A Tale of a Tub
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The Epistle Dedicatory to His Royal Highness Prince Posterity

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SIR,

I here present your Highness with the fruits of a very few leisure hours, stolen from the short intervals1 of a world of business, and of an employment quite alien from such amusements as this; the poor production of that refuse of time which has lain heavy upon my hands during a long prorogation2 of Parliament, a great dearth3 of foreign news, and a tedious fit of rainy weather. For which, and other reasons, it cannot choose extremely to deserve such a patronage4 as that of your Highness, whose numberless virtues6 in so few years, make the world look upon you as the future example to all princes. For although your Highness is hardly got clear of infancy7, yet has the universal learned world already resolved upon appealing to your future dictates8 with the lowest and most resigned submission9, fate having decreed you sole arbiter10 of the productions of human wit in this polite and most accomplished11 age. Methinks the number of appellants were enough to shock and startle any judge of a genius less unlimited12 than yours; but in order to prevent such glorious trials, the person, it seems, to whose care the education of your Highness is committed, has resolved, as I am told, to keep you in almost an universal ignorance of our studies, which it is your inherent birthright to inspect.

It is amazing to me that this person should have assurance, in the face of the sun, to go about persuading your Highness that our age is almost wholly
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1 intervals f46c9d8b430e8c86dea610ec56b7cbef     
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息
参考例句：
  • The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
  • Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
2 prorogation 85bd3613037547a18c5b181fddf51be2     
n.休会，闭会
参考例句：
3 dearth dYOzS     
n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨
参考例句：
  • There is a dearth of good children's plays.目前缺少优秀的儿童剧。
  • Many people in that country died because of dearth of food.那个国家有许多人因为缺少粮食而死。
4 patronage MSLzq     
n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场
参考例句：
  • Though it was not yet noon,there was considerable patronage.虽然时间未到中午，店中已有许多顾客惠顾。
  • I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this.很抱歉，我的赞助只能到此为止。
5 virtue BpqyH     
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。
6 virtues cd5228c842b227ac02d36dd986c5cd53     
美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处
参考例句：
  • Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。
  • She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。
7 infancy F4Ey0     
n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期
参考例句：
  • He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。
  • Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。
8 dictates d2524bb575c815758f62583cd796af09     
n.命令，规定，要求( dictate的名词复数 )v.大声讲或读( dictate的第三人称单数 )；口授；支配；摆布
参考例句：
  • Convention dictates that a minister should resign in such a situation. 依照常规部长在这种情况下应该辞职。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He always follows the dictates of common sense. 他总是按常识行事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
9 submission lUVzr     
n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出
参考例句：
  • The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
  • No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。
10 arbiter bN8yi     
n.仲裁人，公断人
参考例句：
  • Andrew was the arbiter of the disagreement.安德鲁是那场纠纷的仲裁人。
  • Experiment is the final arbiter in science.实验是科学的最后仲裁者。
11 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的
参考例句：
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
12 unlimited MKbzB     
adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的
参考例句：
  • They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
  • There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。
13 ass qvyzK     
n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人
参考例句：
  • He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。
  • An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。
14 illiterate Bc6z5     
adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲
参考例句：
  • There are still many illiterate people in our country.在我国还有许多文盲。
  • I was an illiterate in the old society,but now I can read.我这个旧社会的文盲，今天也认字了。
15 antiquity SNuzc     
n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹
参考例句：
  • The museum contains the remains of Chinese antiquity.博物馆藏有中国古代的遗物。
  • There are many legends about the heroes of antiquity.有许多关于古代英雄的传说。
16 insolent AbGzJ     
adj.傲慢的，无理的
参考例句：
  • His insolent manner really got my blood up.他那傲慢的态度把我的肺都气炸了。
  • It was insolent of them to demand special treatment.他们要求给予特殊待遇，脸皮真厚。
17 insignificant k6Mx1     
adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的
参考例句：
  • In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
  • This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。
18 zeal mMqzR     
n.热心，热情，热忱
参考例句：
  • Revolutionary zeal caught them up,and they joined the army.革命热情激励他们，于是他们从军了。
  • They worked with great zeal to finish the project.他们热情高涨地工作，以期完成这个项目。
19 professed 7151fdd4a4d35a0f09eaf7f0f3faf295     
公开声称的，伪称的，已立誓信教的
参考例句：
  • These, at least, were their professed reasons for pulling out of the deal. 至少这些是他们自称退出这宗交易的理由。
  • Her manner professed a gaiety that she did not feel. 她的神态显出一种她并未实际感受到的快乐。
20 profess iQHxU     
v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰
参考例句：
  • I profess that I was surprised at the news.我承认这消息使我惊讶。
  • What religion does he profess?他信仰哪种宗教？
21 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
参考例句：
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
22 malice P8LzW     
n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋
参考例句：
  • I detected a suggestion of malice in his remarks.我觉察出他说的话略带恶意。
  • There was a strong current of malice in many of his portraits.他的许多肖像画中都透着一股强烈的怨恨。
23 peruse HMXxT     
v.细读，精读
参考例句：
  • We perused the company's financial statements for the past five years.我们翻阅了公司过去5年来的财务报表。
  • Please peruse this report at your leisure.请在空暇时细读这篇报道。
24 demonstration 9waxo     
n.表明，示范，论证，示威
参考例句：
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。
25 eternity Aiwz7     
n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷
参考例句：
  • The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
  • Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞，永世相随。
26 annihilated b75d9b14a67fe1d776c0039490aade89     
v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃
参考例句：
  • Our soldiers annihilated a force of three hundred enemy troops. 我军战士消灭了300名敌军。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • We annihilated the enemy. 我们歼灭了敌人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
27 purges 8473af04e66433ec93381f0362f6b552     
清除异己( purge的名词复数 )； 整肃（行动）； 清洗； 泻药
参考例句：
  • Mandelshtam perished in the purges of the 1930s, Akhmatova remained silent. 曼杰利什坦姆在30年代的清洗中死去，阿赫玛托娃也销声匿迹。
  • He purges his subconscious and meditates only on God. 他净化他的潜意识且只思念上帝。
28 beseech aQzyF     
v.祈求，恳求
参考例句：
  • I beseech you to do this before it is too late.我恳求你做做这件事吧，趁现在还来得及。
  • I beseech your favor.我恳求您帮忙。
29 scythe GDez1     
n. 长柄的大镰刀，战车镰； v. 以大镰刀割
参考例句：
  • He's cutting grass with a scythe.他正在用一把大镰刀割草。
  • Two men were attempting to scythe the long grass.两个人正试图割掉疯长的草。
30 baneful EuBzC     
adj.有害的
参考例句：
  • His baneful influence was feared by all.人们都担心他所造成的有害影响。
  • Lower share prices have baneful effect for companies too.更低的股价同样会有损各企业。
31 abominable PN5zs     
adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的
参考例句：
  • Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
  • The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。
32 corrupting e31caa462603f9a59dd15b756f3d82a9     
（使）败坏( corrupt的现在分词 )； （使）腐化； 引起（计算机文件等的）错误； 破坏
参考例句：
  • It would be corrupting discipline to leave him unpunished. 不惩治他会败坏风纪。
  • It would be corrupting military discipline to leave him unpunished. 不惩治他会败坏军纪。
33 disarm 0uax2     
v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和
参考例句：
  • The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
  • He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。
34 usurping 4998e29c4fba3569aa87fe1d221db5ab     
篡夺，霸占( usurp的现在分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权
参考例句：
  • Earlier the Ukrainian President dissolved Parliament because it claimed it was usurping power. 之前乌克兰总统解散国会因为国会声称要夺权。
35 inveterate q4ox5     
adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的
参考例句：
  • Hitler was not only an avid reader but also an inveterate underliner.希特勒不仅酷爱读书，还有写写划划的习惯。
  • It is hard for an inveterate smoker to give up tobacco.要一位有多年烟瘾的烟民戒烟是困难的。
36 renowned okSzVe     
adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的
参考例句：
  • He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
  • She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。
37 stifles 86e39af153460bbdb81d558a552a1a70     
（使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的第三人称单数 )； 镇压，遏制
参考例句：
  • This stifles the development of the financial sector. 这就遏制了金融部门的发展。
  • The fruits of such a system are a glittering consumer society which stifles creativity and individuality. 这种制度的结果就是一个压制创造性和个性的闪光的消费者社会。
38 flays 4ce47c900adde49a0d047640a440e2d0     
v.痛打( flay的第三人称单数 )；把…打得皮开肉绽；剥（通常指动物）的皮；严厉批评
参考例句：
  • The boy is very active, ha never flays up. 这个男孩很活跃，但从来不惹麻烦。 来自互联网
39 tainted qgDzqS     
adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏
参考例句：
  • The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
  • He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》
40 languishing vpCz2c     
a. 衰弱下去的
参考例句：
  • He is languishing for home. 他苦思家乡。
  • How long will she go on languishing for her red-haired boy? 为想见到她的红头发的儿子，她还将为此烦恼多久呢？
41 subscribed cb9825426eb2cb8cbaf6a72027f5508a     
v.捐助( subscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；签署，题词；订阅；同意
参考例句：
  • It is not a theory that is commonly subscribed to. 一般人并不赞成这个理论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I subscribed my name to the document. 我在文件上签了字。 来自《简明英汉词典》
42 immortal 7kOyr     
adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的
参考例句：
  • The wild cocoa tree is effectively immortal.野生可可树实际上是不会死的。
  • The heroes of the people are immortal!人民英雄永垂不朽！
43 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低
参考例句：
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
44 comely GWeyX     
adj.漂亮的，合宜的
参考例句：
  • His wife is a comely young woman.他的妻子是一个美丽的少妇。
  • A nervous,comely-dressed little girl stepped out.一个紧张不安、衣着漂亮的小姑娘站了出来。
45 pretensions 9f7f7ffa120fac56a99a9be28790514a     
自称( pretension的名词复数 )； 自命不凡； 要求； 权力
参考例句：
  • The play mocks the pretensions of the new middle class. 这出戏讽刺了新中产阶级的装模作样。
  • The city has unrealistic pretensions to world-class status. 这个城市不切实际地标榜自己为国际都市。
46 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的
参考例句：
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
47 immortality hkuys     
n.不死，不朽
参考例句：
  • belief in the immortality of the soul 灵魂不灭的信念
  • It was like having immortality while you were still alive. 仿佛是当你仍然活着的时候就得到了永生。
48 usurped ebf643e98bddc8010c4af826bcc038d3     
篡夺，霸占( usurp的过去式和过去分词 )； 盗用； 篡夺，篡权
参考例句：
  • That magazine usurped copyrighted material. 那杂志盗用了版权为他人所有的素材。
  • The expression'social engineering'has been usurped by the Utopianist without a shadow of light. “社会工程”这个词已被乌托邦主义者毫无理由地盗用了。
49 avarice KeHyX     
n.贪婪；贪心
参考例句：
  • Avarice is the bane to happiness.贪婪是损毁幸福的祸根。
  • Their avarice knows no bounds and you can never satisfy them.他们贪得无厌，你永远无法满足他们。
50 intercept G5rx7     
vt.拦截，截住，截击
参考例句：
  • His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
  • Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。
51 devour hlezt     
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。
52 devoid dZzzx     
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。
53 delude lmEzj     
vt.欺骗；哄骗
参考例句：
  • You won't delude him into believing it.你不能诱使他相信此事。
  • Don't delude yourself into believing that she will marry you.不要自欺，别以为她会嫁给你。
54 copious koizs     
adj.丰富的，大量的
参考例句：
  • She supports her theory with copious evidences.她以大量的例证来充实自己的理论。
  • Every star is a copious source of neutrinos.每颗恒星都是丰富的中微子源。
55 pedant juJyy     
n.迂儒；卖弄学问的人
参考例句：
  • He's a bit of a pedant.这人有点迂。
  • A man of talent is one thing,and a pedant another.有才能的人和卖弄学问的人是不一样的。
56 refinement kinyX     
n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼
参考例句：
  • Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
  • Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。
57 versed bffzYC     
adj. 精通，熟练
参考例句：
  • He is well versed in history.他精通历史。
  • He versed himself in European literature. 他精通欧洲文学。
58 avow auhzg     
v.承认，公开宣称
参考例句：
  • I must avow that I am innocent.我要公开声明我是无罪的。
  • The senator was forced to avow openly that he had received some money from that company.那个参议员被迫承认曾经收过那家公司的一些钱。
59 abound wykz4     
vi.大量存在；(in，with)充满，富于
参考例句：
  • Oranges abound here all the year round.这里一年到头都有很多橙子。
  • But problems abound in the management of State-owned companies.但是在国有企业的管理中仍然存在不少问题。
60 westward XIvyz     
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。
61 sordid PrLy9     
adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的
参考例句：
  • He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
  • They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。
62 literally 28Wzv     
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。
63 perusal mM5xT     
n.细读，熟读；目测
参考例句：
  • Peter Cooke undertook to send each of us a sample contract for perusal.彼得·库克答应给我们每人寄送一份合同样本供阅读。
  • A perusal of the letters which we have published has satisfied him of the reality of our claim.读了我们的公开信后，他终于相信我们的要求的确是真的。
64 specimen Xvtwm     
n.样本，标本
参考例句：
  • You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
  • This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。
65 diligent al6ze     
adj.勤勉的，勤奋的
参考例句：
  • He is the more diligent of the two boys.他是这两个男孩中较用功的一个。
  • She is diligent and keeps herself busy all the time.她真勤快，一会儿也不闲着。
66 lawfully hpYzCv     
adv.守法地，合法地；合理地
参考例句：
  • Lawfully established contracts shall be protected by law. 依法成立的合同应受法律保护。 来自口语例句
  • As my lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, till death parts us. 当成是我的合法丈夫，无论疾病灾难，直到死亡把我们分开。 来自电影对白
67 authentic ZuZzs     
a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的
参考例句：
  • This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
  • Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。
68 sprightly 4GQzv     
adj.愉快的，活泼的
参考例句：
  • She is as sprightly as a woman half her age.她跟比她年轻一半的妇女一样活泼。
  • He's surprisingly sprightly for an old man.他这把年纪了，还这么精神，真了不起。
69 beheld 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
70 alas Rx8z1     
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。
71 adorned 1e50de930eb057fcf0ac85ca485114c8     
[计]被修饰的
参考例句：
  • The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
  • And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。
72 replete BBBzd     
adj.饱满的，塞满的；n.贮蜜蚁
参考例句：
  • He was replete with food and drink.他吃喝得饱饱的。
  • This immense space may be replete with happiness and glory.这巨大的空间可能充满了幸福和光荣。
73 embellished b284f4aedffe7939154f339dba2d2073     
v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色
参考例句：
  • The door of the old church was embellished with decorations. 老教堂的门是用雕饰美化的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The stern was embellished with carvings in red and blue. 船尾饰有红色和蓝色的雕刻图案。 来自辞典例句
74 poignant FB1yu     
adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的
参考例句：
  • His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
  • It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。
75 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的
参考例句：
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
76 eulogies 7ba3958e5e74512a6b4d38a226071b8b     
n.颂词，颂文( eulogy的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Her latest film has brought eulogies from the critics. 她最近的这部电影获得影评界的好评。 来自互联网
77 drawn MuXzIi     
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。

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