THE most solemn day amongst all the days of our life is the day on which we die；it is the last day，the holy，great day of transformation．Have you really，seri-ously thought over this mighty，certain，last hour here on earth？There was a man，a strict believer，as he was called，a warrior¹ of the Word，which was for him a law，a zealous² servant of a zealous God．Death stood now by his bed，Death with the austere，heavenly countenance．

“The hour has come，you must follow me，” said Death，and with his ice－cold finger he touched his feet，and they turned cold as ice．Death touched his forehead，then his heart，and with that it burst，and the soul fol－lowed the Angel of Death．But in the few seconds before，between the consecration³ from foot to forehead and heart，all that life had brought and created went like great，heavy waves of the sea over the dying man．

In that way one sees with a single glance down into the giddy depths，and comprehends in a flash of thought the immeasurable way；thus one sees with a single glance，as a single whole，the countless⁴ myriads⁵ of stars，and discerns spheres and worlds in the vastness of space．In such a moment the terrified sinner trembles and has nothing to lean upon；it is as if he sank down into an emptiness without end．But the pious⁶ one leans his head on God and gives himself up，like a child， to“They will be done．”

But this dying man had not the child－like mind，he felt he was a man；he did not tremble like the sinner， he knew he was a true beliver．He had kept to the forms of religion in all their strictness；millions he knew must go the broad way to destruction；with sword and with fire he could have destroyed their bodies here，as their souls were already destroyed and always would be；his way was now towards Heaven，where Mercy opened the gate for him，the promised mercy．

And the soul went with the Angel of Death，but yet once he looked back to the couch where the earthly form lay in its white shroud，a strange image of its“I”——and they flew，and they went——it seemed as in a vast hall and yet as in a wood：Nature was pruned，

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1 warrior
n.勇士，武士，斗士
参考例句：
The young man is a bold warrior.这个年轻人是个很英勇的武士。 A true warrior values glory and honor above life.一个真正的勇士珍视荣誉胜过生命。

2 zealous
adj.狂热的，热心的
参考例句：
She made zealous efforts to clean up the classroom.她非常热心地努力清扫教室。 She is a zealous supporter of our cause.她是我们事业的热心支持者。

3 consecration
n.供献，奉献，献祭仪式
参考例句：
"What we did had a consecration of its own. “我们的所作所为其本身是一种神圣的贡献。 来自英汉文学 - 红字 If you do add Consecration or healing, your mana drop down lower. 如果你用了奉献或者治疗，你的蓝将会慢慢下降。 来自互联网

4 countless
adj.无数的，多得不计其数的
参考例句：
In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。 I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

5 myriads
n.无数，极大数量( myriad的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Each galaxy contains myriads of stars. 每一星系都有无数的恒星。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The sky was set with myriads of stars. 无数星星点缀着夜空。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6 pious
adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的
参考例句：
Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。 Her mother was a pious Christian.她母亲是一个虔诚的基督教徒。

7 drawn
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。

8 mightiest
adj.趾高气扬( mighty的最高级 )；巨大的；强有力的；浩瀚的
参考例句：
\"If thou fearest to leave me in our cottage, thou mightiest take me along with thee. “要是你害怕把我一个人留在咱们的小屋里，你可以带我一块儿去那儿嘛。 来自英汉文学 - 红字 Silent though is, after all, the mightiest agent in human affairs. 确实，沉默毕竟是人类事件中最强大的代理人。 来自互联网

9 velvet
n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的
参考例句：
This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。 The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。

10 insignificant
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。

11 concealed
a.隐藏的，隐蔽的
参考例句：
The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。 I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

12 tugged
v.用力拉，使劲拉，猛扯( tug的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. 她拽了拽他的袖子引起他的注意。 A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 他的嘴角带一丝苦笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 hopped
跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花
参考例句：
He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。 He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车，向市区开去。

14 pointed
adj.尖的，直截了当的
参考例句：
He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。 She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

15 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。

16 horridly
可怕地，讨厌地
参考例句：

17 horrid
adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的
参考例句：
I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。 The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃，她咽不下去。

18 shrieked
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。 Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫，陆子潇尖声叫：“告诉什么？ 来自汉英文学 - 围城

19 hovered
鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫
参考例句：
A hawk hovered over the hill. 一只鹰在小山的上空翱翔。 A hawk hovered in the blue sky. 一只老鹰在蓝色的天空中翱翔。

20 withered
adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式
参考例句：
The grass had withered in the warm sun. 这些草在温暖的阳光下枯死了。 The leaves of this tree have become dry and withered. 这棵树下的叶子干枯了。

21 strictly
adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地
参考例句：
His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。 The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

22 humbled
adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低
参考例句：
The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。 I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

23 persecuted
（尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人
参考例句：
Throughout history, people have been persecuted for their religious beliefs. 人们因宗教信仰而受迫害的情况贯穿了整个历史。 Members of these sects are ruthlessly persecuted and suppressed. 这些教派的成员遭到了残酷的迫害和镇压。

24 everlasting
adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的
参考例句：
These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。 He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。