He prosecutes1 his Design upon Emilia with great Art and Perseverance2.
Our adventurer, having by his hypocrisy3 obtained free access to his mistress, began the siege by professing4 the most sincere contrition5 for his former levity6, and imploring7 her forgiveness with such earnest supplication8, that, guarded as she was against his flattering arts, she began to believe his protestations, which were even accompanied with tears, and abated9 a good deal of that severity and distance she had proposed to maintain during this interview. She would not, however, favour him with the least acknowledgment of a mutual10 passion, because, in the midst of his vows11 of eternal constancy and truth, he did not mention one syllable12 of wedlock13, though he was now entirely14 master of his own conduct, and this consideration created a doubt, which fortified15 her against all his attacks. Yet, what her discretion16 would have concealed17, was discovered by her eyes, which, in spite of all her endeavours, breathed forth18 complacency and love; for her inclination19 was flattered by her own self-sufficiency, which imputed20 her admirer’s silence in that particular to the hurry and perturbation of his spirits, and persuaded her that he could not possibly regard her with any other than honourable21 intentions.
The insidious22 lover exulted23 in the tenderness of her looks, from which he presaged24 a complete victory; but, that he might not overshoot himself by his own precipitation, he would not run the risk of declaring himself, until her heart should be so far entangled25 within his snares26, as that neither the suggestions of honour, prudence27, nor pride, should be able to disengage it. Armed with this resolution, he restrained the impatience28 of his temper within the limits of the most delicate deportment. After having solicited29 and obtained permission to attend her to the next opera, he took her by the hand, and, pressing it to his lips, in the most respectful manner, went away, leaving her in a most whimsical state of suspense30, chequered with an interesting vicissitude31 of hope and fear. On the appointed day, he appeared again about five o’clock in the afternoon, and found her native charms so much improved by the advantages of dress, that he was transported with admiration32 and delight; and, while he conducted her to the Haymarket, could scarce bridle33 the impetuosity of his passion, so as to observe the forbearing maxims34 he had adopted. When she entered the pit, he had abundance of food for the gratification of his vanity; for, in a moment, she eclipsed all the female part of the audience; each individual allowing in her own heart that the stranger was by far the handsomest woman there present, except herself.
Here it was that our hero enjoyed a double triumph; he was vain of this opportunity to enhance his reputation for gallantry among the ladies of fashion who knew him, and proud of an occasion to display his quality acquaintance to Emilia, that she might entertain the greater idea of the conquest she had made, and pay the more deference35 to his importance in the sequel of his addresses. That he might profit as much as possible by this situation, he went up and accosted36 every person in the pit, with whom he ever had least communication, whispered and laughed with an affected37 air of familiarity, and even bowed at a distance to some of the nobility, on the slender foundation of having stood near them at court, or presented them with a pinch of rappee at White’s chocolate-house.
This ridiculous ostentation38, though now practised with a view of promoting his design, was a weakness that, in some degree, infected the whole of his behaviour; for nothing gave him so much joy in conversation, as an opportunity of giving the company to understand how well he was with persons of distinguished39 rank and character. He would often, for example, observe, as it were occasionally, that the Duke of G— was one of the best-natured men in the world, and illustrate40 this assertion by some instance of his affability, in which he himself was concerned. Then, by an abrupt41 transition, he would repeat some repartee42 of Lady T—, and mention a certain bon mot of the Earl of C—, which was uttered in his hearing.
Abundance of young men in this manner make free with the names, though they have never had access to the persons of the nobility; but this was not the case with Peregrine, who, in consideration of his appearance and supposed fortune, together with the advantage of his introduction, was, by this time, freely admitted to the tables of the great.
In his return with Emilia from the opera, though he still maintained the most scrupulous43 decorum in his behaviour, he plied44 her with the most passionate45 expressions of love, squeezed her hand with great fervency46, protested that his whole soul was engrossed47 by her idea, and that he could not exist independent of her favour. Pleased as she was with his warm and pathetic addresses, together with the respectful manner of his making love, she yet had prudence and resolution sufficient to contain her tenderness, which was ready to run over; being fortified against his arts, by reflecting, that, if his aim was honourable, it was now his business to declare it. On this consideration, she refused to make any serious reply to his earnest expostulations, but affected to receive them as the undetermined effusions of gallantry and good breeding.
This fictitious48 gaiety and good-humour, though it baffled his hope of extorting49 from her an acknowledgment of which he might have taken immediate50 advantage, nevertheless encouraged him to observe, as the chariot passed along the Strand51, that the night was far advanced; that supper would certainly be over before they could reach her uncle’s house; and to propose that he should wait upon her to some place, where they might be accommodated with a slight refreshment52. She was offended at the freedom of this proposal, which, however, she treated as a joke, thanking him for his courteous53 offer, and assuring him, that when she should be disposed for a tavern54 treat, he alone would have the honour of bestowing55 it.
Her kinsman56 being engaged with company abroad, and her aunt retired57 to rest, he had the good fortune to enjoy a tete-a-tete with her during a whole hour, which he employed with such consummate58 skill, that her caution was almost overcome. He not only assailed59 her with the artillery60 of sighs, vows, prayers, and tears, but even pawned61 his honour in behalf of his love. He swore, with many imprecations, that although her heart was surrendered to him at discretion, there was a principle within him, which would never allow him to injure such innocence62 and beauty; and the transports of his passion had, upon this occasion so far overshot his purpose, that if she had demanded an explanation while he was thus agitated63, he would have engaged himself to her wish by such ties as he could not break with any regard to his reputation. But from such expostulation she was deterred64, partly by pride, and partly by the dread65 of finding herself mistaken in such an interesting conjecture66. She therefore enjoyed the present flattering appearance of her fate, was prevailed upon to accept the jewels which he purchased with part of his winning at Bath, and, with the most enchanting67 condescension68, submitted to a warm embrace when he took his leave, after having obtained permission to visit her as often as his inclination and convenience would permit.
In his return to his own lodgings69, he was buoyed70 up with his success to an extravagance of hope, already congratulated himself upon his triumph over Emilia’s virtue71, and began to project future conquests among the most dignified72 characters of the female sex. But his attention was not at all dissipated by these vain reflections; he resolved to concentrate the whole exertion73 of his soul upon the execution of his present plan, desisted, in the meantime, from all other schemes of pleasure, interest, and ambition, and took lodgings in the city, for the more commodious74 accomplishment75 of his purpose. While our lover’s imagination was thus agreeably regaled, his mistress did not enjoy her expectations without the intervention76 of doubts and anxiety. His silence, touching77 the final aim of his addresses, was a mystery on which she was afraid of exercising her sagacity; and her uncle tormented78 her with inquiries79 into the circumstances of Peregrine’s professions and deportment. Rather than give this relation the least cause for suspicion, which must have cut off all intercourse80 betwixt her and her admirer, she said everything which she thought would satisfy his care and concern for her welfare; and, in consequence of such representation, she enjoyed, without reserve, the company of our adventurer, who prosecuted81 his plan with surprising eagerness and perseverance.
1 prosecutes | |
检举、告发某人( prosecute的第三人称单数 ); 对某人提起公诉; 继续从事(某事物); 担任控方律师 | |
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2 perseverance | |
n.坚持不懈,不屈不挠 | |
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3 hypocrisy | |
n.伪善,虚伪 | |
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4 professing | |
声称( profess的现在分词 ); 宣称; 公开表明; 信奉 | |
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5 contrition | |
n.悔罪,痛悔 | |
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6 levity | |
n.轻率,轻浮,不稳定,多变 | |
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7 imploring | |
恳求的,哀求的 | |
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8 supplication | |
n.恳求,祈愿,哀求 | |
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9 abated | |
减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 ); 减去; 降价; 撤消(诉讼) | |
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10 mutual | |
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的 | |
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11 vows | |
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿 | |
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12 syllable | |
n.音节;vt.分音节 | |
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13 wedlock | |
n.婚姻,已婚状态 | |
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14 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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15 fortified | |
adj. 加强的 | |
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16 discretion | |
n.谨慎;随意处理 | |
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17 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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18 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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19 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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20 imputed | |
v.把(错误等)归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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21 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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22 insidious | |
adj.阴险的,隐匿的,暗中为害的,(疾病)不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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23 exulted | |
狂喜,欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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24 presaged | |
v.预示,预兆( presage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25 entangled | |
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26 snares | |
n.陷阱( snare的名词复数 );圈套;诱人遭受失败(丢脸、损失等)的东西;诱惑物v.用罗网捕捉,诱陷,陷害( snare的第三人称单数 ) | |
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27 prudence | |
n.谨慎,精明,节俭 | |
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28 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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29 solicited | |
v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 );(指娼妇)拉客;索求;征求 | |
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30 suspense | |
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑 | |
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31 vicissitude | |
n.变化,变迁,荣枯,盛衰 | |
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32 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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33 bridle | |
n.笼头,束缚;vt.抑制,约束;动怒 | |
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34 maxims | |
n.格言,座右铭( maxim的名词复数 ) | |
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35 deference | |
n.尊重,顺从;敬意 | |
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36 accosted | |
v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 );跟…搭讪;(乞丐等)上前向…乞讨;(妓女等)勾搭 | |
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37 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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38 ostentation | |
n.夸耀,卖弄 | |
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39 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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40 illustrate | |
v.举例说明,阐明;图解,加插图 | |
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41 abrupt | |
adj.突然的,意外的;唐突的,鲁莽的 | |
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42 repartee | |
n.机敏的应答 | |
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43 scrupulous | |
adj.审慎的,小心翼翼的,完全的,纯粹的 | |
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44 plied | |
v.使用(工具)( ply的过去式和过去分词 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意 | |
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45 passionate | |
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 | |
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46 fervency | |
n.热情的;强烈的;热烈 | |
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47 engrossed | |
adj.全神贯注的 | |
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48 fictitious | |
adj.虚构的,假设的;空头的 | |
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49 extorting | |
v.敲诈( extort的现在分词 );曲解 | |
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50 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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51 strand | |
vt.使(船)搁浅,使(某人)困于(某地) | |
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52 refreshment | |
n.恢复,精神爽快,提神之事物;(复数)refreshments:点心,茶点 | |
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53 courteous | |
adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 | |
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54 tavern | |
n.小旅馆,客栈;小酒店 | |
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55 bestowing | |
砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
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56 kinsman | |
n.男亲属 | |
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57 retired | |
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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58 consummate | |
adj.完美的;v.成婚;使完美 [反]baffle | |
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59 assailed | |
v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 );困扰;质问;毅然应对 | |
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60 artillery | |
n.(军)火炮,大炮;炮兵(部队) | |
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61 pawned | |
v.典当,抵押( pawn的过去式和过去分词 );以(某事物)担保 | |
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62 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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63 agitated | |
adj.被鼓动的,不安的 | |
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64 deterred | |
v.阻止,制止( deter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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65 dread | |
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 | |
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66 conjecture | |
n./v.推测,猜测 | |
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67 enchanting | |
a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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68 condescension | |
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人) | |
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69 lodgings | |
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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70 buoyed | |
v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 );支持;为…设浮标;振奋…的精神 | |
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71 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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72 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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73 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
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74 commodious | |
adj.宽敞的;使用方便的 | |
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75 accomplishment | |
n.完成,成就,(pl.)造诣,技能 | |
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76 intervention | |
n.介入,干涉,干预 | |
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77 touching | |
adj.动人的,使人感伤的 | |
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78 tormented | |
饱受折磨的 | |
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79 inquiries | |
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 | |
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80 intercourse | |
n.性交;交流,交往,交际 | |
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81 prosecuted | |
a.被起诉的 | |
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