From what is said in the Introduction to the Monastery¹, it must necessarily be inferred, that the Author considered that romance as something very like a failure. It is true, the booksellers did not complain of the sale, because, unless on very felicitous² occasions, or on those which are equally the reverse, literary popularity is not gained or lost by a single publication. Leisure must be allowed for the tide both to flow and ebb³. But I was conscious that, in my situation, not to advance was in some Degree to recede⁴, and being naturally unwilling⁵ to think that the principle of decay lay in myself, I was at least desirous to know of a certainty, whether the degree of discountenance which I had incurred⁶, was now owing to an ill-managed story, or an ill-chosen subject.

I was never, I confess, one of those who are willing to suppose the brains of an author to be a kind of milk, which will not stand above a single creaming, and who are eternally harping⁷ to young authors to husband their efforts, and to be chary⁸ of their reputation, lest it grow hackneyed in the eyes of men. Perhaps I was, and have always been, the more indifferent to the degree of estimation in which I might be held as an author, because I did not put so high a value as many others upon what is termed literary reputation in the abstract, or at least upon the species of popularity which had fallen to my share; for though it were worse than affectation to deny that my vanity was satisfied at my success in the department in which chance had in some measure enlisted¹⁰ me, I was, nevertheless, far from thinking that the novelist or romance-writer stands high in the ranks of literature. But I spare the reader farther egotism on this subject, as I have expressed my opinion very

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1 monastery
n.修道院，僧院，寺院
参考例句：
They found an icon in the monastery.他们在修道院中发现了一个圣像。 She was appointed the superior of the monastery two years ago.两年前她被任命为这个修道院的院长。

2 felicitous
adj.恰当的，巧妙的；n.恰当，贴切
参考例句：
She played him--sometimes delicately,sometimes with a less felicitous touch.她吊着他--有时温柔地，有时手法就不那么巧妙。 You need to handle the delicate matter in a most felicitous manner.你需要用得体的方式处理这件微妙的事。

3 ebb
vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态
参考例句：
The flood and ebb tides alternates with each other.涨潮和落潮交替更迭。 They swam till the tide began to ebb.他们一直游到开始退潮。

4 recede
vi.退(去)，渐渐远去；向后倾斜，缩进
参考例句：
The colleges would recede in importance.大学的重要性会降低。 He saw that the dirty water had begun to recede.他发现那污浊的水开始往下退了。

5 unwilling
adj.不情愿的
参考例句：
The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。 His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

6 incurred
[医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式
参考例句：
She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚，使父亲震怒。 We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。

7 harping
n.反复述说
参考例句：
Don't keep harping on like that. 别那样唠叨个没完。 You're always harping on the samestring. 你总是老调重弹。

8 chary
adj.谨慎的，细心的
参考例句：
She started a chary descent of the stairs.她开始小心翼翼地下楼梯。 She is chary of strangers.她见到陌生人会害羞。

9 tract
n.传单，小册子，大片(土地或森林)
参考例句：
He owns a large tract of forest.他拥有一大片森林。 He wrote a tract on this subject.他曾对此写了一篇短文。

10 enlisted
adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持）
参考例句：
enlisted men and women 男兵和女兵 He enlisted with the air force to fight against the enemy. 他应募加入空军对敌作战。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

11 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。

12 candid
adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的
参考例句：
I cannot but hope the candid reader will give some allowance for it.我只有希望公正的读者多少包涵一些。 He is quite candid with his friends.他对朋友相当坦诚。

13 tempted
v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）
参考例句：
I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。 I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

14 prolific
adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的
参考例句：
She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。 The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

15 profusion
n.挥霍；丰富
参考例句：
He is liberal to profusion.他挥霍无度。 The leaves are falling in profusion.落叶纷纷。

16 crabs
n.蟹( crab的名词复数 )；阴虱寄生病；蟹肉v.捕蟹( crab的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
As we walked along the seashore we saw lots of tiny crabs. 我们在海岸上散步时看到很多小蟹。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The fish and crabs scavenge for decaying tissue. 鱼和蟹搜寻腐烂的组织为食。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 attentively
adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神
参考例句：
She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时，她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》 She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着，把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 exertion
n.尽力，努力
参考例句：
We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture.我们搬动家具大费气力，累得大汗淋漓。 She was hot and breathless from the exertion of cycling uphill.由于用力骑车爬坡，她浑身发热。

19 miscarriages
流产( miscarriage的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Miscarriages are usually caused by abnormal chromosome patterns in the fetus. 流产通常是因为胎儿的染色体异常造成的。 Criminals go unpunishedareconvicted and are miscarriages of justice. 罪犯会逍遥法外，法律会伤及无辜，审判不公时有发生。

20 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》

21 recollected
adj.冷静的；镇定的；被回忆起的；沉思默想的v.记起，想起( recollect的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
I recollected that she had red hair. 我记得她有一头红发。 来自《简明英汉词典》 His efforts, the Duke recollected many years later, were distinctly half-hearted. 据公爵许多年之后的回忆，他当时明显只是敷衍了事。 来自辞典例句

22 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。

23 predecessors
n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身
参考例句：
The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 predecessor
n.前辈，前任
参考例句：
It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。 The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

25 formerly
adv.从前，以前
参考例句：
We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。 This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

26 extrinsic
adj.外部的；不紧要的
参考例句：
Nowadays there are more extrinsic pressures to get married.现在来自外部的结婚压力多了。 The question is extrinsic to our discussion.这个问题和我们的讨论无关。

27 previously
adv.以前，先前（地）
参考例句：
The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。 Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

28 sanguine
adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的
参考例句：
He has a sanguine attitude to life.他对于人生有乐观的看法。 He is not very sanguine about our chances of success.他对我们成功的机会不太乐观。

29 illustrate
v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图
参考例句：
The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。 This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。

30 considerably
adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上
参考例句：
The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。 The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

31 judgment
n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
参考例句：
The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。 He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

32 approbation
n.称赞；认可
参考例句：
He tasted the wine of audience approbation.他尝到了像酒般令人陶醉的听众赞许滋味。 The result has not met universal approbation.该结果尚未获得普遍认同。

33 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。

34 renown
n.声誉，名望
参考例句：
His renown has spread throughout the country.他的名声已传遍全国。 She used to be a singer of some renown.她曾是位小有名气的歌手。

35 lottery
n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事
参考例句：
He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。 They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

36 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。

37 daunted
使（某人）气馁，威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead. 她是一个勇敢的女人，但对面前的任务却感到信心不足。 He was daunted by the high quality of work they expected. 他被他们对工作的高品质的要求吓倒了。

38 arena
n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台
参考例句：
She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。 He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

39 aspire
vi.(to，after)渴望，追求，有志于
参考例句：
Living together with you is what I aspire toward in my life.和你一起生活是我一生最大的愿望。 I aspire to be an innovator not a follower.我迫切希望能变成个开创者而不是跟随者。

40 attain
vt.达到，获得，完成
参考例句：
I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。 His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

41 incognito
adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的
参考例句：
He preferred to remain incognito.他更喜欢继续隐姓埋名下去。 He didn't want to be recognized,so he travelled incognito.他不想被人认出，所以出行时隐瞒身分。

42 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。

43 shaft
n.(工具的)柄，杆状物
参考例句：
He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。 This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

44 simile
n.直喻，明喻
参考例句：
I believe this simile largely speaks the truth.我相信这种比拟在很大程度上道出了真实。 It is a trite simile to compare her teeth to pearls.把她的牙齿比做珍珠是陈腐的比喻。

45 shafts
n.轴( shaft的名词复数 )；（箭、高尔夫球棒等的）杆；通风井；一阵（疼痛、害怕等）
参考例句：
He deliberately jerked the shafts to rock him a bit. 他故意的上下颠动车把，摇这个老猴子几下。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子 Shafts were sunk, with tunnels dug laterally. 竖井已经打下，并且挖有横向矿道。 来自辞典例句

46 lesser
adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地
参考例句：
Kept some of the lesser players out.不让那些次要的球员参加联赛。 She has also been affected,but to a lesser degree.她也受到波及，但程度较轻。

47 archer
n.射手，弓箭手
参考例句：
The archer strung his bow and aimed an arrow at the target.弓箭手拉紧弓弦将箭瞄准靶子。 The archer's shot was a perfect bull's-eye.射手的那一箭正中靶心。

48 inaccessible
adj.达不到的，难接近的
参考例句：
This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。 The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

49 amend
vt.修改，修订，改进；n.[pl.]赔罪，赔偿
参考例句：
The teacher advised him to amend his way of living.老师劝他改变生活方式。 You must amend your pronunciation.你必须改正你的发音。

50 machinery
n.(总称)机械，机器；机构
参考例句：
Has the machinery been put up ready for the broadcast?广播器材安装完毕了吗？ Machinery ought to be well maintained all the time.机器应该随时注意维护。

51 conversing
v.交谈，谈话( converse的现在分词 )
参考例句：
I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》 They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

52 alteration
n.变更，改变；蚀变
参考例句：
The shirt needs alteration.这件衬衣需要改一改。 He easily perceived there was an alteration in my countenance.他立刻看出我的脸色和往常有些不同。

53 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。

54 remains
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。 The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

55 shroud
n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏
参考例句：
His past was enveloped in a shroud of mystery.他的过去被裹上一层神秘色彩。 How can I do under shroud of a dark sky?在黑暗的天空的笼罩下，我该怎么做呢？

56 condescends
屈尊，俯就( condescend的第三人称单数 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲
参考例句：
Our teacher rarely condescends to speak with us outside of class. 我们老师很少在课堂外屈尊与我们轻松地谈话。 He always condescends to his inferiors. 他对下属总是摆出施惠于人的态度。

57 ingenuity
n.别出心裁；善于发明创造
参考例句：
The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。 I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。

58 narrative
n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的
参考例句：
He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。 Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

59 attained
（通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况）
参考例句：
She has attained the degree of Master of Arts. 她已获得文学硕士学位。 Lu Hsun attained a high position in the republic of letters. 鲁迅在文坛上获得崇高的地位。

60 fictitious
adj.虚构的，假设的；空头的
参考例句：
She invented a fictitious boyfriend to put him off.她虚构出一个男朋友来拒绝他。 The story my mother told me when I was young is fictitious.小时候妈妈对我讲的那个故事是虚构的。

61 unintelligibility
不可懂度，不清晰性
参考例句：
Thus, they argue: "'Unintelligibility' resulting from faithfulness is worse than faithlessness that makes translation 'intelligible'." 故此主张“与其忠实而使人看不懂，毋宁不很忠实而看得懂。” 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译

62 prudent
adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的
参考例句：
A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。 You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

63 peculiar
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
参考例句：
He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。 He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

64 outlay
n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费
参考例句：
There was very little outlay on new machinery.添置新机器的开支微乎其微。 The outlay seems to bear no relation to the object aimed at.这费用似乎和预期目的完全不相称。

65 laudatory
adj.赞扬的
参考例句：
Now,when Carrie heard Drouet's laudatory opinion of her dramatic ability,her body tingled with satisfaction.听到杜洛埃这么称道自己的演戏才能，她心满意足精神振奋。 Her teaching evaluations are among the most laudatory in this department.她的教学评估在本系是居最受颂扬者之中。

66 ridicule
v.讥讽，挖苦；n.嘲弄
参考例句：
You mustn't ridicule unfortunate people.你不该嘲笑不幸的人。 Silly mistakes and queer clothes often arouse ridicule.荒谬的错误和古怪的服装常会引起人们的讪笑。

67 undertaking
n.保证，许诺，事业
参考例句：
He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。 He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

68 deter
vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住
参考例句：
Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。 Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

69 feats
功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )
参考例句：
He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。 His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。

70 surmounting
战胜( surmount的现在分词 )； 克服（困难）； 居于…之上； 在…顶上
参考例句：
Surmounting the risks and fears of some may be difficult. 解除某些人的疑虑可能是困难的。 There was high French-like land in one corner, and a tumble-down grey lighthouse surmounting it. 一角画着一块像是法国风光的高地，上面有一座破烂的灰色灯塔。

71 justified
a.正当的，有理的
参考例句：
She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。 The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

72 procure
vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条
参考例句：
Can you procure some specimens for me?你能替我弄到一些标本吗？ I'll try my best to procure you that original French novel.我将尽全力给你搞到那本原版法国小说。

73 apprehension
n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑
参考例句：
There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。 She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。

74 awaken
vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起
参考例句：
Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。 Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。

75 conclusive
adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的
参考例句：
They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。 Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。