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THE Romans had scarcely gone away from Britain, when the Britons began to wish they had never left it. For, the Romans being gone, and the Britons being much reduced in numbers by their long wars, the Picts and Scots came pouring in, over the broken and unguarded wall of SEVERUS, in swarms1. They plundered2 the richest towns, and killed the people; and came back so often for more booty and more slaughter3, that the unfortunate Britons lived a life of terror. As if the Picts and Scots were not bad enough on land, the Saxons attacked the islanders by sea; and, as if something more were still wanting to make them miserable4, they quarrelled bitterly among themselves as to what prayers they ought to say, and how they ought to say them. The priests, being very angry with one another on these questions, cursed one another in the heartiest5 manner; and (uncommonly like the old Druids) cursed all the people whom they could not persuade. So, altogether, the Britons were very badly off, you may believe.
They were in such distress6, in short, that they sent a letter to Rome entreating7 help - which they called the Groans8 of the Britons; and in which they said, 'The barbarians9 chase us into the sea, the sea throws us back upon the barbarians, and we have only the hard choice left us of perishing by the sword, or perishing by the waves.' But, the Romans could not help them, even if they were so inclined; for they had enough to do to defend themselves against their own enemies, who were then very fierce and strong. At last, the Britons, unable to bear their hard condition any longer, resolved to make peace with the Saxons, and to invite the Saxons to come into their country, and help them to keep out the Picts and Scots.

1
swarms
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蜂群,一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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2
plundered
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掠夺,抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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3
slaughter
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n.屠杀,屠宰;vt.屠杀,宰杀 | |
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4
miserable
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adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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5
heartiest
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亲切的( hearty的最高级 ); 热诚的; 健壮的; 精神饱满的 | |
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6
distress
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n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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7
entreating
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恳求,乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
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8
groans
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n.呻吟,叹息( groan的名词复数 );呻吟般的声音v.呻吟( groan的第三人称单数 );发牢骚;抱怨;受苦 | |
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9
barbarians
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n.野蛮人( barbarian的名词复数 );外国人;粗野的人;无教养的人 | |
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10
opposition
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n.反对,敌对 | |
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11
isle
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n.小岛,岛 | |
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12
inviting
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adj.诱人的,引人注目的 | |
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goblet
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n.高脚酒杯 | |
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14
favourable
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adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的 | |
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15
bards
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n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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16
forefathers
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n.祖先,先人;祖先,祖宗( forefather的名词复数 );列祖列宗;前人 | |
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17
virtues
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美德( virtue的名词复数 ); 德行; 优点; 长处 | |
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18
retired
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adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 | |
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rugged
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adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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20
wrecked
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adj.失事的,遇难的 | |
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drearily
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沉寂地,厌倦地,可怕地 | |
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22
caverns
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大山洞,大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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23
Christian
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adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒 | |
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monk
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n.和尚,僧侣,修道士 | |
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Christians
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n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 ) | |
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26
marshy
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adj.沼泽的 | |
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dedicated
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adj.一心一意的;献身的;热诚的 | |
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reign
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n.统治时期,统治,支配,盛行;v.占优势 | |
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decided
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adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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30
discourse
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n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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31
gallop
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v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔;飞速发展 | |
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ragged
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adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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33
bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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34
monarchs
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君主,帝王( monarch的名词复数 ) | |
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reigns
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n.君主的统治( reign的名词复数 );君主统治时期;任期;当政期 | |
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36
plundering
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掠夺,抢劫( plunder的现在分词 ) | |
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37
steadily
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adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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