New Year’s Day was cloudless. There is joy inside the humblest of hedges as the grass begins to come green among patches of snow and there is a mist of green on the trees while the mists in the air tell of the advent¹ of spring. There was great joy in the jeweled precincts of Genji’s Rokujō mansion², where every detail of the gardens was a pleasure and the ladies’ apartments were perfection.

The garden of Murasaki’s southeast quarter was now the most beautiful. The scent³ of plum blossoms, wafting⁴ in on the breeze and blending with the perfumes inside, made one think that paradise had come down to earth. Murasaki may have had her small worries, but she lived in peace and security. She had assigned the prettier of her young women to the service of Genji’s little daughter, and kept in her own service older women whose beauty was in fact of a statelier sort and who were extremely particular about their dress and grooming⁵. They were gathered in little groups, helping⁶ the New Year with its “teething,” taking New Year’s cakes, and otherwise welcoming another year of the thousand which they laughingly appropriated for themselves. Genji came in. They had been caught with their ribbons undone⁷, so to speak, and they quickly brought themselves to order.

“And are all these congratulations for me?” He smiled. “But you must have little wishes of your own. Tell me what they are, and I will then think of some that you forgot.” He seemed the very incarnation of New Year gladness.

Chūjō thought herself privileged to speak. “Assured by the mirror cake that ten centuries are in store for your august lordship, how should I think of anything for myself?”

All morning, callers streamed in and out of the Rokujō mansion. Genji dressed with great care for a round of calls upon his ladies. One would not have easily wearied of looking at him when his preparations were finished. “Your women were having such a good time that they made me

点击收听单词发音  

1 advent
n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临
参考例句：
Swallows come by groups at the advent of spring. 春天来临时燕子成群飞来。 The advent of the Euro will redefine Europe.欧元的出现将重新定义欧洲。

2 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。

3 scent
n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉
参考例句：
The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。 The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

4 wafting
v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的现在分词 )
参考例句：
But that gentle fragrance was clearly wafting from the window. 但那股淡淡的香气，却分明是从母亲的窗户溢出的。 来自互联网 The picture-like XueGuo, wafting dense flavor of Japan, gives us a kind of artistic enjoyment. 画一般的雪国，飘溢着浓郁的日本风情，给人以美的享受。 来自互联网

5 grooming
n. 修饰, 美容，（动物）梳理毛发
参考例句：
You should always pay attention to personal grooming. 你应随时注意个人仪容。 We watched two apes grooming each other. 我们看两只猩猩在互相理毛。

6 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。

7 undone
a.未做完的，未完成的
参考例句：
He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。

8 envious
adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的
参考例句：
I don't think I'm envious of your success.我想我并不嫉妒你的成功。 She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。

9 seedling
n.秧苗，树苗
参考例句：
She cut down the seedling with one chop.她一刀就把小苗砍倒了。 The seedling are coming up full and green.苗长得茁壮碧绿。

10 intoxicated
喝醉的，极其兴奋的
参考例句：
She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。 They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉，东南西北全然不辨。

11 delicacies
n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到
参考例句：
Its flesh has exceptional delicacies. 它的肉异常鲜美。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 After these delicacies, the trappers were ready for their feast. 在享用了这些美食之后，狩猎者开始其大餐。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗

12 begrudge
vt.吝啬，羡慕
参考例句：
I begrudge spending so much money on train fares.我舍不得把这么多钱花在火车票上。 We should not begrudge our neighbour's richness.我们不应该嫉妒邻人的富有。

13 jotted
v.匆忙记下( jot的过去式和过去分词 )；草草记下，匆匆记下
参考例句：
I jotted down her name. 我匆忙记下了她的名字。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The policeman jotted down my address. 警察匆匆地将我的地址记下。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

14 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。

15 azure
adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的
参考例句：
His eyes are azure.他的眼睛是天蓝色的。 The sun shone out of a clear azure sky.清朗蔚蓝的天空中阳光明媚。

16 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。

17 retinue
n.侍从；随员
参考例句：
The duchess arrived,surrounded by her retinue of servants.公爵夫人在大批随从人马的簇拥下到达了。 The king's retinue accompanied him on the journey.国王的侍从在旅途上陪伴着他。

18 elegance
n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙
参考例句：
The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。 John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。

19 sparse
adj.稀疏的，稀稀落落的，薄的
参考例句：
The teacher's house is in the suburb where the houses are sparse.老师的家在郊区，那里稀稀拉拉有几处房子。 The sparse vegetation will only feed a small population of animals.稀疏的植物只够喂养少量的动物。

20 cozy
adj.亲如手足的，密切的，暖和舒服的
参考例句：
I like blankets because they are cozy.我喜欢毛毯，因为他们是舒适的。 We spent a cozy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。

21 incenses
香( incense的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Cruelty incenses kind people. 残忍行为使心地善良的人们愤怒。 Incense and Agarbatti, Incenses, Masks, Canes, Oil Incense and Agarbatti. 采购产品香和香脂，香，面具，手杖，油香和香脂。

22 mingled
混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]
参考例句：
The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。 The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。

23 scattered
adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的
参考例句：
Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

24 pretense
n.矫饰，做作，借口
参考例句：
You can't keep up the pretense any longer.你无法继续伪装下去了。 Pretense invariably impresses only the pretender.弄虚作假欺骗不了真正的行家。

25 imposture
n.冒名顶替，欺骗
参考例句：
Soiled by her imposture she remains silent.她背着冒名顶替者的黑锅却一直沉默。 If they knew,they would see through his imposture straight away.要是他们知道，他们会立即识破他的招摇撞骗行为。

26 assertive
adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的
参考例句：
She always speaks an assertive tone.她总是以果断的语气说话。 China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years.在近些年，中国显示出对远方海洋的自信。

27 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

28 spasms
n.痉挛( spasm的名词复数 )；抽搐；（能量、行为等的）突发；发作
参考例句：
After the patient received acupuncture treatment,his spasms eased off somewhat. 病人接受针刺治疗后，痉挛稍微减轻了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The smile died, squeezed out by spasms of anticipation and anxiety. 一阵阵预测和焦虑把她脸上的微笑挤掉了。 来自辞典例句

29 jealousy
n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌
参考例句：
Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。 I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。

30 dozed
v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He boozed till daylight and dozed into the afternoon. 他喝了个通霄，昏沉沉地一直睡到下午。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 I dozed off during the soporific music. 我听到这催人入睡的音乐，便不知不觉打起盹儿来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

31 ingenuous
adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的
参考例句：
Only the most ingenuous person would believe such a weak excuse!只有最天真的人才会相信这么一个站不住脚的借口！ With ingenuous sincerity,he captivated his audience.他以自己的率真迷住了观众。

32 confrontation
n.对抗，对峙，冲突
参考例句：
We can't risk another confrontation with the union.我们不能冒再次同工会对抗的危险。 After years of confrontation,they finally have achieved a modus vivendi.在对抗很长时间后，他们最后达成安宁生存的非正式协议。

33 lavish
adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍
参考例句：
He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。 The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

34 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。

35 coaxed
v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱
参考例句：
She coaxed the horse into coming a little closer. 她哄着那匹马让它再靠近了一点。 I coaxed my sister into taking me to the theatre. 我用好话哄姐姐带我去看戏。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

36 veranda
n.走廊；阳台
参考例句：
She sat in the shade on the veranda.她坐在阳台上的遮荫处。 They were strolling up and down the veranda.他们在走廊上来回徜徉。

37 climax
n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点
参考例句：
The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。 His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

38 lodge
v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆
参考例句：
Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？ I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

39 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。

40 connoisseur
n.鉴赏家，行家，内行
参考例句：
Only the real connoisseur could tell the difference between these two wines.只有真正的内行才能指出这两种酒的区别。 We are looking for a connoisseur of French champagne.我们想找一位法国香槟酒品酒专家。

41 distraction
n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐
参考例句：
Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。 Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

42 trickle
vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散
参考例句：
The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。 The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

43 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》

44 rustled
v.发出沙沙的声音( rustle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He rustled his papers. 他把试卷弄得沙沙地响。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Leaves rustled gently in the breeze. 树叶迎着微风沙沙作响。 来自《简明英汉词典》

45 aglow
adj.发亮的；发红的；adv.发亮地
参考例句：
The garden is aglow with many flowers.园中百花盛开。 The sky was aglow with the setting sun.天空因夕阳映照而发红光。

46 densest
密集的( dense的最高级 )； 密度大的； 愚笨的； （信息量大得）难理解的
参考例句：
Past Botoi some of the densest jungle forests on Anopopei grew virtually into the water. 过了坊远湾，岛上的莽莽丛林便几乎直长到水中。 Earth is the densest of all of these remaining planets. 地球是所剩下行星中最致密的星球。

47 rime
n.白霜；v.使蒙霜
参考例句：
The field was covered with rime in the early morning.清晨地里覆盖着一层白霜。 Coleridge contributed the famous Rime of the Ancient Mariner.柯勒律治贡献了著名的《老水手之歌》。

48 chilly
adj.凉快的，寒冷的
参考例句：
I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。 I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

49 sable
n.黑貂；adj.黑色的
参考例句：
Artists' brushes are sometimes made of sable.画家的画笔有的是用貂毛制的。 Down the sable flood they glided.他们在黑黝黝的洪水中随波逐流。

50 deceptions
欺骗( deception的名词复数 )； 骗术，诡计
参考例句：
Nobody saw through Mary's deceptions. 无人看透玛丽的诡计。 There was for him only one trustworthy road through deceptions and mirages. 对他来说只有一条可靠的路能避开幻想和错觉。

51 obtuseness
感觉迟钝
参考例句：
Much of the contentment of that time was based on moral obtuseness. 对那个年代的满意是基于道德上的一种惰性。 来自互联网

52 warehouses
仓库，货栈( warehouse的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee. 威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。 Row upon row of newly built warehouses line the waterfront. 江岸新建的仓库鳞次栉比。

53 groves
树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The early sun shone serenely on embrowned groves and still green fields. 朝阳宁静地照耀着已经发黄的树丛和还是一片绿色的田地。 The trees grew more and more in groves and dotted with old yews. 那里的树木越来越多地长成了一簇簇的小丛林，还点缀着几棵老紫杉树。

54 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。

55 locust
n.蝗虫；洋槐，刺槐
参考例句：
A locust is a kind of destructive insect.蝗虫是一种害虫。 This illustration shows a vertical section through the locust.本图所示为蝗虫的纵剖面。

56 scrolls
n.（常用于录写正式文件的）纸卷( scroll的名词复数 )；卷轴；涡卷形（装饰）；卷形花纹v.（电脑屏幕上）从上到下移动（资料等），卷页( scroll的第三人称单数 )；（似卷轴般）卷起；（像展开卷轴般地）将文字显示于屏幕
参考例句：
Either turn it off or only pick up selected stuff like wands, rings and scrolls. 把他关掉然后只捡你需要的物品，像是魔杖(wand)，戒指(rings)和滚动条(scrolls)。 来自互联网 Ancient scrolls were found in caves by the Dead Sea. 死海旁边的山洞里发现了古代的卷轴。 来自辞典例句

57 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。

58 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。

59 lamentable
adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的
参考例句：
This lamentable state of affairs lasted until 1947.这一令人遗憾的事态一直持续至1947年。 His practice of inebriation was lamentable.他的酗酒常闹得别人束手无策。

60 serene
adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的
参考例句：
He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。 He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多，只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。

61 negligent
adj.疏忽的；玩忽的；粗心大意的
参考例句：
The committee heard that he had been negligent in his duty.委员会听说他玩忽职守。 If the government is proved negligent,compensation will be payable.如果证明是政府的疏忽，就应支付赔偿。

62 courteously
adv.有礼貌地，亲切地
参考例句：
He courteously opened the door for me.他谦恭有礼地为我开门。 Presently he rose courteously and released her.过了一会，他就很客气地站起来，让她走开。

63 haughty
adj.傲慢的，高傲的
参考例句：
He gave me a haughty look and walked away.他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。 They were displeased with her haughty airs.他们讨厌她高傲的派头。

64 retired
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。 Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

65 weirdly
古怪地
参考例句：
Another special characteristic of Kweilin is its weirdly-shaped mountain grottoes. 桂林的另一特点是其形态怪异的岩洞。 The country was weirdly transformed. 地势古怪地变了样。

66 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。

67 refreshments
n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待
参考例句：
We have to make a small charge for refreshments. 我们得收取少量茶点费。 Light refreshments will be served during the break. 中间休息时有点心供应。

68 intrude
vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰
参考例句：
I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。 I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。

69 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。

70 tapestry
n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面
参考例句：
How about this artistic tapestry and this cloisonne vase?这件艺术挂毯和这个景泰蓝花瓶怎么样？ The wall of my living room was hung with a tapestry.我的起居室的墙上挂着一块壁毯。

71 haze
n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊
参考例句：
I couldn't see her through the haze of smoke.在烟雾弥漫中，我看不见她。 He often lives in a haze of whisky.他常常是在威士忌的懵懂醉意中度过的。

72 munificence
n.宽宏大量，慷慨给与
参考例句：
He is kindness and munificence by nature. 他天生既仁慈又宽宏大量。 来自辞典例句 He is not only kindness but also munificence. 他天生既仁慈又宽宏大量。 来自互联网

73 dispersed
adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的
参考例句：
The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。 After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

74 Undid
v. 解开, 复原
参考例句：
The officer undid the flap of his holster and drew his gun. 军官打开枪套盖拔出了手枪。 He did wrong, and in the end his wrongs undid him. 行恶者终以其恶毁其身。

75 tuned
adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调
参考例句：
The resort is tuned in to the tastes of young and old alike. 这个度假胜地适合各种口味，老少皆宜。 The instruments should be tuned up before each performance. 每次演出开始前都应将乐器调好音。 来自《简明英汉词典》