How Gripe-men-all propounded¹ a riddle² to us.

When we were sat, Gripe-men-all, in the middle of his furred cats, called to us in a hoarse³ dreadful voice, Well, come on, give me presently — an answer. Well, come on, muttered Panurge between his teeth, give, give me presently — a comforting dram. Hearken to the court, continued Gripe-men-all.
An Enigma⁴.

A young tight thing, as fair as may be,

Without a dad conceived a baby,

And brought him forth⁵ without the pother

In labour made by teeming⁶ mother.

Yet the cursed brat⁷ feared not to gripe her,

But gnawed⁸, for haste, her sides like viper¹⁰.

Then the black upstart boldly sallies,

And walks and flies o’er hills and valleys.

Many fantastic sons of wisdom,

Amazed, foresaw their own in his doom¹¹;

And thought like an old Grecian noddy,

A human spirit moved his body.

Give, give me out of hand — an answer to this riddle, quoth Gripe-men-all. Give, give me — leave to tell you, good, good my lord, answered Panurge, that if I had but a sphinx at home, as Verres one of your precursors¹² had, I might then solve your enigma presently. But verily, good my lord, I was not there; and, as I hope to be saved, am as innocent in the matter as the child unborn. Foh, give me — a better answer, cried Gripe-men-all; or, by gold, this shall not serve your turn. I’ll not be paid in such coin; if you have nothing better to offer, I’ll let your rascalship know that it had been better for you to have fallen into Lucifer’s own clutches than into ours. Dost thou see ‘em here, sirrah? hah? and dost thou

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1 propounded
v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
the theory of natural selection, first propounded by Charles Darwin 查尔斯∙达尔文首先提出的物竞天择理论 Indeed it was first propounded by the ubiquitous Thomas Young. 实际上，它是由尽人皆知的杨氏首先提出来的。 来自辞典例句

2 riddle
n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜
参考例句：
The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。 Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。

3 hoarse
adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的
参考例句：
He asked me a question in a hoarse voice.他用嘶哑的声音问了我一个问题。 He was too excited and roared himself hoarse.他过于激动，嗓子都喊哑了。

4 enigma
n.谜，谜一样的人或事
参考例句：
I've known him for many years,but he remains something of an enigma to me.我与他相识多年，他仍然难以捉摸。 Even after all the testimonies,the murder remained a enigma.即使听完了所有的证词，这件谋杀案仍然是一个谜。

5 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。

6 teeming
adj.丰富的v.充满( teem的现在分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注
参考例句：
The rain was teeming down. 大雨倾盆而下。 the teeming streets of the city 熙熙攘攘的城市街道

7 brat
n.孩子；顽童
参考例句：
He's a spoilt brat.他是一个被宠坏了的调皮孩子。 The brat sicked his dog on the passer-by.那个顽童纵狗去咬过路人。

8 gnawed
咬( gnaw的过去式和过去分词 )； （长时间） 折磨某人； （使）苦恼； （长时间）危害某事物
参考例句：
His attitude towards her gnawed away at her confidence. 他对她的态度一直在削弱她的自尊心。 The root of this dead tree has been gnawed away by ants. 这棵死树根被蚂蚁唼了。

9 wed
v.娶，嫁，与…结婚
参考例句：
The couple eventually wed after three year engagement.这对夫妇在订婚三年后终于结婚了。 The prince was very determined to wed one of the king's daughters.王子下定决心要娶国王的其中一位女儿。

10 viper
n.毒蛇；危险的人
参考例句：
Envy lucks at the bottom of the human heart a viper in its hole.嫉妒潜伏在人心底，如同毒蛇潜伏在穴中。 Be careful of that viper;he is dangerous.小心那个阴险的人，他很危险。

11 doom
n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定
参考例句：
The report on our economic situation is full of doom and gloom.这份关于我们经济状况的报告充满了令人绝望和沮丧的调子。 The dictator met his doom after ten years of rule.独裁者统治了十年终于完蛋了。

12 precursors
n.先驱( precursor的名词复数 )；先行者；先兆；初期形式
参考例句：
Phenyl (or polyphenyl) substituted epoxides serve as excellent precursors to phenyl (or diphenyl) carbenes. 某些苯代（或多苯）环氧乙烷是制取带苯环（或二苯）碳烯的极好原料。 来自辞典例句 Note the presence of megakaryocytes, erythroid islands, and granulocytic precursors. 可见巨核细胞，红细胞岛和粒细胞前体细胞。 来自互联网

13 prate
v.瞎扯，胡说
参考例句：
Listen to him prating on about nothing.听他瞎唠叨。 If the hen does not prate,she will not lay.母鸡不唠叨不下蛋。

14 tyrants
专制统治者( tyrant的名词复数 )； 暴君似的人； （古希腊的）僭主； 严酷的事物
参考例句：
The country was ruled by a succession of tyrants. 这个国家接连遭受暴君的统治。 The people suffered under foreign tyrants. 人民在异族暴君的统治下受苦受难。

15 meddling
v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )
参考例句：
He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句 They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

16 paltry
adj.无价值的，微不足道的
参考例句：
The parents had little interest in paltry domestic concerns.那些家长对家里鸡毛蒜皮的小事没什么兴趣。 I'm getting angry;and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours.我要生气了，如果你不能振作你那点元气。

17 wretches
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 )；可怜的人；恶棍；坏蛋
参考例句：
The little wretches were all bedraggledfrom some roguery. 小淘气们由于恶作剧而弄得脏乎乎的。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 The best courage for us poor wretches is to fly from danger. 对我们这些可怜虫说来，最好的出路还是躲避危险。 来自辞典例句

18 amends
n. 赔偿
参考例句：
He made amends for his rudeness by giving her some flowers. 他送给她一些花，为他自己的鲁莽赔罪。 This country refuses stubbornly to make amends for its past war crimes. 该国顽固地拒绝为其过去的战争罪行赔罪。

19 saucy
adj.无礼的；俊俏的；活泼的
参考例句：
He was saucy and mischievous when he was working.他工作时总爱调皮捣蛋。 It was saucy of you to contradict your father.你顶撞父亲，真是无礼。

20 reigned
vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式）
参考例句：
Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静，一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

21 impudence
n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼
参考例句：
His impudence provoked her into slapping his face.他的粗暴让她气愤地给了他一耳光。 What knocks me is his impudence.他的厚颜无耻使我感到吃惊。

22 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。

23 wilderness
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠
参考例句：
She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。 Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

24 wrangling
v.争吵，争论，口角( wrangle的现在分词 )
参考例句：
The two sides have spent most of their time wrangling over procedural problems. 双方大部分时间都在围绕程序问题争论不休。 来自辞典例句 The children were wrangling (with each other) over the new toy. 孩子为新玩具（互相）争吵。 来自辞典例句

25 bawling
v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物）
参考例句：
We heard the dulcet tones of the sergeant, bawling at us to get on parade. 我们听到中士用“悦耳”的声音向我们大喊，让我们跟上队伍。 来自《简明英汉词典》 "Why are you bawling at me? “你向我们吼啥子？ 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

26 bawl
v.大喊大叫，大声地喊，咆哮
参考例句：
You don't have to bawl out like that. Eeverybody can hear you.你不必这样大声喊叫，大家都能听见你。 Your mother will bawl you out when she sees this mess.当你母亲看到这混乱的局面时她会责骂你的。

27 monk
n.和尚，僧侣，修道士
参考例句：
The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。 Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。