Having taken to our canoes once again, we were silently sailing along, when Media observed, "Babbalanja; though I seldom trouble myself with such thoughts, I have just been thinking, how difficult it must be, for the more ignorant sort of people, to decide upon what particular image to worship as a
guardian1 deity2, when in Maramma, it seems, there exists such a multitude of
idols3, and a thousand more are to be heard of."
"Not at all, your highness. The more ignorant the better. The multitude of images distracts them not. But I am in no mood for serious
discourse4; let me tell you a story."
"A story! hear him: the solemn philosopher is desirous of regaling us with a tale! But pray, begin."
"Once upon a time, then," said Babbalanja, indifferently adjusting his girdle, "nine blind men, with
uncommonly5 long noses, set out on their travels to see the great island on which they were born."
"A precious beginning," muttered Mohi. "Nine blind men setting out to see sights."
Continued Babbalanja, "Staff in hand, they traveled; one in advance of the other; each man with his palm upon the shoulder next him; and he with the longest nose took the lead of the file. Journeying on in this manner, they came to a valley, in which
reigned6 a king called Tammaro. Now, in a certain inclosure toward the head of the valley, there stood an immense wild banian tree; all over
moss7, and many centuries old, and forming quite a wood in itself: its thousand
boughs8 striking into the earth, and fixing there as many gigantic trunks. With Tammaro, it had long been a question, which of those many trunks was the original and true one; a matter that had puzzled the wisest heads among his subjects; and in vain had a reward been offered for the solution of the perplexity. But the tree was so vast, and its
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收听单词发音
1
guardian
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n.监护人;守卫者,保护者 |
参考例句: |
- The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
- The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
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2
deity
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n.神,神性;被奉若神明的人(或物) |
参考例句: |
- Many animals were seen as the manifestation of a deity.许多动物被看作神的化身。
- The deity was hidden in the deepest recesses of the temple.神藏在庙宇壁龛的最深处。
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3
idols
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偶像( idol的名词复数 ); 受崇拜的人或物; 受到热爱和崇拜的人或物; 神像 |
参考例句: |
- The genii will give evidence against those who have worshipped idols. 魔怪将提供证据来反对那些崇拜偶像的人。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史
- Teenagers are very sequacious and they often emulate the behavior of their idols. 青少年非常盲从,经常模仿他们的偶像的行为。
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4
discourse
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n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 |
参考例句: |
- We'll discourse on the subject tonight.我们今晚要谈论这个问题。
- He fell into discourse with the customers who were drinking at the counter.他和站在柜台旁的酒客谈了起来。
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5
uncommonly
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adv. 稀罕(极,非常) |
参考例句: |
- an uncommonly gifted child 一个天赋异禀的儿童
- My little Mary was feeling uncommonly empty. 我肚子当时正饿得厉害。
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6
reigned
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vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式) |
参考例句: |
- Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静,一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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7
moss
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n.苔,藓,地衣 |
参考例句: |
- Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
- He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。
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8
boughs
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大树枝( bough的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The green boughs glittered with all their pearls of dew. 绿枝上闪烁着露珠的光彩。
- A breeze sighed in the higher boughs. 微风在高高的树枝上叹息着。
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9
fabric
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n.织物,织品,布;构造,结构,组织 |
参考例句: |
- The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。
- I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。
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10
standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 |
参考例句: |
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
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11
inveighed
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v.猛烈抨击,痛骂,谩骂( inveigh的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The Comintern propagands had inveighed against the Nazi menace for years. 多年来共产国际的宣传猛烈抨击纳粹的威胁。 来自辞典例句
- Marx inveighed against the evils the property-owning classes. 马克思猛烈抨击了有产阶级的罪恶。 来自互联网
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12
sages
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n.圣人( sage的名词复数 );智者;哲人;鼠尾草(可用作调料) |
参考例句: |
- Homage was paid to the great sages buried in the city. 向安葬在此城市的圣哲们表示敬意。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Confucius is considered the greatest of the ancient Chinese sages. 孔子被认为是古代中国最伟大的圣人。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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13
intervals
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n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息 |
参考例句: |
- The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴,有阵雨。
- Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
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14
nay
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adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 |
参考例句: |
- He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的,不,应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
- Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章,不,应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。
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15
triumphantly
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ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 |
参考例句: |
- The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。
- Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。
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16
penetrated
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adj. 击穿的,鞭辟入里的
动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 |
参考例句: |
- The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
- They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。
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17
opprobrious
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adj.可耻的,辱骂的 |
参考例句: |
- It is now freely applied as an adjective of an opprobrious kind.目前它被任意用作一种骂人的形容词。
- He ransacked his extensive vocabulary in order to find opprobrious names to call her.他从他的丰富词汇中挑出所有难听的话来骂她。
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18
mere
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adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 |
参考例句: |
- That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
- It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
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acquit
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vt.宣判无罪;(oneself)使(自己)表现出 |
参考例句: |
- That fact decided the judge to acquit him.那个事实使法官判他无罪。
- They always acquit themselves of their duty very well.他们总是很好地履行自己的职责。
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