Chapter 1

He — for there could be no doubt of his sex, though the fashion of the time did something to disguise it — was in the act of slicing at the head of a Moor¹ which swung from the rafters. It was the colour of an old football, and more or less the shape of one, save for the sunken cheeks and a strand² or two of coarse, dry hair, like the hair on a cocoanut. Orlando’s father, or perhaps his grandfather, had struck it from the shoulders of a vast Pagan who had started up under the moon in the barbarian³ fields of Africa; and now it swung, gently, perpetually, in the breeze which never ceased blowing through the attic⁴ rooms of the gigantic house of the lord who had slain⁵ him.

Orlando’s fathers had ridden in fields of asphodel, and stony⁶ fields, and fields watered by strange rivers, and they had struck many heads of many colours off many shoulders, and brought them back to hang from the rafters. So too would Orlando, he vowed⁷. But since he was sixteen only, and too young to ride with them in Africa or France, he would steal away from his mother and the peacocks in the garden and go to his attic room and there lunge and plunge⁸ and slice the air with his blade. Sometimes he cut the cord so that the skull⁹ bumped on the floor and he had to string it up again, fastening it with some chivalry¹⁰ almost out of reach so that his enemy grinned at him through shrunk, black lips triumphantly¹¹. The skull swung to and fro, for the house, at the top of which he lived, was so vast that there seemed trapped in it the wind itself, blowing this way, blowing that way, winter and summer. The green arras with the hunters on it moved perpetually. His fathers had been noble since they had been at all. They came out of the northern mists wearing coronets on their heads. Were not the bars of darkness in the room, and the yellow pools which chequered the floor, made by the sun falling through the stained glass of a vast coat of arms in the window? Orlando stood now in the midst of the yellow body of an heraldic leopard¹². When he put his hand on the window-sill to push the window open, it was instantly coloured red, blue, and yellow like a butterfly’s wing. Thus, those who like symbols, and have a turn for the deciphering of them, might observe that though the shapely legs, the handsome body, and the well-set shoulders were all of them decorated with various tints¹³ of heraldic light, Orlando’s face, as he threw the window open, was lit solely¹⁴ by the sun itself. A more candid¹⁵, sullen¹⁶ face it would be impossible to find. Happy the mother who bears, happier still the biographer who records the life of such a one! Never need she vex¹⁷ herself, nor he invoke¹⁸ the help of novelist or poet. From deed to deed, from glory to glory, from office to office he must go, his scribe following after, till they reach whatever seat it may be that is the height of their desire. Orlando, to look at, was cut out precisely¹⁹ for some such career. The red of the cheeks was covered with peach down; the down on the lips was only a little thicker than the down on the cheeks. The lips themselves were short and slightly drawn²⁰ back over teeth of an exquisite²¹ and almond whiteness. Nothing disturbed the arrowy nose in its short, tense flight; the hair was dark, the ears small, and fitted closely to the head. But, alas²², that these catalogues of youthful beauty cannot end without mentioning forehead and eyes. Alas, that people are seldom born devoid²³ of all three; for directly we glance at Orlando standing²⁴ by the window, we must admit that he had eyes like drenched²⁵ violets, so large that the water seemed to have brimmed in them and widened them; and a brow like the swelling²⁶ of a marble dome²⁷ pressed between the two blank medallions which were his temples. Directly we glance at eyes and forehead, thus do we rhapsodize. Directly we glance at eyes and forehead, we have to admit a thousand disagreeables which it is the aim of every good biographer to ignore. Sights disturbed him, like that of his mother, a very beautiful lady in green walking out to feed the peacocks with Twitchett, her maid, behind her; sights exalted²⁸ him — the birds and the trees; and made him in love with death — the evening sky, the homing rooks; and so, mounting up the spiral stairway into his brain — which was a roomy one — all these sights, and the garden sounds too, the hammer beating, the wood chopping, began that riot and confusion of the passions and emotions which every good biographer detests²⁹, But to continue — Orlando slowly drew in his head, sat down at the table, and, with the half-conscious air of one doing what they do every day of their lives at this hour, took out a writing book labelled ‘Aethelbert: A Tragedy in Five Acts,’ and dipped an old stained goose quill³² in the ink.

Soon he had covered ten pages and more with poetry. He was fluent, evidently, but he was abstract. Vice³³, Crime, Misery³⁴ were the personages of his drama; there were Kings and Queens of impossible territories; horrid³⁵ plots confounded them; noble sentiments suffused³⁶ them; there was never a word said as he himself would have said it, but all was turned with a fluency³⁷ and sweetness which, considering his age — he was not yet seventeen — and that the sixteenth century had still some years of its course to run, were remarkable³⁸ enough. At last, however, he came to a halt. He was describing, as all young poets are for ever describing, nature, and in order to match the shade of green precisely he looked (and here he showed more audacity³⁹ than most) at the thing itself, which happened to be a laurel bush growing beneath the window. After that, of course, he could write no more. Green in nature is one thing, green in literature another. Nature and letters seem to have a natural antipathy⁴⁰; bring them together and they tear each other to pieces. The shade of green Orlando now saw spoilt his rhyme and split his metre. Moreover, nature has tricks of her own. Once look out of a window at bees among flowers, at a yawning dog, at the sun setting, once think ‘how many more suns shall I see set’, etc. etc. (the thought is too well known to be worth writing out) and one drops the pen, takes one’s cloak, strides out of the room, and catches one’s foot on a painted chest as one does so. For Orlando was a trifle clumsy.

He was careful to avoid meeting anyone. There was Stubbs, the gardener, coming along the path. He hid behind a tree till he had passed. He let himself out at a little gate in the garden wall. He skirted all stables, kennels⁴², breweries⁴³, carpenters’ shops, washhouses, places where they make tallow candles, kill oxen, forge horse-shoes, stitch jerkins — for the house was a town ringing with men at work at their various crafts — and gained the ferny path leading uphill through the park unseen. There is perhaps a kinship among qualities; one draws another along with it; and the biographer should here call attention to the fact that this clumsiness is often mated with a love of solitude⁴⁴. Having stumbled over a chest, Orlando naturally loved solitary⁴⁵ places, vast views, and to feel himself for ever and ever and ever alone.

So, after a long silence, ‘I am alone’, he breathed at last, opening his lips for the first time in this record. He had walked very quickly uphill through ferns and hawthorn⁴⁶ bushes, startling deer and wild birds, to a place crowned by a single oak tree. It was very high, so high indeed that nineteen English counties could be seen beneath; and on clear days thirty or perhaps forty, if the weather was very fine. Sometimes one could see the English Channel, wave reiterating⁴⁷ upon wave. Rivers could be seen and pleasure boats gliding⁴⁸ on them; and galleons⁴⁹ setting out to sea; and armadas with puffs⁵⁰ of smoke from which came the dull thud of cannon⁵² firing; and forts on the coast; and castles among the meadows; and here a watch tower; and there a fortress⁵³; and again some vast mansion⁵⁴ like that of Orlando’s father, massed like a town in the valley circled by walls. To the east there were the spires⁵⁵ of London and the smoke of the city; and perhaps on the very sky line, when the wind was in the right quarter, the craggy top and serrated edges of Snowdon herself showed mountainous among the clouds. For a moment Orlando stood counting, gazing, recognizing. That was his father’s house; that his uncle’s. His aunt owned those three great turrets⁵⁷ among the trees there. The heath was theirs and the forest; the pheasant and the deer, the fox, the badger⁵⁸, and the butterfly.

He sighed profoundly, and flung himself — there was a passion in his movements which deserves the word — on the earth at the foot of the oak tree. He loved, beneath all this summer transiency, to feel the earth’s spine⁵⁹ beneath him; for such he took the hard root of the oak tree to be; or, for image followed image, it was the back of a great horse that he was riding, or the deck of a tumbling ship — it was anything indeed, so long as it was hard, for he felt the need of something which he could attach his floating heart to; the heart that tugged⁶⁰ at his side; the heart that seemed filled with spiced and amorous⁶¹ gales⁶² every evening about this time when he walked out. To the oak tree he tied it and as he lay there, gradually the flutter in and about him stilled itself; the little leaves hung, the deer stopped; the pale summer clouds stayed; his limbs grew heavy on the ground; and he lay so still that by degrees the deer stepped nearer and the rooks wheeled round him and the swallows dipped and circled and the dragonflies shot past, as if all the fertility and amorous activity of a summer’s evening were woven web-like about his body.

After an hour or so — the sun was rapidly sinking, the white clouds had turned red, the hills were violet, the woods purple, the valleys black — a trumpet⁶⁴ sounded. Orlando leapt to his feet. The shrill⁶⁵ sound came from the valley. It came from a dark spot down there; a spot compact and mapped out; a maze⁶⁶; a town, yet girt about with walls; it came from the heart of his own great house in the valley, which, dark before, even as he looked and the single trumpet duplicated and reduplicated itself with other shriller sounds, lost its darkness and became pierced with lights. Some were small hurrying lights, as if servants dashed along corridors to answer summonses; others were high and lustrous⁶⁷ lights, as if they burnt in empty banqueting-halls made ready to receive guests who had not come; and others dipped and waved and sank and rose, as if held in the hands of troops of serving men, bending, kneeling, rising, receiving, guarding, and escorting with all dignity indoors a great Princess alighting from her chariot. Coaches turned and wheeled in the courtyard. Horses tossed their plumes⁶⁹. The Queen had come.

Orlando looked no more. He dashed downhill. He let himself in at a wicket gate. He tore up the winding⁷⁰ staircase. He reached his room. He tossed his stockings to one side of the room, his jerkin to the other. He dipped his head. He scoured⁷¹ his hands. He pared his finger nails. With no more than six inches of looking-glass and a pair of old candles to help him, he had thrust on crimson⁷² breeches, lace collar, waistcoat of taffeta, and shoes with rosettes on them as big as double dahlias in less than ten minutes by the stable clock. He was ready. He was flushed. He was excited, But he was terribly late.

By short cuts known to him, he made his way now through the vast congeries of rooms and staircases to the banqueting-hall, five acres distant on the other side of the house. But half-way there, in the back quarters where the servants lived, he stopped. The door of Mrs Stewkley’s sitting-room⁷³ stood open — she was gone, doubtless, with all her keys to wait upon her mistress. But there, sitting at the servant’s dinner table with a tankard beside him and paper in front of him, sat a rather fat, shabby man, whose ruff was a thought dirty, and whose clothes were of hodden brown. He held a pen in his hand, but he was not writing. He seemed in the act of rolling some thought up and down, to and fro in his mind till it gathered shape or momentum⁷⁴ to his liking⁷⁵. His eyes, globed and clouded like some green stone of curious texture⁷⁶, were fixed⁷⁷. He did not see Orlando. For all his hurry, Orlando stopped dead. Was this a poet? Was he writing poetry? ‘Tell me’, he wanted to say, ‘everything in the whole world’— for he had the wildest, most absurd, extravagant⁷⁸ ideas about poets and poetry — but how speak to a man who does not see you? who sees ogres, satyrs, perhaps the depths of the sea instead? So Orlando stood gazing while the man turned his pen in his fingers, this way and that way; and gazed and mused⁷⁹; and then, very quickly, wrote half-a-dozen lines and looked up. Whereupon Orlando, overcome with shyness, darted⁸⁰ off and reached the banqueting-hall only just in time to sink upon his knees and, hanging his head in confusion, to offer a bowl of rose water to the great Queen herself.

Such was his shyness that he saw no more of her than her ringed hands in water; but it was enough. It was a memorable⁸¹ hand; a thin hand with long fingers always curling as if round orb⁸² or sceptre; a nervous, crabbed⁸³, sickly hand; a commanding hand too; a hand that had only to raise itself for a head to fall; a hand, he guessed, attached to an old body that smelt⁸⁴ like a cupboard in which furs are kept in camphor; which body was yet caparisoned in all sorts of brocades and gems⁸⁵; and held itself very upright though perhaps in pain from sciatica; and never flinched⁸⁷ though strung together by a thousand fears; and the Queen’s eyes were light yellow. All this he felt as the great rings flashed in the water and then something pressed his hair — which, perhaps, accounts for his seeing nothing more likely to be of use to a historian. And in truth, his mind was such a welter of opposites — of the night and the blazing candles, of the shabby poet and the great Queen, of silent fields and the clatter⁸⁸ of serving men — that he could see nothing; or only a hand.

By the same showing, the Queen herself can have seen only a head. But if it is possible from a hand to deduce a body, informed with all the attributes of a great Queen, her crabbedness, courage, frailty⁹⁰, and terror, surely a head can be as fertile, looked down upon from a chair of state by a lady whose eyes were always, if the waxworks⁹¹ at the Abbey are to be trusted, wide open. The long, curled hair, the dark head bent⁹² so reverently⁹³, so innocently before her, implied a pair of the finest legs that a young nobleman has ever stood upright upon; and violet eyes; and a heart of gold; and loyalty⁹⁵ and manly⁹⁶ charm — all qualities which the old woman loved the more the more they failed her. For she was growing old and worn and bent before her time. The sound of cannon was always in her ears. She saw always the glistening⁹⁷ poison drop and the long stiletto. As she sat at table she listened; she heard the guns in the Channel; she dreaded⁹⁸ — was that a curse, was that a whisper? Innocence⁹⁹, simplicity¹⁰⁰, were all the more dear to her for the dark background she set them against. And it was that same night, so tradition has it, when Orlando was sound asleep, that she made over formally, putting her hand and seal finally to the parchment, the gift of the great monastic house that had been the Archbishop’s and then the King’s to Orlando’s father.

Orlando slept all night in ignorance. He had been kissed by a queen without knowing it. And perhaps, for women’s hearts are intricate, it was his ignorance and the start he gave when her lips touched him that kept the memory of her young cousin (for they had blood in common) green in her mind. At any rate, two years of this quiet country life had not passed, and Orlando had written no more perhaps than twenty tragedies and a dozen histories and a score of sonnets¹⁰¹ when a message came that he was to attend the Queen at Whitehall.

‘Here’, she said, watching him advance down the long gallery towards her, ‘comes my innocent!’ (There was a serenity¹⁰² about him always which had the look of innocence when, technically¹⁰³, the word was no longer applicable.)

‘Come!’ she said. She was sitting bolt upright beside the fire. And she held him a foot’s pace from her and looked him up and down. Was she matching her speculations¹⁰⁴ the other night with the truth now visible? Did she find her guesses justified¹⁰⁵? Eyes, mouth, nose, breast, hips¹⁰⁶, hands — she ran them over; her lips twitched¹⁰⁷ visibly as she looked; but when she saw his legs she laughed out loud. He was the very image of a noble gentleman. But inwardly? She flashed her yellow hawk’s eyes upon him as if she would pierce his soul. The young man withstood her gaze blushing only a damask rose as became him. Strength, grace, romance, folly¹⁰⁸, poetry, youth — she read him like a page. Instantly she plucked a ring from her finger (the joint¹⁰⁹ was swollen¹¹⁰ rather) and as she fitted it to his, named him her Treasurer¹¹¹ and Steward¹¹²; next hung about him chains of office; and bidding him bend his knee, tied round it at the slenderest part the jewelled order of the Garter. Nothing after that was denied him. When she drove in state he rode at her carriage door. She sent him to Scotland on a sad embassy to the unhappy Queen. He was about to sail for the Polish wars when she recalled him. For how could she bear to think of that tender flesh torn and that curly head rolled in the dust? She kept him with her. At the height of her triumph when the guns were booming at the Tower and the air was thick enough with gunpowder¹¹³ to make one sneeze and the huzzas of the people rang beneath the windows, she pulled him down among the cushions where her women had laid her (she was so worn and old) and made him bury his face in that astonishing composition — she had not changed her dress for a month — which smelt for all the world, he thought, recalling his boyish memory, like some old cabinet at home where his mother’s furs were stored. He rose, half suffocated¹¹⁴ from the embrace. ‘This’, she breathed, ‘is my victory!’— even as a rocket roared up and dyed her cheeks scarlet¹¹⁵.

For the old woman loved him. And the Queen, who knew a man when she saw one, though not, it is said, in the usual way, plotted for him a splendid ambitious career. Lands were given him, houses assigned him. He was to be the son of her old age; the limb of her infirmity; the oak tree on which she leant her degradation¹¹⁶. She croaked¹¹⁷ out these promises and strange domineering tendernesses (they were at Richmond now) sitting bolt upright in her stiff brocades by the fire which, however high they piled it, never kept her warm.

Meanwhile, the long winter months drew on. Every tree in the Park was lined with frost. The river ran sluggishly¹¹⁸. One day when the snow was on the ground and the dark panelled rooms were full of shadows and the stags were barking in the Park, she saw in the mirror, which she kept for fear of spies always by her, through the door, which she kept for fear of murderers always open, a boy — could it be Orlando?— kissing a girl — who in the Devil’s name was the brazen¹¹⁹ hussy? Snatching at her golden-hilted sword she struck violently at the mirror. The glass crashed; people came running; she was lifted and set in her chair again; but she was stricken after that and groaned¹²⁰ much, as her days wore to an end, of man’s treachery.

It was Orlando’s fault perhaps; yet, after all, are we to blame Orlando? The age was the Elizabethan; their morals were not ours; nor their poets; nor their climate; nor their vegetables even. Everything was different. The weather itself, the heat and cold of summer and winter, was, we may believe, of another temper altogether. The brilliant amorous day was divided as sheerly from the night as land from water. Sunsets were redder and more intense; dawns were whiter and more auroral¹²¹. Of our crepuscular¹²² half-lights and lingering twilights they knew nothing. The rain fell vehemently¹²³, or not at all. The sun blazed or there was darkness. Translating this to the spiritual regions as their wont¹²⁴ is, the poets sang beautifully how roses fade and petals¹²⁵ fall. The moment is brief they sang; the moment is over; one long night is then to be slept by all. As for using the artifices¹²⁶ of the greenhouse or conservatory¹²⁷ to prolong or preserve these fresh pinks and roses, that was not their way. The withered¹²⁸ intricacies and ambiguities¹²⁹ of our more gradual and doubtful age were unknown to them. Violence was all. The flower bloomed and faded. The sun rose and sank. The lover loved and went. And what the poets said in rhyme, the young translated into practice. Girls were roses, and their seasons were short as the flowers’. Plucked they must be before nightfall; for the day was brief and the day was all. Thus, if Orlando followed the leading of the climate, of the poets, of the age itself, and plucked his flower in the window-seat even with the snow on the ground and the Queen vigilant¹³⁰ in the corridor we can scarcely bring ourselves to blame him. He was young; he was boyish; he did but as nature bade him do. As for the girl, we know no more than Queen Elizabeth herself did what her name was. It may have been Doris, Chloris, Delia, or Diana, for he made rhymes to them all in turn; equally, she may have been a court lady, or some serving maid. For Orlando’s taste was broad; he was no lover of garden flowers only; the wild and the weeds even had always a fascination¹³¹ for him.

Here, indeed, we lay bare rudely, as a biographer may, a curious trait in him, to be accounted for, perhaps, by the fact that a certain grandmother of his had worn a smock and carried milkpails. Some grains of the Kentish or Sussex earth were mixed with the thin, fine fluid which came to him from Normandy. He held that the mixture of brown earth and blue blood was a good one. Certain it is that he had always a liking for low company, especially for that of lettered people whose wits so often keep them under, as if there were the sympathy of blood between them. At this season of his life, when his head brimmed with rhymes and he never went to bed without striking off some conceit¹³³, the cheek of an innkeeper’s daughter seemed fresher and the wit of a gamekeeper’s niece seemed quicker than those of the ladies at Court. Hence, he began going frequently to Wapping Old Stairs and the beer gardens at night, wrapped in a grey cloak to hide the star at his neck and the garter at his knee. There, with a mug before him, among the sanded alleys⁶³ and bowling¹³⁴ greens and all the simple architecture of such places, he listened to sailors’ stories of hardship and horror and cruelty on the Spanish main; how some had lost their toes, others their noses — for the spoken story was never so rounded or so finely coloured as the written. Especially he loved to hear them volley forth¹³⁶ their songs of ‘the Azores, while the parrakeets, which they had brought from those parts, pecked at the rings in their ears, tapped with their hard acquisitive beaks¹³⁷ at the rubies¹³⁸ on their fingers, and swore as vilely¹³⁹ as their masters. The women were scarcely less bold in their speech and less free in their manner than the birds. They perched on his knee, flung their arms round his neck and, guessing that something out of the common lay hid beneath his duffle cloak, were quite as eager to come at the truth of the matter as Orlando himself.

Nor was opportunity lacking. The river was astir early and late with barges¹⁴⁰, wherries, and craft of all description. Every day sailed to sea some fine ship bound for the Indies; now and again another blackened and ragged¹⁴¹ with hairy men on board crept painfully to anchor. No one missed a boy or girl if they dallied¹⁴² a little on the water after sunset; or raised an eyebrow¹⁴⁴ if gossip had seen them sleeping soundly among the treasure sacks safe in each other’s arms. Such indeed was the adventure that befel Orlando, Sukey, and the Earl of Cumberland. The day was hot; their loves had been active; they had fallen asleep among the rubies. Late that night the Earl, whose fortunes were much bound up in the Spanish ventures, came to check the booty alone with a lantern. He flashed the light on a barrel. He started back with an oath. Twined about the cask two spirits lay sleeping. Superstitious¹⁴⁵ by nature, and his conscience laden¹⁴⁶ with many a crime, the Earl took the couple — they were wrapped in a red cloak, and Sukey’s bosom¹⁴⁷ was almost as white as the eternal snows of Orlando’s poetry — for a phantom¹⁴⁸ sprung from the graves of drowned sailors to upbraid¹⁴⁹ him. He crossed himself. He vowed repentance¹⁵⁰. The row of alms houses still standing in the Sheen Road is the visible fruit of that moment’s panic. Twelve poor old women of the parish today drink tea and tonight bless his Lordship for a roof above their heads; so that illicit¹⁵¹ love in a treasure ship — but we omit the moral.

Soon, however, Orlando grew tired, not only of the discomfort¹⁵² of this way of life, and of the crabbed streets of the neighbourhood, but of the primitive¹⁵³ manner of the people. For it has to be remembered that crime and poverty had none of the attraction for the Elizabethans that they have for us. They had none of our modern shame of book learning; none of our belief that to be born the son of a butcher is a blessing¹⁵⁴ and to be unable to read a virtue¹⁵⁵; no fancy that what we call ‘life’ and ‘reality’ are somehow connected with ignorance and brutality¹⁵⁶; nor, indeed, any equivalent for these two words at all. It was not to seek ‘life’ that Orlando went among them; not in quest of ‘reality’ that he left them. But when he had heard a score of times how Jakes had lost his nose and Sukey her honour — and they told the stories admirably, it must be admitted — he began to be a little weary of the repetition, for a nose can only be cut off in one way and maidenhood¹⁵⁷ lost in another — or so it seemed to him — whereas the arts and the sciences had a diversity about them which stirred his curiosity profoundly. So, always keeping them in happy memory, he left off frequenting the beer gardens and the skittle alleys, hung his grey cloak in his wardrobe, let his star shine at his neck and his garter twinkle at his knee, and appeared once more at the Court of King James. He was young, he was rich, he was handsome. No one could have been received with greater acclamation than he was.

It is certain indeed that many ladies were ready to show him their favours. The names of three at least were freely coupled with his in marriage — Clorinda, Favilla, Euphrosyne — so he called them in his sonnets.

To take them in order; Clorinda was a sweet-mannered gentle lady enough;— indeed Orlando was greatly taken with her for six months and a half; but she had white eyelashes and could not bear the sight of blood. A hare brought up roasted at her father’s table turned her faint. She was much under the influence of the Priests too, and stinted¹⁵⁸ her underlinen in order to give to the poor. She took it on her to reform Orlando of his sins, which sickened him, so that he drew back from the marriage, and did not much regret it when she died soon after of the small-pox.

Favilla, who comes next, was of a different sort altogether. She was the daughter of a poor Somersetshire gentleman; who, by sheer assiduity and the use of her eyes had worked her way up at court, where her address in horsemanship, her fine instep, and her grace in dancing won the admiration¹⁵⁹ of all. Once, however, she was so ill-advised as to whip a spaniel that had torn one of her silk stockings (and it must be said in justice that Favilla had few stockings and those for the most part of drugget) within an inch of its life beneath Orlando’s window. Orlando, who was a passionate¹⁶⁰ lover of animals, now noticed that her teeth were crooked¹⁶¹, and the two front turned inward, which, he said, is a sure sign of a perverse¹⁶² and cruel disposition¹⁶³ in women, and so broke the engagement that very night for ever.

The third, Euphrosyne, was by far the most serious of his flames. She was by birth one of the Irish Desmonds and had therefore a family tree of her own as old and deeply rooted as Orlando’s itself. She was fair, florid, and a trifle phlegmatic¹⁶⁴. She spoke¹³⁵ Italian well, had a perfect set of teeth in the upper jaw¹⁶⁵, though those on the lower were slightly discoloured. She was never without a whippet or spaniel at her knee; fed them with white bread from her own plate; sang sweetly to the virginals; and was never dressed before mid-day owing to the extreme care she took of her person. In short, she would have made a perfect wife for such a nobleman as Orlando, and matters had gone so far that the lawyers on both sides were busy with covenants¹⁶⁶, jointures, settlements, messuages, tenements¹⁶⁸, and whatever is needed before one great fortune can mate with another when, with the suddenness and severity that then marked the English climate, came the Great Frost.

The Great Frost was, historians tell us, the most severe that has ever visited these islands. Birds froze in mid-air and fell like stones to the ground. At Norwich a young countrywoman started to cross the road in her usual robust¹⁶⁹ health and was seen by the onlookers¹⁷⁰ to turn visibly to powder and be blown in a puff⁵¹ of dust over the roofs as the icy blast struck her at the street corner. The mortality among sheep and cattle was enormous. Corpses¹⁷¹ froze and could not be drawn from the sheets. It was no uncommon¹⁷² sight to come upon a whole herd¹⁷³ of swine frozen immovable upon the road. The fields were full of shepherds, ploughmen, teams of horses, and little bird-scaring boys all struck stark¹⁷⁴ in the act of the moment, one with his hand to his nose, another with the bottle to his lips, a third with a stone raised to throw at the ravens¹⁷⁵ who sat, as if stuffed, upon the hedge within a yard of him. The severity of the frost was so extraordinary that a kind of petrifaction¹⁷⁶ sometimes ensued; and it was commonly supposed that the great increase of rocks in some parts of Derbyshire was due to no eruption¹⁷⁷, for there was none, but to the solidification¹⁷⁸ of unfortunate wayfarers¹⁷⁹ who had been turned literally¹⁸⁰ to stone where they stood. The Church could give little help in the matter, and though some landowners had these relics¹⁸¹ blessed, the most part preferred to use them either as landmarks¹⁸², scratching-posts for sheep, or, when the form of the stone allowed, drinking troughs for cattle, which purposes they serve, admirably for the most part, to this day.

But while the country people suffered the extremity¹⁸³ of want, and the trade of the country was at a standstill, London enjoyed a carnival¹⁸⁴ of the utmost brilliancy. The Court was at Greenwich, and the new King seized the opportunity that his coronation gave him to curry¹⁸⁵ favour with the citizens. He directed that the river, which was frozen to a depth of twenty feet and more for six or seven miles on either side, should be swept, decorated and given all the semblance¹⁸⁶ of a park or pleasure ground, with arbours, mazes¹⁸⁷, alleys, drinking booths, etc. at his expense. For himself and the courtiers, he reserved a certain space immediately opposite the Palace gates; which, railed off from the public only by a silken rope, became at once the centre of the most brilliant society in England. Great statesmen, in their beards and ruffs, despatched affairs of state under the crimson awning⁴¹ of the Royal Pagoda¹⁸⁹. Soldiers planned the conquest of the Moor and the downfall of the Turk in striped arbours surmounted¹⁹⁰ by plumes of ostrich¹⁹¹ feathers. Admirals strode up and down the narrow pathways, glass in hand, sweeping¹⁹² the horizon and telling stories of the north-west passage and the Spanish Armada. Lovers dallied upon divans¹⁹³ spread with sables¹⁹⁴. Frozen roses fell in showers when the Queen and her ladies walked abroad. Coloured balloons hovered¹⁹⁵ motionless in the air. Here and there burnt vast bonfires of cedar¹⁹⁶ and oak wood, lavishly¹⁹⁷ salted, so that the flames were of green, orange, and purple fire. But however fiercely they burnt, the heat was not enough to melt the ice which, though of singular transparency, was yet of the hardness of steel. So clear indeed was it that there could be seen, congealed¹⁹⁸ at a depth of several feet, here a porpoise¹⁹⁹, there a flounder. Shoals of eels²⁰⁰ lay motionless in a trance, but whether their state was one of death or merely of suspended animation²⁰² which the warmth would revive puzzled the philosophers. Near London Bridge, where the river had frozen to a depth of some twenty fathoms²⁰³, a wrecked²⁰⁴ wherry boat was plainly visible, lying on the bed of the river where it had sunk last autumn, overladen with apples. The old bumboat woman, who was carrying her fruit to market on the Surrey side, sat there in her plaids and farthingales with her lap full of apples, for all the world as if she were about to serve a customer, though a certain blueness about the lips hinted the truth. ‘Twas a sight King James specially¹³² liked to look upon, and he would bring a troupe²⁰⁵ of courtiers to gaze with him. In short, nothing could exceed the brilliancy and gaiety of the scene by day. But it was at night that the carnival was at its merriest. For the frost continued unbroken; the nights were of perfect stillness; the moon and stars blazed with the hard fixity of diamonds, and to the fine music of flute²⁰⁶ and trumpet the courtiers danced.

Orlando, it is true, was none of those who tread lightly the corantoe and lavolta; he was clumsy and a little absentminded. He much preferred the plain dances of his own country, which he danced as a child to these fantastic foreign measures. He had indeed just brought his feet together about six in the evening of the seventh of January at the finish of some such quadrille or minuet when he beheld²⁰⁷, coming from the pavilion of the Muscovite Embassy, a figure, which, whether boy’s or woman’s, for the loose tunic²⁰⁸ and trousers of the Russian fashion served to disguise the sex, filled him with the highest curiosity. The person, whatever the name or sex, was about middle height, very slenderly fashioned, and dressed entirely²⁰⁹ in oyster-coloured velvet²¹⁰, trimmed with some unfamiliar²¹¹ greenish-coloured fur. But these details were obscured by the extraordinary seductiveness which issued from the whole person. Images, metaphors²¹² of the most extreme and extravagant twined and twisted in his mind. He called her a melon, a pineapple, an olive tree, an emerald, and a fox in the snow all in the space of three seconds; he did not know whether he had heard her, tasted her, seen her, or all three together. (For though we must pause not a moment in the narrative²¹³ we may here hastily note that all his images at this time were simple in the extreme to match his senses and were mostly taken from things he had liked the taste of as a boy. But if his senses were simple they were at the same time extremely strong. To pause therefore and seek the reasons of things is out of the question.)...A melon, an emerald, a fox in the snow — so he raved²¹⁴, so he stared. When the boy, for alas, a boy it must be — no woman could skate with such speed and vigour²¹⁵ — swept almost on tiptoe past him, Orlando was ready to tear his hair with vexation that the person was of his own sex, and thus all embraces were out of the question. But the skater came closer. Legs, hands, carriage, were a boy’s, but no boy ever had a mouth like that; no boy had those breasts; no boy had eyes which looked as if they had been fished from the bottom of the sea. Finally, coming to a stop and sweeping a curtsey with the utmost grace to the King, who was shuffling²¹⁶ past on the arm of some Lord-in-waiting, the unknown skater came to a standstill. She was not a handsbreadth off. She was a woman. Orlando stared; trembled; turned hot; turned cold; longed to hurl²¹⁷ himself through the summer air; to crush acorns²¹⁸ beneath his feet; to toss his arm with the beech²¹⁹ trees and the oaks. As it was, he drew his lips up over his small white teeth; opened them perhaps half an inch as if to bite; shut them as if he had bitten. The Lady Euphrosyne hung upon his arm.

The stranger’s name, he found, was the Princess Marousha Stanilovska Dagmar Natasha Iliana Romanovitch, and she had come in the train of the Muscovite Ambassador, who was her uncle perhaps, or perhaps her father, to attend the coronation. Very little was known of the Muscovites. In their great beards and furred hats they sat almost silent; drinking some black liquid which they spat¹⁸⁸ out now and then upon the ice. None spoke English, and French with which some at least were familiar was then little spoken at the English Court.

It was through this accident that Orlando and the Princess became acquainted. They were seated opposite each other at the great table spread under a huge awning for the entertainment of the notables. The Princess was placed between two young Lords, one Lord Francis Vere and the other the young Earl of Moray. It was laughable to see the predicament she soon had them in, for though both were fine lads in their way, the babe unborn had as much knowledge of the French tongue as they had. When at the beginning of dinner the Princess turned to the Earl and said, with a grace which ravished his heart, ‘Je crois avoir fait la connaissance d’un gentilhomme qui vous etait apparente en Pologne l’ete dernier,’ or ‘La beaute des dames²²¹ de la cour d’Angleterre me met dans le ravissement. On ne peut voir une dame²²⁰ plus gracieuse que votre reine, ni une coiffure plus belle³¹ que la sienne,’ both Lord Francis and the Earl showed the highest embarrassment²²². The one helped her largely to horse-radish sauce, the other whistled to his dog and made him beg for a marrow²²³ bone. At this the Princess could no longer contain her laughter, and Orlando, catching²²⁴ her eyes across the boars’ heads and stuffed peacocks, laughed too. He laughed, but the laugh on his lips froze in wonder. Whom had he loved, what had he loved, he asked himself in a tumult²²⁵ of emotion, until now? An old woman, he answered, all skin and bone. Red-cheeked trulls too many to mention. A puling nun²²⁶. A hard-bitten cruel-mouthed adventuress. A nodding mass of lace and ceremony. Love had meant to him nothing but sawdust and cinders²²⁷. The joys he had had of it tasted insipid²²⁸ in the extreme. He marvelled²³⁰ how he could have gone through with it without yawning. For as he looked the thickness of his blood melted; the ice turned to wine in his veins²³¹; he heard the waters flowing and the birds singing; spring broke over the hard wintry landscape; his manhood woke; he grasped a sword in his hand; he charged a more daring foe²³² than Pole or Moor; he dived in deep water; he saw the flower of danger growing in a crevice²³³; he stretched his hand — in fact he was rattling²³⁴ off one of his most impassioned sonnets when the Princess addressed him, ‘Would you have the goodness to pass the salt?’

He blushed deeply.

‘With all the pleasure in the world, Madame,’ he replied, speaking French with a perfect accent. For, heaven be praised, he spoke the tongue as his own; his mother’s maid had taught him. Yet perhaps it would have been better for him had he never learnt that tongue; never answered that voice; never followed the light of those eyes...

The Princess continued. Who were those bumpkins, she asked him, who sat beside her with the manners of stablemen? What was the nauseating²³⁵ mixture they had poured on her plate? Did the dogs eat at the same table with the men in England? Was that figure of fun at the end of the table with her hair rigged up like a Maypole (comme une grande perche mal fagotee) really the Queen? And did the King always slobber like that? And which of those popinjays was George Villiers? Though these questions rather discomposed Orlando at first, they were put with such archness and drollery²³⁶ that he could not help but laugh; and he saw from the blank faces of the company that nobody understood a word, he answered her as freely as she asked him, speaking, as she did, in perfect French.

Thus began an intimacy²³⁷ between the two which soon became the scandal of the Court.

Soon it was observed Orlando paid the Muscovite far more attention than mere²⁰¹ civility demanded. He was seldom far from her side, and their conversation, though unintelligible²³⁸ to the rest, was carried on with such animation, provoked such blushes and laughter, that the dullest could guess the subject. Moreover, the change in Orlando himself was extraordinary. Nobody had ever seen him so animated²³⁹. In one night he had thrown off his boyish clumsiness; he was changed from a sulky stripling, who could not enter a ladies’ room without sweeping half the ornaments²⁴⁰ from the table, to a nobleman, full of grace and manly courtesy. To see him hand the Muscovite (as she was called) to her sledge²⁴¹, or offer her his hand for the dance, or catch the spotted²⁴² kerchief which she had let drop, or discharge any other of those manifold duties which the supreme²⁴³ lady exacts and the lover hastens to anticipate was a sight to kindle²⁴⁴ the dull eyes of age, and to make the quick pulse of youth beat faster. Yet over it all hung a cloud. The old men shrugged²⁴⁵ their shoulders. The young tittered between their fingers. All knew that a Orlando was betrothed²⁴⁶ to another. The Lady Margaret O’Brien O’Dare O’Reilly Tyrconnel (for that was the proper name of Euphrosyne of the Sonnets) wore Orlando’s splendid sapphire²⁴⁷ on the second finger of her left hand. It was she who had the supreme right to his attentions. Yet she might drop all the handkerchiefs in her wardrobe (of which she had many scores) upon the ice and Orlando never stooped to pick them up. She might wait twenty minutes for him to hand her to her sledge, and in the end have to be content with the services of her Blackamoor. When she skated, which she did rather clumsily, no one was at her elbow to encourage her, and, if she fell, which she did rather heavily, no one raised her to her feet and dusted the snow from her petticoats. Although she was naturally phlegmatic, slow to take offence, and more reluctant than most people to believe that a mere foreigner could oust²⁴⁸ her from Orlando’s affections, still even the Lady Margaret herself was brought at last to suspect that something was brewing²⁴⁹ against her peace of mind.

Indeed, as the days passed, Orlando took less and less care to hide his feelings. Making some excuse or other, he would leave the company as soon as they had dined, or steal away from the skaters, who were forming sets for a quadrille. Next moment it would be seen that the Muscovite was missing too. But what most outraged²⁵⁰ the Court, and stung it in its tenderest part, which is its vanity, was that the couple was often seen to slip under the silken rope, which railed off the Royal enclosure from the public part of the river and to disappear among the crowd of common people. For suddenly the Princess would stamp her foot and cry, ‘Take me away. I detest³⁰ your English mob,’ by which she meant the English Court itself. She could stand it no longer. It was full of prying²⁵¹ old women, she said, who stared in one’s face, and of bumptious²⁵² young men who trod on one’s toes. They smelt bad. Their dogs ran between her legs. It was like being in a cage. In Russia they had rivers ten miles broad on which one could gallop²⁵³ six horses abreast²⁵⁴ all day long without meeting a soul. Besides, she wanted to see the Tower, the Beefeaters, the Heads on Temple Bar, and the jewellers’ shops in the city. Thus, it came about that Orlando took her into the city, showed her the Beefeaters and the rebels’ heads, and bought her whatever took her fancy in the Royal Exchange. But this was not enough. Each increasingly desired the other’s company in privacy all day long where there were none to marvel²²⁹ or to stare. Instead of taking the road to London, therefore, they turned the other way about and were soon beyond the crowd among the frozen reaches of the Thames where, save for sea birds and some old country woman hacking²⁵⁵ at the ice in a vain attempt to draw a pailful of water or gathering²⁵⁷ what sticks or dead leaves she could find for firing, not a living soul ever came their way. The poor kept closely to their cottages, and the better sort, who could afford it, crowded for warmth and merriment to the city.

Hence, Orlando and Sasha, as he called her for short, and because it was the name of a white Russian fox he had had as a boy — a creature soft as snow, but with teeth of steel, which bit him so savagely²⁵⁹ that his father had it killed — hence, they had the river to themselves. Hot with skating and with love they would throw themselves down in some solitary reach, where the yellow osiers fringed the bank, and wrapped in a great fur cloak Orlando would take her in his arms, and know, for the first time, he murmured, the delights of love. Then, when the ecstasy²⁶⁰ was over and they lay lulled²⁶¹ in a swoon on the ice, he would tell her of his other loves, and how, compared with her, they had been of wood, of sackcloth, and of cinders. And laughing at his vehemence²⁶², she would turn once more in his arms and give him for love’s sake, one more embrace. And then they would marvel that the ice did not melt with their heat, and pity the poor old woman who had no such natural means of thawing²⁶³ it, but must hack²⁵⁶ at it with a chopper of cold steel. And then, wrapped in their sables, they would talk of everything under the sun; of sights and travels; of Moor and Pagan; of this man’s beard and that woman’s skin; of a rat that fed from her hand at table; of the arras that moved always in the hall at home; of a face; of a feather. Nothing was too small for such converse²⁶⁴, nothing was too great.

Then suddenly, Orlando would fall into one of his moods of melancholy²⁶⁵; the sight of the old woman hobbling over the ice might be the cause of it, or nothing; and would fling himself face downwards²⁶⁶ on the ice and look into the frozen waters and think of death. For the philosopher is right who says that nothing thicker than a knife’s blade separates happiness from melancholy; and he goes on to opine that one is twin fellow to the other; and draws from this the conclusion that all extremes of feeling are allied¹⁴³ to madness; and so bids us take refuge in the true Church (in his view the Anabaptist), which is the only harbour, port, anchorage, etc., he said, for those tossed on this sea.

‘All ends in death,’ Orlando would say, sitting upright, his face clouded with gloom. (For that was the way his mind worked now, in violent see-saws from life to death, stopping at nothing in between, so that the biographer must not stop either, but must fly as fast as he can and so keep pace with the unthinking passionate foolish actions and sudden extravagant words in which, it is impossible to deny, Orlando at this time of his life indulged.)

‘All ends in death,’ Orlando would say, sitting upright on the ice. But Sasha who after all had no English blood in her but was from Russia where the sunsets are longer, the dawns less sudden, and sentences often left unfinished from doubt as to how best to end them — Sasha stared at him, perhaps sneered²⁶⁷ at him, for he must have seemed a child to her, and said nothing. But at length the ice grew cold beneath them, which she disliked, so pulling him to his feet again, she talked so enchantingly, so wittily²⁶⁸, so wisely (but unfortunately always in French, which notoriously loses its flavour in translation) that he forgot the frozen waters or night coming or the old woman or whatever it was, and would try to tell her — plunging²⁶⁹ and splashing among a thousand images which had gone as stale as the women who inspired them — what she was like. Snow, cream, marble, cherries, alabaster²⁷⁰, golden wire? None of these. She was like a fox, or an olive tree; like the waves of the sea when you look down upon them from a height; like an emerald; like the sun on a green hill which is yet clouded — like nothing he had seen or known in England. Ransack²⁷¹ the language as he might, words failed him. He wanted another landscape, and another tongue. English was too frank, too candid, too honeyed a speech for Sasha. For in all she said, however open she seemed and voluptuous²⁷², there was something hidden; in all she did, however daring, there was something concealed²⁷³. So the green flame seems hidden in the emerald, or the sun prisoned in a hill. The clearness was only outward; within was a wandering flame. It came; it went; she never shone with the steady beam of an Englishwoman — here, however, remembering the Lady Margaret and her petticoats, Orlando ran wild in his transports and swept her over the ice, faster, faster, vowing²⁷⁴ that he would chase the flame, dive for the gem⁸⁶, and so on and so on, the words coming on the pants of his breath with the passion of a poet whose poetry is half pressed out of him by pain.

But Sasha was silent. When Orlando had done telling her that she was a fox, an olive tree, or a green hill-top, and had given her the whole history of his family; how their house was one of the most ancient in Britain; how they had come from Rome with the Caesars and had the right to walk down the Corso (which is the chief street in Rome) under a tasselled palanquin, which he said is a privilege reserved only for those of imperial blood (for there was an orgulous credulity about him which was pleasant enough), he would pause and ask her, Where was her own house? What was her father? Had she brothers? Why was she here alone with her uncle? Then, somehow, though she answered readily enough, an awkwardness would come between them. He suspected at first that her rank was not as high as she would like; or that she was ashamed of the savage²⁵⁸ ways of her people, for he had heard that the women in Muscovy wear beards and the men are covered with fur from the waist down; that both sexes are smeared²⁷⁵ with tallow to keep the cold out, tear meat with their fingers and live in huts where an English noble would scruple²⁷⁶ to keep his cattle; so that he forebore to press her. But on reflection, he concluded that her silence could not be for that reason; she herself was entirely free from hair on the chin; she dressed in velvet and pearls, and her manners were certainly not those of a woman bred in a cattle-shed.

What, then, did she hide from him? The doubt underlying²⁷⁷ the tremendous force of his feelings was like a quicksand beneath a monument which shifts suddenly and makes the whole pile shake. The agony would seize him suddenly. Then he would blaze out in such wrath²⁷⁸ that she did not know how to quiet him. Perhaps she did not want to quiet him; perhaps his rages pleased her and she provoked them purposely — such is the curious obliquity²⁷⁹ of the Muscovitish temperament²⁸⁰.

To continue the story — skating farther than their wont that day they reached that part of the river where the ships had anchored and been frozen in midstream. Among them was the ship of the Muscovite Embassy flying its double-headed black eagle from the main mast, which was hung with many-coloured icicles several yards in length. Sasha had left some of her clothing on board, and supposing the ship to be empty they climbed on deck and went in search of it. Remembering certain passages in his own past, Orlando would not have marvelled had some good citizens sought this refuge before them; and so it turned out. They had not ventured far when a fine young man started up from some business of his own behind a coil of rope and saying, apparently²⁸¹, for he spoke Russian, that he was one of the crew and would help the Princess to find what she wanted, lit a lump of candle and disappeared with her into the lower parts of the ship.

Time went by, and Orlando, wrapped in his own dreams, thought only of the pleasures of life; of his jewel; of her rarity; of means for making her irrevocably and indissolubly his own. Obstacles there were and hardships to overcome. She was determined²⁸² to live in Russia, where there were frozen rivers and wild horses and men, she said, who gashed²⁸³ each other’s throats open. It is true that a landscape of pine and snow, habits of lust⁶⁸ and slaughter²⁸⁴, did not entice²⁸⁵ him. Nor was he anxious to cease his pleasant country ways of sport and tree-planting; relinquish²⁸⁶ his office; ruin his career; shoot the reindeer²⁸⁷ instead of the rabbit; drink vodka instead of canary, and slip a knife up his sleeve — for what purpose, he knew not. Still, all this and more than all this he would do for her sake. As for his marriage to the Lady Margaret, fixed though it was for this day sennight, the thing was so palpably absurd that he scarcely gave it a thought. Her kinsmen²⁸⁸ would abuse him for deserting a great lady; his friends would deride²⁸⁹ him for ruining the finest career in the world for a Cossack woman and a waste of snow — it weighed not a straw in the balance compared with Sasha herself. On the first dark night they would fly. They would take ship to Russia. So he pondered; so he plotted as he walked up and down the deck.

He was recalled, turning westward²⁹⁰, by the sight of the sun, slung²⁹¹ like an orange on the cross of St Paul’s. It was blood-red and sinking rapidly. It must be almost evening. Sasha had been gone this hour and more. Seized instantly with those dark forebodings which shadowed even his most confident thoughts of her, he plunged²⁹² the way he had seen them go into the hold of the ship; and, after stumbling among chests and barrels in the darkness, was made aware by a faint glimmer²⁹³ in a corner that they were seated there. For one second, he had a vision of them; saw Sasha seated on the sailor’s knee; saw her bend towards him; saw them embrace before the light was blotted²⁹⁴ out in a red cloud by his rage. He blazed into such a howl of anguish²⁹⁵ that the whole ship echoed. Sasha threw herself between them, or the sailor would have been stifled²⁹⁶ before he could draw his cutlass. Then a deadly sickness came over Orlando, and they had to lay him on the floor and give him brandy to drink before he revived. And then, when he had recovered and was sat upon a heap of sacking on deck, Sasha hung over him, passing before his dizzied eyes softly, sinuously²⁹⁸, like the fox that had bit him, now cajoling, now denouncing, so that he came to doubt what he had seen. Had not the candle guttered²⁹⁹; had not the shadows moved? The box was heavy, she said; the man was helping³⁰⁰ her to move it. Orlando believed her one moment — for who can be sure that his rage has not painted what he most dreads³⁰¹ to find?— the next was the more violent with anger at her deceit. Then Sasha herself turned white; stamped her foot on deck; said she would go that night, and called upon her Gods to destroy her, if she, a Romanovitch, had lain in the arms of a common seaman³⁰². Indeed, looking at them together (which he could hardly bring himself to do) Orlando was outraged by the foulness³⁰³ of his imagination that could have painted so frail⁸⁹ a creature in the paw of that hairy sea brute³⁰⁴. The man was huge; stood six feet four in his stockings, wore common wire rings in his ears; and looked like a dray horse upon which some wren³⁰⁵ or robin³⁰⁶ has perched in its flight. So he yielded; believed her; and asked her pardon. Yet when they were going down the ship’s side, lovingly again, Sasha paused with her hand on the ladder, and called back to this tawny³⁰⁷ wide-cheeked monster a volley of Russian greetings, jests, or endearments³⁰⁸, not a word of which Orlando could understand. But there was something in her tone (it might be the fault of the Russian consonants) that reminded Orlando of a scene some nights since, when he had come upon her in secret gnawing³⁰⁹ a candle-end in a corner, which she had picked from the floor. True, it was pink; it was gilt³¹⁰; and it was from the King’s table; but it was tallow, and she gnawed³¹¹ it. Was there not, he thought, handing her on to the ice, something rank in her, something coarse flavoured, something peasant born? And he fancied her at forty grown unwieldy though she was now slim as a reed, and lethargic³¹² though she was now blithe³¹³ as a lark³¹⁴. But again as they skated towards London such suspicions melted in his breast, and he felt as if he had been hooked by a great fish through the nose and rushed through the waters unwillingly³¹⁵, yet with his own consent.

It was an evening of astonishing beauty. As the sun sank, all the domes³¹⁶, spires, turrets, and pinnacles³¹⁷ of London rose in inky blackness against the furious red sunset clouds. Here was the fretted³¹⁸ cross at Charing³¹⁹; there the dome of St Paul’s; there the massy square of the Tower buildings; there like a grove³²⁰ of trees stripped of all leaves save a knob at the end were the heads on the pikes at Temple Bar. Now the Abbey windows were lit up and burnt like a heavenly, many-coloured shield (in Orlando’s fancy); now all the west seemed a golden window with troops of angels (in Orlando’s fancy again) passing up and down the heavenly stairs perpetually. All the time they seemed to be skating in fathomless³²¹ depths of air, so blue the ice had become; and so glassy smooth was it that they sped quicker and quicker to the city with the white gulls³²² circling about them, and cutting in the air with their wings the very same sweeps that they cut on the ice with their skates.

Sasha, as if to reassure³²³ him, was tenderer than usual and even more delightful³²⁴. Seldom would she talk about her past life, but now she told him how, in winter in Russia, she would listen to the wolves howling across the steppes, and thrice, to show him, she barked like a wolf. Upon which he told her of the stags in the snow at home, and how they would stray into the great hall for warmth and be fed by an old man with porridge from a bucket. And then she praised him; for his love of beasts; for his gallantry; for his legs. Ravished with her praises and shamed to think how he had maligned³²⁵ her by fancying her on the knees of a common sailor and grown fat and lethargic at forty, he told her that he could find no words to praise her; yet instantly bethought him how she was like the spring and green grass and rushing waters, and seizing her more tightly than ever, he swung her with him half across the river so that the gulls and the cormorants³²⁶ swung too. And halting at length, out of breath, she said, panting slightly, that he was like a million-candled Christmas tree (such as they have in Russia) hung with yellow globes; incandescent³²⁷; enough to light a whole street by; (so one might translate it) for what with his glowing cheeks, his dark curls, his black and crimson cloak, he looked as if he were burning with his own radiance, from a lamp lit within.

All the colour, save the red of Orlando’s cheeks, soon faded. Night came on. As the orange light of sunset vanished it was succeeded by an astonishing white glare from the torches, bonfires, flaming cressets, and other devices by which the river was lit up and the strangest transformation³²⁸ took place. Various churches and noblemen’s palaces, whose fronts were of white stone showed in streaks³²⁹ and patches as if floating on the air. Of St Paul’s, in particular, nothing was left but a gilt cross. The Abbey appeared like the grey skeleton of a leaf. Everything suffered emaciation³³⁰ and transformation. As they approached the carnival, they heard a deep note like that struck on a tuning-fork which boomed louder and louder until it became an uproar³³¹. Every now and then a great shout followed a rocket into the air. Gradually they could discern little figures breaking off from the vast crowd and spinning hither and thither³³² like gnats³³³ on the surface of a river. Above and around this brilliant circle like a bowl of darkness pressed the deep black of a winter’s night. And then into this darkness there began to rise with pauses, which kept the expectation alert and the mouth open, flowering rockets; crescents; serpents; a crown. At one moment the woods and distant hills showed green as on a summer’s day; the next all was winter and blackness again.

By this time Orlando and the Princess were close to the Royal enclosure and found their way barred by a great crowd of the common people, who were pressing as near to the silken rope as they dared. Loth to end their privacy and encounter the sharp eyes that were on the watch for them, the couple lingered there, shouldered by apprentices³³⁴; tailors; fishwives; horse dealers³³⁵, cony catchers; starving scholars; maid-servants in their whimples; orange girls; ostlers; sober citizens; bawdy³³⁶ tapsters; and a crowd of little ragamuffins such as always haunt the outskirts³³⁷ of a crowd, screaming and scrambling³³⁸ among people’s feet — all the riff-raff of the London streets indeed was there, jesting and jostling, here casting dice³³⁹, telling fortunes, shoving, tickling³⁴⁰, pinching; here uproarious, there glum³⁴¹; some of them with mouths gaping³⁴² a yard wide; others as little reverent⁹⁴ as daws on a house-top; all as variously rigged out as their purse or stations allowed; here in fur and broadcloth; there in tatters with their feet kept from the ice only by a dishclout bound about them. The main press of people, it appeared, stood opposite a booth or stage something like our Punch and Judy show upon which some kind of theatrical³⁴³ performance was going forward. A black man was waving his arms and vociferating. There was a woman in white laid upon a bed. Rough though the staging was, the actors running up and down a pair of steps and sometimes tripping, and the crowd stamping their feet and whistling, or when they were bored, tossing a piece of orange peel on to the ice which a dog would scramble³⁴⁴ for, still the astonishing, sinuous²⁹⁷ melody of the words stirred Orlando like music. Spoken with extreme speed and a daring agility³⁴⁵ of tongue which reminded him of the sailors singing in the beer gardens at Wapping, the words even without meaning were as wine to him. But now and again a single phrase would come to him over the ice which was as if torn from the depths of his heart. The frenzy³⁴⁶ of the Moor seemed to him his own frenzy, and when the Moor suffocated the woman in her bed it was Sasha he killed with his own hands.

At last the play was ended. All had grown dark. The tears streamed down his face. Looking up into the sky there was nothing but blackness there too. Ruin and death, he thought, cover all. The life of man ends in the grave. Worms devour³⁴⁷ us.

Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse

Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe

Should yawn —

Even as he said this a star of some pallor rose in his memory. The night was dark; it was pitch dark; but it was such a night as this that they had waited for; it was on such a night as this that they had planned to fly. He remembered everything. The time had come. With a burst of passion he snatched Sasha to him, and hissed³⁴⁸ in her ear ‘Jour de ma vie!’ It was their signal. At midnight they would meet at an inn near Blackfriars. Horses waited there. Everything was in readiness for their flight. So they parted, she to her tent, he to his. It still wanted an hour of the time.

Long before midnight Orlando was in waiting. The night was of so inky a blackness that a man was on you before he could be seen, which was all to the good, but it was also of the most solemn stillness so that a horse’s hoof³⁴⁹, or a child’s cry, could be heard at a distance of half a mile. Many a time did Orlando, pacing the little courtyard, hold his heart at the sound of some nag’s steady footfall on the cobbles, or at the rustle³⁵⁰ of a woman’s dress. But the traveller was only some merchant, making home belated; or some woman of the quarter whose errand was nothing so innocent. They passed, and the street was quieter than before. Then those lights which burnt downstairs in the small, huddled³⁵¹ quarters where the poor of the city lived moved up to the sleeping-rooms, and then, one by one, were extinguished. The street lanterns in these purlieus were few at most; and the negligence³⁵² of the night watchman often suffered them to expire long before dawn. The darkness then became even deeper than before. Orlando looked to the wicks of his lantern, saw to the saddle girths; primed his pistols; examined his holsters; and did all these things a dozen times at least till he could find nothing more needing his attention. Though it still lacked some twenty minutes to midnight, he could not bring himself to go indoors to the inn parlour, where the hostess was still serving sack and the cheaper sort of canary wine to a few seafaring men, who would sit there trolling their ditties, and telling their stories of Drake, Hawkins, and Grenville, till they toppled off the benches and rolled asleep on the sanded floor. The darkness was more compassionate³⁵³ to his swollen and violent heart. He listened to every footfall; speculated on every sound. Each drunken shout and each wail³⁵⁴ from some poor wretch³⁵⁵ laid in the straw or in other distress³⁵⁶ cut his heart to the quick, as if it boded³⁵⁷ ill omen⁵⁶ to his venture. Yet, he had no fear for Sasha. Her courage made nothing of the adventure. She would come alone, in her cloak and trousers, booted like a man. Light as her footfall was, it would hardly be heard, even in this silence.

So he waited in the darkness. Suddenly he was struck in the face by a blow, soft, yet heavy, on the side of his cheek. So strung with expectation was he, that he started and put his hand to his sword. The blow was repeated a dozen times on forehead and cheek. The dry frost had lasted so long that it took him a minute to realize that these were raindrops falling; the blows were the blows of the rain. At first, they fell slowly, deliberately³⁵⁸, one by one. But soon the six drops became sixty; then six hundred; then ran themselves together in a steady spout³⁵⁹ of water. It was as if the hard and consolidated³⁶⁰ sky poured itself forth in one profuse³⁶¹ fountain. In the space of five minutes Orlando was soaked to the skin.

Hastily putting the horses under cover, he sought shelter beneath the lintel of the door whence he could still observe the courtyard. The air was thicker now than ever, and such a steaming and droning rose from the downpour that no footfall of man or beast could be heard above it. The roads, pitted as they were with great holes, would be under water and perhaps impassable. But of what effect this would have upon their flight he scarcely thought. All his senses were bent upon gazing along the cobbled pathway — gleaming in the light of the lantern — for Sasha’s coming. Sometimes, in the darkness, he seemed to see her wrapped about with rain strokes. But the phantom vanished. Suddenly, with an awful and ominous³⁶² voice, a voice full of horror and alarm which raised every hair of anguish in Orlando’s soul, St Paul’s struck the first stroke of midnight. Four times more it struck remorselessly. With the superstition³⁶³ of a lover, Orlando had made out that it was on the sixth stroke that she would come. But the sixth stroke echoed away, and the seventh came and the eighth, and to his apprehensive³⁶⁴ mind they seemed notes first heralding³⁶⁵ and then proclaiming death and disaster. When the twelfth struck he knew that his doom³⁶⁶ was sealed. It was useless for the rational part of him to reason; she might be late; she might be prevented; she might have missed her way. The passionate and feeling heart of Orlando knew the truth. Other clocks struck, jangling one after another. The whole world seemed to ring with the news of her deceit and his derision. The old suspicions subterraneously³⁶⁷ at work in him rushed forth from concealment³⁶⁸ openly. He was bitten by a swarm³⁶⁹ of snakes, each more poisonous than the last. He stood in the doorway³⁷⁰ in the tremendous rain without moving. As the minutes passed, he sagged³⁷¹ a little at the knees. The downpour rushed on. In the thick of it, great guns seemed to boom. Huge noises as of the tearing and rending³⁷² of oak trees could be heard. There were also wild cries and terrible inhuman³⁷³ groanings. But Orlando stood there immovable till Paul’s clock struck two, and then, crying aloud with an awful irony³⁷⁴, and all his teeth showing, ‘Jour de ma vie!’ he dashed the lantern to the ground, mounted his horse and galloped³⁷⁵ he knew not where.

Some blind instinct, for he was past reasoning, must have driven him to take the river bank in the direction of the sea. For when the dawn broke, which it did with unusual suddenness, the sky turning a pale yellow and the rain almost ceasing, he found himself on the banks of the Thames off Wapping. Now a sight of the most extraordinary nature met his eyes. Where, for three months and more, there had been solid ice of such thickness that it seemed permanent as stone, and a whole gay city had been stood on its pavement, was now a race of turbulent yellow waters. The river had gained its freedom in the night. It was as if a sulphur spring (to which view many philosophers inclined) had risen from the volcanic³⁷⁶ regions beneath and burst the ice asunder³⁷⁷ with such vehemence that it swept the huge and massy fragments furiously apart. The mere look of the water was enough to turn one giddy. All was riot and confusion. The river was strewn with icebergs³⁷⁸. Some of these were as broad as a bowling green and as high as a house; others no bigger than a man’s hat, but most fantastically twisted. Now would come down a whole convoy³⁷⁹ of ice blocks sinking everything that stood in their way. Now, eddying³⁸⁰ and swirling³⁸¹ like a tortured serpent, the river would seem to be hurtling itself between the fragments and tossing them from bank to bank, so that they could be heard smashing against the piers³⁸² and pillars. But what was the most awful and inspiring of terror was the sight of the human creatures who had been trapped in the night and now paced their twisting and precarious³⁸³ islands in the utmost agony of spirit. Whether they jumped into the flood or stayed on the ice their doom was certain. Sometimes quite a cluster of these poor creatures would come down together, some on their knees, others suckling their babies. One old man seemed to be reading aloud from a holy book. At other times, and his fate perhaps was the most dreadful, a solitary wretch would stride his narrow tenement¹⁶⁷ alone. As they swept out to sea, some could be heard crying vainly for help, making wild promises to amend³⁸⁴ their ways, confessing their sins and vowing altars and wealth if God would hear their prayers. Others were so dazed with terror that they sat immovable and silent looking steadfastly³⁸⁵ before them. One crew of young watermen or post-boys, to judge by their liveries, roared and shouted the lewdest tavern³⁸⁶ songs, as if in bravado³⁸⁷, and were dashed against a tree and sunk with blasphemies³⁸⁸ on their lips. An old nobleman — for such his furred gown and golden chain proclaimed him — went down not far from where Orlando stood, calling vengeance³⁸⁹ upon the Irish rebels, who, he cried with his last breath, had plotted this devilry. Many perished clasping some silver pot or other treasure to their breasts; and at least a score of poor wretches³⁹⁰ were drowned by their own cupidity³⁹¹, hurling³⁹² themselves from the bank into the flood rather than let a gold goblet³⁹³ escape them, or see before their eyes the disappearance³⁹⁴ of some furred gown. For furniture, valuables, possessions of all sorts were carried away on the icebergs. Among other strange sights was to be seen a cat suckling its young; a table laid sumptuously³⁹⁵ for a supper of twenty; a couple in bed; together with an extraordinary number of cooking utensils³⁹⁶.

Dazed and astounded³⁹⁷, Orlando could do nothing for some time but watch the appalling³⁹⁸ race of waters as it hurled³⁹⁹ itself past him. At last, seeming to recollect⁴⁰⁰ himself, he clapped spurs to his horse and galloped hard along the river bank in the direction of the sea. Rounding a bend of the river, he came opposite that reach where, not two days ago, the ships of the Ambassadors had seemed immovably frozen. Hastily, he made count of them all; the French; the Spanish; the Austrian; the Turk. All still floated, though the French had broken loose from her moorings, and the Turkish vessel⁴⁰¹ had taken a great rent in her side and was fast filling with water. But the Russian ship was nowhere to be seen. For one moment Orlando thought it must have foundered⁴⁰²; but, raising himself in his stirrups and shading his eyes, which had the sight of a hawk’s, he could just make out the shape of a ship on the horizon. The black eagles were flying from the mast head. The ship of the Muscovite Embassy was standing out to sea.

Flinging himself from his horse, he made, in his rage, as if he would breast the flood. Standing knee-deep in water he hurled at the faithless woman all the insults that have ever been the lot of her sex. Faithless, mutable, fickle⁴⁰³, he called her; devil, adulteress, deceiver; and the swirling waters took his words, and tossed at his feet a broken pot and a little straw.



他，这自然就表明了他的性别，虽说其时的风气对此有所掩饰，正朝梁上悬下的一颗摩尔人(摩尔人，非洲西北部阿拉伯人与柏柏尔人的混血后代，公元8世纪成为伊斯兰教徒，进入并统治西班牙。)的头颅劈刺过去。这骷髅，除了深陷的面颊和一两缕椰棕般干硬的头发，颜色很像只旧足球，形状也有几分相似。它是奥兰多的父亲，或许是他的祖父，从一个魁梧的异教徒肩上砍下来的。当年在非洲的蛮荒之地，月光下他们不期而遇。现在，这骷髅正在微风中不住地轻摆，因为这所府邸属于那位夺命勋爵，在阁楼上的这些房间中，微风回环往复，从不停息。

奥兰多的祖先曾在原野上驰骋，那是些开满常春花的原野，荒石遍布，流淌着神奇的河流。他们的刀锋所向，有无数头颅从无数肤色不同的肩膀上滚落下来，他们把这些头颅带回家，挂在梁上。奥兰多发誓，他也要这样做。但此时他只有十六岁，小小年纪，无法与父辈并肩驰骋在非洲或法国。他所能做的，惟有悄悄离开园中的母亲和孔雀，来到阁楼上他的房间，前腾后跃，操练剑术，剑刃划破虚空。有时，绳套被他斩断，骷髅落在地板上，砰砰作响。他只得心怀一种骑士精神，把它重新系好，悬到自己够不着的地方。于是，他的敌人咧着干瘪的黑嘴唇，冲他得意地狞笑。骷髅前后摆动着，因为这幢宅邸巨大无比，在奥兰多所住的顶楼，风好像被禁锢在其中，吹过来，吹过去，无论冬夏。绿色的壁毯和画面上的猎手也在时时晃动。自这些壁毯织就以来，他的祖先就是贵族。他们来自北方的茫茫雾霭，头戴王侯的冠冕。房间中央斑驳的阴影，和反射在地板上的块块黄色，岂不恰恰来自阳光映照下彩色玻璃窗上那个巨大的盾徽?奥兰多恰好站在盾徽的黄色豹身中央。他伸手推开窗户，把手臂放在窗台上，手臂立即变成红、蓝、黄三色，仿佛蝴蝶的翅膀。那些喜欢符号、天生善于破解符号的人，可以观察到，虽然奥兰多线条优美的双腿、健美的躯干和端庄的肩膀都沐浴在盾徽的各色光亮中，但在窗子敞开的一刹那，他的面庞是沐浴在阳光中的惟一部位。这是一张纯洁无邪、郁郁寡欢的面庞。生育他的母亲有福了，因为永远不必生出烦恼；而为他的一生做传的人更应欣喜，因为不必求助小说家或诗人的手段。他将不断建功立业，不断博取荣耀，不断扶摇直上，也有人等着为他树碑立传，直到这一切达至欲望的顶峰。奥兰多的容貌，恰恰就是为这样的一生所预备。一层细细的绒毛覆盖在红润的脸蛋儿上，唇上的绒毛不过稍稍硬一点儿。秀气的双唇有点儿翘，遮住杏仁白色精巧的牙齿。鼻梁不大却箭一般笔挺，深色的头发，小巧的耳朵与头部正好相称。但天啊，描述青春之美，岂能不提额头和眼睛。奥兰多站在窗前，我们恰好可以直接看到他。必须承认，他的眼睛仿佛湿漉漉的紫罗兰，大得好像有一泓碧水充盈其间。太阳穴像两个光润的圆奖章，夹在它们之间的额头似大理石穹顶般浑圆。直视这额头和双目，我们不禁浮想联翩。直视这额头和双目，我们又不得不承认，有那么多怪僻是每一优秀的传记作者所避之不及的。

有些景象令他不悦，譬如看到母亲，一位身着绿衣的美丽贵妇，走到室外去喂孔雀，身后跟着侍女特薇琪；有些景象令他欣喜，譬如鸟儿和树林；还有些景象令他迷恋死亡，譬如夜空和归巢的秃鼻鸦；凡此种种，都像旋转楼梯一样进入他的脑海，那里面有无穷无尽的空间。所有这些景象，还有花园里的各类响动，如击捶声和劈柴声，都开启了激情与心绪的放纵和混乱，这一点，每一传记作者都会有所察觉。但是接下去，奥兰多慢慢定下神来，坐在桌旁，心不在焉地拿出笔记本和旧鹅毛笔，蘸了墨水写起来，人们日复一日在同一时间做同一件事时都会是这副样子。笔记本上标了“埃瑟尔伯特：五幕悲剧”。

仅一会儿功夫，他已写满十几页诗行。很流畅，这一点显而易见，但也很抽象。邪恶、犯罪、苦难是他剧中的角色；乌有之邦的君主王后，饱受可怕阴谋的折磨而不知所措；他们心中充满高尚的情感；没有一个字是奥兰多自己会说出来的，但一切又都那么滔滔不绝，那么伤感；考虑到他不足十七岁的小小年纪，况且距十六世纪结束也还有些年头，这实在算是很惊人的成就。不过，他终于收住笔。犹如世上所有青年诗人都会做的那样，他也在描写自然，而且为了与绿阴相吻合，他正在注视(此时他表现得比多数人大胆)自然本身，而它恰好是窗下的一丛月桂。当然，这之后，他就无法再写下去。因为自然中的绿与文学中的绿完全是两码事。自然与文字，天生就不相容；凑在一起，它们会把对方撕成碎片。奥兰多眼中的绿阴破坏了他心中的节奏和韵律，何况大自然还有自己的把戏。一旦望见窗外夕阳斜照，蜜蜂在花丛中飞舞，狗在打哈欠，一旦想到“我还能看到多少次日落”(这种想法太稀松平常，因此不值一写)，他不禁抛开纸笔，拿了披风，大步走出房间，脚却绊到大漆柜子上。这倒是常事，奥兰多在琐事上总是有些笨手笨脚。

他小心翼翼，想避开所有人。那边路上来了花匠斯塔布斯，他赶紧躲到树后。等他过去后，奥兰多从花园边墙的一个小门溜出去，绕过马厩、养狗场、酿造场、木工房、洗衣房，以及人们做蜡烛、杀牛、钉马掌、缝制紧身无袖皮衣的地方。因为这大宅子本身就是个城镇，处处都有形形色色的手艺人在忙碌自己的活计。他踏上一条上山的路，路边长满羊齿草。这路要穿过一个很隐蔽的大庭园。或许，人的各种禀性密切相连，此处传记作者应注意到，上面提到的笨手笨脚常常与孤僻寡合相连。既然绊到柜子上是常事，奥兰多当然喜爱无人的地方和开阔的景观，而且希望永远、永远、永远只是孑然一身。

沉默良久，他终于吁了一口气说：“总算只剩我一人了。”在这个记录中，他是第一次开口说话。

他快步向山上走去，穿过羊齿草和荆棘丛，惊动了鹿和鸟儿，来到山顶，上面只有一棵浓阴如盖的大橡树。这里地势高耸，英格兰十九郡尽收眼底；无云的日子能看到三十郡，天朗气清之时更可看到四十郡。远处的英吉利海峡碧波涟涟，近处的河面上游船浮泛。西班牙大帆船出海了，舰队喷出团团白烟，还传来沉闷的炮声；海岸边的要塞和茵茵绿草之中的古堡现出身影；这里一处了望塔，那里一处堡垒，还有一些大宅，譬如奥兰多父亲的这一所，大得像峡谷中一座墙垣环绕的城镇。东西现出伦敦城的尖塔和笼罩城市的烟雾；在天边，没准风向对头的时候，斯诺登峰陡峭的峰巅和锯齿般的山脊，会从云中显露她的峥嵘。半晌，奥兰多站在那里点数，凝视，辨认。一边的宅邸属于他父亲，另一边的属于他叔父。他的姑母拥有树丛中那三座高耸的角楼。荒野和森林属于他们，还有野鸡和鹿、狐狸、獾和蝴蝶。

他深深吁了口气，扑向大橡树脚下的土地。他的动作洋溢着一股激情，所以值得用“扑向”这个词。面对夏天转瞬即逝的种种景象，他渴望感受身下大地的脊梁；他觉得橡树坚实的根须就是这脊梁，或者说一个又一个的意象就是这脊梁，譬如胯下骏马的脊背、大海中颠簸的舰船的甲板。其实，是什么并无所谓，只要它坚实可靠，因为他觉得自己这颗浮动的心，需要有什么东西可以依附。这是颗不安分的心，一到傍晚这个时辰，一到室外，它就会波澜起伏，鼓荡着激情和爱欲。他躺倒在地，把心系在大橡树上，渐渐地，内心和周围的骚动都静止了。树叶儿悄没声地挂在空中，麋鹿驻足伫立，夏日天空中的薄云纹丝不动。他的四肢变得沉重起来，摊在那里，无声无息。麋鹿渐渐走近，秃鼻乌鸦在他四周盘旋，燕子俯冲下来，兜着圈子，蜻蜓滑翔而过。夏日傍晚这一切充满生机和柔情的活动，宛如在他的身体四周织成了一张大网。

约摸一小时过去，夕阳西沉，白云化为漫天的红霞，把山峦映成淡紫色，树林成了深紫色，山谷则成了黛色。突然，远处响起号角声，奥兰多翻身跃起。那嘹亮的号角声来自山谷，来自山谷深处一个紧凑和突起的小黑点，来自那所属于他的大宅的心脏。那是一座迷宫、一座墙垣环绕的城镇。来自峡谷深处的号角声一遍遍响起，与别的更尖利的声音交叠在一起。刚才那里还是茫茫一片黑暗，不过瞬间功夫，已是灯火通明，有些灯光很微弱，急促地移动，好似仆人们听从指挥，在走廊里飞奔；另一些很明亮，好像空荡的宴会大厅，已灯火通明，准备好接待即将来临的贵宾；还有的灯光上下左右晃动，好像握在一大群仆人手里，他们必恭必敬地躬身、屈膝、起身、迎驾，引领和护送一位刚卜马车的贵妇进门。马车调转头，驶进庭院，马儿甩着毛茸茸的大尾巴。女王驾到了。

奥兰多不再眺望，匆匆冲下山，跑进边门，三步并两步攀上旋转楼梯，来到自己的房间。他脱下长袜，甩向房间的一侧，又脱下紧身无袖皮衣，甩向另一侧。他梳理好头发，擦干净手，修剪好指甲，借助一个约摸六英寸大的镜子和一对用了很久的蜡烛，不到十分钟，就已穿戴齐整：猩红色外套、布里奇马裤、蕾丝领圈、塔夫绸坎肩，鞋子上的玫瑰花结大似重瓣大丽花。一切就绪，他脸泛红光，非常兴奋，但他已经到得太迟了。

他抄近道穿过一长溜儿房间和楼梯，向宴会厅跑去。这宅子方圆五英亩，宴会厅在宅子的另一端。跑到一半，在穿过仆人住的下处时，他停住了脚步。斯图克雷太太的起居室门开着，毫无疑问，她人不在屋里，肯定是拿了钥匙伺候女主人去了。但是在她的饭桌旁，坐了一个体态臃肿的男子，身边放一只大啤酒杯，面前摆了一张纸。他衣衫不整，棕色粗呢外套，轮形皱领有点儿脏。此人手拿一支笔，却并没有写什么，似乎正在脑子里翻来覆去地掂量某个想法，直到积聚起令他满意的形态和力量。他的眼珠圆圆的，迷迷蒙蒙，如纹理奇异的软玉，一动不动地盯住一个地方。他并没看见奥兰多。尽管步履匆匆，奥兰多还是蓦地站住了。难道这是个诗人? 他是不是正在作诗?“告诉我，”他想说，“这世上的一切，”因为他对诗人和诗，抱有极其疯狂、荒唐的过分想法。但一个人对你视而不见，只看到食人妖魔、森林之神，或许还有海底深处，你又能对他说什么呢?奥兰多呆呆地站在那里，看那人把笔夹在手指间转来转去，凝视，思考，然后急急写了几行字。那人抬起头来，奥兰多突然觉得很不好意思，赶忙拔腿就跑。他赶到宴会厅，刚好来得及惶恐地垂下头，屈膝向高贵的女王陛下呈上一只盛满玫瑰水的钵。

他太腼腆了，以致除了女王伸入水中的那只戴着戒指的手，其他什么都没有看到，但这就足矣。那是一只让人难忘的手，瘦骨嶙嶙，细长的手指佝曲着，好似王位上的宝球，又似象征王权的节杖。它是那么神经质、乖戾和病态，又是那么威严，稍稍一抬就会有人头落地。他猜，它附着的衰老躯壳，就像一只衣柜，为了保存皮衣而加了樟脑。这躯壳为华丽的锦缎和宝石所装饰，虽然笔挺，却饱受坐骨神经痛的折磨，虽然从不退缩，却因无数恐惧而不安。女王的眼球是淡黄色的。这一切都是那几个硕大的戒指在水中闪烁时奥兰多感受到的。然后，有什么东西压在他的头发上，这或许说明他没有看到可能对历史学家有用的东西。事实上，此时他的头脑一片混乱，充满截然相反的意象：黑夜和燃烧的蜡烛，蹩脚的诗人和高贵的女王，沉寂的原野和熙熙攘攘的仆人。因此，他什么也没有看到，或者说只看到一只手。

同样，女王也只能看到奥兰多的头顶。不过，如果根据一只手就能演绎出一个身体，了解一位伟大女王的所有禀性，她的乖戾、无畏、脆弱和惊惧，如果这是可能的话，那么一位贵妇坐在富丽堂皇的大椅子上俯视人的头顶，肯定也能产生如此丰富的联想。况且如果威斯敏斯特里的蜡像可信，这位贵妇的两眼永远炯炯有神。在她面前，垂着一颗有长长的深色鬈发的头颅，它是如此恭敬，如此天真无邪，暗示了这位贵族少年有两条笔直秀美的长腿、一双紫罗兰色的眼睛，一颗金子般的心，他还有忠诚和迷人的男子气概。所有这些，都是这位老妇人所无法拥有、因而也就愈发钟爱的气质。因为她老了，厌倦了，顺从命运了。她耳中时时有炮声回响。她总看到闪光的毒药和长长的匕首。她坐在桌旁，就听到英吉利海峡炮声隆隆，她害怕，那是诅咒吗?还是窃窃私语?在这副阴暗背景的衬托下，天真、简单在她看来格外亲切。据说，同一天夜里，奥兰多熟睡之际，她在羊皮纸文件上最后按了手印，加盖了玉玺，作为礼物，向奥兰多的父亲正式转让了那座曾经属于大主教、后来成为皇家资产的大寺院。

奥兰多这夜睡得很熟，对此一无所知。女王吻了他，他却浑然不觉。女人的心是复杂的，或许正是因为他的单纯、她的嘴唇触到他时他吓了一跳，让她对这位年轻的表亲(他们血缘相通)记忆犹新。无论如何，奥兰多又过了不到两年平静的乡间生活，这期间他可能写了二十来部悲剧，还有十余个历史故事和一些十四行诗，然后敕令降临，命他去白厅作女王的侍卫。

“我的傻孩子来了!”(他周身散发出一种宁静的气氛，显得非常天真无邪，其实，这词已不再适合他)她说，看他出现在长长的走廊上，向她走来。

“过来!过来!”她正笔直地坐在炉火旁。她让他站在一英尺开外的地方，上下打量起来。她是否正在用不久前那个夜晚自己的期望来衡量眼前的现实呢?她是否发现自己的猜测很有道理?眼睛、嘴、鼻子、胸脯、胯部、手，一一打量过来，她的嘴角明显地抽动了几下。最后，她的目光落到他的腿上，她不禁开怀大笑起来。他的模样完全符合一个高贵绅士的形象。但是内心又如何呢?她那双鹰一般的黄眼珠闪闪发光地盯在他身上，仿佛要穿透他的灵魂。在她的凝视下，年轻人的脸红了，红得像一朵大马士革蔷薇。力量、优雅、浪漫、荒唐、诗人气质、青春，他的一切她了然于胸。她当下就从自己(关节肿大的)手指上褪下一只戒指，戴在他的指上，封他为皇家司库和总管。然后她在他身上挂了一堆项链，表明他荣膺的公职，并让他屈膝，在他腿上最苗条的部位系上镶嵌了珠宝的嘉德勋章(嘉德勋章，嘉德勋位为英国最高勋位。)。这之后，自然事事顺遂。她威风凛凛外出寻访，他骑马侍护左右。她派他出使苏格兰，觐见郁郁寡欢的苏格兰女王。他正准备乘船去波兰打仗，她将他召回。她怎能忍心想到他那柔嫩的身躯被撕碎，鬈发飘逸的头颅滚落尘埃?她把他留在身边。在她权倾一世之时，伦敦塔礼炮轰鸣、火药味铺天盖地，呛得人直打喷嚏，窗下人们的欢呼声惊天动地。宫女们为她铺了垫子(因为她确实垂垂老矣)，她拉他伏在上面，脸埋在令人惊异的一大堆衣料之中。她已有一月未换衣服，他觉得，那气味足够全世界享用的，让他忆起儿时家里的旧箱子，里面存了母亲的毛皮衣服。他抬起身来，差点儿被那拥抱所窒息。她气喘吁吁地说：“我赢了!”一枚火箭飞上天空，把她的双颊染得绯红。

是啊，他颇得这老妇人的宠幸。女王为他设计了雄心勃勃的锦绣前程。是不是男子汉，她一目了然，虽然据说并非以通常的方式。她赐他土地，赐他宅邸。他将是她老年时的儿子、体衰时的拐杖、生命危浅时可依靠的大橡树。她嗓音低哑地说出这些允诺，她的温柔古怪又专横(他们此时在里奇蒙德(里奇蒙德，伊丽莎白女王的行宫。))，她身着僵挺的锦缎，笔直地坐在炉边，不论火烧得多旺，她从没有觉得暖和过。

与此同时，漫长的冬季仍在延续。庭园里，棵棵树上雪挂满枝，河水也淌得很缓慢。一天，积雪覆盖大地，镶着木板的房间里光线黝暗，阴影重重，庭园里传来牡鹿的叫声。因为害怕奸细，她四周总有镜子；因为害怕杀手暗算，她命令无论何时都要敞开大门。这时，她从镜子中看到，门外有个小伙子(会不会是奥兰多?)在吻一个姑娘(那恬不知耻的荡妇究竟是谁?)她抽出金柄宝剑，朝镜子猛击过去。镜面四碎，人们纷纷跑来，把她抬回到椅子上。自此之后，她受到巨大打击，不停地抱怨男人的背信弃义，直到生命走向终结。

或许，这是奥兰多的过错。但我们应该责怪奥兰多吗?那是伊丽莎白时代，人们的道德观念与我们大不相同。他们的诗人、他们的气候，甚至他们的菜蔬都与我们不同。一切都与我们不同。甚至可以认为，连天气本身，即夏之炎热和冬之寒冷，都完全是另一番景象。光明灿烂、爱意盎然的白昼与黑夜的区别，有如陆地与水一般分明。落日更红更亮；晨曦更淡更浅。他们从未经历过我们这种半明半暗、朦朦胧胧、挥之不去的拂晓和黄昏。雨要么不下，要么下个不停。天空要么漆黑一片，要么骄阳当头。诗人们惯于将此转移到精神领域，他们讴歌玫瑰的凋零，讴歌这短促的瞬间；瞬间逝去，等待人们的将是漫漫长夜。至于用温室和暖房这类人工方法，来延长或保持玫瑰鲜艳的粉红和玫瑰色，却不是他们的方式。我们现在这个时代不但变化多端，而且难以预测，这一切的错综复杂和模糊不清，都是他们闻所未闻的。在他们那个时代，激烈就是一切。花开花谢，日出日落。爱人来而复去。诗人们诗中所言，年轻人都拿来付诸实践。少女恰似玫瑰花，她们的美貌短暂如花季，必须在黑夜降临之前采撷，否则白昼一去不返，黑夜漫漫无际。因此，奥兰多不过是循着气候、诗人和年龄的引导，去采撷窗台上属于他的鲜花，即便屋外白雪皑皑，屋内女王虎视眈眈，我们也不忍心去责怪他了。他年轻、稚嫩，他所做的一切不过是率性而为。至于那少女的姓名，我们知道得并不比伊丽莎白女王更清楚。她可能叫多丽丝、克罗丽丝、达丽亚或戴安娜，因为他轮流为她们赋诗。同样，她也可能是宫中的一位女官，也可能是某个婢女。因为奥兰多兴趣广泛，不仅喜爱花圃里的花、野地里的花、甚至野草也让他心仪。

此处，我们像传记作家常做的那样，鲁莽地披露了他的一个怪癖，或许，这应归咎于他的某位女性祖先曾穿过粗布衣、提过牛奶桶。肯特郡或苏塞克斯郡的砂石，融人他血管中流淌的来自诺曼底的高贵血统。他喜欢这种棕色泥土与蓝色高贵血统的混合。当然，这就是他为何热衷混迹于下等人中间，尤其是那些聪明反被聪明误的潦倒文人。他与他们好似血缘相通，惺惺相惜。在他生命的这个阶段，奥兰多满脑子充斥着诗歌，入睡前总是浮想联翩。这时，比起宫廷贵妇、客栈老板的女儿面颊似乎就更鲜嫩，猎场看守人的侄女脑子也许更聪明。因此，他开始在夜间频繁出入外坪老台阶(外坪老台阶，位于伦敦东区，伦敦塔附近，台阶直伸至泰晤士河畔的码头。)和露天啤酒馆，裹一件灰色披风，遮掩颈上和膝上的勋章。可想而知，这些地方的建筑很简陋。在沙地和草地的地滚球场之间，他面前摆一只大啤酒杯，听水手讲故事，讲他们如何在西班牙海上经受艰辛、恐惧和残忍，有人丢了脚趾，有人掉了鼻子。口述的故事从不像写成文字的故事，它们不加雕琢粉饰。他尤其爱听他们齐唱亚速尔群岛的民歌，这时，他们从那些地方带回的鹦鹉会来啄他们的耳环，用坚硬的喙叩击他们手指上的红宝石，还会像主人一样说脏话。女人们的言谈举止往往像这些鸟一样大胆、随意。她们坐在他腿上，搂住他的脖子，猜他的厚呢披风下藏着什么不寻常的东西，像奥兰多一样，急着搞清事情的真相。

他们的机会真不少。河里从早到晚漂着各式驳船、舢板和大小船只。每天都有驶往印度群岛的大船出海，不时亦有一两条破旧的小船偷偷驶进港口抛锚，甲板上立几个来历不明的野人。姑娘小伙儿日落后在水上调情是常事，看见他们搂抱着酣睡在装珍宝的麻袋之间，听到这样的传言也没人会大惊小怪。奥兰多、苏姬和坎伯兰伯爵三人就有这样一出经历。那天天气酷热，奥兰多和苏姬的恋情也正如火如荼，后来他俩在红宝石当中进入梦乡。入夜，伯爵只身一人，挑灯出来查看他的战利品，他的财富多与西班牙探险有关。灯光照在一只桶上，伯爵吓得大叫一声，连退几步。酒桶边睡着两个人，紧紧抱在一起，裹在一件红披风里，苏姬的酥胸如奥兰多诗中咏叹的永不融化的白雪。伯爵天生迷信、又因作恶太多而良心自责，竟以为这一对是溺死水手的鬼魂，从墓中跳出来谴责他。伯爵吓得连连在身上划十字，发誓一定要洗心革面、痛改前非。希思路上现在还有一排贫民屋，即是这一刻惊恐失措的结果。教区十二个家境贫寒的老妇今日仍在一起喝茶，整晚求老天保佑伯爵，感激伯爵让她们不致露宿街头。因此，那私情本身就是只宝船，但我们此刻略过道德问题不谈。

不过，奥兰多很快厌倦了这种生活方式，不仅厌烦它很不舒适，周围的街道弯弯曲曲，而且厌烦人们的举止粗野，与原始人没什么两样。我们务必记住，在伊丽莎白时代，人们可不像我们这样，觉得犯罪和贫穷非常有趣。他们不像我们现代人，羞于埋头书本，也不像我们，以生为屠夫之子为荣，不识字反而成了美德。对我们所谓的“生活”与“现实”多少总是与无知和残忍相关联，他们想都没想过，也根本没有相当于这两个词的同义语。奥兰多结交他们，不是为了寻求“生活”，离开他们，也不是为了寻求“现实”。他多次听他们讲杰克如何掉了鼻子，苏姬如何失去贞操。必须承认，他们把这些故事讲得活灵活现，但他开始对这种重复感到厌倦，因为切掉鼻子的方式只能有一种，少女失去贞洁也是如此，至少在他看来是这样。而千姿百态的艺术和科学却深深刺激着他的好奇心。于是，在怀恋他们的同时，他不再经常光顾啤酒馆和撞柱游戏球道，他将灰披风挂进衣柜，又露出颈上亮晶晶的星和膝上闪闪的嘉德勋章，再次出现在詹姆斯国王的宫廷里。他年轻、富有、英俊，他所得到的喝彩声，无人可比。

确实，有许多淑女为他倾倒。至少有三人的名字可在婚姻中与他的名字连为一体，她们是克罗琳达、斐薇拉和欧佛洛绪涅，他在他的十四行诗里如此称呼她们。

下面我们来依次介绍。克罗琳达小姐仪态秀美，有六个半月的时间，奥兰多确实与她来往频繁，但她的睫毛是白色的，她又见不得血。父亲餐桌上端来的烤野兔，竟让她昏了过去。她还颇受教士的影响，节省下自己的内衣，送给穷人。她以改造奥兰多、洗清他的罪孽为己任。这让他很厌烦，索性退掉婚约，而巳对她不久患天花而亡倒也不太悲伤。

下一位斐薇拉，完全属于另一类型。她是苏默塞特郡一位穷乡绅之女，全凭钻营和察言观色，在宫中步步高升。她总是一身骑手装束，秀美的足弓和优雅的舞步，在宫中赢得一片称许。但有一次，就在奥兰多的窗下，一只小狗扯了她的丝袜(公正而言，斐薇拉的袜子不多，而且大多是羊毛袜)，她情急之下欠考虑，竟用鞭子抽它，差一点要了它的命。酷爱动物的奥兰多这下注意到，她的牙齿参差不齐，两颗门牙内凹，他说，在女子身上，这肯定是刚愎自用和性情残忍的征兆，当晚就终止了婚约。

第三位欧佛洛绪涅，恐怕是至此让他真正动情的一位。如同奥兰多，她也出身名门，是爱尔兰戴斯蒙德家族的千金。她美丽、健康，从不大惊小怪。她讲一口流利的意大利语，虽然下牙有点变色，但上牙完美，无可挑剔。她的膝边总有一条小狗相伴，她用自己盘中的白面包喂它。在维金纳琴的伴奏下，她的歌喉美妙之极。她很注意保养，总要睡到正午时分，才肯起床梳洗打扮。总而言之，对奥兰多这样的贵族，她堪称一位完美妻子，而且此事已进展到双方律师忙着商量婚约、寡妇授予产、财产赠与、住宅及其宅基、财产保有权，以及两大财富结合之前所需的一切事项；但凛冽的大霜冻突然降临，而凛冽和突如其来那时就是英国气候的特征。

历史学家告诉我们，大霜冻是英伦诸岛经历过的最严重的霜冻。飞鸟在半空中冻住，像石头一样坠到地上。在诺里奇，一位身强力壮的年轻农妇过路，旁人看到凛冽的寒风在街角处袭击了她，瞬间她就化为齑粉，像一阵尘灰般被吹上房顶。这期间，无数牛羊死去。人的尸体冻得硬邦邦的，无法与床单分离。常常会看到整整一群猪冻僵在路上，动也不能动。田野中遍布活活冻死的牧羊人、农夫、马群和赶鸟的小男孩。有的人手放在鼻子上，有的人瓶子举到唇边，还有的人举着石头，正要掷向一码远外树篱上的乌鸦，而那乌鸦也像是一只标本。这次霜冻异常严酷，接着发生了石化现象。不少人推测，德比郡的一些地区之所以岩石剧增，不是由于岩浆喷发，因为并没有发生过这种喷发，而是由于一些倒霉的行路人凝固了，实际上他们就在原地变成了石头。教会对此帮不上多少忙，虽然有些土地拥有者把这些遗体尊为圣物，但多数地区宁可用它们作地标、羊搔痒的柱子，如果形状适合，还拿来做牛的饮水槽。时至今日，它们大多仍被派作这种用场。

然而，就在乡民生活极端匮乏，乡村贸易停滞不前之时，伦敦却沉浸在一片骄奢淫逸的狂欢气氛中。新王把宫廷设在格林尼治，并乘加冕之机笼络民心。他下令将封冻二十多英尺厚的河床及两岸六七英里宽的地带清扫出来，装饰成公园或游乐园，修建凉亭、曲径、球道、酒肆等等，一切开支由他负担。他令人划出正对宫门的一块地，用丝绳拉上，与百姓隔开，供他与廷臣专用。此地立即成为英国上流社会的中心。面蓄胡须、颈套轮形皱领的大政治家们在皇家宝塔绛红色的遮棚下处理国事。军人们在顶铺鸵鸟毛的藤条凉亭里策划如何征服摩尔人和攻陷土耳其。元帅们手擎玻璃杯，在狭窄的小路上踱来踱去，挥手指向地平线，讲述西北通道(西北通道，伊丽莎白时代的探险家沿美洲北部海岸行驶，希望找到一条通往远东的海路。)和西班牙无敌舰队(西班牙无敌舰队，16世纪西班牙舰队，1588年被西班牙国王菲利普二世派遣去攻打英国，战败。)的故事。情侣们在铺着紫貂的长沙发上调情。王后率领女官们来到室外，冻玫瑰雨纷纷扬扬洒落下来。彩色气球悬在空中纹丝不动。四处燃起一堆堆巨大的松木和橡木篝火，里面撒了大把的盐，火苗因此闪烁着绿色、橘黄色和紫色的火焰。但不管篝火烧得多旺，也融化不了钢一般坚硬的透明冰层。这冰层清澈见底，几英尺下的深处，时而可见一条鲆鱼或一只鼠海豚。一群群鳗鱼纹丝不动，仿佛处于昏睡状态，它们是真死，还是因为窒息而假死，回暖后尚可复生，这是让哲学家疑惑的问题。伦敦桥附近的河面，冰结了近二十英寻厚，河底的一条沉船清晰可见。前一年秋天，这条运苹果的船因超载而沉没于此。有个老妇，身穿彩格呢上衣和环裙，肩负水果，要乘小贩船去对岸萨里的市场。现在她坐在那里，膝上都是苹果，看似正准备向哪位顾客兜售，但她那青紫的嘴唇透露出真情。这是詹姆斯王格外喜爱的一幅图景，他会带领廷臣，在那里极目眺望。简而言之，青天白日下，顶数这景象辉煌、艳丽。但狂欢节最热烈的时刻当在夜里。霜冻仍在持续，万籁俱寂，月亮和满天星斗闪烁着宝石般幽冷的光。廷臣们伴着长笛和小号的优雅音乐，翩翩起舞。

不错，奥兰多不属于那种舞步轻盈、擅长跳库朗特舞和伏尔特舞的人，他有点笨拙，还有点心不在焉。与那些复杂花哨的外国舞相比，他宁可跳自己从小熟悉的简单的民族舞。一月九日傍晚六点，他刚跳过几曲四步舞或小步舞，便瞥见一个身影，从莫斯科大公国使馆凉亭那边飘了过来。他的好奇心大发，因为那人身着宽松的俄罗斯式束腰衣裤，让人辨不出男女。这位不知姓名，不辨性别的人，中等身材，苗条纤细，一身牡蛎色的天鹅绒，用罕见的绿色皮毛镶边。然而在那全身散发出的特殊魅力映照下，所有这些细节都淡化了。奥兰多脑中迅速涌出各种最极端和最奢侈的意象和比喻。他称她为西瓜、菠萝、橄榄树、翡翠和雪中之狐，一切都是在三秒钟之内；他不知道自己是听到、嗅到、看到她，还是三者兼而有之。(虽然我们的叙述一刻不能停，但此处我们可以飞快指出，此时他脑中所有的意象都极其简单，符合他的感觉，而且大多来自幼年他所喜爱嗅闻的东西。不过，若说他的感觉非常简单，这些感觉同时也非常强烈，让人难以停下来寻找其中的原因。)……西瓜、翡翠、雪中之狐，他如此狂热地赞美着，目不转睛地凝视着。那男孩，天哪，一定是个男孩，女子绝不可能如此敏捷、矫健。那男孩几乎是踮着脚尖从他身边掠过，奥兰多懊恼万分，几乎要揪自己的头发，因为如果此人与他同性，那么一切拥抱就成了泡影。但那人又滑近了，双腿、双手和姿态都像男孩，但没有一个男孩会有那样的双唇；没有一个男孩会有那样的胸脯；没有一个男孩会有那样晶莹剔透的碧眼。最后，不知名的滑冰者停下来，向从旁经过的国王行礼，姿态雍容华贵。此刻，国王正由某位等待加官晋爵的廷臣陪跳曳步舞。她站在那里，距奥兰多只有咫尺之遥。是女子。奥兰多痴痴地望着，浑身颤抖，忽冷忽热；他渴望扑向夏空，渴望踩碎脚下的橡树果，渴望用双臂搂抱杉树和橡树。实际上，他时而抿住嘴唇，时而半张半闭，好像要用秀气、雪白的牙齿咬住嘴唇。而此时，欧佛洛绪涅小姐正依偎着他的臂膀。

他发现，那陌生女子名叫玛露莎·斯坦尼罗夫斯卡·达姬玛尔·娜达莎·伊丽亚娜·罗曼诺维奇公主，是随从莫斯科公国大使前来参加典礼的，大使是她的叔父，或是她的父亲。关于莫斯科大公国，人们知道得不多。这些人都蓄长须，戴皮帽，沉默寡言。他们喝某种黑色的液汁，但不时把它们啐吐到冰上。他们都不说英文，但有些人会说法文，而在英国宫廷中，能说法文的人又寥寥无几。

下面这件事促成了奥兰多与公主的相识。为款待王公贵族，在巨大的遮棚下摆开了一溜长桌。公主被安排坐在两位青年贵族之间，一位是弗朗西斯·弗瑞勋爵，一位是年轻的摩里伯爵。奥兰多与她隔桌相对。看到她很快让他们陷于难堪，是件很好笑的事，因为他们虽然都是不错的小伙子，但他们的法语与未出世的婴儿相差无几。晚宴一开始，公主便转身对伯爵说(她那妩媚的模样让他销魂)：“我想，去年夏天，我在波兰遇到一位来自你们家族的绅士”或“英格兰宫廷贵妇的美丽把我迷住了。我从未见到过像你们王后这样典雅的夫人，还有她那精致无比的发式。”弗朗西斯勋爵和伯爵两人立即面露尴尬之色。于是一人给她盛辣根沙司，一人吹口哨，唤狗过来讨吃髓骨。公主看了，不禁大笑。坐在对面的奥兰多，视线越过桌面上的野猪头和填馅儿孔雀，与她的视线相交，也大笑起来。但他的笑容突然僵住了，因为他感到了某种疑惑。他激动地自问：迄今为止，我究竟爱过些什么人呢?答案是，一位骨瘦如柴的老妇，不计其数的红脸蛋儿妓女，一位成天哀诉的修女，一位刚愎自用、言语刻薄的女冒险家，一位毫无主见、沉浸于花边与礼仪的女人。爱情于他，恍若锯末和炭渣。他的全部体验乏味之极。他惊诧自己如何能够历经一切而不觉厌倦。因为当他注视公主时，他体内的血融化了，血管中的冰化为美酒。他听到水在流淌，鸟在鸣啭，春天降临，荡涤了冬天枯寒的景象；他的男性气概随之苏醒；他跃马冲向凶悍甚于波兰人和摩尔人的敌人；他潜入水底；他看到裂隙中长出危险之花；他伸手……事实上，当公主对他说“劳驾，请把盐递过来”时，他正匆匆作成一首激情洋溢的十四行诗。

他的脸涨得通红。

“不胜荣幸，小姐，”他回答道，说得一口标准的法语。感谢上帝，这种语言他运用自如，好似母语；他的老师是他母亲的女仆。但是对他来说，也许，从不会说这种语言，从未回答过这个声音提出的问题，从未追寻过这双眼睛射出的光芒……也许结局会更好。

公主接着问他，这些蠢家伙是些什么人?那个坐在她身旁、举止像马夫的人是谁?他们倒在她盘子里的是什么?那堆乱七八糟的东西让人恶心。难道英国人与狗同桌用餐?那个坐在长桌另一端、头发梳得像五朔节花柱(五朔节花柱，英国民间庆祝五朔节时常绕此柱舞蹈、游戏。)的滑稽人物，难道真的就是王后?国王平素吃东西也这样口水四溅吗?那群花花公子，哪位是乔治·维利耶(乔治·维利耶，詹姆斯王的宠臣，后封为白金汉公爵。)?这些问题最初令奥兰多不安，但它们提的是那样俏皮和离奇，奥兰多不禁开怀大笑起来。周围的人一脸茫然，奥兰多看出他们没一人听懂一个字，回答她的提问，也开始变得无拘无束起来，而且像她一样，说地道的法语。

就这样，他们两人开始了一种亲昵的关系，而它很快又演化成宫中的丑闻。

没过多久，人们就注意到，奥兰多对这位莫斯科女子的关照，远远超出了礼节的需要。他从不离她左右，别人虽然听不懂他们的谈话，却能看出，他们总是谈得很热闹，而且经常脸红，笑出声来，所以哪怕最迟钝的人，也能猜到他们的话题。况且，奥兰多本身的变化令人惊奇。从未有人见过他如此活泼，一晚的功夫，就摆脱了孩子气的笨手笨脚。过去这小伙子整天郁郁寡欢，一进女人屋，总要把桌上一半的饰物碰翻在地。现在他变了，变成了一个风度翩翩、殷勤有礼的绅士。看他搀那个莫斯科娘们儿(人们就这么称呼她)上雪橇，看他伸出手来请她跳舞，接住她故意掉下的花点手帕，或履行这位高高在上的女人吩咐而其情人等不及的无数义务中的任何一项，那些情景让老年人昏花的老眼发亮，年轻人的心跳加速。但这一切之上，笼罩着一层阴云。老年人不以为然，年轻人窃窃私语，大家都知道奥兰多另有婚约。玛格丽特·奥布莱安·奥代尔·奥瑞利·泰尔科奈尔勋爵小姐(这正是十四行诗中欧佛洛绪涅的真实姓名)，她的左手食指上戴着奥兰多送的闪闪发光的红宝石戒指呢。按理说，她最有权得到他的关照。但她即便将自己衣柜(她的衣柜很多)中所有的手帕一条条掉到冰上，奥兰多也不会弯腰去拾。要等他来扶她上雪橇，二十分钟不算多，最后还只能屈尊让黑人仆从伺候。她滑冰时——她的姿态很笨拙——无人在旁喝彩。她摔倒后——她常常摔得很重——也没人会扶她起来，掸去她衬裙上的雪。她虽然生性冷静，难得较真儿，更不愿像多数人那样，以为一个外国女人就能夺走奥兰多对她的爱，但最终，连玛格丽特勋爵小姐本人亦开始怀疑，有什么让她失去平静心境的事件正在酝酿之中。

的确，随着时间一天天过去，奥兰多越来越不屑于掩饰自己的感情。他会找个藉口，离开刚刚还在一起吃饭的伙伴，或从准备跳四步舞的滑冰者身边溜走。此后片刻功夫，人们就会发现，那莫斯科娘们儿也不见了踪影。而最让宫廷恼怒，同时刺痛其最敏感处，即其虚荣心的，是常有人看到，这一对男女溜出河上用丝绳拦出的皇家圈地，混迹于普通百姓之中。因为公主会忽然跺着脚大喊“带我走。我讨厌你们那些英国痞子。”她此处是指英国宫廷。她说自己已忍无可忍，英国宫廷中处处是热衷窥探他人隐私的老太婆、死盯着人看个不停，还有处处自以为是的男人，只会踩人的脚。他们发出难闻的味道。他们的狗在她的腿中间跑来跑去。活在这里像活在笼子中，不像俄罗斯，他们的河床有十里宽，任六匹马并驾奔驰一天，不见人的踪影。再者，她也想看看伦敦塔、皇家禁卫军仪仗队、教堂栅栏门上的首级，还有城中的珠宝店。于是奥兰多带她到城里看了禁卫军仪仗队和叛匪的首级，在皇家交易所买下她中意的所有珠宝。但仅仅如此还不够，两人都愈来愈渴望整天私下里厮守在一起，躲过众人的大惊小怪或窥视。所以他们没有回伦敦，而是调转头，很快远离了冰封的泰晤士河面上的人群。一路上，他们没有遇到一个人影儿，除了海鸟。只有一个乡村老妇枉然地在冰上凿洞，想汲出一桶水，或划拉到干树枝树叶用来烧火。这时辰，穷人不会远离自家的茅屋，富裕一点的人，只要负担得起，都挤到城里取暖享乐去了。

于是，这河便归了奥兰多和萨莎独享。萨莎是他送给她的爱称，他儿时有一只俄罗斯白狐，就叫这名字，它浑身雪一般柔软，却有一口利齿，奥兰多曾被它狠狠咬了一口，这之后父亲便令人杀掉了它。现在，他们两人因滑冰和爱情而热血沸腾，裹着皮大氅扑到岸边荒芜的黄柳丛中。奥兰多把她搂在怀里，喃喃地说，这是他第一次尝到爱的喜悦。两情缠绵后，他们心醉神迷地躺在冰上，他将自己的风流韵事讲给她听。与她相比，那些人不过是木头、抹布和炭渣。她嘲笑他言辞激烈，再次在他的怀中蠕动，而且为了爱，再次拥抱他。之后，他们惊奇身下的冰竟没有因他们的热情而融化，怜悯那贫苦的老妇人没有这副融雪化冰的好身手，只得用冰冷的镐头刨冰。然后，他们裹在紫貂皮袍中，无所不谈：世象和旅行；摩尔人和异教徒；男人的胡须，女人的肌肤；老鼠跳到桌上，从她手里吃食，他家大厅中的挂毯总在晃动；一张面孔，一根羽毛。在这样的对话中，根本不存在话题太大或太琐碎的问题。

后来，奥兰多忽然陷入阴郁之中，这在他倒是常事，也许是因为看到冰上蹒跚而行的老妇，也许并无来由。他把脸贴到冰上，注视着封冻的河水，不由想到死亡。有位哲学家说得不错，快乐与忧郁只有一步之遥。那位哲学家还认为，二者是孪生兄弟，因此推论，一切情感的极致，都与疯狂相连，他于是恳求我们去真正的教会 (他指的是再洗礼振教会)寻求慰藉，他说，对坠人情海之人，那里是惟一的港口、码头和抛锚地。

“死是万物之归宿，”奥兰多阴云满面地坐直身子。(此时他的大脑就是这样活动的，从生到死，大起大落，之间没有任何停顿，因此作传者也不可停顿，而需飞跃得与奥兰多一样快，跟上他在人生这一时刻显然已沉湎其中的充满激情的轻率举动和突如其来的越轨言辞。)

“死是万物之归宿，”奥兰多直起身子，坐在冰上。但是萨莎的血管中，流淌的可不是英国血统。

在她的家乡俄罗斯，日落时分长些，黎明来得缓些，人们说话常常吞吞吐吐，疑惑怎样结尾最好。萨莎盯着他，一言未发，她或许是在笑他，因为在她眼里，他一定像个孩子。但是，他们身下的冰终于变冷了，她开始觉得不舒服，拉他站了起来。她一张口，就那么迷人，妙语连珠，透着聪颖(遗憾的是，她只说法文，众所周知，这些话一译成英文，立即韵味全无)，奥兰多当即忘掉冻冰的河水，忘记夜晚即将来临，也忘记了那老妇人或随便什么。他在成千上万个意象中上下寻觅，想找出一些恰如其分的比喻，但这些意象都如同那些曾经给过他灵感的女人，一点儿没有新意。白雪、奶油、大理石、樱桃、雪花石膏、金丝线?都不是。她似狐狸，似橄榄树，似从高处俯瞰大海的波涛，似翡翠，似未被云彩遮蔽、照耀葱翠山岚的丽日，总之，她不同于他在英格兰的一切所见所知。他搜肠刮肚，寻觅不到适当的辞藻。他渴望另有一番风景，另有一种语言。因为用来描绘萨莎，英语太直白，太甜蜜。她的一切言谈，无论听起来多么坦率、放浪，总有闪烁其词之处；她的一切举止，无论多么大胆，看起来总有点儿躲躲闪闪。因此，那绿色的火焰似乎隐藏在翡翠之中，丽日总被山岚遮蔽。只有外表清晰可见，内里却是一团变幻无常、来去不定的火，从没有英国女子放射出的那种平稳的光束。然而此时，奥兰多想起玛格丽特勋爵小姐和她的衬裙，就又控制不住自己的狂喜，猛力在冰上推着萨莎，愈推愈快，气喘吁吁地发誓要追逐火焰，要潜入水底取宝，等等，等等，五花八门的辞藻从他口中喷薄而出，好像一个积郁了满腔痛苦的诗人突然激情爆发。

萨莎却沉默不语。奥兰多告诉她，她是狐狸、橄榄树、翠绿的山岚；他向她讲述自己的全部家史；他家的宅邸是不列颠最古老的宅子；他的家族来自凯撒统治的罗马，那时他们可以乘坐镶流苏的轿子行在罗马的主要街道上，他说唯独皇家血统的人才能享有这一特权(他身上流露出的那种高傲的轻信倒挺讨人喜欢)。说着说着，他会停下来问她，她家在何处?父亲是何人?可有兄弟?为何独自与叔叔在一起?她三言两语回答了他的问题，但这之后，两人都觉得很尴尬。最初，他怀疑这是因为她的地位其实并非那样高贵，像她的外表显现得那样；或者她为自己同胞的粗野感到羞愧，因为他听说，在莫斯科大公国，女人蓄胡须，男人以毛皮遮羞。人人为御寒用动物油脂涂身，用手撕肉，住的草棚在英国贵族看来连牲口棚都不如。他便克制自己，不去逼她回答。但是回过头来想，他断定，她的沉默并非为此原因；因为她的下颏很光洁，她身着丝绒，颈戴珍珠，仪态万方，哪会出身牛棚那种地方?

如此说来，她又有什么需要相瞒?他的激情之下，潜藏了一股疑惑，宛如一座纪念碑下的流沙，突然移动，整个建筑就会摇摇欲坠。他会突然觉得心如刀绞，火冒三丈，让她不知如何安慰他是好。或许她并不想平抚他的痛苦，或许她恰恰喜欢看他发火，因此故意招惹他。或许这是莫斯科大公国人脾性奇怪的一面，一种精神变态。

现在我们继续来讲故事。那天，他们滑得比平时要远，到了船只抛锚的地方，这些船现在都结结实实地冻在河中央。泊船中有一条属于莫斯科大公国，主桅杆上飘扬着那面双头鹰旗帜，桅杆上悬了几码长的五彩冰溜。萨莎说她有些衣服留在了船上。他们猜想船上没人，便爬上甲板，去找衣服。奥兰多还记得以往生活的一些片断，因此倘若有些品行端正的公民在他们之前躲到了那里，他并不会感到惊奇。结果情况正是如此。他们还没走出几步，就有一个漂亮小伙子忽然冒了出来，不知他刚才在那一大卷绳子后面干什么勾当。猜得出他说——因为他说的是俄文——他是个船员，可以帮公主找到她要的东西。他点上一截蜡烛，和她一起消失在船舱里。

时间一点点过去，奥兰多沉浸在自己的梦中，只琢磨生活的欢乐、他的宝贝儿、她的不可多得、如何永远永远拥有她，不让她消失。他知道这中间障碍重重，必须克服许多困难。她是决心不离开俄罗斯的，那里有封冻的河流，野性十足的骏马和据她说相互残杀的男人。的确，他并不喜欢松树和雪原构成的景色，还有放浪和屠杀的习惯，也不想放弃自己快乐的乡间生活方式，譬如运动和植树，不想放弃自己的公职，毁掉自己的生涯。他不想放弃野兔而改射驯鹿，放弃加那利白葡萄酒而改喝伏特加。他也不想莫名其妙往袖子里藏把刀。然而，为了她，他愿意做这一切，甚至做得比这更多。至于他与玛格丽特勋爵小姐的婚礼，本定在一周后的这一天举行，而它显然荒唐到家了，他连想也不去想它。她的族人会来兴师问罪，他的朋友会嘲笑他为了一个哥萨克娘们儿、为了雪域荒原毁掉自己的锦绣前程，然而与萨莎相比，这一切都轻如鸿毛。他们将在第一个月黑风高之夜逃走。他们将乘船去俄罗斯。他这样思忖着，一边谋划，一边在甲板上走来走去。

他转过身，面向西方，夕阳像只柑橘，斜照在圣保罗大教堂(圣保罗大教堂，这是一个有意的时代误植。旧圣保罗教堂只有一方塔，1666年伦敦大火期间被烧毁。)的十字架上，这情景让他一下子清醒过来。它的颜色血红，正在迅速下沉。一定是到了黄昏时分。萨莎已走了一个多钟头。他突然又被那些不祥的预感攫住，他对她的那些信任蒙上了阴影。他钻进船舱，循着他看见他们走的路，在箱子和大桶中间摸索着，跌跌撞撞地向前走去。透过远处角落里一星昏暗的灯光，他看见他们坐在那里。有那么一秒钟的功夫，他看见了他们。他看见萨莎坐在那水手腿上，向他俯下身去，看见他们搂抱在一起。这之后，由于愤怒，他眼前的灯光化作一团红云。一声痛苦的嚎叫冲口而出，在整条船中回荡。若不是萨莎挺身挡在两人中间，那水手来不及抽刀，便要被奥兰多掐死。后来，奥兰多感到阵阵致命的恶心，他们只得把他放倒在地板上，给他灌了几口白兰地。他慢慢缓了过来，坐在甲板的一堆麻袋上，萨莎依偎在他身边，轻轻抚着他那昏花的眼睛，仿佛一只狐狸咬了他，又来甜言蜜语地哄骗他，谴责他，让他怀疑自己亲眼所见。难道烛光不是摇曳不定吗?难道影子没有晃动吗?那箱子很沉，她说，那人是在帮她搬箱子。奥兰多一会儿相信她，谁能肯定不是他的怒火幻化出他最怕发生的景象?一会儿又对她的谎言感到更加怒不可遏。萨莎开始变得面色苍白。她在甲板上跺着脚说，如果她一个罗曼诺夫家族的女人，竟躺在一个水手的怀抱中，她当晚就祈求她的保护神来摧毁她。的确，把这两人摆在一起(对此他几乎无法想象)，奥兰多为自己内心的龌龊而恼火，竟然想象那么一个长毛畜生将如此娇弱的尤物玩弄于股掌之中。那人膀大腰圆，光着脚也有六英尺高，耳朵上戴着毫不起眼的铁环，看起来像匹负重的辕马，鹪鹩和歌鸫飞累了会落在他的背上栖息。奥兰多屈服了，相信了她的话，求她原谅。但就在他们言归于好，走下船舷时，萨莎停下脚步，把手放在舷梯上，回头冲那个褐色面孔的魔鬼喊出一连串话，不知是打情卖俏，还是嘘寒问暖，她说的是俄文，奥兰多一个字也听不懂。但她的语调中有某种东西(这可能是俄文辅音的毛病)，让他想起几天前的一个情景：他碰上她在角落里偷偷啃食地板上捡起的蜡烛头。不错，蜡烛是粉红色的，镀了金，又是从国王的桌上掉在地上的，但它仍是动物脂油，而她竟然啃食它。奥兰多扶她下船走到冰上，不禁怀疑她身上是否有些粗鲁、鄙俗的农夫习气?他想象她四十岁时会变得何等颟顸丑陋，何等无精打采，虽然此刻她纤细如芦苇，轻盈若云雀。然而，他们向伦敦滑去时，他心中的这些疑团再次冰释，他感到自己仿佛被一条大鱼钩住了鼻子，不情愿但又低心下首地在水中飞驰。

那个黄昏出奇的美丽。夕阳西下，暗蓝的暮色中，火红的晚霞衬托出伦敦大大小小的穹顶、尖顶、角楼和小尖塔。这边是万字浮雕装饰的查林十字架；那边是圣保罗教堂的拱顶；再过去是雄伟、方正的伦敦塔建筑群；教堂栅栏门尖上的人头，像树丛被剥尽树叶，只留下梢顶的树瘤。威斯敏斯特(威斯敏斯特，伦敦著名教堂，是英王加冕和名人下葬之地。)的窗格里透出燃烧的灯光，如天堂里色彩斑斓的盾牌(这是奥兰多的想象)；西方天边仿佛是一扇金色的窗子，在通往天堂的梯子上，成群结队的天使(又是奥兰多的想象)正川流不息地攀上攀下。他们两人似乎一直滑行在飘渺的虚空中，冰层透蓝透蓝的，玻璃般平滑，他们向城里滑去，愈来愈快，白色的海鸥在他们头顶盘旋，双翼有节奏地在空中划动，好似他们破冰而行的冰刀。

仿佛为了安抚奥兰多，萨莎比平时愈发温柔可爱。她原本从不谈及往事，现在却向他讲述，俄罗斯的冬天，她会听到狼嗥叫着穿越草原。她三次学狼嗥给他听。他也讲给她听，在乡村，雪地中的牡鹿为了避寒，跑进屋里，有个老人从桶中盛出粥来喂它们。她赞美他，赞美他爱生灵，赞美他的侠义，赞美他的双腿。奥兰多陶醉在她的赞美之中，羞愧自己竟会如此龌龊，认为她坐在水手腿上，四十岁时变得肥胖臃肿，无精打采。他对她说，他不知用何种言语来赞美她，但看到她，他会立即想到春天、绿草和喷涌的泉水。他更紧地抓住她，带着她不停地旋转，直到河中央，连鸥鸟和鸬鹚也与他们一同旋转起来。等到他们终于气喘吁吁地停下来，她微吁着说，他像一棵燃着千百万支蜡烛的圣诞树(就像他们俄罗斯的圣诞树)，树上悬挂着黄色的小球，闪闪发光，足以照亮整条街。(人们可以这样翻译)，在熠熠生辉的双颊、深色的鬈发、红黑两色的披风衬托下，他看起来好像正在光芒四射地燃烧着，那光芒来自他心中的一盏灯。

片刻时光，除了奥兰多面颊上的红晕，一切色彩都褪去了。夜已来临。落日橘红色的余辉消失了，取代它的，是奇特、耀眼的白光，它们来自燃烧的火炬、篝火、号灯或河上其他照明工具。一切都发生了奇特无比的变化。大大小小的教堂和王公贵族的府邸，它们正面的白色岩石，都仅露出条条块块，仿佛悬浮在空中。尤其是圣保罗教堂，只剩下了一个镀金的十字架。威斯敏斯特灰色的轮廓宛如一片树叶。一切都变得形销骨立。他们接近游乐场，听见好像有音叉奏响了低音，这声响愈来愈大，最后变成喧嚣一片。不时有欢呼声伴随火箭窜上夜空。渐渐地，他们分辨出游离在巨大人群之外的一些细小的人影，旋转着，像河面上飞舞的蠓虫。在这明亮的光圈之上和它的周遭，是漆黑的冬夜，宛如一只硕大的碗倒扣下来。然而，漫漫黑夜中，时断时续地腾起缤纷的烟火，给人以期待和惊喜：新月、蟒蛇、王冠，形态各异。忽而，树林和远处的山岚露出夏日的葱茏，忽而，四处又是一片严冬的黑暗。

此时，奥兰多和公主已接近皇家禁地，却发现有一大群平民挡住了他们的去路。这些人已涌到丝绳近旁，不敢再向前了。奥兰多和公主讨厌丝绳另一边那些监视他们的刺人目光，不想结束他们的秘密，便混在摩肩接踵的人群之中。学徒、裁缝、渔妇、马贩子、骗子、饥肠辘辘的学生、头裹方巾的女仆、卖柑橘的姑娘、马夫、严肃的公民、猥亵的酒吧招待，还有一大群衣衫褴褛的小孩子，哪里有人群，哪里就少不了他们，尖叫着在人们脚下爬来爬去。实际上，伦敦街头的乌合之众悉数聚集于此，他们说说笑笑，打打闹闹，推推搡搡，掷色子、算命，做什么的都有。有的地方熙熙攘攘，有的地方又很沉闷。有人打哈欠，嘴张得一码大，有人像房顶上的寒鸦般寒伧，他们装束打扮各不相同，完全看他们的钱包大小和身份高低了。有人穿裘皮和绒面呢，有人则破衣烂衫，脚上裹了洗碗布，才没有直接踩在冰上。人们蜂拥而至的地方，似乎是一个我们现在演《潘奇打朱迪》(潘奇打朱迪，传统儿童木偶戏，其中潘奇先殴打、然后杀死妻子朱迪，暗指奥兰多看到的是莎士比亚的戏剧《奥瑟罗》。)的箱子或者说是戏台，台上似乎正在上演某出戏。一个黑人挥着手臂高声喊叫，一个白衣女人躺在床上。舞台搭得简陋，演员们在几节台阶上跑上跑下，有时跌跌绊绊，观众们又是跺脚，又是吹口哨，厌烦时还会把橘子皮扔到冰上，让狗去追，但那些奇妙、婉转、抑扬顿挫的台词仍像音乐一样在奥兰多心中唤起了什么。伶牙俐齿连珠炮般吐出的那些台词，让他想起在外坪露天酒馆唱歌的水手。这些台词即使毫无意义，对他来说，也像烈酒一样。时不时，一句台词会越过冰面击中他，让他觉得撕心裂肺。那摩尔人的狂怒似乎就是他的狂怒。那摩尔人把女人扼死在床上，仿佛是他用自己的双手杀死萨莎。

戏终于演完。一切复归黑暗。泪水顺着他的面颊淌下来。仰望天空，那里也惟有黑暗。毁灭与死亡笼罩了一切，他想。人生的归宿是坟墓，我们终将被蠕虫所吞噬。

我想现在的日月应该晦暗不明，

受惊的地球……也要吓得目瞪口呆。( (奥瑟罗)第5幕)

甚至在他这样说时，一颗苍白的星在他的记忆中升起。夜很黑，漆黑一片，但他们等待的就是这样的一个的黑夜，他们正是计划在这样的一个黑夜私奔。他记起了一切。时机已到。他突然冲动地一把搂过萨莎，在她耳边喃喃低语道：“生命之日!”这是他们的暗号。子夜时分，他们将在布莱克弗里亚斯附近的一家客栈汇合。那里有备好的马在等待他们。为他们的私奔，一切都已安排就绪。于是两人分手，返回各自的帐篷。还有一小时的时间。

距子夜还有好久，奥兰多便已等在那里。夜色漆黑，伸手不见五指。这对他们很有利，但在这万籁俱寂之中，马蹄声或婴儿的啼哭声，半英里远处就能听到。确有许多次，在小院子中踱步的奥兰多听到石子路上平稳的马蹄声，或女人裙裾的簌簌声，心都提了起来。但那夜行者只是某个迟归的商人；或是当地某个不那么清白的女人。过后，街上愈发静谧。又过了一会儿，在狭小拥挤的城市贫民区，楼下的灯光开始移到楼上的卧室，然后一盏盏熄灭。在这些边缘地带，街灯本来就寥寥无几，加上巡夜人玩忽职守，常常远在黎明到来之前，街灯就没了光亮。四周更黑了。奥兰多不时查看一下提灯的灯芯儿，紧紧马匹的肚带；给手枪装满火药，再看看枪套是否合适。这些事他至少已做了十几遍，再没有什么还需要他操心的了。虽然距午夜还有二十来分钟，他却无法说服自己进屋去。客栈的厅堂里，老板娘还在给几个水手斟萨克葡萄酒和廉价的加纳利葡萄酒。水手们坐在那里，高声唱着小调儿，讲述德雷克、霍金斯和格伦维尔 (德雷克、霍金斯和格伦维尔，均为16世纪英国海军战功卓著的著名将领)的故事，直到掀翻板凳，滚到沙地上呼呼大睡。还是黑夜更怜悯奥兰多那颗膨胀和剧烈跳动的心。他留神每一声脚步，揣摩每一分动静。每一声醉醺醺的喊叫、每一声因分娩阵痛或其他病痛而发出的尖叫，都让奥兰多揪心，恐怕给他的历险带来厄运。但他并不担心萨莎。她很勇敢，这样的历险不算什么。她会独自前来，披风、裤子、马靴，一身男子装束。她的脚步轻盈，即便万籁俱寂，也难以听见。

就这样，他在黑暗中等待着。忽然，他的脸上挨了一击，软软的，但很沉重，打在一边的面颊上。他的神经因期盼正绷得紧紧的，禁不住心中一惊，手按到剑上。这击打又在前额和面颊上重复了十几下。干冷的霜冻持续的时间太长了，过了一会儿，他才意识到是天上落下的雨点，下雨了。最初，雨点落得很慢，不慌不忙、一滴一滴的。但很快，六滴就变成了六十滴；然后是六白滴，再后就汇集成瓢泼大雨。仿佛凝为一体的整个天空像个丰沛的喷泉，一泻而下。只有五分钟，奥兰多就被淋成了落汤鸡。

他赶紧给马找了个避雨处，自己躲到门檐下，因为在那里，他仍能看到院子里的动静。此时空气愈发窒闷，大雨发出巨大的吱吱声和嗡嗡声，已不可能听到任何人声或马蹄声。本已坑坑洼洼的道路，漫溢雨水，或许根本就无法通行了。然而，这会对他们的私奔有什么影响，他几乎想也不想。他的所有感官都凝神于那长长的、此时在路灯下闪着光的石子路，等待萨莎的到来。有时，在黑暗中，他似乎看到她，夹裹在雨中。但幻影消失了。一个可怕和邪恶的声音，一个充满恐怖与惊惧、令奥兰多毛骨悚然、惊魂不定的声音响了起来，那是圣保罗教堂午夜第一声报时的钟声。它又无情地敲响四下。奥兰多心怀恋人的迷信，断定她会在钟声敲响第六下时到来。但第六下钟声的回音已经远去，然后是第七下、第八下。他那颗疑惧重重的心感到，它们似乎先是预示，然后宣告了死亡和灾难的到来。第十二下钟声敲响了，奥兰多明白，他的劫数已定。靠理性去推测她可能迟到、受阻、迷路都没有用途。奥兰多那颗多情善感的心明白事情的真相。别处报时的钟声也接二连三响起，仿佛全世界都在宣告她是个骗子，都在嘲弄他。原本潜藏在他心底的疑惑，如洪水决口般奔涌而出。无数条毒蛇在吞噬着他，一条比一条恶毒。大雨滂沱，他一动不动站在门洞里。时间一分一秒地过去，他的腿开始瘫软。大雨不停地下，风雨声最激烈时，仿佛大炮轰鸣。橡树挣扎和撕裂的巨大响声传来，还有野兽的咆哮和非人的可怕呻吟。而奥兰多呆呆站在那里，直到圣保罗教堂的钟声敲响两下，他才咬牙切齿地狂吼“生命之日!”声调中充满讥讽。他把提灯摔在地上，飞身上马，毫无目的地疾驰而去。

必定有某种盲目的直觉——因为他已失去理智——驱使他沿了河岸，驶向大海。破晓时分，他发现自己来到外坪边的泰晤十河畔。这天的拂晓来得格外突然，天空现出淡淡的黄色，雨已经停了。在他的眼前，展现出一片奇观。三个多月来，此处只有厚如岩石的坚冰，整个城市的骄奢淫逸全部建筑在这坚冰之上。此刻，这里却成了一片汪洋，到处奔流着浑浊的黄水。泰晤士河在一夜之间获得了自由。仿佛一股硫磺泉(许多哲学家喜爱这类景观)从地下火山区喷薄而出，撼天动地，顷刻将坚冰撕成碎片。仅仅看一眼这河水，就足以令人头晕目眩。到处是一片嘈杂混乱，河里布满冰山，有的宽似草地滚木球场，高似高宅大屋，有的小到像人的帽子，但扭曲成乱糟糟的一团。不时有整列冰块顺流而下，碾过挡住它去路的一切。有时，河水奔腾翻卷，如一条饱受折磨的大蟒，在碎冰之间腾跳咆哮，把它们从一岸抛向另一岸，可以听到碎冰撞击码头和柱子的巨大声响。但最可怕、最恐怖的景象，是看到前一晚就给困在那里的人们，他们惊恐万状、焦虑不堪，在岌岌可危的栖身小岛上踱来踱去。无论是跳人洪流，还是呆在冰上，他们的毁灭已经注定。有时，一大群这样的可怜人被挟裹着一起顺流而下，有人跪在冰上，有人还在哺乳婴儿。一位老翁似乎正高举《圣经》大声诵读。还有时，会看到一个不幸的家伙只身在自己狭窄的领地上走来走去，他的命运或许是最可怕的。在滚滚洪流冲向大海之际，可以听到有人枉然地狂呼救命，疯狂许诺要改邪归正，重新做人，发誓倘若上帝听到他们的祈祷，他们一定为他建造祭坛，捐输财富。其他人已吓得呆若木鸡，不知所措地盯着前方。一群年轻的水手或邮差(根据他们所穿的制服判断)，好像为了壮胆儿，高声唱着淫秽小调儿。水冲得他们撞到一棵树上，沉没时嘴里还在骂骂咧咧。一个老贵族——他身上的裘皮袍子和金链子宣告了他的身份——在离奥兰多不远的地方沉下水去，他用尽最后一口气高喊要向爱尔兰叛匪复仇，是他们策划了这场罪恶。许多人在陷于灭顶之灾之前，怀里还紧紧抱着银壶或别的宝物；至少有些倒霉的家伙是因为贪心而淹死的，他们宁可从岸上扑到水中，也不愿放弃一个小金球，或者眼看一件皮袍从他们面前消失。因为洪流卷走了家具、贵重物品和各式各样的财富。还可以看到其他各种各样的怪异景象，一只猫在吞噬幼仔；一张布好丰盛晚宴餐桌，足够二十人享用；一对夫妻睡在床上；还有无数炊具。

奥兰多感到天旋地转，目瞪口呆，好一阵，他什么也不能惟有眼看狂暴的激流从身旁奔腾而过。最后，他似乎终于想起什么，沿着河岸，向大海的方向策马狂奔。拐过河流蜿蜒处来到两天前大使们的舰船还被封冻得结结实实的地方，急切清点数着所有的船只，法兰西的、西班牙的、奥地利的、土耳其所有的船都漂在水上，虽然法兰西的船已漂离泊位，土耳其自舷裂了个大缝，水正在迅速倒灌进去。惟有俄罗斯的那条舟见了踪影。有那么一刻功夫，奥兰多觉得它一定是沉没了；他踏在马镫上，站高了一些，用手遮住光线，凭着鹰一般的目力刚可以分辨出，远方地平线上，有一条船的轮廓，桅杆顶部飘着黑鹰的旗帜。莫斯科大使馆的那条船正停在出海口处。

奥兰多猛地跳下马，仿佛在震怒之中要与洪流决一死战。

他站在没膝的水中，使出了女性注定摆脱不掉的所有最恶毒字眼，痛骂那个无情无义的女人。他骂她无情无义、反复无常、水性杨花；骂她是魔鬼、荡妇、贱人。湍急的河水打着漩涡，卷走了他所说的一切，而抛到他脚边的，只有一只破罐和一根细细的水草。

1 moor   

n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊

参考例句：

• I decided to moor near some tourist boats.我决定在一些观光船附近停泊。
• There were hundreds of the old huts on the moor.沼地上有成百上千的古老的石屋。

2 strand   

vt.使（船）搁浅，使（某人）困于（某地）

参考例句：

• She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ears.她把一缕散发夹到了耳后。
• The climbers had been stranded by a storm.登山者被暴风雨困住了。

3 barbarian   

n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的

参考例句：

• There is a barbarian tribe living in this forest.有一个原始部落居住在这个林区。
• The walled city was attacked by barbarian hordes.那座有城墙的城市遭到野蛮部落的袭击。

4 attic   

n.顶楼，屋顶室

参考例句：

• Leakiness in the roof caused a damp attic.屋漏使顶楼潮湿。
• What's to be done with all this stuff in the attic?顶楼上的材料怎么处理？

5 slain   

杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词)

参考例句：

• The soldiers slain in the battle were burried that night. 在那天夜晚埋葬了在战斗中牺牲了的战士。
• His boy was dead, slain by the hand of the false Amulius. 他的儿子被奸诈的阿缪利乌斯杀死了。

6 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。

7 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

8 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

9 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

10 chivalry   

n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤

参考例句：

• The Middle Ages were also the great age of chivalry.中世纪也是骑士制度盛行的时代。
• He looked up at them with great chivalry.他非常有礼貌地抬头瞧她们。

11 triumphantly   

ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地

参考例句：

• The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
• Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

12 leopard   

n.豹

参考例句：

• I saw a man in a leopard skin yesterday.我昨天看见一个穿着豹皮的男人。
• The leopard's skin is marked with black spots.豹皮上有黑色斑点。

13 tints   

色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹

参考例句：

• leaves with red and gold autumn tints 金秋时节略呈红黄色的树叶
• The whole countryside glowed with autumn tints. 乡间处处呈现出灿烂的秋色。

14 solely   

adv.仅仅，唯一地

参考例句：

• Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。
• The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

15 candid   

adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的

参考例句：

• I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。
• He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

16 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

17 vex   

vt.使烦恼，使苦恼

参考例句：

• Everything about her vexed him.有关她的一切都令他困惑。
• It vexed me to think of others gossiping behind my back.一想到别人在背后说我闲话，我就很恼火。

18 invoke   

v.求助于(神、法律)；恳求，乞求

参考例句：

• Let us invoke the blessings of peace.让我们祈求和平之福。
• I hope I'll never have to invoke this clause and lodge a claim with you.我希望我永远不会使用这个条款向你们索赔。

19 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

20 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

21 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

22 alas   

int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)

参考例句：

• Alas!The window is broken!哎呀！窗子破了！
• Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而，真理很少带有浪漫色彩。

23 devoid   

adj.全无的，缺乏的

参考例句：

• He is completely devoid of humour.他十分缺乏幽默。
• The house is totally devoid of furniture.这所房子里什么家具都没有。

24 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

25 drenched   

adj.湿透的；充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 )；在某人（某物）上大量使用（某液体）

参考例句：

• We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. 我们遇上了暴雨，淋得浑身透湿。
• The rain drenched us. 雨把我们淋得湿透。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 swelling   

n.肿胀

参考例句：

• Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
• There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

27 dome   

n.圆屋顶，拱顶

参考例句：

• The dome was supported by white marble columns.圆顶由白色大理石柱支撑着。
• They formed the dome with the tree's branches.他们用树枝搭成圆屋顶。

28 exalted   

adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的

参考例句：

• Their loveliness and holiness in accordance with their exalted station.他们的美丽和圣洁也与他们的崇高地位相称。
• He received respect because he was a person of exalted rank.他因为是个地位崇高的人而受到尊敬。

29 detests   

v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• My brother detests having to get up early. 我兄弟极讨厌早起，又不得不早起。 来自辞典例句
• The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him. 两样的法码，为耶和华所憎恶。诡诈的天平，也为不善。 来自互联网

30 detest   

vt.痛恨，憎恶

参考例句：

• I detest people who tell lies.我恨说谎的人。
• The workers detest his overbearing manner.工人们很讨厌他那盛气凌人的态度。

31 belle   

n.靓女

参考例句：

• She was the belle of her Sunday School class.在主日学校她是她们班的班花。
• She was the belle of the ball.她是那个舞会中的美女。

32 quill   

n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶

参考例句：

• He wrote with a quill.他用羽毛笔写字。
• She dipped a quill in ink,and then began to write.她将羽毛笔在墨水里蘸了一下，随后开始书写。

33 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

34 misery   

n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦

参考例句：

• Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
• He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

35 horrid   

adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的

参考例句：

• I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
• The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。

36 suffused   

v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her face was suffused with colour. 她满脸通红。
• Her eyes were suffused with warm, excited tears. 她激动地热泪盈眶。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

37 fluency   

n.流畅，雄辩，善辩

参考例句：

• More practice will make you speak with greater fluency.多练习就可以使你的口语更流利。
• Some young children achieve great fluency in their reading.一些孩子小小年纪阅读已经非常流畅。

38 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

39 audacity   

n.大胆，卤莽，无礼

参考例句：

• He had the audacity to ask for an increase in salary.他竟然厚着脸皮要求增加薪水。
• He had the audacity to pick pockets in broad daylight.他竟敢在光天化日之下掏包。

40 antipathy   

n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物

参考例句：

• I feel an antipathy against their behaviour.我对他们的行为很反感。
• Some people have an antipathy to cats.有的人讨厌猫。

41 awning   

n.遮阳篷；雨篷

参考例句：

• A large green awning is set over the glass window to shelter against the sun.在玻璃窗上装了个绿色的大遮棚以遮挡阳光。
• Several people herded under an awning to get out the shower.几个人聚集在门栅下避阵雨

42 kennels   

n.主人外出时的小动物寄养处，养狗场；狗窝( kennel的名词复数 )；养狗场

参考例句：

• We put the dog in kennels when we go away. 我们外出时把狗寄养在养狗场。
• He left his dog in a kennels when he went on holiday. 他外出度假时把狗交给养狗场照管。 来自《简明英汉词典》

43 breweries   

酿造厂，啤酒厂( brewery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• In some cases, this is desirable, but most breweries prefer lighter-type beers. 在一些情况下，这是很理想的，但是大多数啤酒厂更倾向于生产酒度较低的啤酒。
• Currently, there are 58 breweries producing Snow Beeracross the country. 目前，全国共有58个雪花啤酒厂。

44 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

45 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

46 hawthorn   

山楂

参考例句：

• A cuckoo began calling from a hawthorn tree.一只布谷鸟开始在一株山楂树里咕咕地呼叫。
• Much of the track had become overgrown with hawthorn.小路上很多地方都长满了山楂树。

47 reiterating   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He keeps reiterating his innocence. 他一再申明他无罪。
• The Chinese government also sent a note to the British government, reiterating its position. 中国政府同时将此立场照会英国政府。

48 gliding   

v. 滑翔 adj. 滑动的

参考例句：

• Swans went gliding past. 天鹅滑行而过。
• The weather forecast has put a question mark against the chance of doing any gliding tomorrow. 天气预报对明天是否能举行滑翔表示怀疑。

49 galleons   

n.大型帆船( galleon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The larger galleons made in at once for Corunna. 那些较大的西班牙帆船立即进入科普尼亚。 来自互联网
• A hundred thousand disguises, all for ten Galleons! 千万张面孔，变化无穷，只卖十个加隆！ 来自互联网

50 puffs   

n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧

参考例句：

• We sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his. 我们坐在那里，轮番抽着他那支野里野气的烟斗。 来自辞典例句
• Puffs of steam and smoke came from the engine. 一股股蒸汽和烟雾从那火车头里冒出来。 来自辞典例句

51 puff   

n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气

参考例句：

• He took a puff at his cigarette.他吸了一口香烟。
• They tried their best to puff the book they published.他们尽力吹捧他们出版的书。

52 cannon   

n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮

参考例句：

• The soldiers fired the cannon.士兵们开炮。
• The cannon thundered in the hills.大炮在山间轰鸣。

53 fortress   

n.堡垒，防御工事

参考例句：

• They made an attempt on a fortress.他们试图夺取这一要塞。
• The soldier scaled the wall of the fortress by turret.士兵通过塔车攀登上了要塞的城墙。

54 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

55 spires   

n.（教堂的） 塔尖，尖顶( spire的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her masts leveled with the spires of churches. 船的桅杆和教堂的塔尖一样高。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• White church spires lift above green valleys. 教堂的白色尖顶耸立在绿色山谷中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

56 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

57 turrets   

（六角）转台( turret的名词复数 )； （战舰和坦克等上的）转动炮塔； （摄影机等上的）镜头转台； （旧时攻城用的）塔车

参考例句：

• The Northampton's three turrets thundered out white smoke and pale fire. “诺思安普敦号”三座炮塔轰隆隆地冒出白烟和淡淡的火光。
• If I can get to the gun turrets, I'll have a chance. 如果我能走到炮塔那里，我就会赢得脱险的机会。

58 badger   

v.一再烦扰，一再要求，纠缠

参考例句：

• Now that our debts are squared.Don't badger me with them any more.我们的债务两清了。从此以后不要再纠缠我了。
• If you badger him long enough,I'm sure he'll agree.只要你天天纠缠他，我相信他会同意。

59 spine   

n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊

参考例句：

• He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
• His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

60 tugged   

v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。
• A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

61 amorous   

adj.多情的；有关爱情的

参考例句：

• They exchanged amorous glances and clearly made known their passions.二人眉来眼去，以目传情。
• She gave him an amorous look.她脉脉含情的看他一眼。

62 gales   

龙猫

参考例句：

• I could hear gales of laughter coming from downstairs. 我能听到来自楼下的阵阵笑声。
• This was greeted with gales of laughter from the audience. 观众对此报以阵阵笑声。

63 alleys   

胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径

参考例句：

• I followed him through a maze of narrow alleys. 我紧随他穿过一条条迂迴曲折的窄巷。
• The children lead me through the maze of alleys to the edge of the city. 孩子们领我穿过迷宫一般的街巷，来到城边。

64 trumpet   

n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘

参考例句：

• He plays the violin, but I play the trumpet.他拉提琴，我吹喇叭。
• The trumpet sounded for battle.战斗的号角吹响了。

65 shrill   

adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫

参考例句：

• Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
• The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。

66 maze   

n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑

参考例句：

• He found his way through the complex maze of corridors.他穿过了迷宮一样的走廊。
• She was lost in the maze for several hours.一连几小时，她的头脑处于一片糊涂状态。

67 lustrous   

adj.有光泽的；光辉的

参考例句：

• Mary has a head of thick,lustrous,wavy brown hair.玛丽有一头浓密、富有光泽的褐色鬈发。
• This mask definitely makes the skin fair and lustrous.这款面膜可以异常有用的使肌肤变亮和有光泽。

68 lust   

n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望

参考例句：

• He was filled with lust for power.他内心充满了对权力的渴望。
• Sensing the explorer's lust for gold, the chief wisely presented gold ornaments as gifts.酋长觉察出探险者们垂涎黄金的欲念，就聪明地把金饰品作为礼物赠送给他们。

69 plumes   

羽毛( plume的名词复数 )； 羽毛饰； 羽毛状物； 升上空中的羽状物

参考例句：

• The dancer wore a headdress of pink ostrich plumes. 那位舞蹈演员戴着粉色鸵鸟毛制作的头饰。
• The plumes on her bonnet barely moved as she nodded. 她点点头，那帽子的羽毛在一个劲儿颤动。

70 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

71 scoured   

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

参考例句：

• We scoured the area for somewhere to pitch our tent. 我们四处查看，想找一个搭帐篷的地方。
• The torrents scoured out a channel down the hill side. 急流沿着山腰冲刷出一条水沟。

72 crimson   

n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色

参考例句：

• She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
• Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。

73 sitting-room   

n.（BrE）客厅，起居室

参考例句：

• The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
• Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

74 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

75 liking   

n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢

参考例句：

• The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
• I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。

76 texture   

n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理

参考例句：

• We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
• Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。

77 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

78 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

79 mused   

v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事）

参考例句：

• \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们，”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道：‘我们这是在干什么？” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史

80 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

81 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

82 orb   

n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形

参考例句：

• The blue heaven,holding its one golden orb,poured down a crystal wash of warm light.蓝蓝的天空托着金色的太阳，洒下一片水晶般明亮温暖的光辉。
• It is an emanation from the distant orb of immortal light.它是从远处那个发出不灭之光的天体上放射出来的。

83 crabbed   

adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• His mature composi tions are generally considered the more cerebral and crabbed. 他成熟的作品一般被认为是触动理智的和难于理解的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• He met a crabbed, cantankerous director. 他碰上了一位坏脾气、爱争吵的主管。 来自辞典例句

84 smelt   

v.熔解，熔炼；n.银白鱼，胡瓜鱼

参考例句：

• Tin is a comparatively easy metal to smelt.锡是比较容易熔化的金属。
• Darby was looking for a way to improve iron when he hit upon the idea of smelting it with coke instead of charcoal.达比一直在寻找改善铁质的方法，他猛然想到可以不用木炭熔炼，而改用焦炭。

85 gems   

growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长

参考例句：

• a crown studded with gems 镶有宝石的皇冠
• The apt citations and poetic gems have adorned his speeches. 贴切的引语和珠玑般的诗句为他的演说词增添文采。

86 gem   

n.宝石，珠宝；受爱戴的人 [同]jewel

参考例句：

• The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
• The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。

87 flinched   

v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He flinched at the sight of the blood. 他一见到血就往后退。
• This tough Corsican never flinched or failed. 这个刚毅的科西嘉人从来没有任何畏缩或沮丧。 来自辞典例句

88 clatter   

v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声

参考例句：

• The dishes and bowls slid together with a clatter.碟子碗碰得丁丁当当的。
• Don't clatter your knives and forks.别把刀叉碰得咔哒响。

89 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。

90 frailty   

n.脆弱；意志薄弱

参考例句：

• Despite increasing physical frailty,he continued to write stories.尽管身体越来越虛弱，他仍然继续写小说。
• He paused and suddenly all the frailty and fatigue showed.他顿住了，虚弱与疲惫一下子显露出来。

91 waxworks   

n.公共供水系统；蜡制品，蜡像( waxwork的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Madame Tussaud is one of most famous waxworks in the world. 杜莎夫人蜡像馆是世界上最著名的蜡像馆之一。 来自互联网
• A lot of people in the waxworks will get the axe. 蜡像馆里的很多人将被解雇。 来自互联网

92 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

93 reverently   

adv.虔诚地

参考例句：

• He gazed reverently at the handiwork. 他满怀敬意地凝视着这件手工艺品。
• Pork gazed at it reverently and slowly delight spread over his face. 波克怀着愉快的心情看着这只表，脸上慢慢显出十分崇敬的神色。

94 reverent   

adj.恭敬的，虔诚的

参考例句：

• He gave reverent attention to the teacher.他恭敬地听老师讲课。
• She said the word artist with a gentle,understanding,reverent smile.她说作家一词时面带高雅，理解和虔诚的微笑。

95 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

96 manly   

adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地

参考例句：

• The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
• He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务，并希望别人效之。

97 glistening   

adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼里闪着晶莹的泪花。
• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼睛中的泪水闪着柔和的光。 来自《用法词典》

98 dreaded   

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)

参考例句：

• The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
• He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》

99 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

100 simplicity   

n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯

参考例句：

• She dressed with elegant simplicity.她穿着朴素高雅。
• The beauty of this plan is its simplicity.简明扼要是这个计划的一大特点。

101 sonnets   

n.十四行诗( sonnet的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Keats' reputation as a great poet rests largely upon the odes and the later sonnets. 作为一个伟大的诗人，济慈的声誉大部分建立在他写的长诗和后期的十四行诗上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He referred to the manuscript circulation of the sonnets. 他谈到了十四行诗手稿的流行情况。 来自辞典例句

102 serenity   

n.宁静，沉着，晴朗

参考例句：

• Her face,though sad,still evoked a feeling of serenity.她的脸色虽然悲伤，但仍使人感觉安详。
• She escaped to the comparative serenity of the kitchen.她逃到相对安静的厨房里。

103 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。

104 speculations   

n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断

参考例句：

• Your speculations were all quite close to the truth. 你的揣测都很接近于事实。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• This possibility gives rise to interesting speculations. 这种可能性引起了有趣的推测。 来自《用法词典》

105 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

106 hips   

abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的

参考例句：

• She stood with her hands on her hips. 她双手叉腰站着。
• They wiggled their hips to the sound of pop music. 他们随着流行音乐的声音摇晃着臀部。 来自《简明英汉词典》

107 twitched   

vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Her lips twitched with amusement. 她忍俊不禁地颤动着嘴唇。
• The child's mouth twitched as if she were about to cry. 这小孩的嘴抽动着，像是要哭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

108 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

109 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

110 swollen   

adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀

参考例句：

• Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着，她的双腿已经肿了。
• A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她，她的手臂肿起来了。

111 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

112 steward   

n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员

参考例句：

• He's the steward of the club.他是这家俱乐部的管理员。
• He went around the world as a ship's steward.他当客船服务员，到过世界各地。

113 gunpowder   

n.火药

参考例句：

• Gunpowder was introduced into Europe during the first half of the 14th century.在14世纪上半叶，火药传入欧洲。
• This statement has a strong smell of gunpowder.这是一篇充满火药味的声明。

114 suffocated   

（使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气

参考例句：

• Many dogs have suffocated in hot cars. 许多狗在热烘烘的汽车里给闷死了。
• I nearly suffocated when the pipe of my breathing apparatus came adrift. 呼吸器上的管子脱落时，我差点给憋死。

115 scarlet   

n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的

参考例句：

• The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。
• The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了，深红的颜色变成了绯红，绯红又变为浅红。

116 degradation   

n.降级；低落；退化；陵削；降解；衰变

参考例句：

• There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
• Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。

117 croaked   

v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 )；用粗的声音说

参考例句：

• The crow croaked disaster. 乌鸦呱呱叫预报灾难。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• 'she has a fine head for it," croaked Jacques Three. “她有一个漂亮的脑袋跟着去呢，”雅克三号低沉地说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

118 sluggishly   

adv.懒惰地；缓慢地

参考例句：

• The river is silted up and the water flows sluggishly. 河道淤塞，水流迟滞。
• Loaded with 870 gallons of gasoline and 40 gallons of oil, the ship moved sluggishly. 飞机载着八百七十加仑汽油和四十加仑机油，缓慢地前进了。 来自英汉非文学 - 百科语料821

119 brazen   

adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的

参考例句：

• The brazen woman laughed loudly at the judge who sentenced her.那无耻的女子冲着给她判刑的法官高声大笑。
• Some people prefer to brazen a thing out rather than admit defeat.有的人不愿承认失败，而是宁肯厚着脸皮干下去。

120 groaned   

v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦

参考例句：

• He groaned in anguish. 他痛苦地呻吟。
• The cart groaned under the weight of the piano. 大车在钢琴的重压下嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

121 auroral   

adj.曙光的；玫瑰色的

参考例句：

• This high result was interpreted to reflect previous aurora activity.这一高结果可以用以前的极光活动来解释。
• The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。

122 crepuscular   

adj.晨曦的；黄昏的；昏暗的

参考例句：

• Bats are crepuscular creatures.蝙蝠是在黎明或黄昏时分活动的动物。
• It has nothing to do with walk,this is called a crepuscular walk.这和散步没有任何关系，这叫黄昏漫步。

123 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

124 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

125 petals   

n.花瓣( petal的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• white petals tinged with blue 略带蓝色的白花瓣
• The petals of many flowers expand in the sunshine. 许多花瓣在阳光下开放。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

126 artifices   

n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为

参考例句：

• These pure verbal artifices do not change the essence of the matter. 这些纯粹是文词上的花样，并不能改变问题的实质。 来自互联网
• There are some tools which realise this kind of artifices. 一些工具实现了这些方法。 来自互联网

127 conservatory   

n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的

参考例句：

• At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音乐学校里，他学会了怎样谱曲。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

128 withered   

adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。
• The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。

129 ambiguities   

n.歧义( ambiguity的名词复数 )；意义不明确；模棱两可的意思；模棱两可的话

参考例句：

• His reply was full of ambiguities. 他的答复非常暧昧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Fortunately, no ambiguities hang about this word or about its opposite, indeterminism. 值得庆幸的是，关于这个词和它的反义词，非决定论都不存在多种解释。 来自哲学部分

130 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

131 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

132 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

133 conceit   

n.自负，自高自大

参考例句：

• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。
• She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。

134 bowling   

n.保龄球运动

参考例句：

• Bowling is a popular sport with young and old.保龄球是老少都爱的运动。
• Which sport do you 1ike most,golf or bowling?你最喜欢什么运动，高尔夫还是保龄球？

135 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

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

136 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

137 beaks   

n.鸟嘴( beak的名词复数 )；鹰钩嘴；尖鼻子；掌权者

参考例句：

• Baby cockatoos will have black eyes and soft, almost flexible beaks. 雏鸟凤头鹦鹉黑色的眼睛是柔和的，嘴几乎是灵活的。 来自互联网
• Squid beaks are often found in the stomachs of sperm whales. 经常能在抹香鲸的胃里发现鱿鱼的嘴。 来自互联网

138 rubies   

红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色

参考例句：

• a necklace of rubies intertwined with pearls 缠着珍珠的红宝石项链
• The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。

139 vilely   

adv.讨厌地，卑劣地

参考例句：

140 barges   

驳船( barge的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The tug is towing three barges. 那只拖船正拖着三只驳船。
• There were plenty of barges dropping down with the tide. 有不少驳船顺流而下。

141 ragged   

adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的

参考例句：

• A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
• Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。

142 dallied   

v.随随便便地对待( dally的过去式和过去分词 )；不很认真地考虑；浪费时间；调情

参考例句：

• He dallied with the idea of becoming an actor. 他对当演员一事考虑过，但并不认真。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He dallied in the stores. 他在商店里闲逛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

143 allied   

adj.协约国的；同盟国的

参考例句：

• Britain was allied with the United States many times in history.历史上英国曾多次与美国结盟。
• Allied forces sustained heavy losses in the first few weeks of the campaign.同盟国在最初几周内遭受了巨大的损失。

144 eyebrow   

n.眉毛，眉

参考例句：

• Her eyebrow is well penciled.她的眉毛画得很好。
• With an eyebrow raised,he seemed divided between surprise and amusement.他一只眉毛扬了扬，似乎既感到吃惊，又觉有趣。

145 superstitious   

adj.迷信的

参考例句：

• They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。
• These superstitious practices should be abolished as soon as possible.这些迷信做法应尽早取消。

146 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

147 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

148 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。

149 upbraid   

v.斥责，责骂，责备

参考例句：

• The old man upbraided him with ingratitude.那位老人斥责他忘恩负义。
• His wife set about upbraiding him for neglecting the children.他妻子开始指责他不照顾孩子。

150 repentance   

n.懊悔

参考例句：

• He shows no repentance for what he has done.他对他的所作所为一点也不懊悔。
• Christ is inviting sinners to repentance.基督正在敦请有罪的人悔悟。

151 illicit   

adj.非法的，禁止的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He had an illicit association with Jane.他和简曾有过不正当关系。
• Seizures of illicit drugs have increased by 30% this year.今年违禁药品的扣押增长了30%。

152 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

153 primitive   

adj.原始的；简单的；n.原(始)人，原始事物

参考例句：

• It is a primitive instinct to flee a place of danger.逃离危险的地方是一种原始本能。
• His book describes the march of the civilization of a primitive society.他的著作描述了一个原始社会的开化过程。

154 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

155 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

156 brutality   

n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮

参考例句：

• The brutality of the crime has appalled the public. 罪行之残暴使公众大为震惊。
• a general who was infamous for his brutality 因残忍而恶名昭彰的将军

157 maidenhood   

n. 处女性, 处女时代

参考例句：

158 stinted   

v.限制，节省（stint的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Penny-pinching landlords stinted their tenants on heat and hot water. 小气的房东在房客的取暖和热水供应上进行克扣。 来自互联网
• She stinted herself of food in order to let the children have enough. 她自己省着吃，好让孩子们吃饱。 来自互联网

159 admiration   

n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕

参考例句：

• He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
• We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

160 passionate   

adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的

参考例句：

• He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
• He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。

161 crooked   

adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的

参考例句：

• He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指，示意我们到他那儿去。
• You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。

162 perverse   

adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的

参考例句：

• It would be perverse to stop this healthy trend.阻止这种健康发展的趋势是没有道理的。
• She gets a perverse satisfaction from making other people embarrassed.她有一种不正常的心态，以使别人难堪来取乐。

163 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

164 phlegmatic   

adj.冷静的，冷淡的，冷漠的，无活力的

参考例句：

• Commuting in the rush-hour requires a phlegmatic temperament.在上下班交通高峰期间乘坐通勤车要有安之若素的心境。
• The british character is often said to be phlegmatic.英国人的性格常说成是冷漠的。

165 jaw   

n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训

参考例句：

• He delivered a right hook to his opponent's jaw.他给了对方下巴一记右钩拳。
• A strong square jaw is a sign of firm character.强健的方下巴是刚毅性格的标志。

166 covenants   

n.（有法律约束的）协议( covenant的名词复数 )；盟约；公约；（向慈善事业、信托基金会等定期捐款的）契约书

参考例句：

• Do I need to review the Deed of mutual Covenants (DMC)? 我是否需要覆核公共契约(DMC)吗？ 来自互联网
• Many listed and unlisted companies need to sell to address covenants. 许多上市公司和非上市公司需要出售手中资产，以满足借贷契约的要求。 来自互联网

167 tenement   

n.公寓；房屋

参考例句：

• They live in a tenement.他们住在廉价公寓里。
• She felt very smug in a tenement yard like this.就是在个这样的杂院里，她觉得很得意。

168 tenements   

n.房屋，住户，租房子( tenement的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Here were crumbling tenements, squalid courtyards and stinking alleys. 随处可见破烂的住房、肮脏的庭院和臭气熏天的小胡同。 来自辞典例句
• The tenements are in a poor section of the city. 共同住宅是在城中较贫苦的区域里。 来自辞典例句

169 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

170 onlookers   

n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash. 在撞车地点聚集了一大群围观者。
• The onlookers stood at a respectful distance. 旁观者站在一定的距离之外，以示尊敬。

171 corpses   

n.死尸，尸体( corpse的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The living soldiers put corpses together and burned them. 活着的战士把尸体放在一起烧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Overhead, grayish-white clouds covered the sky, piling up heavily like decaying corpses. 天上罩满了灰白的薄云，同腐烂的尸体似的沉沉的盖在那里。 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

172 uncommon   

adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的

参考例句：

• Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
• Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。

173 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

174 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

175 ravens   

n.低质煤；渡鸦( raven的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Wheresoever the carcase is,there will the ravens be gathered together. 哪里有死尸，哪里就有乌鸦麇集。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A couple of ravens croaked above our boat. 两只乌鸦在我们小船的上空嘎嘎叫着。 来自辞典例句

176 petrifaction   

n.石化，化石；吓呆；惊呆

参考例句：

• This petrifaction may be existed over two million years.这块化石可能存在超过二百万年了。
• Chinese petrifaction ought to become competitive transnational corporation.中国石化应当成为有竞争力的跨国公司。

177 eruption   

n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作

参考例句：

• The temple was destroyed in the violent eruption of 1470 BC.庙宇在公元前1470年猛烈的火山爆发中摧毁了。
• The eruption of a volcano is spontaneous.火山的爆发是自发的。

178 solidification   

凝固

参考例句：

• In the process of solidification the same amount of heat is released. 在固结过程中则将释放出同等的热量。
• The solidification mechanism and adhering formation of the product are also discussed. 对锌粉的凝固机理及粘结现象进行了探讨。

179 wayfarers   

n.旅人，（尤指）徒步旅行者( wayfarer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Days have been when wayfarers came here to wash their weary feet. 从前曾有过路人到这里来洗疲乏的脚。 来自互联网
• You are the way and the wayfarers. 你们是道路，也是行路者。 来自互联网

180 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

181 relics   

[pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸

参考例句：

• The area is a treasure house of archaeological relics. 这个地区是古文物遗迹的宝库。
• Xi'an is an ancient city full of treasures and saintly relics. 西安是一个有很多宝藏和神圣的遗物的古老城市。

182 landmarks   

n.陆标( landmark的名词复数 )；目标；（标志重要阶段的）里程碑 ~ (in sth)；有历史意义的建筑物（或遗址）

参考例句：

• The book stands out as one of the notable landmarks in the progress of modern science. 这部著作是现代科学发展史上著名的里程碑之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The baby was one of the big landmarks in our relationship. 孩子的出世是我们俩关系中的一个重要转折点。 来自辞典例句

183 extremity   

n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度

参考例句：

• I hope you will help them in their extremity.我希望你能帮助在穷途末路的他们。
• What shall we do in this extremity?在这种极其困难的情况下我们该怎么办呢？

184 carnival   

n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演

参考例句：

• I got some good shots of the carnival.我有几个狂欢节的精彩镜头。
• Our street puts on a carnival every year.我们街的居民每年举行一次嘉年华会。

185 curry   

n.咖哩粉，咖哩饭菜；v.用咖哩粉调味，用马栉梳，制革

参考例句：

• Rice makes an excellent complement to a curry dish.有咖喱的菜配米饭最棒。
• Add a teaspoonful of curry powder.加一茶匙咖喱粉。

186 semblance   

n.外貌，外表

参考例句：

• Her semblance of anger frightened the children.她生气的样子使孩子们感到害怕。
• Those clouds have the semblance of a large head.那些云的形状像一个巨大的人头。

187 mazes   

迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图

参考例句：

• The mazes of the dance were ecstatic. 跳舞那种错综曲折，叫人快乐得如登九天。
• For two hours did this singlehearted and simpleminded girl toil through the mazes of the forest. 这位心地单纯的傻姑娘在林间曲径中艰难地走了两个来小时。

188 spat   

n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声

参考例句：

• Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。
• There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。

189 pagoda   

n.宝塔（尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔），（印度教或佛教的）塔式庙宇

参考例句：

• The ancient pagoda is undergoing repairs.那座古塔正在修缮中。
• The pagoda is reflected upside down in the water.宝塔影子倒立在水里。

190 surmounted   

战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上

参考例句：

• She was well aware of the difficulties that had to be surmounted. 她很清楚必须克服哪些困难。
• I think most of these obstacles can be surmounted. 我认为这些障碍大多数都是可以克服的。

191 ostrich   

n.鸵鸟

参考例句：

• Ostrich is the fastest animal on two legs.驼鸟是双腿跑得最快的动物。
• The ostrich indeed inhabits continents.鸵鸟确实是生活在大陆上的。

192 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

193 divans   

n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集

参考例句：

194 sables   

n.紫貂( sable的名词复数 )；紫貂皮；阴暗的；暗夜

参考例句：

• Able sables staple apples on stable tables. 能干的黑貂把苹果钉在牢固的桌子上。 来自互联网

195 hovered   

鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。
• A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。

196 cedar   

n.雪松，香柏(木)

参考例句：

• The cedar was about five feet high and very shapely.那棵雪松约有五尺高,风姿优美。
• She struck the snow from the branches of an old cedar with gray lichen.她把长有灰色地衣的老雪松树枝上的雪打了下来。

197 lavishly   

adv.慷慨地，大方地

参考例句：

• His house was lavishly adorned.他的屋子装饰得很华丽。
• The book is lavishly illustrated in full colour.这本书里有大量全彩插图。

198 congealed   

v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的过去式和过去分词 )；（指血）凝结

参考例句：

• The cold remains of supper had congealed on the plate. 晚餐剩下的冷饭菜已经凝结在盘子上了。
• The oil at last is congealed into a white fat. 那油最终凝结成了一种白色的油脂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

199 porpoise   

n.鼠海豚

参考例句：

• What is the difference between a dolphin and porpoise?海豚和和鼠海豚有什么区别？
• Mexico strives to save endangered porpoise.墨西哥努力拯救濒危的鼠海豚。

200 eels   

abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system）

参考例句：

• Eels have been on the feed in the Lower Thames. 鳗鱼在泰晤士河下游寻食。
• She bought some eels for dinner. 她买回一些鳗鱼做晚餐。

201 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

202 animation   

n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作

参考例句：

• They are full of animation as they talked about their childhood.当他们谈及童年的往事时都非常兴奋。
• The animation of China made a great progress.中国的卡通片制作取得很大发展。

203 fathoms   

英寻( fathom的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The harbour is four fathoms deep. 港深为四英寻。
• One bait was down forty fathoms. 有个鱼饵下沉到四十英寻的深处。

204 wrecked   

adj.失事的，遇难的

参考例句：

• the hulk of a wrecked ship 遇难轮船的残骸
• the salvage of the wrecked tanker 对失事油轮的打捞

205 troupe   

n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团

参考例句：

• The art troupe is always on the move in frontier guards.文工团常年在边防部队流动。
• The troupe produced a new play last night.剧团昨晚上演了一部新剧。

206 flute   

n.长笛；v.吹笛

参考例句：

• He took out his flute, and blew at it.他拿出笛子吹了起来。
• There is an extensive repertoire of music written for the flute.有很多供长笛演奏的曲目。

207 beheld   

v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟

参考例句：

• His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

208 tunic   

n.束腰外衣

参考例句：

• The light loose mantle was thrown over his tunic.一件轻质宽大的斗蓬披在上衣外面。
• Your tunic and hose match ill with that jewel,young man.你的外套和裤子跟你那首饰可不相称呢，年轻人。

209 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

210 velvet   

n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的

参考例句：

• This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
• The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

211 unfamiliar   

adj.陌生的，不熟悉的

参考例句：

• I am unfamiliar with the place and the people here.我在这儿人地生疏。
• The man seemed unfamiliar to me.这人很面生。

212 metaphors   

隐喻( metaphor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I can only represent it to you by metaphors. 我只能用隐喻来向你描述它。
• Thus, She's an angel and He's a lion in battle are metaphors. 因此她是天使，他是雄狮都是比喻说法。

213 narrative   

n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的

参考例句：

• He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
• Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

214 raved   

v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说

参考例句：

• Andrew raved all night in his fever. 安德鲁发烧时整夜地说胡话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They raved about her beauty. 他们过分称赞她的美。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

215 vigour   

（=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力

参考例句：

• She is full of vigour and enthusiasm.她有热情，有朝气。
• At 40,he was in his prime and full of vigour.他40岁时正年富力强。

216 shuffling   

adj. 慢慢移动的, 滑移的 动词shuffle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• Don't go shuffling along as if you were dead. 别像个死人似地拖着脚走。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Some one was shuffling by on the sidewalk. 外面的人行道上有人拖着脚走过。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

217 hurl   

vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂

参考例句：

• The best cure for unhappiness is to hurl yourself into your work.医治愁苦的最好办法就是全身心地投入工作。
• To hurl abuse is no way to fight.谩骂决不是战斗。

218 acorns   

n.橡子，栎实( acorn的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Great oaks from little acorns grow. 万丈高楼平地起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Welcome to my new website!It may not look much at the moment, but great oaks from little acorns grow! 欢迎来到我的新网站。它现在可能微不足道，不过万丈高楼平地起嘛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

219 beech   

n.山毛榉；adj.山毛榉的

参考例句：

• Autumn is the time to see the beech woods in all their glory.秋天是观赏山毛榉林的最佳时期。
• Exasperated,he leaped the stream,and strode towards beech clump.他满腔恼怒，跳过小河，大踏步向毛榉林子走去。

220 dame   

n.女士

参考例句：

• The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。
• If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

221 dames   

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

参考例句：

• Dames would not comment any further. Dames将不再更多的评论。 来自互联网
• Flowers, candy, jewelry, seemed the principal things in which the elegant dames were interested. 鲜花、糖果和珠宝看来是那些贵妇人的主要兴趣所在。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

222 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。

223 marrow   

n.骨髓；精华；活力

参考例句：

• It was so cold that he felt frozen to the marrow. 天气太冷了，他感到寒冷刺骨。
• He was tired to the marrow of his bones.他真是累得筋疲力尽了。

224 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

225 tumult   

n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹

参考例句：

• The tumult in the streets awakened everyone in the house.街上的喧哗吵醒了屋子里的每一个人。
• His voice disappeared under growing tumult.他的声音消失在越来越响的喧哗声中。

226 nun   

n.修女，尼姑

参考例句：

• I can't believe that the famous singer has become a nun.我无法相信那个著名的歌星已做了修女。
• She shaved her head and became a nun.她削发为尼。

227 cinders   

n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道

参考例句：

• This material is variously termed ash, clinker, cinders or slag. 这种材料有不同的名称，如灰、炉渣、煤渣或矿渣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Rake out the cinders before you start a new fire. 在重新点火前先把煤渣耙出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

228 insipid   

adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的

参考例句：

• The food was rather insipid and needed gingering up.这食物缺少味道，需要加点作料。
• She said she was a good cook,but the food she cooked is insipid.她说她是个好厨师，但她做的食物却是无味道的。

229 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

230 marvelled   

v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I marvelled that he suddenly left college. 我对他突然离开大学感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I marvelled at your boldness. 我对你的大胆感到惊奇。 来自《简明英汉词典》

231 veins   

n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理

参考例句：

• The blood flows from the capillaries back into the veins. 血从毛细血管流回静脉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I felt a pleasant glow in all my veins from the wine. 喝过酒后我浑身的血都热烘烘的，感到很舒服。 来自《简明英汉词典》

232 foe   

n.敌人，仇敌

参考例句：

• He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
• A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌，友是友，必须分清界限。

233 crevice   

n.(岩石、墙等)裂缝；缺口

参考例句：

• I saw a plant growing out of a crevice in the wall.我看到墙缝里长出一棵草来。
• He edged the tool into the crevice.他把刀具插进裂缝里。

234 rattling   

adj. 格格作响的, 活泼的, 很好的 adv. 极其, 很, 非常 动词rattle的现在分词

参考例句：

• This book is a rattling good read. 这是一本非常好的读物。
• At that same instant,a deafening explosion set the windows rattling. 正在这时，一声震耳欲聋的爆炸突然袭来，把窗玻璃震得当当地响。

235 nauseating   

adj.令人恶心的，使人厌恶的v.使恶心，作呕( nauseate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• I had to listen to the whole nauseating story. 我不得不从头到尾听那令人作呕的故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• There is a nauseating smell of rotten food. 有一股令人恶心的腐烂食物的气味。 来自《简明英汉词典》

236 drollery   

n.开玩笑，说笑话；滑稽可笑的图画（或故事、小戏等）

参考例句：

• We all enjoyed his drollery. 我们都欣赏他的幽默。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• "It is a bit of quiet, unassuming drollery which warms like good wine. "这是一段既不哗众取宠又不矫揉造作的滑稽表演，像美酒一样温馨。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

237 intimacy   

n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行

参考例句：

• His claims to an intimacy with the President are somewhat exaggerated.他声称自己与总统关系密切，这有点言过其实。
• I wish there were a rule book for intimacy.我希望能有个关于亲密的规则。

238 unintelligible   

adj.无法了解的，难解的，莫明其妙的

参考例句：

• If a computer is given unintelligible data, it returns unintelligible results.如果计算机得到的是难以理解的数据，它给出的也将是难以理解的结果。
• The terms were unintelligible to ordinary folk.这些术语一般人是不懂的。

239 animated   

adj.生气勃勃的，活跃的，愉快的

参考例句：

• His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
• We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。

240 ornaments   

n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The shelves were chock-a-block with ornaments. 架子上堆满了装饰品。
• Playing the piano sets up resonance in those glass ornaments. 一弹钢琴那些玻璃饰物就会产生共振。 来自《简明英汉词典》

241 sledge   

n.雪橇，大锤；v.用雪橇搬运，坐雪橇往

参考例句：

• The sledge gained momentum as it ran down the hill.雪橇从山上下冲时的动力越来越大。
• The sledge slid across the snow as lightly as a boat on the water.雪橇在雪原上轻巧地滑行，就象船在水上行驶一样。

242 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

243 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

244 kindle   

v.点燃，着火

参考例句：

• This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
• A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。

245 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

246 betrothed   

n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• She is betrothed to John. 她同约翰订了婚。
• His daughter was betrothed to a teacher. 他的女儿同一个教师订了婚。

247 sapphire   

n.青玉，蓝宝石；adj.天蓝色的

参考例句：

• Now let us consider crystals such as diamond or sapphire.现在让我们考虑象钻石和蓝宝石这样的晶体。
• He left a sapphire ring to her.他留给她一枚蓝宝石戒指。

248 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

249 brewing   

n. 酿造, 一次酿造的量 动词brew的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• It was obvious that a big storm was brewing up. 很显然，一场暴风雨正在酝酿中。
• She set about brewing some herb tea. 她动手泡一些药茶。

250 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

251 prying   

adj.爱打听的v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的现在分词 )；撬开

参考例句：

• I'm sick of you prying into my personal life! 我讨厌你刺探我的私生活！
• She is always prying into other people's affairs. 她总是打听别人的私事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

252 bumptious   

adj.傲慢的

参考例句：

• Some of these secular priests were ignorant,bumptious.那些俗里俗气的神父中有些人一窍不通，自以为是。
• His classmates called him a show-off because of his bumptious airs.由于他老是装出一副自以为是的架势，所以同学们就叫他“自大的夜郎”。

253 gallop   

v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展

参考例句：

• They are coming at a gallop towards us.他们正朝着我们飞跑过来。
• The horse slowed to a walk after its long gallop.那匹马跑了一大阵后慢下来缓步而行。

254 abreast   

adv.并排地；跟上(时代)的步伐，与…并进地

参考例句：

• She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
• We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习，就会跟不上形势。

255 hacking   

n.非法访问计算机系统和数据库的活动

参考例句：

• The patient with emphysema is hacking all day. 这个肺气肿病人整天不断地干咳。
• We undertook the task of hacking our way through the jungle. 我们负责在丛林中开路。

256 hack   

n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳

参考例句：

• He made a hack at the log.他朝圆木上砍了一下。
• Early settlers had to hack out a clearing in the forest where they could grow crops.早期移民不得不在森林里劈出空地种庄稼。

257 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

258 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

259 savagely   

adv. 野蛮地，残酷地

参考例句：

• The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。
• He snarled savagely at her. 他向她狂吼起来。

260 ecstasy   

n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷

参考例句：

• He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
• Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具，高兴得说不出话来。

261 lulled   

vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• They lulled her into a false sense of security. 他们哄骗她，使她产生一种虚假的安全感。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The movement of the train lulled me to sleep. 火车轻微的震动催我进入梦乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

262 vehemence   

n.热切；激烈；愤怒

参考例句：

• The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。
• She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。

263 thawing   

n.熔化，融化v.（气候）解冻( thaw的现在分词 )；（态度、感情等）缓和；（冰、雪及冷冻食物）溶化；软化

参考例句：

• The ice is thawing. 冰在融化。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• It had been snowing and thawing and the streets were sloppy. 天一直在下雪，雪又一直在融化，街上泥泞不堪。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

264 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

265 melancholy   

n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
• He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

266 downwards   

adj./adv.向下的（地），下行的（地）

参考例句：

• He lay face downwards on his bed.他脸向下伏在床上。
• As the river flows downwards,it widens.这条河愈到下游愈宽。

267 sneered   

讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
• It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。

268 wittily   

机智地，机敏地

参考例句：

• They have just been pulling our legs very wittily. 他们不过是跟我们开个非常诙谐的玩笑罢了。
• The tale wittily explores the interaction and tension between reality and imagination. 这篇故事机智地探讨了现实和想象之间的联系和对立。

269 plunging   

adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

270 alabaster   

adj.雪白的；n.雪花石膏；条纹大理石

参考例句：

• The floor was marble tile,and the columns alabaster.地板是由大理石铺成的，柱子则是雪花石膏打造而成。
• Her skin was like alabaster.她的皮肤光洁雪白。

271 ransack   

v.彻底搜索，洗劫

参考例句：

• He began to ransack his mother's workbox for a piece of thread.他要找一根线,开始翻腾妈妈的针线盒。
• She ransack my apartment for the bankbook.她在我公寓里到处搜索寻找存折。

272 voluptuous   

adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的

参考例句：

• The nobility led voluptuous lives.贵族阶层过着骄奢淫逸的生活。
• The dancer's movements were slow and voluptuous.舞女的动作缓慢而富挑逗性。

273 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

274 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

275 smeared   

弄脏； 玷污； 涂抹； 擦上

参考例句：

• The children had smeared mud on the walls. 那几个孩子往墙上抹了泥巴。
• A few words were smeared. 有写字被涂模糊了。

276 scruple   

n./v.顾忌，迟疑

参考例句：

• It'seemed to her now that she could marry him without the remnant of a scruple.她觉得现在她可以跟他成婚而不需要有任何顾忌。
• He makes no scruple to tell a lie.他说起谎来无所顾忌。

277 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

278 wrath   

n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒

参考例句：

• His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
• The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

279 obliquity   

n.倾斜度

参考例句：

• It is here that the obliquity factor makes a crucial difference. 正是在这里，倾斜因子构成了重要的差别。 来自辞典例句
• The obliquity of the ecliptic is the fundamental cause of the seasons. 黄道的倾角是季节的基本成因。 来自辞典例句

280 temperament   

n.气质，性格，性情

参考例句：

• The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
• Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

281 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

282 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

283 gashed   

v.划伤，割破( gash的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He gashed his hand on a sharp piece of rock. 他的手在一块尖石头上划了一个大口子。
• He gashed his arm on a piece of broken glass. 他的胳膊被玻璃碎片划了一个大口子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

284 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。

285 entice   

v.诱骗，引诱，怂恿

参考例句：

• Nothing will entice the children from television.没有任何东西能把孩子们从电视机前诱开。
• I don't see why the English should want to entice us away from our native land.我不明白，为什英国人要引诱我们离开自己的国土。

286 relinquish   

v.放弃，撤回，让与，放手

参考例句：

• He was forced to relinquish control of the company.他被迫放弃公司的掌控权。
• They will never voluntarily relinquish their independence.他们绝对不会自动放弃独立。

287 reindeer   

n.驯鹿

参考例句：

• The herd of reindeer was being trailed by a pack of wolves.那群驯鹿被一只狼群寻踪追赶上来。
• The life of the Reindeer men was a frontier life.驯鹿时代人的生活是一种边区生活。

288 kinsmen   

n.家属，亲属( kinsman的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Kinsmen are less kind than friends. 投亲不如访友。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• One deeply grateful is better than kinsmen or firends. 受恩深处胜亲朋。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

289 deride   

v.嘲弄，愚弄

参考例句：

• Some critics deride the group as self - appointed food police.一些批评人士嘲讽这个组织为“自封的食品警察”。
• They deride his effort as childish.他们嘲笑他的努力，认为太孩子气。

290 westward   

n.西方，西部；adj.西方的，向西的；adv.向西

参考例句：

• We live on the westward slope of the hill.我们住在这座山的西山坡。
• Explore westward or wherever.向西或到什么别的地方去勘探。

291 slung   

抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往

参考例句：

• He slung the bag over his shoulder. 他把包一甩，挎在肩上。
• He stood up and slung his gun over his shoulder. 他站起来把枪往肩上一背。

292 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

293 glimmer   

v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光

参考例句：

• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
• A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。

294 blotted   

涂污( blot的过去式和过去分词 )； （用吸墨纸）吸干

参考例句：

• She blotted water off the table with a towel. 她用毛巾擦干桌上的水。
• The blizzard blotted out the sky and the land. 暴风雪铺天盖地而来。

295 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

296 stifled   

（使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵

参考例句：

• The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
• The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。

297 sinuous   

adj.蜿蜒的，迂回的

参考例句：

• The river wound its sinuous way across the plain.这条河蜿蜒曲折地流过平原。
• We moved along the sinuous gravel walks,with the great concourse of girls and boys.我们沿着曲折的石径,随着男孩女孩汇成的巨流一路走去。

298 sinuously   

弯曲的，蜿蜒的

参考例句：

• the sinuous grace of a cat 猫的灵活优美
• The river wound its sinuous way across the plain. 这条河蜿蜒曲折地流过平原。

299 guttered   

vt.形成沟或槽于…（gutter的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Her screen career all practical purposes, had guttered out. 她的银幕生涯实际上默默无闻地结束了。 来自互联网
• The torches guttered in the breeze, casting wavering shadows upon the battlements. 火把在风中闪烁不定，它的影子也随着在墙壁上摇曳着。 来自互联网

300 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

301 dreads   

n.恐惧，畏惧( dread的名词复数 )；令人恐惧的事物v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The little boy dreads going to bed in the dark. 这孩子不敢在黑暗中睡觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• A burnt child dreads the fire. [谚]烧伤过的孩子怕火（惊弓之鸟，格外胆小）。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

302 seaman   

n.海员，水手，水兵

参考例句：

• That young man is a experienced seaman.那个年轻人是一个经验丰富的水手。
• The Greek seaman went to the hospital five times.这位希腊海员到该医院去过五次。

303 foulness   

n. 纠缠, 卑鄙

参考例句：

• The meeting is delayed by the foulness of the weather. 会议被恶劣的天气耽搁了。
• In his book, he lay bare the foulness of man. 在他的著作中，他揭露人类的卑鄙。

304 brute   

n.野兽，兽性

参考例句：

• The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。
• That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。

305 wren   

n.鹪鹩；英国皇家海军女子服务队成员

参考例句：

• A wren is a kind of short-winged songbird.鹪鹩是一种短翼的鸣禽。
• My bird guide confirmed that a Carolina wren had discovered the thickets near my house.我掌握的鸟类知识使我确信，一只卡罗莱纳州鹪鹩已经发现了我家的这个灌木丛。

306 robin   

n.知更鸟，红襟鸟

参考例句：

• The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
• We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。

307 tawny   

adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色

参考例句：

• Her black hair springs in fine strands across her tawny,ruddy cheek.她的一头乌发分披在健康红润的脸颊旁。
• None of them noticed a large,tawny owl flutter past the window.他们谁也没注意到一只大的、褐色的猫头鹰飞过了窗户。

308 endearments   

n.表示爱慕的话语，亲热的表示( endearment的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were whispering endearments to each other. 他们彼此低声倾吐着爱慕之情。
• He held me close to him, murmuring endearments. 他抱紧了我，喃喃述说着爱意。 来自辞典例句

309 gnawing   

a.痛苦的，折磨人的

参考例句：

• The dog was gnawing a bone. 那狗在啃骨头。
• These doubts had been gnawing at him for some time. 这些疑虑已经折磨他一段时间了。

310 gilt   

adj.镀金的；n.金边证券

参考例句：

• The plates have a gilt edge.这些盘子的边是镀金的。
• The rest of the money is invested in gilt.其余的钱投资于金边证券。

311 gnawed   

咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物

参考例句：

• His attitude towards her gnawed away at her confidence. 他对她的态度一直在削弱她的自尊心。
• The root of this dead tree has been gnawed away by ants. 这棵死树根被蚂蚁唼了。

312 lethargic   

adj.昏睡的，懒洋洋的

参考例句：

• He felt too miserable and lethargic to get dressed.他心情低落无精打采，完全没有心思穿衣整装。
• The hot weather made me feel lethargic.炎热的天气使我昏昏欲睡。

313 blithe   

adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的

参考例句：

• Tonight,however,she was even in a blithe mood than usual.但是，今天晚上她比往常还要高兴。
• He showed a blithe indifference to her feelings.他显得毫不顾及她的感情。

314 lark   

n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏

参考例句：

• He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了。
• She lived in the village with her grandparents as cheerful as a lark.她同祖父母一起住在乡间非常快活。

315 unwillingly   

adv.不情愿地

参考例句：

• He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。
• Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访，他也是很不情愿地接待我。

316 domes   

n.圆屋顶( dome的名词复数 )；像圆屋顶一样的东西；圆顶体育场

参考例句：

• The domes are circular or ovoid in cross-section. 穹丘的横断面为圆形或卵圆形。 来自辞典例句
• Parks. The facilities highlighted in text include sport complexes and fabric domes. 本书重点讲的设施包括运动场所和顶棚式结构。 来自互联网

317 pinnacles   

顶峰( pinnacle的名词复数 )； 顶点； 尖顶； 小尖塔

参考例句：

• What would be the pinnacles of your acting and music? 对你而言什麽代表你的演技和音乐的巅峰？
• On Skye's Trotternish Peninsula, basalt pinnacles loom over the Sound of Raasay. 在斯开岛的特洛登尼许半岛，玄武岩尖塔俯瞰着拉塞海峡。

318 fretted   

焦躁的，附有弦马的，腐蚀的

参考例句：

• The wind whistled through the twigs and fretted the occasional, dirty-looking crocuses. 寒风穿过枯枝，有时把发脏的藏红花吹刮跑了。 来自英汉文学
• The lady's fame for hitting the mark fretted him. 这位太太看问题深刻的名声在折磨着他。

319 charing   

n.炭化v.把…烧成炭，把…烧焦( char的现在分词 )；烧成炭，烧焦；做杂役女佣

参考例句：

• We married in the chapel of Charing Cross Hospital in London. 我们是在伦敦查令十字医院的小教堂里结的婚。 来自辞典例句
• No additional charge for children under12 charing room with parents. ☆十二岁以下小童与父母同房不另收费。 来自互联网

320 grove   

n.林子，小树林，园林

参考例句：

• On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
• The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。

321 fathomless   

a.深不可测的

参考例句：

• "The sand-sea deepens with fathomless ice, And darkness masses its endless clouds;" 瀚海阑干百丈冰，愁云黪淡万里凝。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• Day are coloured bubbles that float upon the surface of fathomless night. 日是五彩缤纷的气泡，漂浮在无尽的夜的表面。

322 gulls   

n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A flock of sea gulls are hovering over the deck. 一群海鸥在甲板上空飞翔。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The gulls which haunted the outlying rocks in a prodigious number. 数不清的海鸥在遥远的岩石上栖息。 来自辞典例句

323 reassure   

v.使放心，使消除疑虑

参考例句：

• This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently.这似乎使他放心一点，于是他更有信心地继续说了下去。
• The airline tried to reassure the customers that the planes were safe.航空公司尽力让乘客相信飞机是安全的。

324 delightful   

adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的

参考例句：

• We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
• Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

325 maligned   

vt.污蔑，诽谤（malign的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• She feels she has been much maligned by the press. 她觉得她遭到了新闻界的恣意诽谤。
• We maligned him dreadfully when you come to think of it. 回头想想，我们狠狠地中伤了他。 来自辞典例句

326 cormorants   

鸬鹚，贪婪的人( cormorant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The birds are trained cormorants. 那些鸟是受过训练的鸬鹚。
• The cormorants swim down and catch the fish, and bring them back the raft. 鸬鹚又下去捉住鱼，再返回竹筏。

327 incandescent   

adj.遇热发光的， 白炽的，感情强烈的

参考例句：

• The incandescent lamp we use in daily life was invented by Edison.我们日常生活中用的白炽灯，是爱迪生发明的。
• The incandescent quality of his words illuminated the courage of his countrymen.他炽热的语言点燃了他本国同胞的勇气。

328 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。

329 streaks   

n.（与周围有所不同的）条纹( streak的名词复数 )；（通常指不好的）特征（倾向）；（不断经历成功或失败的）一段时期v.快速移动( streak的第三人称单数 )；使布满条纹

参考例句：

• streaks of grey in her hair 她头上的绺绺白发
• Bacon has streaks of fat and streaks of lean. 咸肉中有几层肥的和几层瘦的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

330 emaciation   

n.消瘦，憔悴，衰弱

参考例句：

• His face was hollowed out to the point of emaciation. 他的脸瘦削到了憔悴的地步。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• These photographs show extremes of obesity and emaciation. 这些照片展现了肥胖与消瘦两个极端。 来自《简明英汉词典》

331 uproar   

n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸

参考例句：

• She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。
• His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。

332 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

333 gnats   

n.叮人小虫( gnat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He decided that he might fire at all gnats. 他决定索性把鸡毛蒜皮都摊出来。 来自辞典例句
• The air seemed to grow thick with fine white gnats. 空气似乎由于许多白色的小虫子而变得浑浊不堪。 来自辞典例句

334 apprentices   

学徒，徒弟( apprentice的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were mere apprentices to piracy. 他们干海盗仅仅是嫩角儿。
• He has two good apprentices working with him. 他身边有两个好徒弟。

335 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

336 bawdy   

adj.淫猥的，下流的；n.粗话

参考例句：

• After a few drinks,they were all singing bawdy songs at the top of their voices.喝了几杯酒之后，他们就扯着嗓门唱一些下流歌曲。
• His eyes were shrewd and bawdy.他的一双眼睛机灵而轻佻。

337 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

338 scrambling   

v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞

参考例句：

• Scrambling up her hair, she darted out of the house. 她匆忙扎起头发，冲出房去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• She is scrambling eggs. 她正在炒蛋。 来自《简明英汉词典》

339 dice   

n.骰子；vt.把（食物）切成小方块，冒险

参考例句：

• They were playing dice.他们在玩掷骰子游戏。
• A dice is a cube.骰子是立方体。

340 tickling   

反馈，回授，自旋挠痒法

参考例句：

• Was It'spring tickling her senses? 是不是春意撩人呢？
• Its origin is in tickling and rough-and-tumble play, he says. 他说，笑的起源来自于挠痒痒以及杂乱无章的游戏。

341 glum   

adj.闷闷不乐的，阴郁的

参考例句：

• He was a charming mixture of glum and glee.他是一个很有魅力的人，时而忧伤时而欢笑。
• She laughed at his glum face.她嘲笑他闷闷不乐的脸。

342 gaping   

adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大

参考例句：

• Ahead of them was a gaping abyss. 他们前面是一个巨大的深渊。
• The antelope could not escape the crocodile's gaping jaws. 那只羚羊无法从鱷鱼张开的大口中逃脱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

343 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

344 scramble   

v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料

参考例句：

• He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
• It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。

345 agility   

n.敏捷，活泼

参考例句：

• The boy came upstairs with agility.那男孩敏捷地走上楼来。
• His intellect and mental agility have never been in doubt.他的才智和机敏从未受到怀疑。

346 frenzy   

n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动

参考例句：

• He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。
• They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。

347 devour   

v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷

参考例句：

• Larger fish devour the smaller ones.大鱼吃小鱼。
• Beauty is but a flower which wrinkle will devour.美只不过是一朵，终会被皱纹所吞噬。

348 hissed   

发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对

参考例句：

• Have you ever been hissed at in the middle of a speech? 你在演讲中有没有被嘘过？
• The iron hissed as it pressed the wet cloth. 熨斗压在湿布上时发出了嘶嘶声。

349 hoof   

n.(马，牛等的)蹄

参考例句：

• Suddenly he heard the quick,short click of a horse's hoof behind him.突然间，他听见背后响起一阵急骤的马蹄的得得声。
• I was kicked by a hoof.我被一只蹄子踢到了。

350 rustle   

v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声

参考例句：

• She heard a rustle in the bushes.她听到灌木丛中一阵沙沙声。
• He heard a rustle of leaves in the breeze.他听到树叶在微风中发出的沙沙声。

351 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

352 negligence   

n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意

参考例句：

• They charged him with negligence of duty.他们指责他玩忽职守。
• The traffic accident was allegedly due to negligence.这次车祸据说是由于疏忽造成的。

353 compassionate   

adj.有同情心的，表示同情的

参考例句：

• She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
• The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。

354 wail   

vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸

参考例句：

• Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里，一位老太太伤心地哭起来。
• One of the small children began to wail with terror.小孩中的一个吓得大哭起来。

355 wretch   

n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人

参考例句：

• You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他，还埋怨他，真不知好歹。
• The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。

356 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

357 boded   

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

参考例句：

• The beginning of that summer boded ill. 夏季一开始就来势不善。 来自辞典例句

358 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

359 spout   

v.喷出，涌出；滔滔不绝地讲；n.喷管；水柱

参考例句：

• Implication in folk wealth creativity and undertaking vigor spout.蕴藏于民间的财富创造力和创业活力喷涌而出。
• This acts as a spout to drain off water during a rainstorm.在暴风雨季，这东西被用作喷管来排水。

360 consolidated   

a.联合的

参考例句：

• With this new movie he has consolidated his position as the country's leading director. 他新执导的影片巩固了他作为全国最佳导演的地位。
• Those two banks have consolidated and formed a single large bank. 那两家银行已合并成一家大银行。

361 profuse   

adj.很多的，大量的，极其丰富的

参考例句：

• The hostess is profuse in her hospitality.女主人招待得十分周到。
• There was a profuse crop of hair impending over the top of his face.一大绺头发垂在他额头上。

362 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

363 superstition   

n.迷信，迷信行为

参考例句：

• It's a common superstition that black cats are unlucky.认为黑猫不吉祥是一种很普遍的迷信。
• Superstition results from ignorance.迷信产生于无知。

364 apprehensive   

adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的

参考例句：

• She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
• He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。

365 heralding   

v.预示( herald的现在分词 )；宣布（好或重要）

参考例句：

• It is the heralding of a new age of responsibilities. 那预示着一个充满责任的新时期的开始。 来自互联网
• Streaks of faint light were rising, heralding a new day. 几道淡淡的晨曦正在升起，预示新的一天的来临。 来自互联网

366 doom   

n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定

参考例句：

• The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。
• The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

367 subterraneously   

adj.地下的，隐匿的

参考例句：

368 concealment   

n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒

参考例句：

• the concealment of crime 对罪行的隐瞒
• Stay in concealment until the danger has passed. 把自己藏起来，待危险过去后再出来。

369 swarm   

n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入

参考例句：

• There is a swarm of bees in the tree.这树上有一窝蜜蜂。
• A swarm of ants are moving busily.一群蚂蚁正在忙碌地搬家。

370 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

371 sagged   

下垂的

参考例句：

• The black reticule sagged under the weight of shapeless objects. 黑色的拎包由于装了各种形状的东西而中间下陷。
• He sagged wearily back in his chair. 他疲倦地瘫坐到椅子上。

372 rending   

v.撕碎( rend的现在分词 )；分裂；（因愤怒、痛苦等而）揪扯（衣服或头发等）；（声音等）刺破

参考例句：

• The cries of those imprisoned in the fallen buildings were heart-rending. 被困于倒塌大楼里的人们的哭喊声令人心碎。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She was rending her hair out in anger. 她气愤得直扯自己的头发。 来自《简明英汉词典》

373 inhuman   

adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的

参考例句：

• We must unite the workers in fighting against inhuman conditions.我们必须使工人们团结起来反对那些难以忍受的工作条件。
• It was inhuman to refuse him permission to see his wife.不容许他去看自己的妻子是太不近人情了。

374 irony   

n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄

参考例句：

• She said to him with slight irony.她略带嘲讽地对他说。
• In her voice we could sense a certain tinge of irony.从她的声音里我们可以感到某种讥讽的意味。

375 galloped   

（使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事

参考例句：

• Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
• The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。

376 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

377 asunder   

adj.分离的，化为碎片

参考例句：

• The curtains had been drawn asunder.窗帘被拉向两边。
• Your conscience,conviction,integrity,and loyalties were torn asunder.你的良心、信念、正直和忠诚都被扯得粉碎了。

378 icebergs   

n.冰山，流冰( iceberg的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The drift of the icebergs in the sea endangers the ships. 海上冰山的漂流危及船只的安全。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The icebergs towered above them. 冰山高耸于他们上方。 来自辞典例句

379 convoy   

vt.护送，护卫，护航；n.护送；护送队

参考例句：

• The convoy was snowed up on the main road.护送队被大雪困在干路上了。
• Warships will accompany the convoy across the Atlantic.战舰将护送该船队过大西洋。

380 eddying   

涡流，涡流的形成

参考例句：

• The Rhine flowed on, swirling and eddying, at six or seven miles an hour. 莱茵河不断以每小时六、七哩的速度，滔滔滚流，波涛起伏。

381 swirling   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句

382 piers   

n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 )；（常设有娱乐场所的）突堤；柱子；墙墩

参考例句：

• Most road bridges have piers rising out of the vally. 很多公路桥的桥墩是从河谷里建造起来的。 来自辞典例句
• At these piers coasters and landing-craft would be able to discharge at all states of tide. 沿岸航行的海船和登陆艇，不论潮汐如何涨落，都能在这种码头上卸载。 来自辞典例句

383 precarious   

adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的

参考例句：

• Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。
• He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

384 amend   

vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿

参考例句：

• The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。
• You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

385 steadfastly   

adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝

参考例句：

• So he sat, with a steadfastly vacant gaze, pausing in his work. 他就像这样坐着，停止了工作，直勾勾地瞪着眼。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
• Defarge and his wife looked steadfastly at one another. 德伐日和他的妻子彼此凝视了一会儿。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

386 tavern   

n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店

参考例句：

• There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
• Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。

387 bravado   

n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能

参考例句：

• Their behaviour was just sheer bravado. 他们的行为完全是虚张声势。
• He flourished the weapon in an attempt at bravado. 他挥舞武器意在虚张声势。

388 blasphemies   

n.对上帝的亵渎，亵渎的言词[行为]( blasphemy的名词复数 )；侮慢的言词（或行为）

参考例句：

• That foul mouth stands there bringing more ill fortune with his blasphemies. 那一张臭嘴站在那儿满嘴喷粪，只能带来更多恶运。 来自辞典例句
• All great truths begin as blasphemies. 一切伟大的真理起初都被视为大逆不道的邪说。 来自辞典例句

389 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

390 wretches   

n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋

参考例句：

• The little wretches were all bedraggledfrom some roguery. 小淘气们由于恶作剧而弄得脏乎乎的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The best courage for us poor wretches is to fly from danger. 对我们这些可怜虫说来，最好的出路还是躲避危险。 来自辞典例句

391 cupidity   

n.贪心，贪财

参考例句：

• Her cupidity is well known.她的贪婪尽人皆知。
• His eyes gave him away,shining with cupidity.他的眼里闪着贪婪的光芒，使他暴露无遗。

392 hurling   

n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• The boat rocked wildly, hurling him into the water. 这艘船剧烈地晃动，把他甩到水中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Fancy hurling away a good chance like that, the silly girl! 想想她竟然把这样一个好机会白白丢掉了，真是个傻姑娘！ 来自《简明英汉词典》

393 goblet   

n.高脚酒杯

参考例句：

• He poured some wine into the goblet.他向高脚酒杯里倒了一些葡萄酒。
• He swirled the brandy around in the huge goblet.他摇晃着高脚大玻璃杯使里面的白兰地酒旋动起来。

394 disappearance   

n.消失，消散，失踪

参考例句：

• He was hard put to it to explain her disappearance.他难以说明她为什么不见了。
• Her disappearance gave rise to the wildest rumours.她失踪一事引起了各种流言蜚语。

395 sumptuously   

奢侈地，豪华地

参考例句：

• The hall was sumptuously decorated. 大厅装饰得富丽堂皇。
• This government building is sumptuously appointed. 这座政府办公大楼布置得极为豪华。

396 utensils   

器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物

参考例句：

• Formerly most of our household utensils were made of brass. 以前我们家庭用的器皿多数是用黄铜做的。
• Some utensils were in a state of decay when they were unearthed. 有些器皿在出土时已经残破。

397 astounded   

v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶

参考例句：

• His arrogance astounded her. 他的傲慢使她震惊。
• How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. 你怎么能说出那种话？我感到大为震惊。

398 appalling   

adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。

399 hurled   

v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂

参考例句：

• He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
• The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

400 recollect   

v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得

参考例句：

• He tried to recollect things and drown himself in them.他极力回想过去的事情而沉浸于回忆之中。
• She could not recollect being there.她回想不起曾经到过那儿。

401 vessel   

n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管

参考例句：

• The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
• You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

402 foundered   

v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Three ships foundered in heavy seas. 三艘船在波涛汹涌的海面上沉没了。 来自辞典例句
• The project foundered as a result of lack of finance. 该项目因缺乏资金而告吹。 来自辞典例句

403 fickle   

adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的，不坚定的

参考例句：

• Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
• The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。