The heavily forested park known as the Bois de Boulogne was called many things, but the Parisiancognoscenti knew it as "the Garden of Earthly Delights." The epithet¹, despite sounding flattering,was quite to the contrary. Anyone who had seen the lurid² Bosch painting of the same nameunderstood the jab; the painting, like the forest, was dark and twisted, a purgatory³ for freaks andfetishists. At night, the forest's winding⁴ lanes were lined with hundreds of glistening⁵ bodies forhire, earthly delights to satisfy one's deepest unspoken desires—male, female, and everything inbetween.

　　As Langdon gathered his thoughts to tell Sophie about the Priory of Sion, their taxi passed throughthe wooded entrance to the park and began heading west on the cobblestone crossfare. Langdonwas having trouble concentrating as a scattering⁶ of the park's nocturnal residents were alreadyemerging from the shadows and flaunting⁷ their wares⁸ in the glare of the headlights. Ahead, twotopless teenage girls shot smoldering⁹ gazes into the taxi. Beyond them, a well-oiled black man in aG-string turned and flexed¹⁰ his buttocks. Beside him, a gorgeous blond woman lifted her miniskirtto reveal that she was not, in fact, a woman.

　　Heaven help me! Langdon turned his gaze back inside the cab and took a deep breath.

　　"Tell me about the Priory of Sion," Sophie said.

　　Langdon nodded, unable to imagine a less congruous a backdrop for the legend he was about totell. He wondered where to begin. The brotherhood's history spanned more than a

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1 epithet
n.（用于褒贬人物等的）表述形容词，修饰语
参考例句：
In "Alfred the Great","the Great"is an epithet.“阿尔弗雷德大帝”中的“大帝”是个称号。 It is an epithet that sums up my feelings.这是一个简洁地表达了我思想感情的形容词。

2 lurid
adj.可怕的；血红的；苍白的
参考例句：
The paper gave all the lurid details of the murder.这份报纸对这起凶杀案耸人听闻的细节描写得淋漓尽致。 The lurid sunset puts a red light on their faces.血红一般的夕阳映红了他们的脸。

3 purgatory
n.炼狱；苦难；adj.净化的，清洗的
参考例句：
Every step of the last three miles was purgatory.最后3英里时每一步都像是受罪。 Marriage,with peace,is this world's paradise;with strife,this world's purgatory.和谐的婚姻是尘世的乐园，不和谐的婚姻则是人生的炼狱。

4 winding
n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈
参考例句：
A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。 The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

5 glistening
adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 )
参考例句：
Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼里闪着晶莹的泪花。 Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼睛中的泪水闪着柔和的光。 来自《用法词典》

6 scattering
n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散
参考例句：
The child felle into a rage and began scattering its toys about. 这孩子突发狂怒，把玩具扔得满地都是。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The farmers are scattering seed. 农夫们在播种。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 flaunting
adj.招摇的，扬扬得意的，夸耀的v.炫耀，夸耀( flaunt的现在分词 )；有什么能耐就施展出来
参考例句：
He did not believe in flaunting his wealth. 他不赞成摆阔。 She is fond of flaunting her superiority before her friends and schoolmates. 她好在朋友和同学面前逞强。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 wares
n. 货物, 商品
参考例句：
They sold their wares at half-price. 他们的货品是半价出售的。 The peddler was crying up his wares. 小贩极力夸耀自己的货物。

9 smoldering
v.用文火焖烧，熏烧，慢燃( smolder的现在分词 )
参考例句：
The mat was smoldering where the burning log had fallen. 燃烧的木棒落下的地方垫子慢慢燃烧起来。 来自辞典例句 The wood was smoldering in the fireplace. 木柴在壁炉中闷烧。 来自辞典例句

10 flexed
adj.[医]曲折的，屈曲v.屈曲( flex的过去式和过去分词 )；弯曲；（为准备大干而）显示实力；摩拳擦掌
参考例句：
He stretched and flexed his knees to relax himself. 他伸屈膝关节使自己放松一下。 来自辞典例句 He flexed his long stringy muscles manfully. 他孔武有力地弯起膀子，显露出细长条的肌肉。 来自辞典例句

11 millennium
n.一千年，千禧年；太平盛世
参考例句：
The whole world was counting down to the new millennium.全世界都在倒计时迎接新千年的到来。 We waited as the clock ticked away the last few seconds of the old millennium.我们静候着时钟滴答走过千年的最后几秒钟。

12 blackmail
n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓
参考例句：
She demanded ＄1000 blackmail from him.她向他敲诈了1000美元。 The journalist used blackmail to make the lawyer give him the documents.记者讹诈那名律师交给他文件。

13 brutal
adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的
参考例句：
She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。 They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

14 riveted
铆接( rivet的过去式和过去分词 )； 把…固定住； 吸引； 引起某人的注意
参考例句：
I was absolutely riveted by her story. 我完全被她的故事吸引住了。 My attention was riveted by a slight movement in the bushes. 我的注意力被灌木丛中的轻微晃动吸引住了。

15 stash
v.藏或贮存于一秘密处所；n.隐藏处
参考例句：
Stash away both what you lost and gained,for life continues on.将得失深藏心底吧，为了那未来的生活。 That's supposed to be in our private stash.这是我的私人珍藏。

16 corroborated
v.证实，支持（某种说法、信仰、理论等）( corroborate的过去式 )
参考例句：
The evidence was corroborated by two independent witnesses. 此证据由两名独立证人提供。 Experiments have corroborated her predictions. 实验证实了她的预言。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 vowed
起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。 I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

18 retrieve
vt.重新得到，收回；挽回，补救；检索
参考例句：
He was determined to retrieve his honor.他决心恢复名誉。 The men were trying to retrieve weapons left when the army abandoned the island.士兵们正试图找回军队从该岛撤退时留下的武器。

19 knights
骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马
参考例句：
stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事 He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。

20 precarious
adj.不安定的，靠不住的；根据不足的
参考例句：
Our financial situation had become precarious.我们的财务状况已变得不稳定了。 He earned a precarious living as an artist.作为一个艺术家，他过得是朝不保夕的生活。

21 lore
n.传说；学问，经验，知识
参考例句：
I will seek and question him of his lore.我倒要找上他，向他讨教他的渊博的学问。 Early peoples passed on plant and animal lore through legend.早期人类通过传说传递有关植物和动物的知识。

22 pristine
adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的
参考例句：
He wiped his fingers on his pristine handkerchief.他用他那块洁净的手帕擦手指。 He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.他本不想去玷污那清白的过去。

23 barrage
n.火力网，弹幕
参考例句：
The attack jumped off under cover of a barrage.进攻在炮火的掩护下开始了。 The fierce artillery barrage destroyed the most part of the city in a few minutes.猛烈的炮火几分钟内便毁灭了这座城市的大部分地区。

24 convoluted
adj.旋绕的；复杂的
参考例句：
The snake slithered through a convoluted path.蛇在羊肠小道上爬行。 The policy is so convoluted even college presidents are confused.这项政策太令人费解，甚至连大学校长们也是一头雾水。

25 inquiries
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。 I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

26 assorted
adj.各种各样的，各色俱备的
参考例句：
There's a bag of assorted sweets on the table.桌子上有一袋什锦糖果。 He has always assorted with men of his age.他总是与和他年令相仿的人交往。

27 conspiracy
n.阴谋，密谋，共谋
参考例句：
The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。 He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

28 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。

29 sketch
n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述
参考例句：
My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。 I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

30 Christian
adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒
参考例句：
They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。 His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

31 meager
adj.缺乏的，不足的，瘦的
参考例句：
He could not support his family on his meager salary.他靠微薄的工资无法养家。 The two men and the woman grouped about the fire and began their meager meal.两个男人同一个女人围着火，开始吃起少得可怜的午饭。

32 devastated
v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的
参考例句：
The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。 His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

33 shrine
n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣
参考例句：
The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。 They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

34 lodging
n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍
参考例句：
The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。 Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?

35 random
adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动
参考例句：
The list is arranged in a random order.名单排列不分先后。 On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。

36 chamber
n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所
参考例句：
For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说，牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。 The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。

37 literally
adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实
参考例句：
He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。 Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

38 excavating
v.挖掘( excavate的现在分词 )；开凿；挖出；发掘
参考例句：
A bulldozer was employed for excavating the foundations of the building. 推土机用来给楼房挖地基。 来自《简明英汉词典》 A new Danish expedition is again excavating the site in annual summer digs. 一支新的丹麦探险队又在那个遗址上进行一年一度的夏季挖掘。 来自辞典例句

39 secrecy
n.秘密，保密，隐蔽
参考例句：
All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。 Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

40 solidify
v.(使)凝固，(使)固化，(使)团结
参考例句：
Opinion on this question began to solidify.对这个问题的意见开始具体化了。 Water will solidify into ice if you freeze it.水冷冻会结冰。

41 blackmailed
胁迫，尤指以透露他人不体面行为相威胁以勒索钱财( blackmail的过去式 )
参考例句：
He was blackmailed by an enemy agent (into passing on state secrets). 敌特威胁他（要他交出国家机密）。 The strikers refused to be blackmailed into returning to work. 罢工者拒绝了要挟复工的条件。

42 autonomous
adj.自治的；独立的
参考例句：
They proudly declared themselves part of a new autonomous province.他们自豪地宣布成为新自治省的一部分。 This is a matter that comes within the jurisdiction of the autonomous region.这件事是属于自治区权限以内的事务。

43 amass
vt.积累，积聚
参考例句：
How had he amassed his fortune?他是如何积累财富的呢？ The capitalists amass great wealth by exploiting workers.资本家剥削工人而积累了巨额财富。

44 amassing
v.积累，积聚( amass的现在分词 )
参考例句：
The study of taxonomy must necessarily involve the amassing of an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants. 分类学研究一定要积累广博的植物知识。 来自辞典例句 Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网

45 thereby
adv.因此，从而
参考例句：
I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市，因此对它不怎么熟悉。 He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民，因而得到了投票权。

46 clement
adj.仁慈的；温和的
参考例句：
A clement judge reduced his sentence.一位仁慈的法官为他减了刑。 The planet's history contains many less stable and clement eras than the holocene.地球的历史包含着许多不如全新世稳定与温和的地质时期。

47 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。

48 maneuver
n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略
参考例句：
All the fighters landed safely on the airport after the military maneuver.在军事演习后，所有战斗机都安全降落在机场上。 I did get her attention with this maneuver.我用这个策略确实引起了她的注意。

49 worthy
adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的
参考例句：
I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。 There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

50 simultaneously
adv.同时发生地，同时进行地
参考例句：
The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。 The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

51 appalling
adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的
参考例句：
The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions.恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。 Nothing can extenuate such appalling behaviour.这种骇人听闻的行径罪无可恕。

52 defiling
v.玷污( defile的现在分词 )；污染；弄脏；纵列行进
参考例句：
Why, to put such a phantasmagoria on the table would be defiling the whole flat. 是啊，在桌上摆这么一个妖形怪状的东西，就把整个住宅都弄得乌烟瘴气了！” 来自互联网

53 blasphemous
adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的
参考例句：
The book was declared blasphemous and all copies ordered to be burnt.这本书被断定为亵渎神明之作，命令全数焚毀。 The people in the room were shocked by his blasphemous language.满屋的人都对他那侮慢的语言感到愤慨。

54 cleanse
vt.使清洁，使纯洁，清洗
参考例句：
Health experts are trying to cleanse the air in cities. 卫生专家们正设法净化城市里的空气。 Fresh fruit juices can also cleanse your body and reduce dark circles.新鲜果汁同样可以清洁你的身体,并对黑眼圈同样有抑制作用。

55 machiavellian
adj.权谋的，狡诈的
参考例句：
A Machiavellian plot was suspected.人们怀疑背后有不可告人的阴谋。 In this layer,Obama implied American policies that are cautious and Machiavellian.在这个层面，奥巴马含蓄地表达了美国的谨慎、权谋的（新）政策。

56 obliterated
v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭
参考例句：
The building was completely obliterated by the bomb. 炸弹把那座建筑物彻底摧毁了。 He began to drink, drank himself to intoxication, till he slept obliterated. 他一直喝，喝到他快要迷糊地睡着了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

57 purges
清除异己( purge的名词复数 )； 整肃（行动）； 清洗； 泻药
参考例句：
Mandelshtam perished in the purges of the 1930s, Akhmatova remained silent. 曼杰利什坦姆在30年代的清洗中死去，阿赫玛托娃也销声匿迹。 He purges his subconscious and meditates only on God. 他净化他的潜意识且只思念上帝。

58 potent
adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的
参考例句：
The medicine had a potent effect on your disease.这药物对你的病疗效很大。 We must account of his potent influence.我们必须考虑他的强有力的影响。

59 trove
n.被发现的东西，收藏的东西
参考例句：
He assembled a rich trove of Chinese porcelain.他收集了一批中国瓷器。 The gallery is a treasure trove of medieval art.这个画廊是中世纪艺术的宝库。

60 apparently
adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
参考例句：
An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。 He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

61 shrugged
vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。 She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

62 investigation
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。 He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

63 speculation
n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机
参考例句：
Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。 There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

64 backbone
n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气
参考例句：
The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。 The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

65 purportedly
adv.据称
参考例句：
This is purportedly the oldest tree in the world. 据称这是世界上最古老的一棵树。 来自互联网 Mayor Oh Se-Hoon launched the campaign last year, purportedly to improve efficiency. 据悉，首尔市市长吴世勋于去年提出了这项旨在提高工作效率的计划。 来自互联网

66 skeptical
adj.怀疑的，多疑的
参考例句：
Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。 Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。