B.C. 374. The Lacedaemonians and their allies were collecting in Phocia, and the Thebans, after retreating into their own territory, were guarding the approaches. At this juncture1 the Athenians, seeing the Thebans growing strong at their expense without contributing a single penny to the maintenance of the fleet, while they themselves, what with money contributions, and piratical attacks from Aegina, and the garrisoning2 of their territory, were being pared to the bone, conceived a desire to cease from war. In this mood they sent an embassy to Lacedaemon and concluded peace.518
B.C. 374-373. This done, two of the ambassadors, in obedience3 to a decree of the state, set sail at once from Laconian territory, bearing orders to Timotheus to sail home, since peace was established. That officer, while obeying his orders, availed himself of the homeward voyage to land certain Zacynthian exiles519 on their native soil, whereupon the Zacynthian city party sent to Lacedaemon and complained of the treatment they had received from Timotheus; and the Lacedaemonians, without further consideration, decided4 that the Athenians were in the wrong, and proceeded to equip another navy, and at length collected from Laconia itself, from Corinth, Leucas,520 Ambracia, Elis, Zacynthus, Achaia, Epidaurus, Troezen, Hermione, and Halieis, a force amounting to sixty sail. In command of this squadron they appointed Mnasippus admiral, with orders to attack Corcyra, and in general to look after their interests in those seas. They, moreover, sent an embassy to Dionysius, instructing him that his interests would be advanced by the withdrawal5 of Corcyra from Athenian hands.
B.C. 373. Accordingly Mnasippus set sail, as soon as his squadron was ready, direct to Corcyra; he took with him, besides his troops from Lacedaemon, a body of mercenaries, making a total in all of no less than fifteen hundred men. His disembarked, and soon became master of the island, the country district falling a prey7 to the spoiler. It was in a high state of cultivation8, and rich with fruit-trees, not to speak of magnificent dwelling-houses and wine-cellars fitted up on the farms: so that, it was said, the soldiers reached such a pitch of luxury that they refused to drink wine which had not a fine bouquet9. A crowd of slaves, too, and fat beasts were captured on the estates.
The general’s next move was to encamp with his land forces about three-quarters of a mile521 from the city district, so that any Corcyraean who attempted to leave the city to go into the country would certainly be cut off on that side. The fleet he stationed on the other side of the city, at a point where he calculated on detecting and preventing the approach of convoys10. Besides which he established a blockade in front of the harbour when the weather permitted. In this way the city was completely invested.
The Corcyraeans, on their side, were in the sorest straits. They could get nothing from their soil owing to the vice11 in which they were gripped by land, whilst owing to the predominance of the enemy at sea nothing could be imported. Accordingly they sent to the Athenians and begged for their assistance. They urged upon them that it would be a great mistake if they suffered themselves to be robbed of Corcyra. If they did so, they would not only throw away a great advantage to themselves, but add a considerable strength to their enemy; since, with the exception of Athens, no state was capable of furnishing a larger fleet or revenue. Moreover, Corcyra lay favourably522 for commanding the Corinthian gulf12 and the cities which line its shores; it was splendidly situated13 for injuring the rural districts of Laconia, and still more splendidly in relation to the opposite shores of the continent of Epirus, and the passage between Peloponnesus and Sicily.
This appeal did not fall on deaf ears. The Athenians were persuaded that the matter demanded their most serious attention, and they at once despatched Stesicles as general,523 with about six hundred peltasts. They also requested Alcetas to help them in getting their troops across. Thus under cover of night the whole body were conveyed across to a point in the open country, and found their way into the city. Nor was that all. The Athenians passed a decree to man sixty ships of war, and elected524 Timotheus admiral. The latter, being unable to man the fleet on the spot, set sail on a cruise to the islands and tried to make up the complements14 of his crews from those quarters. He evidently looked upon it as no light matter to sail round Peloponnesus as if on a voyage of pleasure, and to attack a fleet in the perfection of training.525 To the Athenians, however, it seemed that he was wasting the precious time seasonable for the coastal15 voyage, and they were not disposed to condone16 such an error, but deposed17 him, appointing Iphicrates in his stead. The new general was no sooner appointed than he set about getting his vessels18 manned with the utmost activity, putting pressure on the trierarchs. He further procured20 from the Athenians for his use not only any vessels cruising on the coast of Attica, but the Paralus and Salaminia526 also, remarking that, if things turned out well yonder, he would soon send them back plenty of ships. Thus his numbers grew to something like seventy sail.
Meanwhile the Corcyraeans were sore beset21 with famine: desertion became every day more frequent, so much so that Mnasippus caused proclamation to be made by herald22 that all deserters would be sold there and then;527 and when that had no effect in lessening23 the stream of runaways24, he ended by driving them back with the lash25. Those within the walls, however, were not disposed to receive these miserable26 slaves within the lines, and numbers died outside. Mnasippus, not blind to what was happening, soon persuaded himself that he had as good as got the city into his possession: and he began to try experiments on his mercenaries. Some of them he had already paid off;528 others still in his service had as much as two months’ pay owing to them by the general, who, if report spoke27 true, had no lack of money, since the majority of the states, not caring for a campaign across the seas, sent him hard cash instead of men. But now the beleaguered28 citizens, who could espy29 from their towers that the outposts were less carefully guarded than formerly30, and the men scattered31 about the rural districts, made a sortie, capturing some and cutting down others. Mnasippus, perceiving the attack, donned his armour32, and, with all the heavy troops he had, rushed to the rescue, giving orders to the captains and brigadiers529 to lead out the mercenaries. Some of the captains answered that it was not so easy to command obedience when the necessaries of life were lacking; whereat the Spartan33 struck one man with his staff, and another with the butt34 of his spear. Without spirit and full of resentment35 against their general, the men mustered36 — a condition very unfavourable to success in battle. Having drawn37 up the troops, the general in person repulsed38 the division of the enemy which was opposite the gates, and pursued them closely; but these, rallying close under their walls, turned right about, and from under cover of the tombs kept up a continuous discharge of darts39 and other missiles; other detachments, dashing out at other gates, meanwhile fell heavily on the flanks of the enemy. The Lacedaemonians, being drawn up eight deep, and thinking that the wing of their phalanx was of inadeqate strength, essayed to wheel around; but as soon as they began the movement the Corcyraeans attacked them as if they were fleeing, and they were then unable to recover themselves,530 while the troops next in position abandoned themselves to flight. Mnasippus, unable to succour those who were being pressed owing to the attack of the enemy immediately in front, found himself left from moment to moment with decreasing numbers. At last the Corcyraeans collected, and with one united effort made a final rush upon Mnasippus and his men, whose numbers were now considerably40 reduced. At the same instant the townsmen,531 eagerly noticing the posture41 of affairs, rushed out to play their part. First Mnasippus was slain42, and then the pursuit became general; nor could the pursuers well have failed to capture the camp, barricade43 and all, had they not caught sight of the mob of traffickers with a long array of attendants and slaves, and thinking that here was a prize indeed, desisted from further chase.
The Corcyraeans were well content for the moment to set up a trophy44 and to give back the enemy’s dead under a flag of truce45; but the after-consequences were even more important to them in the revival46 of strength and spirits which were sunk in despondency. The rumour47 spread that Iphicrates would soon be there — he was even at the doors; and in fact the Corcyraeans themselves were manning a fleet. So Hypermenes, who was second in command to Mnasippus and the bearer of his despatches, manned every vessel19 of the fleet as full as it would hold, and then sailing round to the entrenched48 camp, filled all the transports with prisoners and valuables and other stock, and sent them off. He himself, with his marines and the survivors49 of his troops, kept watch over the entrenchments; but at last even this remnant in the excess of panic and confusion got on board the men-of-war and sailed off, leaving behind them vast quantities of corn and wine, with numerous prisoners and invalided50 soldiers. The fact was, they were sorely afraid of being caught by the Athenians in the island, and so they made safely off to Leucas.
Meanwhile Iphicrates had commenced his voyage of circumnavigation, partly voyaging and partly making every preparation for an engagement. He at once left his large sails behind him, as the voyage was only to be the prelude51 of a battle; his flying jibs, even if there was a good breeze, were but little used, since by making his progres depend on sheer rowing, he hoped at once to improve the physique of his men and the speed of his attack. Often when the squadron was about to put into shore for the purpose of breakfast or supper, he would seize the moment, and draw back the leading wing of the column from the land off the point in question; and then facing round again with the triremes posted well in line, prow52 for prow, at a given signal let loose the whole fleet in a stoutly53 contested race for the shore. Great was the triumph in being the first to take in water or whatever else they might need, or the first to breakfast; just as it was a heavy penalty on the late-comers, not only to come short in all these objects of desire, but to have to put out to sea with the rest as soon as the signal was given; since the first-comers had altogether a quiet time of it, whilst the hindmost must get through the whole business in hot haste. So again, in the matter of outposts, if he chanced to be getting the morning meal on hostile territory, pickets54 would be posted, as was right and proper, on the land; but, apart from these, he would raise his masts and keep look-out men on the maintops. These commanded of course a far wider prospect55 from their lofty perches56 than the outposts on the level ground. So too, when he dined or slept he had no fires burning in the camp at night, but only a beacon57 kindled58 in front of the encampment to prevent any unseen approach; and frequently in fine weather he put out to sea immediately after the evening meal, when, if the breeze favoured, they ran along and took their rest simultaneously59, or if they depended on oars60 he gave his mariners61 repose62 by turns. During the voyage in daytime he would at one time signal to “sail in column,” and at another signal “abreast in line.” So that whilst they prosecuted63 the voyage they at the same time became (both as to theory and practice) well versed64 in all the details of an engagement before they reached the open sea — a sea, as they imagined, occupied by their foes65. For the most part they breakfasted and dined on hostile territory; but as he confined himelf to bare necessaries he was always too quick for the enemy. Before the hostile reinforcement would come up he had finished his business and was out to sea again.
At the date of Mnasippus’s death he chanced to be off Sphagiae in Laconian territory. Reaching Elis, and coasting past the mouth of the Alpheus, he came to moorings under Cape66 Ichthus,532 as it is called. The next day he put out from that port for Cephallenia, so drawing up his line and conducting the voyage that he might be prepared in every detail to engage if necessary. The tale about Mnasippus and his demise67 had reached him, but he had not heard it from an eye-witness, and suspected that it might have been invented to deceive him and throw him off his guard. He was therefore on the look-out. It was, in fact, only on arrival in Cephallenia that he learned the news in an explicit68 form, and gave his troops rest.
I am well aware that all these details of practice and manouvring are customary in anticipation69 of a sea-fight, but what I single out for praise in the case before us is the skill with which the Athenian admiral attained70 a twofold object. Bearing in mind that it was his duty to reach a certain point at which he expected to fight a naval71 battle without delay, it was a happy discovery on his part not to allow tactical skill, on the one hand, to be sacrificed to the pace of sailing,533 nor, on the other, the need of training to interfere72 with the date of arrival.
After reducing the towns of Cephallenia, Iphicrates sailed to Corcyra. There the first news he heard was that the triremes sent by Dionysius were expected to relieve the Lacedaemonians. On receipt of this information he set off in person and surveyed the country, in order to find a spot from which it would be possible to see the vessels approaching and to signal to the city. Here he stationed his look-out men. A code of signals was agreed upon to signify “vessels in sight,” “mooring,” etc.; which done he gave his orders to twenty of his captains of men-of-war who were to follow him at a given word of command. Any one who failed to follow him must not grumble73 at the penalty; that he warned them. Presently the vessels were signalled approaching; the word of command was given, and then the enthusiasm was a sight to see — every man of the crews told off for the expedition racing74 to join his ship and embark6. Sailing to the point where the enemy’s vessels lay, he had no difficulty in capturing the crews, who had disembarked from all the ships with one exception. The exception was that of Melanippus the Rhodian, who had advised the other captains not to stop at this point, and had then manned his own vessel and sailed off. Thus he encountered the ships of Iphicrates, but contrived75 to slip through his fingers, while the whole of the Syracusan vessels were captured, crews and all.
Having cut the beaks76 off the prows77, Iphicrates bore down into the harbour of Corcyra with the captured triremes in tow. With the captive crews themselves he came to an agreement that each should pay a fixed78 sum as ransom79, with one exception, that of Crinippus, their commander. Him he kept under guard, with the intention apparently80 of exacting81 a handsome sum in his case or else of selling him. The prisoner, however, from vexation of spirit, put an end to his own life. The rest were sent about their business by Iphicrates, who accepted the Corcyraeans as sureties for the money. His own sailors he supported for the most part as labourers on the lands of the Corcyraeans, while at the head of his light infantry82 and the hoplites of the contingent83 he crossed over into Acarnania, and there lent his aid to any friendly state that needed his services; besides which he went to war with the Thyrians,534 a sturdy race of warriors84 in possession of a strong fortress85.
B.C. 372. Having attached to his squadron the navy also of Corcyra, with a fleet numbering now about ninety ships he set sail, in the first instance to Cephallenia, where he exacted money — which was in some cases voluntarily paid, in others forcibly extorted86. In the next place he began making preparations partly to harass87 the territory of the Lacedaemonians, and partly to win over voluntarily the other states in that quarter which were hostile to Athens; or in case of refusal to go to war with them.
The whole conduct of the campaign reflects, I think, the highest credit on Iphicrates. If his strategy was admirable, so too was the instinct which led him to advise the association with himself of two such colleagues as Callistratus and Chabrias — the former a popular orator88 but no great friend of himself politically,535 the other a man of high military reputation. Either he looked upon them as men of unusual sagacity, and wished to profit by their advice, in which case I commend the good sense of the arrangement, or they were, in his belief, antagonists89, in which case the determination to approve himself a consummate90 general, neither indolent nor incautious, was bold, I admit, but indicative of a laudable self-confidence. Here, however, we must part with Iphicrates and his achievements to return to Athens.
1 juncture | |
n.时刻,关键时刻,紧要关头 | |
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2 garrisoning | |
卫戍部队守备( garrison的现在分词 ); 派部队驻防 | |
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3 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
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4 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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5 withdrawal | |
n.取回,提款;撤退,撤军;收回,撤销 | |
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6 embark | |
vi.乘船,着手,从事,上飞机 | |
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7 prey | |
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨 | |
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8 cultivation | |
n.耕作,培养,栽培(法),养成 | |
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9 bouquet | |
n.花束,酒香 | |
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10 convoys | |
n.(有护航的)船队( convoy的名词复数 );车队;护航(队);护送队 | |
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11 vice | |
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的 | |
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12 gulf | |
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂 | |
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13 situated | |
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的 | |
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14 complements | |
补充( complement的名词复数 ); 补足语; 补充物; 补集(数) | |
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15 coastal | |
adj.海岸的,沿海的,沿岸的 | |
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16 condone | |
v.宽恕;原谅 | |
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17 deposed | |
v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 );(在法庭上)宣誓作证 | |
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18 vessels | |
n.血管( vessel的名词复数 );船;容器;(具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的)人 | |
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19 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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20 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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21 beset | |
v.镶嵌;困扰,包围 | |
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22 herald | |
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎 | |
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23 lessening | |
减轻,减少,变小 | |
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24 runaways | |
(轻而易举的)胜利( runaway的名词复数 ) | |
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25 lash | |
v.系牢;鞭打;猛烈抨击;n.鞭打;眼睫毛 | |
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26 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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27 spoke | |
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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28 beleaguered | |
adj.受到围困[围攻]的;包围的v.围攻( beleaguer的过去式和过去分词);困扰;骚扰 | |
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29 espy | |
v.(从远处等)突然看到 | |
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30 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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31 scattered | |
adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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32 armour | |
(=armor)n.盔甲;装甲部队 | |
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33 spartan | |
adj.简朴的,刻苦的;n.斯巴达;斯巴达式的人 | |
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34 butt | |
n.笑柄;烟蒂;枪托;臀部;v.用头撞或顶 | |
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35 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
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36 mustered | |
v.集合,召集,集结(尤指部队)( muster的过去式和过去分词 );(自他人处)搜集某事物;聚集;激发 | |
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37 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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38 repulsed | |
v.击退( repulse的过去式和过去分词 );驳斥;拒绝 | |
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39 darts | |
n.掷飞镖游戏;飞镖( dart的名词复数 );急驰,飞奔v.投掷,投射( dart的第三人称单数 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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40 considerably | |
adv.极大地;相当大地;在很大程度上 | |
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41 posture | |
n.姿势,姿态,心态,态度;v.作出某种姿势 | |
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42 slain | |
杀死,宰杀,杀戮( slay的过去分词 ); (slay的过去分词) | |
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43 barricade | |
n.路障,栅栏,障碍;vt.设路障挡住 | |
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44 trophy | |
n.优胜旗,奖品,奖杯,战胜品,纪念品 | |
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45 truce | |
n.休战,(争执,烦恼等的)缓和;v.以停战结束 | |
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46 revival | |
n.复兴,复苏,(精力、活力等的)重振 | |
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47 rumour | |
n.谣言,谣传,传闻 | |
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48 entrenched | |
adj.确立的,不容易改的(风俗习惯) | |
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49 survivors | |
幸存者,残存者,生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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50 invalided | |
使伤残(invalid的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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51 prelude | |
n.序言,前兆,序曲 | |
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52 prow | |
n.(飞机)机头,船头 | |
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53 stoutly | |
adv.牢固地,粗壮的 | |
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54 pickets | |
罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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55 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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56 perches | |
栖息处( perch的名词复数 ); 栖枝; 高处; 鲈鱼 | |
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57 beacon | |
n.烽火,(警告用的)闪火灯,灯塔 | |
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58 kindled | |
(使某物)燃烧,着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 ); 激起(感情等); 发亮,放光 | |
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59 simultaneously | |
adv.同时发生地,同时进行地 | |
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60 oars | |
n.桨,橹( oar的名词复数 );划手v.划(行)( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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61 mariners | |
海员,水手(mariner的复数形式) | |
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62 repose | |
v.(使)休息;n.安息 | |
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63 prosecuted | |
a.被起诉的 | |
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64 versed | |
adj. 精通,熟练 | |
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65 foes | |
敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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66 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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67 demise | |
n.死亡;v.让渡,遗赠,转让 | |
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68 explicit | |
adj.详述的,明确的;坦率的;显然的 | |
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69 anticipation | |
n.预期,预料,期望 | |
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70 attained | |
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
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71 naval | |
adj.海军的,军舰的,船的 | |
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72 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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73 grumble | |
vi.抱怨;咕哝;n.抱怨,牢骚;咕哝,隆隆声 | |
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74 racing | |
n.竞赛,赛马;adj.竞赛用的,赛马用的 | |
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75 contrived | |
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 | |
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76 beaks | |
n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 );鹰钩嘴;尖鼻子;掌权者 | |
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77 prows | |
n.船首( prow的名词复数 ) | |
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78 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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79 ransom | |
n.赎金,赎身;v.赎回,解救 | |
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80 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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81 exacting | |
adj.苛求的,要求严格的 | |
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82 infantry | |
n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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83 contingent | |
adj.视条件而定的;n.一组,代表团,分遣队 | |
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84 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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85 fortress | |
n.堡垒,防御工事 | |
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86 extorted | |
v.敲诈( extort的过去式和过去分词 );曲解 | |
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87 harass | |
vt.使烦恼,折磨,骚扰 | |
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88 orator | |
n.演说者,演讲者,雄辩家 | |
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89 antagonists | |
对立[对抗] 者,对手,敌手( antagonist的名词复数 ); 对抗肌; 对抗药 | |
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90 consummate | |
adj.完美的;v.成婚;使完美 [反]baffle | |
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