TWO DAYS AFTER my arrival, Baldwin announced a great feast at court, with counts, knights², and other noble-born invited from all over the region. The duke knew how to waste what had been earned by his poor serfs.

I was instructed by the lord's chamberlain that I would be a main act at the festivities. Baldwin's wife, the lady Heloise, had heard of my audition³ and was eager to see my act.

This would be my first real test!

The day of the gathering⁴, the entire castle bustled⁵ with activity. An endless army of servants wearing their finest uniforms, tunics⁶ of the same purple and white, marched dishware and elaborate candelabras into the great hall. Minstrels practiced on the lawn. Giant logs were loaded into the hearths⁷. The luscious⁸ aroma⁹ of roasting goose, pig, and sheep permeated¹⁰ the castle.

I spent the day polishing my routine. This was my coming out, my first real performance. I had to shine, to remain in Baldwin's good graces. I juggled¹¹, twirled my staff, practiced my flips¹² back and forth¹⁴, went over my tales and jokes.

Finally, the evening of the feast was at hand. Nervous as a groom¹⁵, I made my way to the banquet hall. Four long tables filled the room, each covered in the finest

点击收听单词发音  

1 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。

2 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。

3 audition
n.(对志愿艺人等的)面试(指试读、试唱等)
参考例句：
I'm going to the audition but I don't expect I'll get a part.我去试音，可并不指望会给我个角色演出。 At first,they said he was too young,but later they called him for an audition.起初，他们说他太小，但后来他们叫他去试听。

4 gathering
n.集会，聚会，聚集
参考例句：
He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。 He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

5 bustled
闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促
参考例句：
She bustled around in the kitchen. 她在厨房里忙得团团转。 The hostress bustled about with an assumption of authority. 女主人摆出一副权威的样子忙来忙去。

6 tunics
n.（动植物的）膜皮( tunic的名词复数 )；束腰宽松外衣；一套制服的短上衣；（天主教主教等穿的）短祭袍
参考例句：
After work colourful clothes replace the blue tunics. 下班后，蓝制服都换成了色彩鲜艳的衣服。 来自辞典例句 The ancient Greeks fastened their tunics with Buttons and loops. 古希腊人在肩部用钮扣与环圈将束腰外衣扣紧。 来自互联网

7 hearths
壁炉前的地板，炉床，壁炉边( hearth的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The soldiers longed for their own hearths. 战士想家。 In the hearths the fires down and the meat stopped cooking. 在壁炉的火平息和肉停止做饭。

8 luscious
adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的
参考例句：
The watermelon was very luscious.Everyone wanted another slice.西瓜很可口，每个人都想再来一片。 What I like most about Gabby is her luscious lips!我最喜欢的是盖比那性感饱满的双唇！

9 aroma
n.香气，芬芳，芳香
参考例句：
The whole house was filled with the aroma of coffee.满屋子都是咖啡的香味。 The air was heavy with the aroma of the paddy fields.稻花飘香。

10 permeated
弥漫( permeate的过去式和过去分词 )； 遍布； 渗入； 渗透
参考例句：
The smell of leather permeated the room. 屋子里弥漫着皮革的气味。 His public speeches were permeated with hatred of injustice. 在他对民众的演说里，充满了对不公正的愤慨。

11 juggled
v.歪曲( juggle的过去式和过去分词 )；耍弄；有效地组织；尽力同时应付（两个或两个以上的重要工作或活动）
参考例句：
He juggled the company's accounts to show a profit. 为了表明公司赢利，他篡改了公司的账目。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The juggler juggled three bottles. 这个玩杂耍的人可同时抛接3个瓶子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 flips
轻弹( flip的第三人称单数 )； 按（开关）； 快速翻转； 急挥
参考例句：
Larry flips on the TV while he is on vacation in Budapest. 赖瑞在布达佩斯渡假时，打开电视收看节目。 He flips through a book before making a decision. 他在决定买下一本书前总要先草草翻阅一下。

13 flip
vt.快速翻动；轻抛；轻拍；n.轻抛；adj.轻浮的
参考例句：
I had a quick flip through the book and it looked very interesting.我很快翻阅了一下那本书，看来似乎很有趣。 Let's flip a coin to see who pays the bill.咱们来抛硬币决定谁付钱。

14 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。

15 groom
vt.给（马、狗等）梳毛，照料，使...整洁
参考例句：
His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。 George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作，乔治已在接受专门的培训。

16 linen
n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的
参考例句：
The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。 Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。

17 engraved
v.在（硬物）上雕刻（字，画等）( engrave的过去式和过去分词 )；将某事物深深印在（记忆或头脑中）
参考例句：
The silver cup was engraved with his name. 银杯上刻有他的名字。 It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back. 此件雕刻精美，背面有花饰图案。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 epithets
n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 )
参考例句：
He insulted me, using rude epithets. 他用粗话诅咒我。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He cursed me, using a lot of rude epithets. 他用上许多粗鲁的修饰词来诅咒我。 来自辞典例句

19 bawdiness
参考例句：

20 trump
n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭
参考例句：
He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。 The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

21 waded
（从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She tucked up her skirt and waded into the river. 她撩起裙子蹚水走进河里。 He waded into the water to push the boat out. 他蹚进水里把船推出来。

22 lavish
adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍
参考例句：
He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。 The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

23 goblet
n.高脚酒杯
参考例句：
He poured some wine into the goblet.他向高脚酒杯里倒了一些葡萄酒。 He swirled the brandy around in the huge goblet.他摇晃着高脚大玻璃杯使里面的白兰地酒旋动起来。

24 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。

25 scampered
v.蹦蹦跳跳地跑，惊惶奔跑( scamper的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The cat scampered away. 猫刺棱一下跑了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The rabbIt'scampered off. 兔子迅速跑掉了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

26 gads
v.闲逛( gad的第三人称单数 )；游荡；找乐子；用铁棒刺
参考例句：
He gads about a lot. 他到处游荡。 来自辞典例句 He gads about Europe a lot. 他常到欧洲漫游。 来自辞典例句

27 trickle
vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散
参考例句：
The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。 The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

28 chuckled
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。 She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情，她就轻轻地暗自发笑。

29 clattering
发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式）
参考例句：
Typewriters keep clattering away. 打字机在不停地嗒嗒作响。 The typewriter was clattering away. 打字机啪嗒啪嗒地响着。

30 absolved
宣告…无罪，赦免…的罪行，宽恕…的罪行( absolve的过去式和过去分词 )； 不受责难，免除责任 [义务] ,开脱（罪责）
参考例句：
The court absolved him of all responsibility for the accident. 法院宣告他对该事故不负任何责任。 The court absolved him of guilt in her death. 法庭赦免了他在她的死亡中所犯的罪。

31 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。

32 bellowed
v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫
参考例句：
They bellowed at her to stop. 他们吼叫着让她停下。 He bellowed with pain when the tooth was pulled out. 当牙齿被拔掉时，他痛得大叫。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

33 wrath
n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒
参考例句：
His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。 The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

34 goblets
n.高脚酒杯( goblet的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Oh the goblets of the breast! Oh the eyes of absence! 噢，乳房的杯盏！噢，失神的双眼！ 来自互联网 Divide the digestive biscuit crumbs mixture between 6 goblets. 消化？底分成6双玻璃杯中。 来自互联网

35 scurrying
v.急匆匆地走( scurry的现在分词 )
参考例句：
We could hear the mice scurrying about in the walls. 我们能听见老鼠在墙里乱跑。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 We were scurrying about until the last minute before the party. 聚会开始前我们一直不停地忙忙碌碌。 来自辞典例句

36 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》

37 spotted
adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的
参考例句：
The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。 Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

38 fanfare
n.喇叭；号角之声；v.热闹地宣布
参考例句：
The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide.这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。 A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of the King.嘹亮的小号声宣告了国王驾到。

39 chiseled
adj.凿刻的，轮廓分明的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 )
参考例句：
Woltz had chiseled the guy, given him peanuts for the book. 乌尔茨敲了这个作家的竹杠，用了他的书，却只给微不足道的一点点钱。 来自教父部分 He chiseled the piece of wood into the shape of a head. 他把这块木头凿刻成人头的形状。 来自辞典例句

40 conceit
n.自负，自高自大
参考例句：
As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。 She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。

41 conceited
adj.自负的，骄傲自满的
参考例句：
He could not bear that they should be so conceited.他们这样自高自大他受不了。 I'm not as conceited as so many people seem to think.我不像很多人认为的那么自负。

42 climax
n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点
参考例句：
The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。 His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

43 tightened
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧
参考例句：
The rope holding the boat suddenly tightened and broke. 系船的绳子突然绷断了。 His index finger tightened on the trigger but then relaxed again. 他的食指扣住扳机，然后又松开了。

44 trickled
v.滴( trickle的过去式和过去分词 )；淌；使)慢慢走；缓慢移动
参考例句：
Blood trickled down his face. 血从他脸上一滴滴流下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The tears trickled down her cheeks. 热泪一滴滴从她脸颊上滚下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

45 killing
n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财
参考例句：
Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。 Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

46 soothe
v.安慰；使平静；使减轻；缓和；奉承
参考例句：
I've managed to soothe him down a bit.我想方设法使他平静了一点。 This medicine should soothe your sore throat.这种药会减轻你的喉痛。

47 seethed
（液体）沸腾( seethe的过去式和过去分词 )； 激动，大怒； 强压怒火； 生闷气(~with sth|~ at sth)
参考例句：
She seethed silently in the corner. 她在角落里默默地生闷气。 He seethed with rage as the train left without him. 他误了火车，怒火中烧。

48 exhaled
v.呼出，发散出( exhale的过去式和过去分词 )；吐出（肺中的空气、烟等），呼气
参考例句：
He sat back and exhaled deeply. 他仰坐着深深地呼气。 He stamped his feet and exhaled a long, white breath. 跺了跺脚，他吐了口长气，很长很白。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

49 frustrated
adj.挫败的，失意的，泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的过去式和过去分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧
参考例句：
It's very easy to get frustrated in this job. 这个工作很容易令人懊恼。 The bad weather frustrated all our hopes of going out. 恶劣的天气破坏了我们出行的愿望。 来自《简明英汉词典》

50 adversary
adj.敌手，对手
参考例句：
He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。 They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。