe in our hearts.正在逼近的龙卷风使我们惊恐万分。
9 onward 2ImxI     
adj.向前的,前进的;adv.向前,前进,在先
参考例句:
  • The Yellow River surges onward like ten thousand horses galloping.黄河以万马奔腾之势滚滚向前。
  • He followed in the steps of forerunners and marched onward.他跟随着先辈的足迹前进。
10 accosting 35c05353db92b49762afd10ad894fb22     
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的现在分词 );跟…搭讪;(乞丐等)上前向…乞讨;(妓女等)勾搭
参考例句:
  • The provider of our first breakfast was found by the King of Accosting. 首顿早餐的供货商,此地的发现得来于搭讪之王简称讪王千岁殿下的首次参上。 来自互联网
11 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
12 dreads db0ee5f32d4e353c1c9df0c82a9c9c2f     
n.恐惧,畏惧( dread的名词复数 );令人恐惧的事物v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • The little boy dreads going to bed in the dark. 这孩子不敢在黑暗中睡觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • A burnt child dreads the fire. [谚]烧伤过的孩子怕火(惊弓之鸟,格外胆小)。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
13 yearns 7534bd99979b274a3e611926f9c7ea38     
渴望,切盼,向往( yearn的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Every man yearns for sympathy in sorrow. 每个遇到不幸的人都渴望得到同情。
  • What I dread is to get into a rut. One yearns for freshness of thought and ideas. 我害怕的就是墨守成规。人总是向往新思想和新观念的。
14 prattle LPbx7     
n.闲谈;v.(小孩般)天真无邪地说话;发出连续而无意义的声音
参考例句:
  • Amy's happy prattle became intolerable.艾美兴高采烈地叽叽喳喳说个不停,汤姆感到无法忍受。
  • Flowing water and green grass witness your lover's endless prattle.流水缠绕,小草依依,都是你诉不尽的情话。
15 margin 67Mzp     
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘
参考例句:
  • We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
16 brook PSIyg     
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让
参考例句:
  • In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
  • The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。
17 picturesqueness aeff091e19ef9a1f448a2fcb2342eeab     
参考例句:
  • The picturesqueness of the engineer's life was always attractive to Presley. 这司机的丰富多彩的生活,始终叫普瑞斯莱醉心。
  • Philip liked the daring picturesqueness of the Americans'costume. 菲利浦喜欢美国人装束的那种粗犷的美。
18 adornment cxnzz     
n.装饰;装饰品
参考例句:
  • Lucie was busy with the adornment of her room.露西正忙着布置她的房间。
  • Cosmetics are used for adornment.化妆品是用来打扮的。
19 foliage QgnzK     
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶
参考例句:
  • The path was completely covered by the dense foliage.小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。
  • Dark foliage clothes the hills.浓密的树叶覆盖着群山。
20 steadfastly xhKzcv     
adv.踏实地,不变地;岿然;坚定不渝
参考例句:
  • So he sat, with a steadfastly vacant gaze, pausing in his work. 他就像这样坐着,停止了工作,直勾勾地瞪着眼。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
  • Defarge and his wife looked steadfastly at one another. 德伐日和他的妻子彼此凝视了一会儿。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
21 glorified 74d607c2a7eb7a7ef55bda91627eda5a     
美其名的,变荣耀的
参考例句:
  • The restaurant was no more than a glorified fast-food cafe. 这地方美其名曰餐馆,其实只不过是个快餐店而已。
  • The author glorified the life of the peasants. 那个作者赞美了农民的生活。
22 estranged estranged     
adj.疏远的,分离的
参考例句:
  • He became estranged from his family after the argument.那场争吵后他便与家人疏远了。
  • The argument estranged him from his brother.争吵使他同他的兄弟之间的关系疏远了。
23 ramble DAszo     
v.漫步,漫谈,漫游;n.漫步,闲谈,蔓延
参考例句:
  • This is the best season for a ramble in the suburbs.这是去郊区漫游的最好季节。
  • I like to ramble about the street after work.我下班后在街上漫步。
24 rambled f9968757e060a59ff2ab1825c2706de5     
(无目的地)漫游( ramble的过去式和过去分词 ); (喻)漫谈; 扯淡; 长篇大论
参考例句:
  • We rambled through the woods. 我们漫步走过树林。
  • She rambled on at great length but she didn't get to the heart of the matter. 她夹七夹八地说了许多话也没说到点子上。
25 inmate l4cyN     
n.被收容者;(房屋等的)居住人;住院人
参考例句:
  • I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
  • The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。
26 tremor Tghy5     
n.震动,颤动,战栗,兴奋,地震
参考例句:
  • There was a slight tremor in his voice.他的声音有点颤抖。
  • A slight earth tremor was felt in California.加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。
27 sluggish VEgzS     
adj.懒惰的,迟钝的,无精打采的
参考例句:
  • This humid heat makes you feel rather sluggish.这种湿热的天气使人感到懒洋洋的。
  • Circulation is much more sluggish in the feet than in the hands.脚部的循环比手部的循环缓慢得多。
28 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
29 habitual x5Pyp     
adj.习惯性的;通常的,惯常的
参考例句:
  • He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。
  • They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。
30 forefinger pihxt     
n.食指
参考例句:
  • He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。
  • He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。
31 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
32 beckoning fcbc3f0e8d09c5f29e4c5759847d03d6     
adj.引诱人的,令人心动的v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
  • He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句
33 inured inured     
adj.坚强的,习惯的
参考例句:
  • The prisoners quickly became inured to the harsh conditions.囚犯们很快就适应了苛刻的条件。
  • He has inured himself to accept misfortune.他锻练了自己,使自己能承受不幸。
34 whit TgXwI     
n.一点,丝毫
参考例句:
  • There's not a whit of truth in the statement.这声明里没有丝毫的真实性。
  • He did not seem a whit concerned.他看来毫不在乎。
35 entreat soexj     
v.恳求,恳请
参考例句:
  • Charles Darnay felt it hopeless entreat him further,and his pride was touched besides.查尔斯-达尔内感到再恳求他已是枉然,自尊心也受到了伤害。
  • I entreat you to contribute generously to the building fund.我恳求您慷慨捐助建设基金。
36 entreaties d56c170cf2a22c1ecef1ae585b702562     
n.恳求,乞求( entreaty的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • He began with entreaties and ended with a threat. 他先是恳求,最后是威胁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves. 暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
37 extravagant M7zya     
adj.奢侈的;过分的;(言行等)放肆的
参考例句:
  • They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
  • He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。
38 contortions bveznR     
n.扭歪,弯曲;扭曲,弄歪,歪曲( contortion的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Trimeris' compound, called T-20, blocks the final structural contortions from taking place. T-20是特里米瑞斯公司生产的化合物。它能阻止分子最终结构折叠的发生。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 癌症与艾滋病
  • The guard was laughing at his contortions. 那个警卫看到他那难受劲儿感到好笑。 来自英汉文学
39 shrieks e693aa502222a9efbbd76f900b6f5114     
n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • shrieks of fiendish laughter 恶魔般的尖笑声
  • For years, from newspapers, broadcasts, the stages and at meetings, we had heard nothing but grandiloquent rhetoric delivered with shouts and shrieks that deafened the ears. 多少年来, 报纸上, 广播里, 舞台上, 会场上的声嘶力竭,装腔做态的高调搞得我们震耳欲聋。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
40 reverberated 3a97b3efd3d8e644bcdffd01038c6cdb     
回响,回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 ); 使反响,使回荡,使反射
参考例句:
  • Her voice reverberated around the hall. 她的声音在大厅里回荡。
  • The roar of guns reverberated in the valley. 炮声响彻山谷。
41 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的
参考例句:
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
42 wrath nVNzv     
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒
参考例句:
  • His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
  • The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。
43 wraith ZMLzD     
n.幽灵;骨瘦如柴的人
参考例句:
  • My only question right now involves the wraith.我唯一的问题是关于幽灵的。
  • So,what you're saying is the Ancients actually created the Wraith?照你这么说,实际上是古人创造了幽灵?
44 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
45 ails c1d673fb92864db40e1d98aae003f6db     
v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 );感到不舒服;处境困难;境况不佳
参考例句:
  • He will not concede what anything ails his business. 他不允许任何事情来干扰他的工作。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Measles ails the little girl. 麻疹折磨着这个小女孩。 来自《简明英汉词典》
46 conceal DpYzt     
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽
参考例句:
  • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
  • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
47 annoyance Bw4zE     
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼
参考例句:
  • Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气?
  • I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。
48 abide UfVyk     
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受
参考例句:
  • You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
  • If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部,你就得遵守它的规章。
49 pacifying 6bba1514be412ac99ea000a5564eb242     
使(某人)安静( pacify的现在分词 ); 息怒; 抚慰; 在(有战争的地区、国家等)实现和平
参考例句:
  • The papers put the emphasis on pacifying rather than suppressing the protesters. 他们强调要安抚抗议者而不是动用武力镇压。
  • Hawthorn products have the function of pacifying the stomach and spleen, and promoting digestion. 山楂制品,和中消食。
50 pacify xKFxa     
vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒);抚慰
参考例句:
  • He tried to pacify the protesters with promises of reform.他试图以改革的承诺安抚抗议者。
  • He tried to pacify his creditors by repaying part of the money.他为安抚债权人偿还了部分借款。
51 crimson AYwzH     
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色
参考例句:
  • She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
  • Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。
52 scarlet zD8zv     
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的
参考例句:
  • The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
  • The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了,深红的颜色变成了绯红,绯红又变为浅红。
53 embroidery Wjkz7     
n.绣花,刺绣;绣制品
参考例句:
  • This exquisite embroidery won people's great admiration.这件精美的绣品,使人惊叹不已。
  • This is Jane's first attempt at embroidery.这是简第一次试着绣花。
54 inevitable 5xcyq     
adj.不可避免的,必然发生的
参考例句:
  • Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
  • The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。
55 doom gsexJ     
n.厄运,劫数;v.注定,命定
参考例句:
  • The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
  • The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。
56 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
57 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
参考例句:
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
58 withering 8b1e725193ea9294ced015cd87181307     
使人畏缩的,使人害羞的,使人难堪的
参考例句:
  • She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
  • The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。
59 dreary sk1z6     
adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的
参考例句:
  • They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
  • She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。
60 wrought EoZyr     
v.引起;以…原料制作;运转;adj.制造的
参考例句:
  • Events in Paris wrought a change in British opinion towards France and Germany.巴黎发生的事件改变了英国对法国和德国的看法。
  • It's a walking stick with a gold head wrought in the form of a flower.那是一个金质花形包头的拐杖。
61 subdued 76419335ce506a486af8913f13b8981d     
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
  • I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
62 impelled 8b9a928e37b947d87712c1a46c607ee7     
v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
  • I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
63 alloy fLryq     
n.合金,(金属的)成色
参考例句:
  • The company produces titanium alloy.该公司生产钛合金。
  • Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin.青铜是铜和锡的合金。
64 throb aIrzV     
v.震颤,颤动;(急速强烈地)跳动,搏动
参考例句:
  • She felt her heart give a great throb.她感到自己的心怦地跳了一下。
  • The drums seemed to throb in his ears.阵阵鼓声彷佛在他耳边震响。
65 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
66 jealousy WaRz6     
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌
参考例句:
  • Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
  • I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。
67 instinctive c6jxT     
adj.(出于)本能的;直觉的;(出于)天性的
参考例句:
  • He tried to conceal his instinctive revulsion at the idea.他试图饰盖自己对这一想法本能的厌恶。
  • Animals have an instinctive fear of fire.动物本能地怕火。
68 exertion F7Fyi     
n.尽力,努力
参考例句:
  • We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力,累得大汗淋漓。
  • She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡,她浑身发热。
69 reluctance 8VRx8     
n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿
参考例句:
  • The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
  • He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。
70 grimaces 40efde7bdc7747d57d6bf2f938e10b72     
n.(表蔑视、厌恶等)面部扭曲,鬼脸( grimace的名词复数 )v.扮鬼相,做鬼脸( grimace的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Mr. Clark winked at the rude child making grimaces. 克拉克先生假装没有看见那个野孩子做鬼脸。 来自辞典例句
  • The most ridiculous grimaces were purposely or unconsciously indulged in. 故意或者无心地扮出最滑稽可笑的鬼脸。 来自辞典例句
71 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
72 mischief jDgxH     
n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹
参考例句:
  • Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
  • He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。
73 talisman PIizs     
n.避邪物,护身符
参考例句:
  • It was like a talisman worn in bosom.它就象佩在胸前的护身符一样。
  • Dress was the one unfailling talisman and charm used for keeping all things in their places.冠是当作保持品位和秩序的一种万应灵符。
74 diffused 5aa05ed088f24537ef05f482af006de0     
散布的,普及的,扩散的
参考例句:
  • A drop of milk diffused in the water. 一滴牛奶在水中扩散开来。
  • Gases and liquids diffused. 气体和液体慢慢混合了。
75 lapse t2lxL     
n.过失,流逝,失效,抛弃信仰,间隔;vi.堕落,停止,失效,流逝;vt.使失效
参考例句:
  • The incident was being seen as a serious security lapse.这一事故被看作是一次严重的安全疏忽。
  • I had a lapse of memory.我记错了。
76 gliding gliding     
v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的
参考例句:
  • Swans went gliding past. 天鹅滑行而过。
  • The weather forecast has put a question mark against the chance of doing any gliding tomorrow. 天气预报对明天是否能举行滑翔表示怀疑。
77 solitude xF9yw     
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方
参考例句:
  • People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
  • They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
78 melancholy t7rz8     
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的
参考例句:
  • All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
  • He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过,他感到很郁闷。
79 babble 9osyJ     
v.含糊不清地说,胡言乱语地说,儿语
参考例句:
  • No one could understand the little baby's babble. 没人能听懂这个小婴孩的话。
  • The babble of voices in the next compartment annoyed all of us.隔壁的车厢隔间里不间歇的嘈杂谈话声让我们都很气恼。


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