When autumn nights were long and drear, And forest walks were dark and dim, How sweetly on the pilgrim's ear Was wont¹ to steal the hermit²'s hymn³

Devotion borrows Music's tone, And Music took Devotion's wing; And, like the bird that hails the sun, They soar to heaven, and soaring sing. The Hermit of St Clement's Well

It was after three hours' good walking that the servants of Cedric, with their mysterious guide, arrived at a small opening in the forest, in the centre of which grew an oak-tree of enormous magnitude, throwing its twisted branches in every direction. Beneath this tree four or five yeomen lay stretched on the ground, while another, as sentinel, walked to and fro in the moonlight shade.

Upon hearing the sound of feet approaching, the watch instantly gave the alarm, and the sleepers⁴ as suddenly started up and bent⁵ their bows. Six arrows placed on the string were pointed⁶ towards the quarter from which the travellers approached, when their guide, being recognised, was welcomed with every token of respect and attachment⁸, and all signs and fears of a rough reception at once subsided⁹.

"Where is the Miller¹⁰?" was his first question.

"On the road towards Rotherham."

"With how many?" demanded the leader, for such he seemed to be.

"With six men, and good hope of booty, if it please St Nicholas."

"Devoutly¹¹ spoken," said Locksley; "and where is Allan-a-Dale?"

"Walked up towards the Watling-street, to watch for the Prior of Jorvaulx."

点击收听单词发音  

1 wont
adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯
参考例句：
He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。 It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

2 hermit
n.隐士，修道者；隐居
参考例句：
He became a hermit after he was dismissed from office.他被解职后成了隐士。 Chinese ancient landscape poetry was in natural connections with hermit culture.中国古代山水诗与隐士文化有着天然联系。

3 hymn
n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌
参考例句：
They sang a hymn of praise to God.他们唱着圣歌，赞美上帝。 The choir has sung only two verses of the last hymn.合唱团只唱了最后一首赞美诗的两个段落。

4 sleepers
n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环
参考例句：
He trod quietly so as not to disturb the sleepers. 他轻移脚步，以免吵醒睡着的人。 来自辞典例句 The nurse was out, and we two sleepers were alone. 保姆出去了，只剩下我们两个瞌睡虫。 来自辞典例句

5 bent
n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的
参考例句：
He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。 We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

6 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。

7 ward
n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开
参考例句：
The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。 During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

8 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。

9 subsided
v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上
参考例句：
After the heavy rains part of the road subsided. 大雨过后，部分公路塌陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 By evening the storm had subsided and all was quiet again. 傍晚， 暴风雨已经过去，四周开始沉寂下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

10 miller
n.磨坊主
参考例句：
Every miller draws water to his own mill.磨坊主都往自己磨里注水。 The skilful miller killed millions of lions with his ski.技术娴熟的磨坊主用雪橇杀死了上百万头狮子。

11 devoutly
adv.虔诚地，虔敬地，衷心地
参考例句：
She was a devoutly Catholic. 她是一个虔诚地天主教徒。 来自《简明英汉词典》 This was not a boast, but a hope, at once bold and devoutly humble. 这不是夸夸其谈，而是一个即大胆而又诚心、谦虚的希望。 来自辞典例句

12 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。

13 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。

14 disperse
vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散
参考例句：
The cattle were swinging their tails to disperse the flies.那些牛甩动着尾巴驱赶苍蝇。 The children disperse for the holidays.孩子们放假了。

15 guise
n.外表，伪装的姿态
参考例句：
They got into the school in the guise of inspectors.他们假装成视察员进了学校。 The thief came into the house under the guise of a repairman.那小偷扮成个修理匠进了屋子。

16 implicit
a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的
参考例句：
A soldier must give implicit obedience to his officers. 士兵必须绝对服从他的长官。 Her silence gave implicit consent. 她的沉默表示默许。

17 obedience
n.服从，顺从
参考例句：
Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。 Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

18 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。

19 chapel
n.小教堂，殡仪馆
参考例句：
The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。 She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

20 glade
n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地
参考例句：
In the midst of a glade were several huts.林中的空地中间有几间小木屋。 The family had their lunch in the glade.全家在林中的空地上吃了午饭。

21 ascetic
adj.禁欲的；严肃的
参考例句：
The hermit followed an ascetic life-style.这个隐士过的是苦行生活。 This is achieved by strict celibacy and ascetic practices.这要通过严厉的独身生活和禁欲修行而达到。

22 bully
n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮
参考例句：
A bully is always a coward.暴汉常是懦夫。 The boy gave the bully a pelt on the back with a pebble.那男孩用石子掷击小流氓的背脊。

23 knave
n.流氓；（纸牌中的）杰克
参考例句：
Better be a fool than a knave.宁做傻瓜，不做无赖。 Once a knave,ever a knave.一次成无赖，永远是无赖。

24 benighted
adj.蒙昧的
参考例句：
Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened,heed only one side and you will be benighted.兼听则明，偏信则暗。 Famine hit that benighted country once more.饥荒再次席卷了那个蒙昧的国家。

25 sluggard
n.懒人；adj.懒惰的
参考例句：
I will not,like a sluggard,wear out my youth in idleness at home.我不愿意象个懒人一样待在家里，游手好闲地把我的青春消磨掉。 Seryozhka is a sluggard.谢辽日卡是个懒汉，酒鬼。

26 malignant
adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的
参考例句：
Alexander got a malignant slander.亚历山大受到恶意的诽谤。 He started to his feet with a malignant glance at Winston.他爬了起来，不高兴地看了温斯顿一眼。

27 construe
v.翻译，解释
参考例句：
He had tried to construe a passage from Homer.他曾尝试注释荷马著作的一段文字。 You can construe what he said in a number of different ways.他的话可以有好几种解释。

28 hospitable
adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的
参考例句：
The man is very hospitable.He keeps open house for his friends and fellow-workers.那人十分好客，无论是他的朋友还是同事，他都盛情接待。 The locals are hospitable and welcoming.当地人热情好客。

29 refreshment
n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点
参考例句：
He needs to stop fairly often for refreshment.他须时不时地停下来喘口气。 A hot bath is a great refreshment after a day's work.在一天工作之后洗个热水澡真是舒畅。

30 vices
缺陷( vice的名词复数 )； 恶习； 不道德行为； 台钳
参考例句：
In spite of his vices, he was loved by all. 尽管他有缺点，还是受到大家的爱戴。 He vituperated from the pulpit the vices of the court. 他在教堂的讲坛上责骂宫廷的罪恶。

31 disposition
n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署
参考例句：
He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。 He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

32 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。

33 chastising
v.严惩（某人）（尤指责打）( chastise的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Jo was chastising his teddy bear in the living room. 乔在起居室里严厉地惩罚他的玩具小狗熊。 来自辞典例句

34 barefaced
adj.厚颜无耻的，公然的
参考例句：
It's barefaced robbery asking such a high price for that old bicycle!那辆旧自行车要价如此之高真是无耻的敲诈。 What barefaced cheek!真是厚颜无耻！

35 pate
n.头顶；光顶
参考例句：
The few strands of white hair at the back of his gourd-like pate also quivered.他那长在半个葫芦样的头上的白发，也随着笑声一齐抖动着。 He removed his hat to reveal a glowing bald pate.他脱下帽子，露出了发亮的光头。

36 tune
n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整
参考例句：
He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。 The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。

37 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。

38 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。

39 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。

40 undo
vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销
参考例句：
His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。 I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。

41 disturbance
n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调
参考例句：
He is suffering an emotional disturbance.他的情绪受到了困扰。 You can work in here without any disturbance.在这儿你可不受任何干扰地工作。

42 whined
v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 )；哀诉，诉怨
参考例句：
The dog whined at the door, asking to be let out. 狗在门前嚎叫着要出去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 He whined and pouted when he did not get what he wanted. 他要是没得到想要的东西就会发牢骚、撅嘴。 来自辞典例句

43 interceding
v.斡旋，调解( intercede的现在分词 )；说情
参考例句：

44 beheld
v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟
参考例句：
His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字

45 boon
n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠
参考例句：
A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。 These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

46 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。

47 militant
adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士
参考例句：
Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

48 layman
n.俗人，门外汉，凡人
参考例句：
These technical terms are difficult for the layman to understand.这些专门术语是外行人难以理解的。 He is a layman in politics.他对政治是个门外汉。

49 prating
v.（古时用语）唠叨，啰唆( prate的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Listen to him prating on about nothing. 听他瞎唠叨。 来自辞典例句 He is always prating about her wealthy relations, if anybody cared. 他总是对别人炫耀她的阔亲戚，好像别人对此感兴趣似的。 来自互联网

50 lawful
adj.法律许可的，守法的，合法的
参考例句：
It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。 We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。

51 penitent
adj.后悔的；n.后悔者；忏悔者
参考例句：
They all appeared very penitent,and begged hard for their lives.他们一个个表示悔罪，苦苦地哀求饶命。 She is deeply penitent.她深感愧疚。

52 absolve
v.赦免，解除（责任等）
参考例句：
I absolve you,on the ground of invincible ignorance.鉴于你不可救药的无知，我原谅你。 They agree to absolve you from your obligation.他们同意免除你的责任。

53 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。

54 honourable
adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的
参考例句：
I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号，我可担当不起。 I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。

55 villains
n.恶棍( villain的名词复数 )；罪犯；（小说、戏剧等中的）反面人物；淘气鬼
参考例句：
The impression of villains was inescapable. 留下恶棍的印象是不可避免的。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Some villains robbed the widow of the savings. 有几个歹徒将寡妇的积蓄劫走了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

56 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。

57 vow
n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓
参考例句：
My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。 I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

58 inviolate
adj.未亵渎的，未受侵犯的
参考例句：
The constitution proclaims that public property shall be inviolate.宪法宣告公共财产不可侵犯。 They considered themselves inviolate from attack.他们认为自己是不可侵犯的。

59 countenances
n.面容( countenance的名词复数 )；表情；镇静；道义支持
参考例句：
'stood apart, with countenances of inflexible gravity, beyond what even the Puritan aspect could attain." 站在一旁，他们脸上那种严肃刚毅的神情，比清教徒们还有过之而无不及。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学 The light of a laugh never came to brighten their sombre and wicked countenances. 欢乐的光芒从来未照亮过他们那阴郁邪恶的面孔。 来自辞典例句

60 fully
adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地
参考例句：
The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。 They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

61 proffer
v.献出，赠送；n.提议，建议
参考例句：
He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes.他站起身，伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 I proffer to lend him one.我表示愿意借他一个。

62 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！

63 partisan
adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒
参考例句：
In their anger they forget all the partisan quarrels.愤怒之中，他们忘掉一切党派之争。 The numerous newly created partisan detachments began working slowly towards that region.许多新建的游击队都开始慢慢地向那里移动。

64 bounty
n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与
参考例句：
He is famous for his bounty to the poor.他因对穷人慷慨相助而出名。 We received a bounty from the government.我们收到政府给予的一笔补助金。

65 plunging
adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

66 revel
vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢
参考例句：
She seems to revel in annoying her parents.她似乎以惹父母生气为乐。 The children revel in country life.孩子们特别喜欢乡村生活。

67 blithe
adj.快乐的，无忧无虑的
参考例句：
Tonight,however,she was even in a blithe mood than usual.但是，今天晚上她比往常还要高兴。 He showed a blithe indifference to her feelings.他显得毫不顾及她的感情。

68 jack
n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克
参考例句：
I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。 He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。

69 rendezvous
n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇
参考例句：
She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。 I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。

70 decency
n.体面，得体，合宜，正派，庄重
参考例句：
His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。 Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。

71 prudence
n.谨慎，精明，节俭
参考例句：
A lack of prudence may lead to financial problems.不够谨慎可能会导致财政上出现问题。 The happy impute all their success to prudence or merit.幸运者都把他们的成功归因于谨慎或功德。