Once, so long ago that no one is sure of Dates anymore,— tho' some say it was during the reign¹ of one of the Hia Emperors,— upon the first day of Autumn in the Hsiu or Moon-station of Fang², an eclipse of the Sun occurr'd, which the Court Astronomers³, Hsi and Ho, fail'd to predict,— not just predict accurately⁴, but predict at all. Instead of diligently⁵ observing the Heavens, and doing the calculations, they had been spending most of their time roistering into town at late hours, abusing wine, drunkenly pursuing notorious Courtesans, not all of whom were Women, falling into public Latrines, and losing great portions of their Royal Stipends⁶ to all sorts of thieves, from Adventuresses to Gaming?table Bullies,— until, one strangely-lit Noontide, clogg'd and neural-gick, weaving their way back to their quarters in the Palace, they notice something about the shadows of the trees.—  The sunlight that is able to pass clear of the leaves and strike the Road-way, instead of the usual more or less round Dots amid a general shade, presents instead, a mind?lessly repeated Spill of identical Crescents, each growing imperceptibly narrower and sharper, as the stupefied Philosophers watch,— slowly realizing that they are seeing the Moon, moving onto the Disk of the Sun, carpeting the Ground by the bleary shimmering⁷ tens of thousands, as far in ev'ry direction as they can see.
"We may be in trouble," says Ho.
"Thanks for doing the brain-work on that." They hurry on in the livid, decadent⁸ Noon, stepping among the slow-stirring bright lacework, their faces averted⁹ from the Event above. Dogs howl all over the City. Chick?ens stop what they are doing and fall asleep. Babies cry, Pigs

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1 reign
n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势
参考例句：
The reign of Queen Elizabeth lapped over into the seventeenth century.伊丽莎白王朝延至17世纪。 The reign of Zhu Yuanzhang lasted about 31 years.朱元璋统治了大约三十一年。

2 fang
n.尖牙，犬牙
参考例句：
Look how the bone sticks out of the flesh like a dog's fang.瞧瞧,这根骨头从肉里露出来，象一只犬牙似的。 The green fairy's fang thrusting between his lips.绿妖精的尖牙从他的嘴唇里龇出来。

3 astronomers
n.天文学者，天文学家( astronomer的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Astronomers can accurately foretell the date,time,and length of future eclipses. 天文学家能精确地预告未来日食月食的日期、时刻和时长。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪，为什么只有土星有光环。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 accurately
adv.准确地，精确地
参考例句：
It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。 Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

5 diligently
ad.industriously;carefully
参考例句：
He applied himself diligently to learning French. 他孜孜不倦地学法语。 He had studied diligently at college. 他在大学里勤奋学习。

6 stipends
n.（尤指牧师的）薪俸( stipend的名词复数 )
参考例句：

7 shimmering
v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 )
参考例句：
The sea was shimmering in the sunlight. 阳光下海水波光闪烁。 The colours are delicate and shimmering. 这些颜色柔和且闪烁微光。 来自辞典例句

8 decadent
adj.颓废的，衰落的，堕落的
参考例句：
Don't let decadent ideas eat into yourselves.别让颓废的思想侵蚀你们。 This song was once banned, because it was regarded as decadent.这首歌曾经被认定为是靡靡之音而被禁止播放。

9 averted
防止，避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 )； 转移
参考例句：
A disaster was narrowly averted. 及时防止了一场灾难。 Thanks to her skilful handling of the affair, the problem was averted. 多亏她对事情处理得巧妙，才避免了麻烦。

10 briefly
adv.简单地，简短地
参考例句：
I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。 He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

11 hush
int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静
参考例句：
A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。 Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去！

12 con
n.反对的观点，反对者，反对票，肺病；vt.精读，学习，默记；adv.反对地，从反面；adj.欺诈的
参考例句：
We must be fair and consider the reason pro and con.我们必须公平考虑赞成和反对的理由。 The motion is adopted non con.因无人投反对票，协议被通过。

13 seep
v.渗出，渗漏；n.渗漏，小泉，水（油）坑
参考例句：
My anger began to seep away.我的怒火开始消下去了。 If meteoric water does not evaporate or run overland,it may seep directly into the ground.如果雨水不从陆地蒸发和流走的话，就可能直接渗入地下。

14 observatory
n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台
参考例句：
Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。 Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

15 mar
vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟
参考例句：
It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。 Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

16 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。

17 ascend
vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上
参考例句：
We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。 We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。

18 bickering
v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁
参考例句：
The children are always bickering about something or other. 孩子们有事没事总是在争吵。 The two children were always bickering with each other over small matters. 这两个孩子总是为些小事斗嘴。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

19 digit
n.零到九的阿拉伯数字，手指，脚趾
参考例句：
Her telephone number differs from mine by one digit.她的电话号码和我的只差一个数字。 Many animals have five digits.许多动物有5趾。

20 wastrels
n.无用的人，废物( wastrel的名词复数 )；浪子
参考例句：

21 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。

22 cymbals
pl.铙钹
参考例句：
People shouted, while the drums and .cymbals crashed incessantly. 人声嘈杂，锣鼓不停地大响特响。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26） The dragon dance troupe, beating drums and cymbals, entered the outer compound. 龙灯随着锣鼓声进来，停在二门外的大天井里。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

23 eternity
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。

24 condemns
v.（通常因道义上的原因而）谴责( condemn的第三人称单数 )；宣判；宣布…不能使用；迫使…陷于不幸的境地
参考例句：
Her widowhood condemns her to a lonely old age. 守寡使她不得不过着孤独的晚年生活。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The public opinion condemns prostitution. 公众舆论遣责卖淫。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

25 squeals
n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
There was an outburst of squeals from the cage. 铁笼子里传来一阵吱吱的叫声。 来自英汉文学 There were squeals of excitement from the children. 孩子们兴奋得大声尖叫。 来自辞典例句

26 luncheon
n.午宴，午餐，便宴
参考例句：
We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。 I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。

27 groans
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
参考例句：
There were loud groans when he started to sing. 他刚开始歌唱时有人发出了很大的嘘声。 来自《简明英汉词典》 It was a weird old house, full of creaks and groans. 这是所神秘而可怕的旧宅，到处嘎吱嘎吱作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

28 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。

29 apparatus
n.装置，器械；器具，设备
参考例句：
The school's audio apparatus includes films and records.学校的视听设备包括放映机和录音机。 They had a very refined apparatus.他们有一套非常精良的设备。

30 steering
n.操舵装置
参考例句：
He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。 Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

31 plummeting
v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Prices are rising, falling, going up, going down, shooting up, plummeting, etc. 物价在上涨、下跌、上升、下落、猛然上涨、骤然下跌等。 来自辞典例句 The enemy plane went plummeting into the sea. 敌机直直掉进海里。 来自辞典例句

32 terrain
n.地面，地形，地图
参考例句：
He had made a detailed study of the terrain.他对地形作了缜密的研究。 He knows the terrain of this locality like the back of his hand.他对这一带的地形了如指掌。

33 afflicted
使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。 A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。

34 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。

35 plume
n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰
参考例句：
Her hat was adorned with a plume.她帽子上饰着羽毛。 He does not plume himself on these achievements.他并不因这些成就而自夸。

36 abruptly
adv.突然地，出其不意地
参考例句：
He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。 I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

37 eligible
adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的
参考例句：
He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。 Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

38 assessment
n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额
参考例句：
This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。 What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

39 inter
v.埋葬
参考例句：
They interred their dear comrade in the arms.他们埋葬了他们亲爱的战友。 The man who died in that accident has been interred.在那次事故中死的那个人已经被埋葬了。

40 killing
n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财
参考例句：
Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。 Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

41 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。

42 stigma
n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头
参考例句：
Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。 The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

43 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。

44 willows
n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木
参考例句：
The willows along the river bank look very beautiful. 河岸边的柳树很美。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Willows are planted on both sides of the streets. 街道两侧种着柳树。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

45 penetrated
adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。 They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。

46 warehouse
n.仓库；vt.存入仓库
参考例句：
We freighted the goods to the warehouse by truck.我们用卡车把货物运到仓库。 The manager wants to clear off the old stocks in the warehouse.经理想把仓库里积压的存货处理掉。

47 attachment
n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附
参考例句：
She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。 She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

48 crescendo
n.(音乐)渐强，高潮
参考例句：
The gale reached its crescendo in the evening.狂风在晚上达到高潮。 There was a crescendo of parliamentary and press criticism.来自议会和新闻界的批评越来越多。

49 ornamental
adj.装饰的；作装饰用的；n.装饰品；观赏植物
参考例句：
The stream was dammed up to form ornamental lakes.溪流用水坝拦挡起来,形成了装饰性的湖泊。 The ornamental ironwork lends a touch of elegance to the house.铁艺饰件为房子略添雅致。

50 annoyance
n.恼怒，生气，烦恼
参考例句：
Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？ I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

51 eldest
adj.最年长的，最年老的
参考例句：
The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。 The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

52 shrugs
n.耸肩（以表示冷淡，怀疑等）( shrug的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Hungarian Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany shrugs off this criticism. 匈牙利总理久尔恰尼对这个批评不以为然。 来自互联网 She shrugs expressively and takes a sip of her latte. 她表达地耸肩而且拿她的拿铁的啜饮。 来自互联网

53 repenting
对（自己的所为）感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He was repenting rapidly. 他很快就后悔了。 Repenting of his crime the thief returned the jewels and confessed to the police. 那贼对自己的罪行痛悔不已；归还了珠宝并向警方坦白。

54 repentant
adj.对…感到悔恨的
参考例句：
He was repentant when he saw what he'd done.他看到自己的作为，心里悔恨。 I'll be meek under their coldness and repentant of my evil ways.我愿意乖乖地忍受她们的奚落，忏悔我过去的恶行。

55 wagering
v.在（某物）上赌钱，打赌( wager的现在分词 )；保证，担保
参考例句：
Generally, wagering contracts are illegal and will not be enforced. 通常情况下，赌博性合同是无效的并且不能执行。 来自互联网

56 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。

57 beads
n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链
参考例句：
a necklace of wooden beads 一条木珠项链 Beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. 他的前额上挂着汗珠。

58 abacus
n.算盘
参考例句：
They also learned to use the abacus.他们还学习珠算。 The abacus is the ancestor of the modern computer.算盘是现代电脑的原型。

59 relentlessly
adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断
参考例句：
The African sun beat relentlessly down on his aching head. 非洲的太阳无情地照射在他那发痛的头上。 He pursued her relentlessly, refusing to take 'no' for an answer. 他锲而不舍地追求她，拒不接受“不”的回答。

60 banishes
v.放逐，驱逐( banish的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
Work banishes those three great evils: boredom, vice, and poverty.(Voltaire, French philosopher) 工作撵跑三个魔鬼：无聊、堕落和贫穷。（法国哲学家伏尔基泰） 来自互联网 The Consumer: It Banishes Uterine Fibroids, but for How Long? 消费者：它驱逐子宫的纤维瘤，但是为多久？ 来自互联网

61 assassinated
v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏
参考例句：
The prime minister was assassinated by extremists. 首相遭极端分子暗杀。 Then, just two days later, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. 跟着在两天以后，肯尼迪总统在达拉斯被人暗杀。 来自辞典例句

62 smitten
猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 )
参考例句：
From the moment they met, he was completely smitten by her. 从一见面的那一刻起，他就完全被她迷住了。 It was easy to see why she was smitten with him. 她很容易看出为何她为他倾倒。

63 contrition
n.悔罪，痛悔
参考例句：
The next day he'd be full of contrition,weeping and begging forgiveness.第二天，他就会懊悔不已，哭着乞求原谅。 She forgave him because his contrition was real.她原谅了他是由于他的懊悔是真心的。