How Panurge consulteth with an old French poet, named Raminagrobis.

I never thought, said Pantagruel, to have encountered with any man so headstrong in his apprehensions¹, or in his opinions so wilful², as I have found you to be and see you are. Nevertheless, the better to clear and extricate³ your doubts, let us try all courses, and leave no stone unturned nor wind unsailed by. Take good heed⁴ to what I am to say unto you. The swans, which are fowls⁵ consecrated⁶ to Apollo, never chant but in the hour of their approaching death, especially in the Meander⁷ flood, which is a river that runneth along some of the territories of Phrygia. This I say, because Aelianus and Alexander Myndius write that they had seen several swans in other places die, but never heard any of them sing or chant before their death. However, it passeth for current that the imminent⁸ death of a swan is presaged⁹ by his foregoing song, and that no swan dieth until preallably he have sung.

After the same manner, poets, who are under the protection of Apollo, when they are drawing near their latter end do ordinarily become prophets, and by the inspiration of that god sing sweetly in vaticinating things which are to come. It hath been likewise told me frequently, that old decrepit¹⁰ men upon the brinks of Charon’s banks do usher¹¹ their decease with a disclosure all at ease, to those that are desirous of such informations, of the determinate and assured truth of future accidents and

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1 apprehensions
疑惧
参考例句：
He stood in a mixture of desire and apprehensions. 他怀着渴望和恐惧交加的心情伫立着。 But subsequent cases have removed many of these apprehensions. 然而，随后的案例又消除了许多类似的忧虑。

2 wilful
adj.任性的，故意的
参考例句：
A wilful fault has no excuse and deserves no pardon.不能宽恕故意犯下的错误。 He later accused reporters of wilful distortion and bias.他后来指责记者有意歪曲事实并带有偏见。

3 extricate
v.拯救，救出；解脱
参考例句：
How can we extricate the firm from this trouble?我们该如何承救公司脱离困境呢？ She found it impossible to extricate herself from the relationship.她发现不可能把自己从这种关系中解脱出来。

4 heed
v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心
参考例句：
You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。 For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

5 fowls
鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马
参考例句：
A great number of water fowls dwell on the island. 许多水鸟在岛上栖息。 We keep a few fowls and some goats. 我们养了几只鸡和一些山羊。

6 consecrated
adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献
参考例句：
The church was consecrated in 1853. 这座教堂于1853年祝圣。 They consecrated a temple to their god. 他们把庙奉献给神。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 meander
n.河流的曲折，漫步，迂回旅行；v.缓慢而弯曲地流动，漫谈
参考例句：
Visitors and locals alike meander along the sidewalks of the Seine River.游客与当地人沿着塞纳河岸漫步聊天。 They tumble down mountainsides and meander through flat farmlands.它们滚滚冲下山脊，蜿蜒穿过平坦的农田。

8 imminent
adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的
参考例句：
The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。 The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

9 presaged
v.预示，预兆( presage的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
This experience presaged my later return as CEA chairman in 2003. 这次的经历预示了我作为经济顾问理事会主席在2003年的回归。 来自互联网 He emphasized self-expression, the warm personal note presaged by C.P.E. Bach and Mozart. 他强调自我表现，这种热情的、带有个人色彩的表现足巴赫和莫扎特所预示过的。 来自互联网

10 decrepit
adj.衰老的，破旧的
参考例句：
The film had been shot in a decrepit old police station.该影片是在一所破旧不堪的警察局里拍摄的。 A decrepit old man sat on a park bench.一个衰弱的老人坐在公园的长凳上。

11 usher
n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员
参考例句：
The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。 They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

12 contingencies
n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一
参考例句：
We must consider all possible contingencies. 我们必须考虑一切可能发生的事。 We must be prepared for all contingencies. 我们要作好各种准备，以防意外。 来自辞典例句

13 pier
n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱
参考例句：
The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害，专家担心它已不能负重。 The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。

14 mariners
海员，水手（mariner的复数形式）
参考例句：
Mariners were also able to fix their latitude by using an instrument called astrolabe. 海员们还可使用星盘这种仪器确定纬度。 The ancient mariners traversed the sea. 古代的海员漂洋过海。

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 haven
n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所
参考例句：
It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。 The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

17 salute
vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮
参考例句：
Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。 The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

18 heartily
adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很
参考例句：
He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿，就出去找他的马。 The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手，热情地和我握手。

19 demons
n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念
参考例句：
demons torturing the sinners in Hell 地狱里折磨罪人的魔鬼 He is plagued by demons which go back to his traumatic childhood. 他为心魔所困扰，那可追溯至他饱受创伤的童年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 doctrine
n.教义；主义；学说
参考例句：
He was impelled to proclaim his doctrine.他不得不宣扬他的教义。 The council met to consider changes to doctrine.宗教议会开会考虑更改教义。

21 repose
v.(使)休息；n.安息
参考例句：
Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。 Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑，即使在睡眠时也是这样。

22 tranquillity
n. 平静, 安静
参考例句：
The phenomenon was so striking and disturbing that his philosophical tranquillity vanished. 这个令人惶惑不安的现象，扰乱了他的旷达宁静的心境。 My value for domestic tranquillity should much exceed theirs. 我应该远比他们重视家庭的平静生活。

23 solicitudes
n.关心，挂念，渴望( solicitude的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The partial solicitudes of 5th of article have gone to the installation problem of execution office. 在对执行权进行系统的阐述之后，文章的第五部分分析了执行机关的设置问题。 来自互联网

24 tempestuous
adj.狂暴的
参考例句：
She burst into a tempestuous fit of anger.她勃然大怒。 Dark and tempestuous was night.夜色深沉，狂风肆虐，暴雨倾盆。

25 alacrity
n.敏捷，轻快，乐意
参考例句：
Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老，动作仍很敏捷。 He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。

26 divination
n.占卜，预测
参考例句：
Divination is made up of a little error and superstition,plus a lot of fraud.占卜是由一些谬误和迷信构成，再加上大量的欺骗。 Katherine McCormack goes beyond horoscopes and provides a quick guide to other forms of divination.凯瑟琳·麦考马克超越了占星并给其它形式的预言提供了快速的指导。

27 renowned
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。

28 commemorate
vt.纪念，庆祝
参考例句：
This building was built to commemorate the Fire of London.这栋大楼是为纪念“伦敦大火”而兴建的。 We commemorate the founding of our nation with a public holiday.我们放假一日以庆祝国庆。

29 valiant
adj.勇敢的，英勇的；n.勇士，勇敢的人
参考例句：
He had the fame of being very valiant.他的勇敢是出名的。 Despite valiant efforts by the finance minister,inflation rose to 36%.尽管财政部部长采取了一系列果决措施，通货膨胀率还是涨到了36%。

30 knight
n.骑士，武士；爵士
参考例句：
He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。 A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

31 utterance
n.用言语表达，话语，言语
参考例句：
This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。 My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。

32 pithy
adj.(讲话或文章)简练的
参考例句：
Many of them made a point of praising the film's pithy dialogue.他们中很多人特别赞扬了影片精炼的对白。 His pithy comments knocked the bottom out of my argument.他精辟的评论驳倒了我的论点。

33 discourse
n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述
参考例句：
We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。 He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。

34 judgment
n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
参考例句：
The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。 He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

35 foretell
v.预言，预告，预示
参考例句：
Willow trees breaking out into buds foretell the coming of spring.柳枝绽青报春来。 The outcome of the war is hard to foretell.战争胜负难以预卜。

36 espoused
v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
They espoused the notion of equal opportunity for all in education. 他们赞同在教育方面人人机会均等的观念。 The ideas she espoused were incomprehensible to me. 她所支持的意见令我难以理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》

37 begot
v.为…之生父( beget的过去式 )；产生，引起
参考例句：
He begot three children. 他生了三个子女。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Cush also begot Nimrod who was the first man of might on earth. 卡什还生了尼姆罗德，尼姆罗德是世上第一个力大无穷的人。 来自辞典例句

38 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。

39 attentive
adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的
参考例句：
She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。 The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。

40 scruples
n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。 I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调

41 wilt
v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱
参考例句：
Golden roses do not wilt and will never need to be watered.金色的玫瑰不枯萎绝也不需要浇水。 Several sleepless nights made him wilt.数个不眠之夜使他憔悴。

42 poetical
adj.似诗人的；诗一般的；韵文的；富有诗意的
参考例句：
This is a poetical picture of the landscape. 这是一幅富有诗意的风景画。 来自《简明英汉词典》 John is making a periphrastic study in a worn-out poetical fashion. 约翰正在对陈腐的诗风做迂回冗长的研究。 来自辞典例句

43 albeit
conj.即使；纵使；虽然
参考例句：
Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。 Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。

44 countenance
n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同
参考例句：
At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。 I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

45 saluted
v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂
参考例句：
The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。 He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》

46 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。

47 oblation
n.圣餐式；祭品
参考例句：
Thinkers and poets throughout the ages have offered the courtesan the oblation of their mercy.各个时期的思想家和诗人都把仁慈的怜悯心奉献给娼家女子。 Each family has their own ancestor for oblation.谁家也不缺个祖宗来供奉。

48 crest
n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖
参考例句：
The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。 He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。

49 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。

50 vouchsafe
v.惠予，准许
参考例句：
Elinor would not vouchsafe any answer.埃莉诺不想给予任何回答。 Vouchsafe me a spirit of faith and knowledge.赐予我信心和一颗有知识的心灵。

51 touching
adj.动人的，使人感伤的
参考例句：
It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。 His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

52 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。

53 blot
vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍
参考例句：
That new factory is a blot on the landscape.那新建的工厂破坏了此地的景色。 The crime he committed is a blot on his record.他犯的罪是他的履历中的一个污点。

54 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。

55 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。

56 trot
n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧
参考例句：
They passed me at a trot.他们从我身边快步走过。 The horse broke into a brisk trot.马突然快步小跑起来。

57 gainsay
v.否认，反驳
参考例句：
She is a fine woman-that nobody can gainsay.她是个好女人无人能否认。 No one will gainsay his integrity.没有人对他的正直有话可讲。

58 guardian
n.监护人；守卫者，保护者
参考例句：
The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。 The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。

59 disquiet
n.担心，焦虑
参考例句：
The disquiet will boil over in the long run.这种不安情绪终有一天会爆发的。 Her disquiet made us uneasy too.她的忧虑使我们也很不安。

60 whatsoever
adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么
参考例句：
There's no reason whatsoever to turn down this suggestion.没有任何理由拒绝这个建议。 All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,do ye even so to them.你想别人对你怎样，你就怎样对人。

61 toil
vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事
参考例句：
The wealth comes from the toil of the masses.财富来自大众的辛勤劳动。 Every single grain is the result of toil.每一粒粮食都来之不易。

62 rabble
n.乌合之众，暴民；下等人
参考例句：
They formed an army out of rabble.他们用乌合之众组成一支军队。 Poverty in itself does not make men into a rabble.贫困自身并不能使人成为贱民。

63 filthy
adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的
参考例句：
The whole river has been fouled up with filthy waste from factories.整条河都被工厂的污秽废物污染了。 You really should throw out that filthy old sofa and get a new one.你真的应该扔掉那张肮脏的旧沙发，然后再去买张新的。

64 foul
adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规
参考例句：
Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。 What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！

65 hues
色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点
参考例句：
When the sun rose a hundred prismatic hues were reflected from it. 太阳一出，更把它映得千变万化、异彩缤纷。 Where maple trees grow, the leaves are often several brilliant hues of red. 在枫树生长的地方，枫叶常常呈现出数种光彩夺目的红色。

66 obtrusive
adj.显眼的；冒失的
参考例句：
These heaters are less obtrusive and are easy to store away in the summer.这些加热器没那么碍眼，夏天收起来也很方便。 The factory is an obtrusive eyesore.这工厂很刺眼。

67 importunity
n.硬要，强求
参考例句：
They got only blushes, ejaculations, tremors, and titters, in return for their importunity. 她们只是用脸红、惊叫、颤抖和傻笑来回答他们的要求。 来自辞典例句 His importunity left me no alternative but to agree. 他的强硬要求让我只能答应而没有别的选择。 来自互联网

68 ravenous
adj.极饿的，贪婪的
参考例句：
The ravenous children ate everything on the table.饿极了的孩子把桌上所有东西吃掉了。 Most infants have a ravenous appetite.大多数婴儿胃口极好。

69 acquiesce
vi.默许，顺从，同意
参考例句：
Her parents will never acquiesce in such an unsuitable marriage.她的父母决不会答应这门不相宜的婚事。 He is so independent that he will never acquiesce.他很有主见，所以绝不会顺从。

70 immortality
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。

71 eschew
v.避开，戒绝
参考例句：
Eschew fattening foods if you want to lose weight.你如想减肥，就不要吃致肥的食物。 Good kid should eschew bad company.好孩子应避免交坏朋友。

72 beseech
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。