VESPERS
In which the abbot speaks again with the visitors, and William has some astounding¹ ideas for deciphering the riddle² of the labyrinth³ and succeeds in the most rational way. Then William and Adso eat cheese in batter⁴.

The abbot was waiting for us with a grim, worried look. He was holding a paper in his hand.
“I have just received a letter from the abbot of Conques,” he said. “He discloses the name of the man to whom John has entrusted⁵ the command of the French soldiers and the responsibility for the safety of the lega?tion. He is not a man of arms, he is not a man of the court, and he will be at the same time a member of the legation.”
“A rare combination of different qualities,” William said uneasily. “Who is it?”
“Bernard Gui, or Bernardo Guidoni, whichever you choose to call him.”
William made an ejaculation in his own language that I didn’t understand, nor did the abbot understand it, and perhaps it was best for us both, because the word William uttered had an obscene hissing⁷ sound.
“I don’t like this,” he added at once. “For years Bernard was the scourge⁸ of heretics in the Toulouse area, and he has written a Practica oficii inquisitionis heretice pravitatis for the use of those who must perse?cute and destroy Waldensians, Beghards, Fraticelli, and Dolcinians.”
“I know. I am familiar with the book; remarkably⁹ learned.”
“Remarkably learned,” William conceded. “He’s de?voted to John, who in recent years has assigned him many missions in Flanders and here in northern Italy. And even when he was named Bishop¹⁰

点击收听单词发音  

1 astounding
adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)
参考例句：
There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。 The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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 labyrinth
n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路
参考例句：
He wandered through the labyrinth of the alleyways.他在迷宫似的小巷中闲逛。 The human mind is a labyrinth.人的心灵是一座迷宫。

4 batter
v.接连重击；磨损；n.牛奶面糊；击球员
参考例句：
The batter skied to the center fielder.击球手打出一个高飞球到中外野手。 Put a small quantity of sugar into the batter.在面糊里放少量的糖。

5 entrusted
v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He entrusted the task to his nephew. 他把这任务托付给了他的侄儿。 She was entrusted with the direction of the project. 她受委托负责这项计划。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 haps
n.粗厚毛披巾；偶然，机会，运气( hap的名词复数 )
参考例句：
He recorded all the little haps and mishaps of his life. 他记录了下他生命中的所有小祸小福。 来自互联网 Per haps he's never run up against any walls. 这家伙大概没有碰过钉子吧？ 来自互联网

7 hissing
n. 发嘶嘶声, 蔑视 动词hiss的现在分词形式
参考例句：
The steam escaped with a loud hissing noise. 蒸汽大声地嘶嘶冒了出来。 His ears were still hissing with the rustle of the leaves. 他耳朵里还听得萨萨萨的声音和屑索屑索的怪声。 来自汉英文学 - 春蚕

8 scourge
n.灾难，祸害；v.蹂躏
参考例句：
Smallpox was once the scourge of the world.天花曾是世界的大患。 The new boss was the scourge of the inefficient.新老板来了以后，不称职的人就遭殃了。

9 remarkably
ad.不同寻常地，相当地
参考例句：
I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。 He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。

10 bishop
n.主教，（国际象棋）象
参考例句：
He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。 Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

11 retired
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。 Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

12 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。

13 prudently
adv. 谨慎地，慎重地
参考例句：
He prudently pursued his plan. 他谨慎地实行他那计划。 They had prudently withdrawn as soon as the van had got fairly under way. 他们在蓬车安全上路后立即谨慎地离去了。

14 espoused
v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
They espoused the notion of equal opportunity for all in education. 他们赞同在教育方面人人机会均等的观念。 The ideas she espoused were incomprehensible to me. 她所支持的意见令我难以理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 concur
v.同意，意见一致，互助，同时发生
参考例句：
Wealth and happiness do not always concur.财富与幸福并非总是并存的。 I concur with the speaker in condemning what has been done.我同意发言者对所做的事加以谴责。

16 inept
adj.不恰当的，荒谬的，拙劣的
参考例句：
Whan an inept remark to make on such a formal occasion.在如此正式的场合，怎么说这样不恰当的话。 He's quite inept at tennis.他打网球太笨。

17 guilt
n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责
参考例句：
She tried to cover up her guilt by lying.她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。 Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork.别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。

18 conceal
v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽
参考例句：
He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。 He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

19 mutual
adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的
参考例句：
We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。 Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

20 inexplicable
adj.无法解释的，难理解的
参考例句：
It is now inexplicable how that development was misinterpreted.当时对这一事态发展的错误理解究竟是怎么产生的，现在已经无法说清楚了。 There are many things which are inexplicable by science.有很多事科学还无法解释。

21 murky
adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗
参考例句：
She threw it into the river's murky depths.她把它扔进了混浊的河水深处。 She had a decidedly murky past.她的历史背景令人捉摸不透。

22 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。

23 investigations
（正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究
参考例句：
His investigations were intensive and thorough but revealed nothing. 他进行了深入彻底的调查，但没有发现什么。 He often sent them out to make investigations. 他常常派他们出去作调查。

24 illuminator
n.照明者
参考例句：
But on the low position illuminator becomes another questionable point to be. 而低位反光板上成为另一个疑点所在。 来自互联网 The Illuminator must find his sister in the dark. 点灯人需要在黑暗中找到他的妹妹。 来自互联网

25 monks
n.修道士，僧侣( monk的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The monks lived a very ascetic life. 僧侣过着很清苦的生活。 He had been trained rigorously by the monks. 他接受过修道士的严格训练。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 inquiry
n.打听，询问，调查，查问
参考例句：
Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。 The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。

27 cardinal
n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的
参考例句：
This is a matter of cardinal significance.这是非常重要的事。 The Cardinal coloured with vexation. 红衣主教感到恼火，脸涨得通红。

28 herald
vt.预示...的来临，预告，宣布，欢迎
参考例句：
In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。 Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。

29 promptly
adv.及时地，敏捷地
参考例句：
He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。 She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

30 immediate
adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的
参考例句：
His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。 We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

31 disconsolately
adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸
参考例句：
A dilapidated house stands disconsolately amid the rubbles. 一栋破旧的房子凄凉地耸立在断垣残壁中。 来自辞典例句 \"I suppose you have to have some friends before you can get in,'she added, disconsolately. “我看得先有些朋友才能进这一行，\"她闷闷不乐地加了一句。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

32 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。

33 humiliated
感到羞愧的
参考例句：
Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present. 子女在客人面前举止失当，父母也失体面。 He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated. 他感到羞耻，丢尽了面子。

34 humiliation
n.羞辱
参考例句：
He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。 He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。

35 cloister
n.修道院；v.隐退，使与世隔绝
参考例句：
They went out into the stil,shadowy cloister garden.他们出了房间，走到那个寂静阴沉的修道院的园子里去。 The ancient cloister was a structure of red brick picked out with white stone.古老的修道院是一座白石衬托着的红砖建筑物。

36 twig
n.小树枝，嫩枝；v.理解
参考例句：
He heard the sharp crack of a twig.他听到树枝清脆的断裂声。 The sharp sound of a twig snapping scared the badger away.细枝突然折断的刺耳声把獾惊跑了。

37 stimulus
n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物
参考例句：
Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。 Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。

38 kindled
（使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光
参考例句：
We watched as the fire slowly kindled. 我们看着火慢慢地燃烧起来。 The teacher's praise kindled a spark of hope inside her. 老师的赞扬激起了她内心的希望。

39 plunge
v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲
参考例句：
Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。 That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

40 marvel
vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事
参考例句：
The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。 The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

41 possessed
adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的
参考例句：
He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。 He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

42 cult
n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜
参考例句：
Her books aren't bestsellers,but they have a certain cult following.她的书算不上畅销书，但有一定的崇拜者。 The cult of sun worship is probably the most primitive one.太阳崇拜仪式或许是最为原始的一种。

43 vessel
n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管
参考例句：
The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。 You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

44 cork
n.软木，软木塞
参考例句：
We heard the pop of a cork.我们听见瓶塞砰的一声打开。 Cork is a very buoyant material.软木是极易浮起的材料。

45 precisely
adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地
参考例句：
It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。 The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

46 intersection
n.交集，十字路口，交叉点；[计算机] 交集
参考例句：
There is a stop sign at an intersection.在交叉路口处有停车标志。 Bridges are used to avoid the intersection of a railway and a highway.桥用来避免铁路和公路直接交叉。

47 celestial
adj.天体的；天上的
参考例句：
The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。 Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。

48 meridians
n.子午圈( meridian的名词复数 )；子午线；顶点；（权力，成就等的）全盛时期
参考例句：
Meridians are great circles passing through both poles. 经线均为通过两极。 来自辞典例句 The Cutaneous Regions are within the domains of the Twelve Regular Meridians. 十二皮部是十二经脉功能活动反映于体表的部位，也是络脉之气散布之所在。 来自互联网

49 inclination
n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好
参考例句：
She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。 I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。

50 bowels
n.肠，内脏，内部；肠( bowel的名词复数 )；内部，最深处
参考例句：
Salts is a medicine that causes movements of the bowels. 泻盐是一种促使肠子运动的药物。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The cabins are in the bowels of the ship. 舱房设在船腹内。 来自《简明英汉词典》

51 innate
adj.天生的，固有的，天赋的
参考例句：
You obviously have an innate talent for music.你显然有天生的音乐才能。 Correct ideas are not innate in the mind.人的正确思想不是自己头脑中固有的。

52 labyrinths
迷宫( labyrinth的名词复数 )； （文字，建筑）错综复杂的
参考例句：
I was engulfed in labyrinths of trouble too great to get out at all. 我陷入困难的迷宫中去，简直无法脱身。 I've explored ancient castles, palaces, temples, tombs, catacombs and labyrinths. 我曾在古堡、古皇宫、古神庙、古墓、地下墓穴和迷宫中探险。

53 sublime
adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的
参考例句：
We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。 Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会，就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。

54 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。

55 detours
绕行的路( detour的名词复数 )； 绕道，兜圈子
参考例句：
Local wars and bandits often blocked their travel, making countless detours necessary. 内战和盗匪也常阻挡他们前进，迫使他们绕了无数弯路。 Could it be that all these detours had brought them to Moshi Pass? 难道绕来绕去，绕到磨石口来了吗？ 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

56 Vogue
n.时髦，时尚；adj.流行的
参考例句：
Flowery carpets became the vogue.花卉地毯变成了时髦货。 Short hair came back into vogue about ten years ago.大约十年前短发又开始流行起来了。

57 scroll
n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡
参考例句：
As I opened the scroll,a panorama of the Yellow River unfolded.我打开卷轴时，黄河的景象展现在眼前。 He was presented with a scroll commemorating his achievements.他被授予一幅卷轴，以表彰其所做出的成就。

58 admiration
n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕
参考例句：
He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。 We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

59 retrace
v.折回；追溯，探源
参考例句：
He retraced his steps to the spot where he'd left the case.他折回到他丢下箱子的地方。 You must retrace your steps.你必须折回原来走过的路。

60 thighs
n.股，大腿( thigh的名词复数 )；食用的鸡（等的）腿
参考例句：
He's gone to London for skin grafts on his thighs. 他去伦敦做大腿植皮手术了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The water came up to the fisherman's thighs. 水没到了渔夫的大腿。 来自《简明英汉词典》

61 eastward
adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部
参考例句：
The river here tends eastward.这条河从这里向东流。 The crowd is heading eastward,believing that they can find gold there.人群正在向东移去，他们认为在那里可以找到黄金。

62 trampled
踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯
参考例句：
He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。 People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。

63 circumspectly
adv.慎重地，留心地
参考例句：
He paid for two tickets as circumspectly as possible. 他小心翼翼地付了两张票的钱。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

64 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！

65 bishops
（基督教某些教派管辖大教区的）主教( bishop的名词复数 )； （国际象棋的）象
参考例句：
Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时，每名棋手有两只象。 "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫，抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。

66 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。