“Now dame1,” quoth he, “Je vous dis sans doute,
Had I nought2 of a capon but the liver,
And of your white bread nought but a shiver,
And after that a roasted pigge’s head
(But I ne wold for me no beast were dead),
Then had I with you homely3 sufferaunce.”
CHAUCER, Summer’s Tale.
IT was not without some secret misgivings4 that Caleb set out upon his exploratory expedition. In fact, it was attended with a treble difficulty. He dared not tell his mast the offence which he had that morning given to Bucklaw, just for the honour of the family; he dared not acknowledge he had been too hasty in refusing the purse; and, thirdly, he was somewhat apprehensive6 of unpleasant consequences upon his meeting Hayston under the impression of an affront7, and probably by this time under the influence also of no small quantity of brandy.
Caleb, to do him justice, was as bold as any lion where the honour of the family of Ravenswood was concerned; but his was that considerate valour which does not delight in unnecessary risks. This, however, was a secondary consideration; the main point was to veil the indigence8 of the housekeeping at the castle, and to make good his vaunt of the cheer which his resources could procure9, without Lockhard’s assistance, and without supplies from his master. This was as prime a point of honour with him as with the generous elephant with whom we have already compared him, who, being overtasked, broke his skull10 through the desperate exertions11 which he made to discharge his duty, when he perceived they were bringing up another to his assistance.
The village which they now approached had frequently afforded the distressed12 butler resources upon similar emergencies; but his relations with it had been of late much altered.
It was a little hamlet which straggled along the side of a creek14 formed by the discharge of a small brook15 into the sea, and was hidden from the castle, to which it had been in former times an appendage16, by the intervention17 of the shoulder of a hill forming a projecting headland. It was called Wolf’s Hope (i.e. Wolf’s Haven), and the few inhabitants gained a precarious18 subsistence by manning two or three fishing-boats in the herring season, and smuggling19 gin and brandy during the winter months. They paid a kind of hereditary20 respect to the Lords of Ravenswood; but, in the difficulties of the family, most of the inhabitants of Wolf’s Hope had contrived21 to get feu-rights to their little possessions, their huts, kail-yards, and rights of commonty, so that they were emancipated22 from the chains of feudal23 dependence24, and free from the various exactions with which, under every possible pretext26, or without any pretext at all, the Scottish landlords of the period, themselves in great poverty, were wont27 to harass28 their still poorer tenants29 at will. They might be, on the whole, termed independent, a circumstance peculiarly galling31 to Caleb, who had been wont to exercise over them the same sweeping33 authority in levying34 contributions which was exercised in former times in England, when “the royal purveyors, sallying forth35 from under the Gothic portcullis to purchase provisions with power and prerogative36, instead of money, brought home the plunder37 of an hundred markets, and all that could be seized from a flying and hiding country, and deposited their spoil in an hundred caverns39.”
Caleb loved the memory and resented the downfall of that authority, which mimicked40, on a petty scale, the grand contributions exacted by the feudal sovereigns. And as he fondly flattered himself that the awful rule and right supremacy41, which assigned to the Barons43 of Ravenswood the first and most effective interest in all productions of nature within five miles of their castle, only slumbered44, and was not departed for ever, he used every now and then to give the recollection of the inhabitants a little jog by some petty exaction25. These were at first submitted to, with more or less readiness, by the inhabitants of the hamlet; for they had been so long used to consider the wants of the Baron42 and his family as having a title to be preferred to their own, that their actual independence did not convey to them an immediate46 sense of freedom. They resembled a man that has been long fettered47, who, even at liberty, feels in imagination the grasp of the handcuffs still binding48 his wrists. But the exercise of freedom is quickly followed with the natural consciousness of its immunities49, as the enlarged prisoner, by the free use of his limbs, soon dispels50 the cramped51 feeling they had acquired when bound.
The inhabitants of Wolf’s Hope began to grumble52, to resist, and at length positively53 to refuse compliance54 with the exactions of Caleb Balderstone. It was in vain he reminded them, that when the eleventh Lord Ravenswood, called the Skipper, from his delight in naval55 matters, had encouraged the trade of their port by building the pier56 (a bulwark57 of stones rudely piled together), which protected the fishing-boats from the weather, it had been matter of understanding that he was to have the first stone of butter after the calving of every cow within the barony, and the first egg, thence called the Monday’s egg, laid by every hen on every Monday in the year.
The feuars heard and scratched their heads, coughed, sneezed, and being pressed for answer, rejoined with one voice, “They could not say”— the universal refuge of a Scottish peasant when pressed to admit a claim which his conscience owns, or perhaps his feelings, and his interest inclines him to deny.
Caleb, however, furnished the notables of Wolf’s Hope with a note of the requisition of butter and eggs, which he claimed as arrears59 of the aforesaid subsidy60, or kindly61 aid, payable62 as above mentioned; and having intimated that he would not be averse63 to compound the same for goods or money, if it was inconvenient64 to them to pay in kind, left them, as he hoped, to debate the mode of assessing themselves for that purpose. On the contrary, they met with a determined65 purpose of resisting the exaction, and were only undecided as to the mode of grounding their opposition66, when the cooper, a very important person on a fishing-station, and one of the conscript fathers of the village, observed, “That their hens had caickled mony a day for the Lords of Ravenswood, and it was time they suld caickle for those that gave them roosts and barley67.” An unanimous grin intimated the assent68 of the assembly. “And,” continued the orator5, “if it’s your wull, I’ll just tak a step as far as Dunse for Davie Dingwall, the writer, that’s come frae the North to settle amang us, and he’ll pit this job to rights, I’se warrant him.”
A day was accordingly fixed69 for holding a grand palaver70 at Wolf’s Hope on the subject of Caleb’s requisitions, and he was invited to attend at the hamlet for that purpose.
He went with open hands and empty stomach, trusting to fill the one on his master’s account and the other on his own score, at the expense of the feuars of Wolf’s Hope. But, death to his hopes! as he entered the eastern end of the straggling village, the awful form of Davie Dingwall, a sly, dry, hard-fisted, shrewd country attorney, who had already acted against the family of Ravenswood, and was a principal agent of Sir William Ashton, trotted71 in at the western extremity72, bestriding a leathern portmanteau stuffed with the feu-charters of the hamlet, and hoping he had not kept Mr. Balderstone waiting, “as he was instructed and fully73 empowered to pay or receive, compound or compensate74, and, in fine, to age as accords respecting all mutual75 and unsettled claims whatsoever76, belonging or competent to the Honourable77 Edgar Ravenswood, commonly called the Master of Ravenswood ——”
“The RIGHT Honourable Edgar LORD RAVENSWOOD,” said Caleb, with great emphasis; for, though conscious he had little chance of advantage in the conflict to ensue, he was resolved not to sacrifice one jot78 of honour.
“Lord Ravenswood, then,” said the man of business —“we shall not quarrel with you about titles of courtesy — commonly called Lord Ravenswood, or Master of Ravenswood, heritable proprietor79 of the lands and barony of Wolf’s Crag, on othe ne part, and to John Whitefish and others, feuars in the town of Wolf’s Hope, within the barony aforesaid, on the other part.”
Caleb was conscious, from sad experience, that he would wage a very different strife80 with this mercenary champion than with the individual feuars themselves, upon whose old recollections, predilections81, and habits of thinking he might have wrought82 by an hundred indirect arguments, to which their deputy-representative was totally insensible. The issue of the debate proved the reality of his apprehensions83. It was in vain he strained his eloquence84 and ingenuity85, and collected into one mass all arguments arising from antique custom and hereditary respect, from the good deeds done by the Lords of Ravenswood to the community of Wolf’s Hope in former days, and from what might be expected from them in future. The writer stuck to the contents of his feu-charters; he could not see it: ’twas not in the bond. And when Caleb, determined to try what a little spirit would do, deprecated the consequences of Lord Ravenswood’s withdrawing his protection from the burgh, and even hinted in his using active measures of resentment86, the man of law sneered87 in his face.
“His clients,” he said, “had determined to do the best they could for their own town, and he thought Lord Ravenswood, since he was a lord, might have enough to do to look after his own castle. As to any threats of stouthrief oppression, by rule of thumb, or via facti, as the law termed it, he would have Mr. Balderstone recollect45, that new times were not as old times; that they lived on the south of the Forth, and far from the Highlands; that his clients thought they were able to protect themselves; but should they find themselves mistaken, they would apply to the government for the protection of a corporal and four red-coats, who,” said Mr. Dingwall, with a grin, “would be perfectly90 able to secure them against Lord Ravenswood, and all that he or his followers91 could do by the strong hand.”
If Caleb could have concentrated all the lightnings of aristocracy in his eye, to have struck dead this contemner92 of allegiance and privilege, he would have launched them at his head, without respect to the consequences. As it was, he was compelled to turn his course backward to the castle; and there he remained for full half a day invisible and inaccessible93 even to Mysie, sequestered94 in his own peculiar30 dungeon95, where he sat burnishing96 a single pewter plate and whistling “Maggie Lauder” six hours without intermission.
The issue of this unfortunate requisition had shut against Caleb all resources which could be derived97 from Wolf’s Hope and its purlieus, the El Dorado, or Peru, from which, in all former cases of exigence, he had been able to extract some assistance. He had, indeed, in a manner vowed98 that the deil should have him, if ever he put the print of his foot within its causeway again. He had hitherto kept his word; and, strange to tell, this secession had, as he intended, in some degree, the effect of a punishment upon the refractory99 feuars. Mr. Balderstone had been a person in their eyes connected with a superior order of beings, whose presence used to grace their little festivities, whose advice they found useful on many occasions, and whose communications gave a sort of credit to their village. The place, they acknowledged, “didna look as it used to do, and should do, since Mr. Caleb keepit the castle sae closely; but doubtless, touching100 the eggs and butter, it was a most unreasonable101 demand, as Mr. Dingwall had justly made manifest.”
Thus stood matters betwixt the parties, when the old butler, though it was gall32 and wormwood to him, found himself obliged either to ackowledge before a strange man of quality, and, what was much worse, before that stranger’s servant, the total inability of Wolf’s Crag to produce a dinner, or he must trust to the compassion102 of the feuars of Wofl’s Hope. It was a dreadful degradation103; but necessity was equally imperious and lawless. With these feelings he entered the street of the village.
Willing to shake himself from his companion as soon as possible, he directed Mr. Lockhard to Luckie Sma-trash’s change-house, where a din38, proceeding104 from the revels105 of Bucklaw, Craigengelt, and their party, sounded half-way down the street, while the red glare from the window overpowered the grey twilight106 which was now settling down, and glimmered107 against a parcel of old tubs, kegs, and barrels, piled up in the cooper’s yard, on the other side of the way.
“If you, Mr. Lockhard,” said the old butler to his companion, “will be pleased to step to the change-house where that light comes from, and where, as I judge, they are now singing ‘Cauld Kail in Aberdeen,’ ye may do your master’s errand about the venison, and I will do mine about Bucklaw’s bed, as I return frae getting the rest of the vivers. It’s no that the venison is actually needfu’,” he added, detaining his colleague by the button, “to make up the dinner; but as a compliment to the hunters, ye ken89; and, Mr. Lockhard, if they offer ye a drink o’ yill, or a cup o’ wine, or a glass o’ brandy, ye’ll be a wise man to take it, in case the thunner should hae soured ours at the castle, whilk is ower muckle to be dreaded109.”
He then permitted Lockhard to depart; and with foot heavy as lead, and yet far lighter110 than his heart, stepped on through the unequal street of the straggling village, meditating111 on whom he ought to make his first attack. It was necessary he should find some one with whom old acknowledged greatness should weigh more than recent independence, and to whom his application might appear an act of high dignity, relenting at once and soothing112. But he could not recollect an inhabitant of a mind so constructed. “Our kail is like to be cauld eneugh too,” he reflected, as the chorus of “Cauld Kail in Aberdeen” again reached his ears. The minister — he had got his presentation from the late lord, but they had quarrelled about teinds; the brewster’s wife — she had trusted long, and the bill was aye scored up, and unless the dignity of the family should actually require it, it would be a sin to distress13 a widow woman. None was so able — but, on the other hand, none was likely to be less willing — to stand his friend upon the present occasion, than Gibbie Girder, the man of tubs and barrels already mentioned, who had headed the insurrection in the matter of the egg and butter subsidy. “But a’ comes o’ taking folk on the right side, I trow,” quoted Caleb to himself; “and I had ance the ill hap58 to say he was but a Johnny New-come in our town, and the carle bore the family an ill-will ever since. But he married a bonny young quean, Jean Lightbody, auld108 Lightbody’s daughter, him that was in the steading of Loup-the-Dyke; and auld Lightbody was married himsell to Marion, that was about my lady in the family forty years syne113. I hae had mony a day’s daffing wi’ Jean’s mither, and they say she bides114 on wi’ them. The carle has Jacobuses and Georgiuses baith, an ane could get at them; and sure I am, it’s doing him an honour him or his never deserved at our hand, the ungracious sumph; and if he loses by us a’thegither, he is e’en cheap o’t: he can spare it brawly.” Shaking off irresolution115, therefore, and turning at once upon his heel, Caleb walked hastily back to the cooper’s house, lifted the latch116 withotu ceremony, and, in a moment, found himself behind the “hallan,” or partition, from which position he could, himself unseen, reconnoitre the interior of the “but,” or kitchen apartment, of the mansion117.
Reverse of the sad menage at the Castle of Wolf’s Crag, a bickering118 fire roared up the cooper’s chimney. His wife, on the one side, in her pearlings and pudding-sleeves, put the last finishing touch to her holiday’s apparel, while she contemplated119 a very handsome and good-humoured face in a broken mirror, raised upon the “bink” (the shelves on which the plates are disposed) for her special accommodation. Her mother, old Luckie Loup-the-Dyke, “a canty carline” as was within twenty miles of her, according to the unanimous report of the “cummers,” or gossips, sat by the fire in the full glory of a grogram gown, lammer beads120, and a clean cockernony, whiffing a snug121 pipe of tobacco, and superintending the affairs of the kitchen; for — sight more interesting to the anxious heart and craving122 entrails of the desponding seneschal than either buxom123 dame or canty cummer — there bubbled on the aforesaid bickering fire a huge pot, or rather cauldron, steaming with beef and brewis; while before it revolved124 two spits, turned each by one of the cooper’s apprentices125, seated in the opposite corners of the chimney, the one loaded with a quarter of mutton, while the other was graced with a fat goose and a brace126 of wild ducks. The sight and scent127 of such a land of plenty almost wholly overcame the drooping128 spirits of Caleb. He turned, for a moment’s space to reconnoitre the “ben,” or parlour end of the house, and there saw a sight scarce less affecting to his feelings — a large round table, covered for ten or twelve persons, decored (according to his own favourite terms) with napery as white as snow, grand flagons of pewter, intermixed with one or two silver cups, containing, as was probable, something worthy129 the brilliancy of their outward appearance, clean trenchers, cutty spoons, knives and forks, sharp, burnished130, and prompt for action, which lay all displayed as for an especial festival.
“The devil’s in the peddling131 tub-coopering carl!” muttered Caleb, in all the envy of astonishment132; “it’s a shame to see the like o’ them gusting133 their gabs134 at sic a rate. But if some o’ that gude cheer does not find its way to Wolf’s Crag this night, my name is not Caleb Balderstone.”
So resolving, he entered the apartment, and, in all courteous135 greeting, saluted136 both the mother and the daughter. Wolf’s Crag was the court of the barony, Caleb prime minister at Wolf’s Crag; and it has ever been remarked that, though the masculine subject who pays the taxes sometimes growls137 at the courtiers by whom they are imposed, the said courtiers continue, nevertheless, welcome to the fair sex, to whom they furnish the newest small-talk and the earliest fashions. Both the dames138 were, therefore, at once about old Caleb’s neck, setting up their throats together by way of welcome.
“Ay, sirs, Mr. Balderstone, and is this you? A sight of you is gude for sair een. Sit down — sit down; the gudeman will be blythe to see you — ye nar saw him sae cadgy in your life; but we are to christen our bit wean the night, as ye will hae heard, and doubtless ye will stay and see the ordinance139. We hae killed a wether, and ane o’ our lads has been out wi’ his gun at the moss140; ye used to like wild-fowl.”
“Na, na, gudewife,” said Caleb; “I just keekit in to wish ye joy, and I wad be glad to hae spoken wi’ the gudeman, but ——” moving, as if to go away.
“The ne’er a fit ye’s gang,” said the elder dame, laughing and holding him fast, with a freedom which belonged to their old acquaintance; “wha kens141 what ill it may bring to the bairn, if ye owerlook it in that gate?”
“But I’m in a preceese hurry, gudewife,” said the butler, suffering himself to be dragged to a seat without much resistance; “and as to eating,” for he observed the mistress of the dwelling142 bustling143 about to place a trencher for him —“as for eating — lack-a-day, we are just killed up yonder wi’ eating frae morning to night! It’s shamefu’ epicurism144; but that’s what we hae gotten frae the English pock-puddings.” “Hout, never mind the English pock-puddings,” said Luckie Lightbody; “try our puddings, Mr. Balderstone; there is black pudding and white-hass; try whilk ye like best.”
“Baith gude — baith excellent — canna be better; but the very smell is eneugh for me that hae dined sae lately (the faithful wretch145 had fasted since daybreak). But I wadna affront your housewifeskep, gudewife; and, with your permission, I’se e’en pit them in my napkin, and eat them to my supper at e’en, for I am wearied of Mysie’s pastry146 and nonsense; ye ken landward dainties aye pleased me best, Marion, and landward lasses too (looking at the cooper’s wife). Ne’er a bit but she looks far better than when she married Gilbert, and then she was the bonniest lass in our parochine and the neist till’t. But gawsie cow, goodly calf147.”
The women smiled at the compliment each to herself, and they smiled again to each other as Caleb wrapt up the puddings in a towel which he had brought with him, as a dragoon carries his foraging148 bag to receive what my fall in his way.
“And what news at the castle?” quo’ the gudewife.
“News! The bravest news ye ever heard — the Lord Keeper’s up yonder wi’ his fair daughter, just ready to fling her at my lord’s head, if he winna tak her out o’ his arms; and I’se warrant he’ll stitch our auld lands of Ravenswood to her petticoat tail.”
“Eh! sirs — ay!— and will hae her? and is she weel-favoured? and what’s the colour o’ her hair? and does she wear a habit or a railly?” were the questions which the females showered upon the butler.
“Hout tout88! it wad tak a man a day to answer a’ your questions, and I hae hardly a minute. Where’s the gudeman?”
“Awa’ to fetch the minister,” said Mrs. Girder, “precious Mr. Peter Bide-the-Bent, frae the Mosshead; the honest man has the rheumatism149 wi’ lying in the hills in the persecution150.”
“Ay! Whig and a mountain-man, nae less!” said Caleb, with a peevishness151 he could not suppress. “I hae seen the day, Luckie, when worthy Mr. Cuffcushion and the service-book would hae served your turn (to the elder dame), or ony honest woman in like circumstances.”
“And that’s true too,” said Mrs. Lightbody, “but what can a body do? Jean maun baith sing her psalms152 and busk her cockernony the gate the gudeman likes, and nae ither gate; for he’s maister and mair at hame, I can tell ye, Mr. Balderstone.”
“Ay, ay, and does he guide the gear too?” said Caleb, to whose projects masculine rule boded153 little good. “Ilka penny on’t; but he’ll dress her as dink as a daisy, as ye see; sae she has little reason to complain: where there’s ane better aff there’s ten waur.”
“Aweel, gudewife,” said Caleb, crestfallen154, but not beaten off, “that wasna the way ye guided your gudeman; bt ilka land has its ain lauch. I maun be ganging. I just wanted to round in the gudeman’s lug155, that I heard them say up-bye yonder that Peter Puncheon, that was cooper to the Queen’s stores at the Timmer Burse at Leith, is dead; sae I though that maybe a word frae my lord to the Lord Keeper might hae served Gilbert; but since he’s frae hame ——”
“O, but ye maun stay his hame-coming,” said the dame. “I aye telled the gudeman ye meant weel to him; but he taks the tout at every bit lippening word.”
“Aweel, I’ll stay the last minute I can.”
“And so,” said the handsome young spouse156 of Mr. Girder, “ye think this Miss Ashton is weel-favoured? Troth, and sae should she, to set up for our young lord, with a face and a hand, and a seat on his horse, that might become a king’s son. D’ye ken that he aye glowers157 up at my window, Mr. Balderstone, when he chaunces to ride thro’ the town? Sae I hae a right to ken what like he is, as weel as ony body.”
“I ken that brawly,” said Caleb, “for I hae heard his lordship say the cooper’s wife had the blackest ee in the barony; and I said, ‘Weel may that be, my lord, for it was her mither’s afore her, as I ken to my cost.’ Eh, Marion? Ha, ha, ha! Ah! these were merry days!”
“Hout awa’, auld carle,” said the old dame, “to speak sic daffing to young folk. But, Jean — fie, woman, dinna ye hear the bairn greet? I’se warrant it’s that dreary158 weid has come ower’t again.”
Up got mother and grandmother, and scoured159 away, jostling each other as they ran, into some remote corner of the tenement160, where the young hero of the evening was deposited. When Caleb saw the coast fairly clear, he took an invigorating pinch of snuff, to sharpen and confirm his resolution.
“Cauld be my cast,” thought he, “if either Bide-the-Bent or Girder taste that broach161 of wild-fowl this evening”; and then addressing the eldest162 turnspit, a boy of about eleven years old, and putting a penny into his hand, he said, “Here is twal pennies, my man; carry that ower to Mrs. Sma’trash, and bid her fill my mill wi’ snishing, and I’ll turn the broche for ye in the mean time; and she will gie ye a ginge-bread snap for your pains.”
No sooner was the elder boy departed on this mission than Caleb, looking the remaining turnspit gravely and steadily163 in the face, removed from the fire the spit bearing the wild-fowl of which he had undertaken the charge, clapped his hat on his head, and fairly marched off with it. he stopped at the door of the change-house only to say, in a few brief words, that Mr. Hayston of Bucklaw was not to expect a bed that evening in the castle.
If this message was too briefly164 delivered by Caleb, it became absolute rudeness when conveyed through the medium of a suburb landlady165; and Bucklaw was, as a more calm and temperate166 man might have been, highly incensed167. Captain Craigengelt proposed, with the unanimous applause of all present, that they should course the old fox (meaning Caleb) ere he got to cover, and toss him in a blanket. But Lockhard intimated to his master’s servants and those of Lord Bittlebrains, in a tone of authority, that the slightest impertinence to the Master of Ravenswood’s domestic would give Sir William Ashton the highest offence. And having so said, in a manner sufficient to prevent any aggression168 on their part, he left the public-house, taking along with him two servants loaded with such provisions as he had been able to procure, and overtook Caleb just when he had cleared the village.
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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indigence
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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distressed
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| 痛苦的 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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appendage
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intervention
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| n.介入，干涉，干预 | |
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precarious
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| adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的 | |
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smuggling
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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emancipated
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| adj.被解放的，不受约束的v.解放某人（尤指摆脱政治、法律或社会的束缚）( emancipate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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25
exaction
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| n.强求，强征；杂税 | |
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26
pretext
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| n.借口，托词 | |
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27
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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28
harass
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| vt.使烦恼，折磨，骚扰 | |
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29
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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30
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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31
galling
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| adj.难堪的,使烦恼的,使焦躁的 | |
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32
gall
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| v.使烦恼，使焦躁，难堪；n.磨难 | |
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33
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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34
levying
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| 征（兵）( levy的现在分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税 | |
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35
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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36
prerogative
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| n.特权 | |
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37
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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38
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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39
caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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40
mimicked
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| v.（尤指为了逗乐而）模仿( mimic的过去式和过去分词 )；酷似 | |
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41
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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42
baron
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| n.男爵；(商业界等)巨头，大王 | |
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43
barons
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| 男爵( baron的名词复数 )； 巨头； 大王； 大亨 | |
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44
slumbered
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| 微睡，睡眠（slumber的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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45
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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46
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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47
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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49
immunities
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| 免除，豁免( immunity的名词复数 )； 免疫力 | |
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50
dispels
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| v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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51
cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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52
grumble
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|
| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
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53
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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54
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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55
naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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56
pier
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| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
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57
bulwark
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| n.堡垒，保障，防御 | |
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58
hap
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| n.运气；v.偶然发生 | |
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59
arrears
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| n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作 | |
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60
subsidy
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| n.补助金，津贴 | |
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61
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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62
payable
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| adj.可付的，应付的，有利益的 | |
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63
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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64
inconvenient
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| adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的 | |
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65
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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66
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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67
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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68
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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69
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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70
palaver
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| adj.壮丽堂皇的；n.废话，空话 | |
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71
trotted
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| 小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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72
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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73
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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74
compensate
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|
| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
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75
mutual
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|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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76
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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77
honourable
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|
| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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78
jot
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|
| n.少量；vi.草草记下；vt.匆匆写下 | |
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79
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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80
strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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81
predilections
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|
| n.偏爱，偏好，嗜好( predilection的名词复数 ) | |
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82
wrought
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|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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83
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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84
eloquence
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|
| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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85
ingenuity
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|
| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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86
resentment
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|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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87
sneered
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|
| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
tout
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|
| v.推销，招徕；兜售；吹捧，劝诱 | |
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89
ken
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| n.视野，知识领域 | |
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90
perfectly
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|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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91
followers
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|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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92
contemner
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|
| n.谴责者，宣判者，定罪者 | |
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93
inaccessible
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|
| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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94
sequestered
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|
| adj.扣押的；隐退的；幽静的；偏僻的v.使隔绝，使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 )；扣押 | |
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95
dungeon
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|
| n.地牢，土牢 | |
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96
burnishing
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|
| n.磨光，抛光，擦亮v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的现在分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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97
derived
|
|
| 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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98
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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99
refractory
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|
| adj.倔强的，难驾驭的 | |
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100
touching
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|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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101
unreasonable
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|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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102
compassion
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| n.同情，怜悯 | |
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103
degradation
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|
| n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变 | |
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104
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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105
revels
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|
| n.作乐( revel的名词复数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉v.作乐( revel的第三人称单数 )；狂欢；着迷；陶醉 | |
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106
twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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107
glimmered
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| v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108
auld
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|
| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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109
dreaded
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|
| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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110
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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111
meditating
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| a.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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112
soothing
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|
| adj.慰藉的；使人宽心的；镇静的 | |
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113
syne
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| adv.自彼时至此时，曾经 | |
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114
bides
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|
| v.等待，停留( bide的第三人称单数 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待；面临 | |
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115
irresolution
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| n.不决断，优柔寡断，犹豫不定 | |
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116
latch
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| n.门闩，窗闩；弹簧锁 | |
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117
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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118
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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119
contemplated
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|
| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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120
beads
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| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
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121
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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122
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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123
buxom
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| adj.（妇女）丰满的，有健康美的 | |
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124
revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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125
apprentices
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| 学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 ) | |
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126
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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127
scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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128
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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129
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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130
burnished
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|
| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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131
peddling
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| 忙于琐事的，无关紧要的 | |
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132
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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133
gusting
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| （风）猛刮（gust的现在分词形式） | |
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134
gabs
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| v.空谈，唠叨，瞎扯( gab的第三人称单数 ) | |
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135
courteous
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|
| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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136
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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137
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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138
dames
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|
| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
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139
ordinance
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|
| n.法令；条令；条例 | |
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140
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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141
kens
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|
| vt.知道（ken的第三人称单数形式） | |
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142
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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143
bustling
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|
| adj.喧闹的 | |
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144
epicurism
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| n.贪口福，美食主义 | |
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145
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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146
pastry
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| n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点 | |
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147
calf
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| n.小牛，犊，幼仔，小牛皮 | |
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148
foraging
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|
| v.搜寻（食物），尤指动物觅（食）( forage的现在分词 )；（尤指用手）搜寻（东西） | |
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149
rheumatism
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|
| n.风湿病 | |
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150
persecution
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| n. 迫害,烦扰 | |
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151
peevishness
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|
| 脾气不好；爱发牢骚 | |
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152
psalms
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| n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的) | |
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153
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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154
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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155
lug
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| n.柄，突出部，螺帽；(英）耳朵；（俚）笨蛋；vt.拖，拉，用力拖动 | |
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156
spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) | |
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157
glowers
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| v.怒视( glower的第三人称单数 ) | |
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158
dreary
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| adj.令人沮丧的，沉闷的，单调乏味的 | |
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159
scoured
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| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
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160
tenement
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| n.公寓；房屋 | |
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161
broach
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| v.开瓶，提出(题目) | |
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162
eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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163
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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164
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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165
landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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166
temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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167
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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168
aggression
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| n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害 | |
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