What the Rose did to the Cypress(4) |
文章来源: 文章作者: 发布时间:2007-02-08 07:10 字体: [ 大 中 小] 进入论坛 |
(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
|
|
Once upon a time... A great king of the East, named Saman-lalposh, had three brave and clever sons Tahmasp, Qamas, and Almas-ruh-baksh.One day, when the king was sitting in his hall of audience, his eldest1 son, Prince Tahmasp, came before him, and after greeting his father with due respect, said: 'O my royal father! I am tired of the town; if you will give me leave, I will take my servants to-morrow and will go into the country and hunt on the hill-skirts; and when I have taken some game I will come back, at evening-prayer time.' His father consented, and sent with him some of his own trusted servants, and also hawks2, and falcons3, hunting dogs, cheetahs4 and leopards5.
At the place where the prince intended to hunt he saw a most beautiful deer. He ordered that it should not be killed, but trapped or captured with a noose6. The deer looked about for a place where he might escape from the ring of the beaters, and spied one unwatched close to the prince himself. It bounded high and leaped right over his head, got out of the ring, and tore like the eastern wind into the waste. The prince put spurs to his horse and pursued it; and was soon lost to the sight of his followers7. Until the world-lighting sun stood above his head in the zenith he did not take his eyes off the deer; suddenly it disappeared behind some rising ground, and with all his search he could not find any further trace of it. He was now drenched8 in sweat, and he breathed with pain; and his horse's tongue hung from its mouth with thirst. He dismounted and toiled9 on, with bridle10 on arm, praying and casting himself on the mercy of heaven. Then his horse fell and surrendered its life to God. On and on he went across the sandy waste, weeping and with burning breast, till at length a hill rose into sight. He mustered11 his strength and climbed to the top, and there he found a giant tree whose foot kept firm the wrinkled earth, and whose crest12 touched the very heaven. Its branches had put forth13 a glory of leaves, and there were grass and a spring underneath14 it, and flowers of many colours.
Gladdened by this sight, he dragged himself to the water's edge, drank his fill, and returned thanks for his deliverance from thirst.
He looked about him and, to his amazement15, saw close by a royal seat. While he was pondering what could have brought this into the merciless desert, a man drew near who was dressed like a faqir, and had bare head and feet, but walked with the free carriage of a person of rank. His face was kind, and wise and thoughtful, and he came on and spoke16 to the prince.
'O good youth! how did you come here? Who are you? Where do you come from?'
The prince told everything just as it had happened to him, and then respectfully added: 'I have made known my own circumstances to you, and now I venture to beg you to tell me your own. Who are you? How did you come to make your dwelling18 in this wilderness19?'
To this the faqir replied: 'O youth! it would be best for you to have nothing to do with me and to know nothing of my fortunes, for my story is fit neither for telling nor for hearing.' The prince, however, pleaded so hard to be told, that at last there was nothing to be done but to let him hear.
'Learn and know, O young man! that I am King Janangir of Babylon, and that once I had army and servants, family and treasure; untold20 wealth and belongings21. The Most High God gave me seven sons who grew up well versed22 in all princely arts. My eldest son heard from travellers that in Turkistan, on the Chinese frontier, there is a king named Quimus, the son of Timus, and that he has an only child, a daughter named Mihr-afruz, who, under all the azure23 heaven, is unrivalled for beauty. Princes come from all quarters to ask her hand, and on one and all she imposes a condition. She says to them: "I know a riddle24; and I will marry anyone who answers it, and will bestow25 on him all my possessions. But if a suitor cannot answer my question I cut off his head and hang it on the battlements of the citadel26." The riddle she asks is, "What did the rose do to the cypress27?"
'Now, when my son heard this tale, he fell in love with that unseen girl, and he came to me lamenting29 and bewailing himself. Nothing that I could say had the slightest effect on him. I said: "Oh my son! if there must be fruit of this fancy of yours, I will lead forth a great army against King Quimus. If he will give you his daughter freely, well and good; and if not, I will ravage30 his kingdom and bring her away by force." This plan did not please him; he said: "It is not right to lay a kingdom waste and to destroy a palace so that I may attain31 my desire. I will go alone; I will answer the riddle, and win her in this way." At last, out of pity for him, I let him go. He reached the city of King Quimus. He was asked the riddle and could not give the true answer; and his head was cut off and hung upon the battlements. Then I mourned him in black raiment for forty days.
After this another and another of my sons were seized by the same desire, and in the end all my seven sons went, and all were killed. In grief for their death I have abandoned my throne, and I abide32 here in this desert, withholding33 my hand from all State business and wearing myself away in sorrow.'
Prince Tahmasp listened to this tale, and then the arrow of love for that unseen girl struck his heart also. Just at this moment of his ill-fate his people came up, and gathered round him like moths34 round a light. They brought him a horse, fleet as the breeze of the dawn; he set his willing foot in the stirrup of safety and rode off. As the days went by the thorn of love rankled35 in his heart, and he became the very example of lovers, and grew faint and feeble. At last his confidants searched his heart and lifted the veil from the face of his love, and then set the matter before his father, King Saman-lal-posh. 'Your son, Prince Tahmasp, loves distractedly the Princess Mihr-afruz, daughter of King Quimus, son of Timus.' Then they told the king all about her and her doings. A mist of sadness clouded the king's mind, and he said to his son: 'If this thing is so, I will in the first place send a courier with friendly letters to King Quimus, and will ask the hand of his daughter for you. I will send an abundance of gifts, and a string of camels laden36 with flashing stones and rubies37 of Badakhsham In this way I will bring her and her suite38, and I will give her to you to be your solace39. But if King Quimus is unwilling40 to give her to you, I will pour a whirlwind of soldiers upon him, and I will bring to you, in this way, that most consequential41 of girls.' But the prince said that this plan would not be right, and that he would go himself, and would answer the riddle. Then the king's wise men said: 'This is a very weighty matter; it would be best to allow the prince to set out accompanied by some persons in whom you have confidence. Maybe he will repent42 and come back.' So King Saman ordered all preparations for the journey to be made, and then Prince Tahmasp took his leave and set out, accompanied by some of the courtiers, and taking with him a string of two-humped and raven-eyed camels laden with jewels, and gold, and costly43 stuffs.
By stage after stage, and after many days' journeying, he arrived at the city of King Quimus. What did he see? A towering citadel whose foot kept firm the wrinkled earth, and whose battlements touched the blue heaven. He saw hanging from its battlements many heads, but it had not the least effect upon him that these were heads of men of rank; he listened to no advice about laying aside his fancy, but rode up to the gate and on into the heart of the city. The place was so splendid that the eyes of the ages have never seen its like, and there, in an open square, he found a tent of crimson44 satin set up, and beneath it two jewelled drums with jewelled sticks. These drums were put there so that the suitors of the princess might announce their arrival by beating on them, after which some one would come and take them to the king's presence. The sight of the drums stirred the fire of Prince Tahmasp's love. He dismounted, and moved towards them; but his companions hurried after and begged him first to let them go and announce him to the king, and said that then, when they had put their possessions in a place of security, they would enter into the all important matter of the princess. The prince, however, replied that he was there for one thing only; that his first duty was to beat the drums and announce himself as a suitor, when he would be taken, as such, to the king, who would then give him proper lodgment. So he struck upon the drums, and at once summoned an officer who took him to King Quimus.
When the king saw how very young the prince looked, and that he was still drinking of the fountain of wonder, he said: 'O youth! leave aside this fancy which my daughter has conceived in the pride of her beauty. No one can answer her riddle, and she has done to death many men who had had no pleasure in life nor tasted its charms. God forbid that your spring also should be ravaged45 by the autumn winds of martyrdom.' All his urgency, however, had no effect in making the prince withdraw. At length it was settled between them that three days should be given to pleasant hospitality and that then should follow what had to be said and done. Then the prince went to his own quarters and was treated as became his station.
King Quimus now sent for his daughter and for her mother, Gulrukh, and talked to them. He said to Mibrafruz: ' Listen to me, you cruel flirt46! Why do you persist in this folly47? Now there has come to ask your hand a prince of the east, so handsome that the very sun grows modest before the splendour of his face; he is rich, and he has brought gold and jewels, all for you, if you will marry him. A better husband you will not find.'
But all the arguments of father and mother were wasted, for her only answer was: 'O my father! I have sworn to myself that I will not marry, even if a thousand years go by, unless someone answers my riddle, and that I will give myself to that man only who does answer it.'
The three days passed; then the riddle was asked: 'What did the rose do to the cypress?' The prince had an eloquent48 tongue, which could split a hair, and without hesitation49 he replied to her with a verse: 'Only the Omnipotent50 has knowledge of secrets; if any man says, " I know " do not believe him.'
Then a servant fetched in the polluted, blue-eyed headsman, who asked: 'Whose sun of life has come near its setting?' took the prince by the arm, placed him upon the cloth of execution, and then, all merciless and stony52 hearted, cut his head from his body and hung it on the battlements.
The news of the death of Prince Tahmasp plunged53 his father into despair and stupefaction. He mourned for him in black raiment for forty days; and then, a few days later, his second son, Prince Qamas, extracted from him leave to go too; and he, also, was put to death. One son only now remained, the brave, eloquent, happy-natured Prince Almas-ruh-bakhsh. One day, when his father sat brooding over his lost children, Almas came before him and said: 'O father mine! the daughter of King Quimus has done my two brothers to death; I wish to avenge54 them upon her.' These words brought his father to tears. 'O light of your father! ' he cried, 'I have no one left but you, and now you ask me to let you go to your death.'
'Dear father!' pleaded the prince, 'until I have lowered the pride of that beauty, and have set her here before you, I cannot settle down or indeed sit down off my feet.'
In the end he, too, got leave to go; but he went a without a following and alone. Like his brothers, he made the long journey to the city of Quimus the son of Timus; like them he saw the citadel, but he saw there the heads of Tahmasp and Qamas. He went about in the city, saw the tent and the drums, and then went out again to a village not far off. Here he found out a very old man who had a wife 120 years old, or rather more. Their lives were coming to their end, but they had never beheld55 face of child of their own. They were glad when the prince came to their house, and they dealt with him as with a son. He put all his belongings into their charge, and fastened his horse in their out-house. Then he asked them not to speak of him to anyone, and to keep his affairs secret. He exchanged his royal dress for another, and next morning, just as the sun looked forth from its eastern oratory56, he went again into the city. He turned over in his mind without ceasing how he was to find out the meaning of the riddle, and to give them a right answer, and who could help him, and how to avenge his brothers. He wandered about the city, but heard nothing of service, for there was no one in all that land who understood the riddle of Princess Mihr-afruz.#p#
One day he thought he would go to her own palace and see if he could learn anything there, so he went out to her garden-house. It was a very splendid place, with a wonderful gateway57, and walls like Alexander's ramparts. Many gate-keepers were on guard, and there was no chance of passing them. His heart was full of bitterness, but he said to himself: 'All will be well! it is here I shall get what I want.' He went round outside the garden wall hoping to find a gap, and he made supplication58 in the Court of Supplications and prayed, 'O Holder59 of the hand of the helpless! show me my way.'
While he prayed he bethought himself that he could get into the garden with a stream of inflowing water. He looked carefully round, fearing to be seen, stripped, slid into the stream and was carried within the great walls. There he hid himself till his loin cloth was dry. The garden was a very Eden, with running water amongst its lawns, with flowers and the lament28 of doves and the jug-jug of nightingales. It was a place to steal the senses from the brain, and he wandered about and saw the house, but there seemed to be no one there. In the forecourt was a royal seat of polished jasper, and in the middle of the platform was a basin of purest water that flashed like a mirror. He pleased himself with these sights for a while, and then went back to the garden and hid himself from the gardeners and passed the night. Next morning he put on the appearance of a madman and wandered about till he came to a lawn where several pert-faced girls were amusing themselves. On a throne, jewelled and overspread with silken stuffs, sat a girl the splendour of whose beauty lighted up the place, and whose ambergris and attar perfumed the whole air. 'That must be Mihrafruz,' he thought, 'she is indeed lovely.' Just then one of the attendants came to the water's edge to fill a cup, and though the prince was in hiding, his face was reflected in the water. When she saw this image she was frightened, and let her cup fall into the stream, and thought, 'Is it an angel, or a peri, or a man?' Fear and trembling took hold of her, and she screamed as women scream. Then some of the other girls came and took her to the princess who asked: 'What is the matter, pretty one?'
'O princess! I went for water, and I saw an image, and I was afraid.' So another girl went to the water and saw the same thing, and came back with the same story. The princess wished to see for herself; she rose and paced to the spot with the march of a prancing60 peacock. When she saw the image she said to her nurse: 'Find out who is reflected in the water, and where he lives.' Her words reached the prince's ear, he lifted up his head; she saw him and beheld beauty such as she had never seen before. She lost a hundred hearts to him, and signed to her nurse to bring him to her presence. The prince let himself be persuaded to go with the nurse, but when the princess questioned him as to who he was and how he had got into her garden, he behaved like a man out of his mind--sometimes smiling, sometimes crying, and saying: ' I am hungry,'Or words misplaced and random61, civil mixed with the rude.
'What a pity!' said the princess, 'he is mad!' As she liked him she said: 'He is my madman; let no one hurt him.' She took him to her house and told him not to go away, for that she would provide for all his wants. The prince thought, 'It would be excellent if here, in her very house, I could get the answer to her riddle; but I must be silent, on pain of death.'
Now in the princess's household there was a girl called Dil-aram she it was who had first seen the image of the prince. She came to love him very much, and she spent day and night thinking how she could make her affection known to him. One day she escaped from the princess's notice and went to the prince, and laid her head on his feet and said: ' Heaven has bestowed62 on you beauty and charm. Tell me your secret; who are you, and how did you come here? I love you very much, and if you would like to leave this place I will go with you. I have wealth equal to the treasure of the miserly Qarun.' But the prince only made answer like a man distraught, and told her nothing. He said to himself, ' God forbid that the veil should be taken in vain from my secret; that would indeed disgrace me.' So, with streaming eyes and burning breast, Dil-aram arose and went to her house and lamented63 and fretted64.
Now whenever the princess commanded the prince's attendance, Dil-aram, of all the girls, paid him attention and waited on him best. The princess noticed this, and said: 'O Dil-aram! you must take my madman into your charge and give him whatever he wants.' This was the very thing Dil- aram had prayed for. A little later she took the prince into a private place and she made him take an oath of secrecy65, and she herself took one and swore, ' By Heaven! I will not tell your secret. Tell me all about yourself so that I may help you to get what you want.' The prince now recognised in her words the perfume of true love, and he made compact with her. 'O lovely girl! I want to know what the rose did to the cypress. Your mistress cuts off men's heads because of this riddle; what is at the bottom of it, and why does she do it?' Then Dil-aram answered: ' If you will promise to marry me and to keep me always amongst those you favour, I will tell you all I know, and I will keep watch about the riddle.'
'O lovely girl,' rejoined he, 'if I accomplish my purpose, so that I need no longer strive for it, I will keep my compact with you. When I have this woman in my power and have avenged66 my brothers, I will make you my solace.'
'O wealth of my life and source of my joy!' responded Dil-aram, 'I do not know what the rose did to the cypress; but so much I know that the person who told Mihr-afruz about it is a negro whom she hides under her throne. He fled here from Waq of the Caucasus--it is there you must make inquiry67; there is no other way of getting at the truth.'On hearing these words, the prince said to his heart, 'O my heart! your task will yet wear away much of your life.'
He fell into long and far thought, and Dil-aram looked at him and said: 'O my life and my soul! do not be sad. If you would like this woman killed, I will put poison into her cup so that she will never lift her head from her drugged sleep again.'
'O Dil-aram! such a vengeance68 is not manly69. I shall not rest till I have gone to Waq of the Caucasus and have cleared up the matter.' Then they repeated the agreement about their marriage, and bade one another goodbye.
The prince now went back to the village, and told the old man that he was setting out on a long journey, and begged him not to be anxious, and to keep safe the goods which had been entrusted70 to him.
The prince had not the least knowledge of the way to Waq of the Caucasus, and was cast down by the sense of his helplessness. He was walking along by his horse's side when there appeared before him an old man of serene71 countenance72, dressed in green and carrying a staff, who resembled Khizr. The prince thanked heaven, laid the hands of reverence73 on his breast and salaamed74. The old man returned the greeting graciously, and asked: 'How fare you? Whither are you bound? You look like a traveller.'
'O revered75 saint! I am in this difficulty: I do not know the way to Waq of the Caucasus.' The old man of good counsel looked at the young prince and said: 'Turn back from this dangerous undertaking76. Do not go; choose some other task! If you had a hundred lives you would not bring one out safe from this journey.' But his words had no effect on the prince's resolve. 'What object have you,' the old man asked, 'in thus consuming your life?'
'I have an important piece of business to do, and only this journey makes it possible. I must go; I pray you, ill God's name, tell me the way.'
When the saint saw that the prince was not to be moved, he said: ' Learn and know, O youth! that Waq of Qaf is in the Caucasus and is a dependency of it. In it there are jins, demons77, and peris. You must go on along this road till it forks into three; take neither the right hand nor the left, but the middle path. Follow this for a day and a night. Then you will come to a column on which is a marble slab78 inscribed79 with Cufic characters. Do what is written there; beware of disobedience.' Then he gave his good wishes for the journey and his blessing80, and the prince kissed his Bet, said good-bye, and, with thanks to the Causer of Causes, took the road.
After a day and a night he saw the column rise in silent beauty to the heavens. Everything was as the wise old man had said it would be, and the prince, who was skilled in all tongues, read the following Cufic inscription81: 'O travellers! be it known to you that this column has been set up with its tablet to give true directions about these roads. If a man would pass his life in ease and pleasantness, let him take the right-hand path. If he take the left, he will have some trouble, but he will reach his goal without much delay. Woe82 to him who chooses the middle path! if he had a thousand lives he would not save one; it is very hazardous83; it leads to the Caucasus, and is an endless road. Beware of it!'
The prince read and bared his head and lifted his hands in supplication to Him who has no needs, and prayed, 'O Friend of the traveller! I, Thy servant, come to Thee for succour. My purpose lies in the land of Qaf and my road is full of peril84. Lead me by it.' Then he took a handful of earth and cast it on his collar, and said: 'O earth! be thou my grave; and O vest! tee thou my winding-sheet!' Then he took the middle road and went along it, day after day, with many a silent prayer, till he saw trees rise from the weary waste of sand. They grew in a garden, and he went up to the gate and found it a slab of beautifully worked marble, and that near it there lay sleeping, with his head on a stone, a negro whose face was so black that it made darkness round him. His upper lip, arched like an eyebrow85, curved upwards86 to his nostrils87 and his lower hung down like a camel's. Four millstones formed his shield, and on a box- tree close by hung his giant sword. His loin-cloth was fashioned of twelve skins of beasts, and was bound round his waist by a chain of which each link was as big as an elephant's thigh88.
The prince approached and tied up his horse near the negro's head. Then he let fall the Bismillah from his lips, entered the garden and walked through it till he came to the private part, delighting in the great trees, the lovely verdure, and the flowery borders. In the inner garden there were very many deer. These signed to him with eye and foot to go back, for that this was enchanted89 ground; but he did not understand them, and thought their pretty gestures were a welcome. After a while he reached a palace which had a porch more splendid than Caesar's, and was built of gold and silver bricks. In its midst was a high seat, overlaid with fine carpets, and into it opened eight doors, each having opposite to it a marble basin.
Banishing90 care, Prince Almas walked on through the garden, when suddenly a window opened and a girl, who was lovely enough to make the moon writhe91 with jealousy92, put out her head. She lost her heart to the good looks of the prince, and sent her nurse to fetch him so that she might learn where he came from and how he had got into her private garden where even lions and wolves did not venture. The nurse went, and was struck with amazement at the sun-like radiance of his face; she salaamed and said: 'O youth! welcome! the lady of the garden calls you; come!' He went with her and into a palace which was like a house in Paradise, and saw seated on the royal carpets of the throne a girl whose brilliance93 shamed the shining sun. He salaamed; she rose, took him by the hand and placed him near her. 'O young man! who are you? Where do you come from? How did you get into this garden?' He told her his story from beginning to end, and Lady Latifa replied: 'This is folly! It will make you a vagabond of the earth, and lead you to destruction. Come, cease such talk! No one can go to the Caucasus. Stay with me and be thankful, for here is a throne which you can share with me, and in my society you can enjoy my wealth. I will do whatever you wish; I will bring here King Qulmus and his daughter, and you can deal with them as you will.'
'O Lady Latifa,' he said, 'I have made a compact with heaven not to sit down off my feet till I have been to Waq of Qaf and have cleared up this matter, and have taken Mihr- afruz from her father, as brave men take, and have put her in prison. When I have done all this I will come back to you in state and with a great following, and I will marry you according to the law.' Lady Latifa argued and urged her wishes, but in vain; the prince was not to be moved. Then she called to the cupbearers for new wine, for she thought that when his head was hot with it he might consent to stay. The pure, clear wine was brought; she filled a cup and gave to him. He said: 'O most enchanting94 sweetheart! it is the rule for the host to drink first and then the guest.' So to make him lose his head, she drained the cup; then filled it again and gave him. He drank it off, and she took a lute51 from one of the singers and played upon it with skill which witched away the sense of all who heard. But it was all in vain; three days passed in such festivities, and on the fourth the prince said: 'O joy of my eyes! I beg now that you will bid me farewell, for my way is long and the fire of your love darts95 flame into the harvest of my heart. By heaven's grace I may accomplish my purpose, and, if so, I will come back to you.'
Now she saw that she could not in any way change his resolve, she told her nurse to bring a certain casket which contained, she said, something exhilarating which would help the prince on his journey. The box was brought, and she divided off a portion of what was within and gave it to the prince to eat. Then, and while he was all unaware96, she put forth her hand to a stick fashioned like a snake; she said some words over it and struck him so sharply on the shoulder that he cried out; then he made a pirouette and found that he was a deer.
When he knew what had been done to him he thought, 'All the threads of affliction are gathered together; I have lost my last chance!' He tried to escape, but the magician sent for her goldsmith, who, coming, overlaid the deer-horns with gold and jewels. The kerchief which that day she had had in her hand was then tied round its neck, and this freed it from her attentions.
The prince-deer now bounded into the garden and at once sought some way of escape. It found none, and it joined the other deer, which soon made it their leader. Now, although the prince had been transformed into the form of a deer, he kept his man's heart and mind. He said to himself, 'Thank heaven that the Lady Latifa has changed me into this shape, for at least deer are beautiful.' He remained for some time living as a deer amongst the rest, but at length resolved that an end to such a life must be put ill some way. He looked again for some place by which he could get out of the magic garden. Following round the wall he reached a lower part; he remembered the Divine Names and flung himself over, saying, 'Whatever happens is by the will of God.' When he looked about he found that he was in the very same place he had jumped from; there was the palace, there the garden and the deer! Eight times he leaped over the wall and eight times found himself where he had started from; but after the ninth leap there was a change, there was a palace and there was a garden, but the deer were gone.
Presently a girl of such moon-like beauty opened a window that the prince lost to her a hundred hearts. She was delighted with the beautiful deer, and cried to her nurse: 'Catch it! if you will I will give you this necklace, every pearl of which is worth a kingdom.' The nurse coveted97 the pearls, but as she was three hundred years old she did not know how she could catch a deer. However, she went down into the garden and held out some grass, but when she went near the creature ran away. The girl watched with great excitement from the palace window, and called: 'O nurse, if you don't catch it, I will kill you!' 'I am killing98 myself,' shouted back the old woman. The girl saw that nurse tottering99 along and went down to help, marching with the gait of a prancing peacock. When she saw the gilded100 horns and the kerchief she said: 'It must be accustomed to the hand, and be some royal pet!' The prince had it in mind that this might be another magician who could give him some other shape, but still it seemed best to allow himself to be caught. So he played about the girl and let her catch him by the neck. A leash101 was brought, fruits were given, and it was caressed102 with delight. It was taken to the palace and tied at the foot of the Lady Jamila's raised seat, but she ordered a longer cord to be brought so that it might be able to jump up beside her.
When the nurse went to fix the cord she saw tears falling from its eyes, and that it was dejected and sorrowful 'O Lady Jamila! this is a wonderful deer, it is crying; I never saw a deer cry before.' Jamila darted103 down like a flash of lightning, and saw that it was so. It rubbed its head on her feet and then shook it so sadly that the girl cried for sympathy. She patted it and said: 'Why are you sad, my heart? Why do you cry, my soul? Is it because I have caught you? I love you better than my own life.' But, spite of her comforting, it cried the more. Then Jamila said: 'Unless I am mistaken, this is the work of my wicked sister Latifa, who by magic art turns servants of God into beasts of the field.' At these words the deer uttered sounds, and laid its head on her feet. Then Jamila was sure it was a man, and said: ' Be comforted, I will restore you to your own shape.' She bathed herself and ordered the deer to be bathed, put on clean raiment, called for a box which stood in an alcove104, opened it and gave a portion of what was in it to the deer to eat. Then she slipped her hand under her carpet and produced a stick to which she said something. She struck the deer hard, it pirouetted and became Prince Almas.#p#
The broidered kerchief and the jewels lay upon the ground. The prince prostrated105 himself in thanks to heaven and Jamila, and said: 'O delicious person! O Chinese Venus! how shall I excuse myself for giving you so much trouble? With what words can I thank you?' Then she called for a clothes-wallet and chose out a royal dress of honour. Her attendants dressed him in it, and brought him again before the tender-hearted lady. She turned to him a hundred hearts, took his hand and seated him beside her, and said: 'O youth! tell me truly who you are and where you come from, and how you fell into the power of my sister.'
Even when he was a deer the prince had much admired Jamila now he thought her a thousand times more lovely than before. He judged that in truth alone was safety, and so told her his whole story. Then she asked: 'O Prince Almas-ruh-bakhsh, do you still wish so much to make this journey to Waq of Qaf? What hope is there in it? The road is dangerous even near here, and this is not yet the borderland of the Caucasus. Come, give it up! It is a great risk, and to go is not wise. It would be a pity for a man like you to fall into the hands of jins and demons. Stay with me, and I will do whatever you wish.'
'O most delicious person!' he answered, 'you are very generous, and the choice of my life lies in truth in your hands; but I beg one favour of you. If you love me, so do I too love you. If you really love me, do not forbid me to make this journey, but help me as far as you can. Then it may be that I shall succeed, and if I return with my purpose fulfilled I will marry you according to the law, and take you to my own country, and we will spend the rest of our lives together in pleasure and good companionship. Help me, if you can, and give me your counsel.'
'O very stuff of my life,' replied Jamila 'I will give you things that are not in kings' treasuries106, and which will be of the greatest use to you. First, there are the bow and arrows of his Reverence the Prophet Salih. Secondly107, there is the Scorpion108 of Solomon (on whom be peace), which is a sword such as no king has; steel and stone are one to it; if you bring it down on a rock it will not be injured, and it will cleave109 whatever you strike. Thirdly, there is the dagger110 which the sage111 Timus himself made; this is most useful, and the man who wears it would not bend under seven camels' loads. What you have to do first is to get to the home of the Simurgh, and to make friends with him. If he favours you, he will take you to Waq of Qaf; if not, you will never get there, for seven seas are on the way, and they are such seas that if all the kings of the earth, and all their wazirs, and all their wise men considered for a thousand years, they would not be able to cross them.'
'O most delicious person! where is the Simurgh's home? How shall I get there?'
'O new fruit of life! you must just do what I tell you, and you must use your eyes and your brains, for if you don't you will find yourself at the place of the negroes, who are a bloodthirsty set; and God forbid they should lay hands on your precious person.'
Then she took the bow and quiver of arrows, the sword, and the dagger out of a box, and the prince let fall a Bismillah, and girt them all on. Then Jamila of the houri-face, produced two saddle-bags of ruby-red silk, one filled with roasted fowl112 and little cakes, and the other with stones of price. Next she gave him a horse as swift as the breeze of the morning, and she said: ' Accept all these things from me; ride till you come to a rising ground, at no great distance from here, where there is a spring. It is called the Place of Gifts, and you must stay there one night. There you will see many wild beasts--lions, tigers, leopards, apes, and so on. Before you get there you must capture some game. On the long road beyond there dwells a lion-king, alla if other beasts did not fear him they would ravage the whole country and let no one pass. The lion is a red transgressor113, so when he comes rise and do him reverence; take a cloth and rub the dust and earth from his face, then set the game you have taken before him, well cleansed114, and lay the hands of respect on your breast. When he wishes to eat, take your knife and cut pieces of the meat and set them before him with a bow. In this way you will enfold that lion-king in perfect friendship, and he will be most useful to you, and you will be safe from molestation115 by the negroes. When you go on from the Place of Gifts, be sure you do not take the right-hand road; take the left, for the other leads by the negro castle, which is known as the Place of Clashing Swords, and where there are forty negro captains each over three thousand or four thousand more. Their chief is Taramtaq. Further on than this is the home of the Simurgh.'
Having stored these things in the prince's memory, she said: 'You will see everything happen just as I have said.' Then she escorted him a little way; they parted, and she went home to mourn his absence.
Prince Almas, relying on the Causer of Causes, rode on to the Place of Gifts and dismounted at the platform. Everything happened just as Jamila had foretold116; when one or two watches of the night had passed, he saw that the open ground around him was full of such stately and splendid animals as he had never seen before. By-and-by, they made way for a wonderfully big lion, which was eighty yards from nose to tail-tip, and was a magnificent creature. The prince advanced and saluted117 it; it proudly drooped118 its head and forelocks and paced to the platform. Seventy or eighty others were with it, and now encircled it at a little distance. It laid its right paw over its left, and the prince took the kerchief Jamila had given him for the purpose, and rubbed the dust and earth from its face; then brought forward the game he had prepared, and crossing his hands respectfully on his breast stood waiting before it. When it wished for food he cut off pieces of the meat and put them in its mouth. The serving lions also came near and the prince would have stayed his hand, but the king-lion signed to him to feed them too. This he did, laying the meat on the platform. Then the king-lion beckoned119 the prince to come near and said: 'Sleep at ease; my guards will watch.'. So, surrounded by the lion-guard, he slept till dawn, when the king lion said good-bye, and gave him a few of his own hairs and said: 'When you are in any difficulty, burn one of these and I will be there.' Then it went off into the jungle.
Prince Almas immediately started; he rode till he came to the parting of the ways. He remembered quite well that the right-hand way was short and dangerous, but he bethought himself too that whatever was written on his forehead would happen, and took the forbidden road. By-and-by he saw a castle, and knew from what Jamila had told him that it was the Place of Clashing Swords. He would have liked to go back by the way ho had come, but courage forbade, and he said, 'What has been preordained from eternity120 will happen to me,' and went on towards the castle. He was thinking of tying his horse to a tree which grew near the gate when a negro came out and spied him. ' Ha!' said the wretch121 to himself, 'this is good; Taram-taq has not eaten man-meat for a long time, and is craving122 for some. I will take this creature to him.' He took hold of the prince's reins123, and said: 'Dismount, man-child! Come to my master. He has wanted to eat man-meat this long time back.' 'What nonsense are you saying?' said the prince, and other such words. When the negro understood that he was being abused, he cried: 'Come along! I will put you into such a state that the birds of the air will weep for you.' Then the prince drew the Scorpion of So]omon and struck him--struck him on the leathern belt and shore him through so that the sword came out on the other side. He stood upright for a little while, muttered some words, put out his hand to seize the prince, then fell in two and surrendered his life.
There was water close at hand, and the prince made his ablution, and then said: 'O my heart! a wonderful task lies upon you.' A second negro came out of the fort, and seeing what had been done, went back and told his chief. Others wished to be doubled, and went out, and of every one the Scorpion of Solomon made two. Then Taram-taq sent for a giant negro named Chil-maq, who in the day of battle was worth three hundred, and said to him: 'I shall thank you to fetch me that man.'
Chil-maq went out, tall as a tower, and bearing a shield of eight millstones, and as he walked he shouted: 'Ho! blunder- head! by what right do you come to our country and kill our people? Come! make two of me.' As the prince was despicable in his eyes, he tossed aside his club and rushed to grip him with his hands. He caught him by the collar, tucked him under his arm and set off with him to Taram-taq. But the prince drew the dagger of Timus and thrust it upwards through the giant's armpit, for its full length. This made Chil-maq drop him and try to pick up his club; but when he stooped the mighty124 sword shore him through at the waist.
When news of his champion's death reached Taram-taq he put himself at the head of an army of his negroes and led them forth. Many fell before the magic sword, and the prince laboured on in spite of weakness and fatigue125 till he was almost worn out. In a moment of respite126 from attack he struck his fire-steel and burned a hair of the king-lion; and he had just succeeded in this when the negroes charged again and all but took him prisoner. Suddenly from behind the distant veil of the desert appeared an army of lions led by their king. 'What brings these scourges127 of heaven here?' cried the negroes. They came roaring up, and put fresh life into the prince. He fought on, and when he struck on a belt the wearer fell in two, and when on a head he cleft128 to the waist. Then the ten thousand mighty lions joined the fray129 and tore in pieces man and horse.
Taram-taq was left alone; he would have retired130 into his fort, but the prince shouted: 'Whither away, accursed one? Are you fleeing before me?' At these defiant131 words the chief shouted back, 'Welcome, man! Come here and I will soften132 you to wax beneath my club.' Then he hurled133 his club at the prince's head, but it fell harmless because the prince had quickly spurred his horse forward. The chief, believing he had hit him, was looking down for him, when all at once he came up behind and cleft him to the waist and sent him straight to hell.
The king-lion greatly praised the dashing courage of Prince Almas. They went together into the Castle of Clashing Swords and found it adorned135 and fitted in princely fashion. In it was a daughter of Taram taq, still a child She sent a message to Prince Almas saying, 'O king of the world! choose this slave to be your handmaid. Keep her with you; where you go, there she will go! ' He sent for her and she kissed his feet and received the Mussulman faith at his hands. He told her he was going a long journey on important business, and that when he came back he would take her and her possessions to his own country, but that for the present she must stay in the castle. Then he made over the fort and all that was in it to the care of the lion, saying: 'Guard them, brother! let no one lay a hand on them.' He said goodbye, chose a fresh horse from the chief's stable and once again took the road.
After travelling many stages and for many days, he reached a plain of marvellous beauty and refreshment136. It was carpeted with flowers--roses, tulips, and clover; it had lovely lawns, and amongst them running water. This choicest place of earth filled him with wonder. There was a tree such as he had never seen before; its branches were alike, but it bore flowers and fruit of a thousand kinds. Near it a reservoir had been fashioned of four sorts of stone--touchstone, pure stone, marble, and loadstone. In and out of it flowed water like attar. The prince felt sure this must be the place of the Simurgh.' he dismounted, turned his horse loose to graze, ate some of the food Jamila had given him, drank of the stream and lay down to sleep.
He was still dozing137 when he was aroused by the neighing and pawing of his horse. When he could see clearly he made out a mountain-like dragon whose heavy breast crushed the stones beneath it into putty. He remembered the Thousand Names of God and took the bow of Salih from its case and three arrows from their quiver. He bound the dagger of Tlmus firmly to his waist and hung the scorpion of Solomon round his neck. Then he set an arrow on the string and released it with such force that it went in at the monster's eye right up to the notch138. The dragon writhed139 on itself, and belched140 forth an evil vapour, and beat the ground with its head till the earth quaked. Then the prince took a second arrow and shot into its throat. It drew in its breath and would have sucked the prince into its maw, but when he was within striking distance he drew his sword and, having committed himself to God, struck a mighty blow which cut the creature's neck down to the gullet. The foul141 vapour of the beast and horror at its strangeness now overcame the prince, and he fainted. When he came to himself he found that he was drenched in the gore142 of the dead monster. He rose and thanked God for his deliverance.
The nest of the Simurgh was in the wonderful tree above him, and in it were young birds; the parents were away searching for food. They always told the children, before they left them, not to put their heads out of the nest; but, to-day, at the noise of the fight below, they looked down and so saw the whole affair. By the time the dragon had been killed they were very hungry and set up a clamour for food. The prince therefore cut up the dragon and fed them with it, bit by bit, till they had eaten the whole. He then washed himself and lay down to rest, and he was still asleep when the Simurgh came home. As a rule, the young birds raised a clamour of welcome when their parents came near, but on this day they were so full of dragon-meat that they had no choice, they had to go to sleep.
As they flew nearer, the old birds saw the prince lying under the tree and no sign of life in the nest. They thought that the misfortune which for so many earlier years had befallen them had again happened and that their nestlings had disappeared. They had never been able to find out the murderer, and now suspected the prince. ' He has eaten our children and sleeps after it; he must die,' said the father-bird, and flew back to the hills and clawed up a huge stone which he meant to let fall on the prince's head. But his mate said, 'Let us look into the nest first for to kill an innocent person would condemn143 us at the Day of Resurrection.' They flew nearer, and presently the young birds woke and cried, 'Mother, what have you brought for us?' and they told the whole story of the fight, and of how they were alive only by the favour of the young man under the tree, and of his cutting up the dragon and of their eating it. The mother-bird then remarked, 'Truly, father! you were about to do a strange thing, and a terrible sin has been averted144 from you.' Then the Simurgh flew off to a distance with the great stone and dropped it. It sank down to the very middle of the earth.
Coming back, the Simurgh saw that a little sunshine fell upon the prince through the leaves, and it spread its wings and shaded him till he woke. When he got up he salaamed to it, who returned his greeting with joy and gratitude145, and caressed him and said: 'O youth, tell me true! who are you, and where are you going? And how did you cross that pitiless desert where never yet foot of man had trod?' The prince told his story from beginning to end, and finished by saying: 'Now it is my heart's wish that you should help me to get to Waq of the Caucasus. Perhaps, by your favour, I shall accomplish my task and avenge my brothers.' In reply the Simurgh.' first blessed the deliverer of his children, and then went on: ' What you have done no child of man has ever done before; you assuredly have a claim on all my help, for every year up till now that dragon has come here and has destroyed my nestlings, and I have never been able to find who was the murderer and to avenge myself. By God's grace you have removed my children's powerful foe146. I regard you as a child of my own. Stay with me; I will give you everything you desire, and I will establish a city here for you, and will furnish it with every requisite147; I will give you the land of the Caucasus, and will make its princes subject to you. Give up the journey to Waq, it is full of risk, and the jins there will certainly kill you.' But nothing could move the prince, and seeing this the bird went on: 'Well, so be it! When you wish to set forth you must go into the plain and take seven head of deer, and must make water-tight bags of their hides and keep their flesh in seven portions. Seven seas lie on our way-- I will carry you over them; but if I have not food and drink we shall fall into the sea and be drowned. When I ask for it you must put food and water into my mouth. So we shall make the journey safely.'
The prince did all as he was told, then they took flight; they crossed the seven seas, and at each one the prince fed the Simurgh When they alighted on the shore of the last sea, it said: 'O my son! there lies your road; follow it to the city. Take thee three feathers of mine, and, if you are in a difficulty, burn one and I will be with you in the twinkling of an eye.'
The prince walked on in solitude148 till he reached the city. He went in and wandered about through all quarters, and through bazaars149 and lanes and squares, in the least knowing from whom he could ask information about the riddle of Mihr-afruz. He spent seven days thinking it over in silence. From the first day of his coming he had made friends with a young cloth-merchant, and a great liking150 had sprung up between them. One day he said abruptly151 to his companion: 'O dear friend! I wish you would tell me what the rose did to the cypress, and what the sense of the riddle is.' The merchant started, and exclaimed: 'If there were not brotherly affection between us, I would cut off your head for asking me this! ' 'If you meant to kill me,' retorted the prince, ' you would still have first to tell me what I want to know.' When the merchant saw that the prince was in deadly earnest, he said: ' If you wish to hear the truth of the matter you must wait upon our king. There is no other way; no one else will tell you. I have a well-wisher at the Court, named Farrukh-fal, and will introduce you to him.' 'That would be excellent,' cried the prince. A meeting was arranged between Farrukhfal and Almas, and then the amir took him to the king's presence and introduced him as a stranger and traveller who had come from afar to sit in the shadow of King Sinaubar.
Now the Simurgh had given the prince a diamond weighing thirty misqals, and he ordered this to the king, who at once recognised its value, and asked where it had been obtained. 'I, your slave, once had riches and state and power; there are many such stones in my country. On my way here I was plundered152 at the Castle of Clashing Swords, and I saved this one thing only, hidden in my bathing-cloth.' In return for the diamond, King Sinaubar showered gifts of much greater value, for he remembered that it was the last possession of the prince. He showed the utmost kindness and hospitality, and gave his wazir orders to instal the prince in the royal guest-house. He took much pleasure in his visitor's society; they were together every day and spent the time most pleasantly. Several times the king said: 'Ask me for something, that I may give it you.'One day he so pressed to know what would pleasure the prince, that the latter said: 'I have only one wish, and that I will name to you in private.' The king at once commanded every one to withdraw, and then Prince Almas said: ' The desire of my life is to know what the rose did to the cypress, and what meaning there is in the words.' The king was astounded153. 'In God's name! if anyone else had said that to me I should have cut off his head instantly.' The prince heard this in silence, and presently so beguiled154 the king with pleasant talk that to kill him was impossible.
Time flew by, the king again and again begged the prince to ask some gift of him, and always received this same reply: 'I wish for your Majesty155's welfare, what more can I desire?'One night there was a banquet, and cupbearers carried round gold and silver cups of sparkling wine, and singers with sweetest voices contended for the prize. The prince drank from the king's own cup, and when his head was hot with wine he took a lute from one of the musicians and placed himself on the carpet border and sang and sang till he witched away the sense of all who listened. Applause and compliments rang from every side. The king filled his cup and called the prince and gave it him and said: 'Name your wish! it is yours.' The prince drained off the wine and answered: 'O king of the world! learn and know that I have only one aim in life, and this is to know what the rose did to the cypress.'
'Never yet,' replied the king, 'has any man come out from that question alive. If this is your only wish, so be it; I will tell you. But I will do this on one condition only, namely, that when you have heard you will submit yourself to death.' To this the prince agreed, and said: ' I set my foot firmly on this compact.'
The king then gave an order to an attendant; a costly carpet overlaid with European velvet156 was placed near him, and a dog was led in by a golden and jewelled chain and set upon the splendid stuffs. A band of fair girls came in and stood round it in waiting.#p#
Then, with ill words, twelve negroes dragged in a lovely woman, fettered157 on hands and feet and meanly dressed, and they set her down on the bare floor. She was extraordinarily158 beautiful, and shamed the glorious sun. The king ordered a hundred stripes to be laid on her tender body; she sighed a long sigh. Food was called for and table-cloths were spread. Delicate meats were set before the dog, and water given it in a royal cup of Chinese crystal. When it had eaten its fill, its leavings were placed before the lovely woman and she was made to eat of them. She wept and her tears were pearls; she smiled and her lips shed roses. Pearls and flowers were gathered up and taken to the treasury159.
'Now,' said the king, ' you have seen these things and your purpose is fulfilled.' 'Truly,' said the prince, 'I have seen things which I have not understood; what do they mean, and what is the story of them? Tell me and kill me.'
Then said the king: 'The woman you see there in chains is my wife; she is called Gul, the Rose, and I am Sinaubar, the Cypress. One day I was hunting and became very thirsty. After great search I discovered a well in a place so secret that neither bird nor beast nor man could find it without labour. I was alone, I took my turban for a rope and my cap for a bucket. There was a good deal of water, but when I let down my rope, something caught it, and I could not in any way draw it back. I shouted down into the well: "O! servant of God! whoever you are, why do you deal unfairly with me? I am dying of thirst, let go! in God's name." A cry came up in answer, "O servant of God! we have been in the well a long time; in God's name get us out!" After trying a thousand schemes, I drew up two blind women. They said they were peris, and that their king had blinded them in his anger and had left them in the well alone.
' "Now," they said, "if you will get us the cure for our blindness we will devote ourselves to your service, and will do whatever you wish."
' "What is the cure for your blindness?"
' "Not far from this place," they said, "a cow comes up from the great sea to graze; a little of her dung would cure us. We should be eternally your debtors160. Do not let the cow see you, or she will assuredly kill you."
'With renewed strength and spirit I went to the shore. There I watched the cow come up from the sea, graze, and go back. Then I came out of my hiding, took a little of her dung and conveyed it to the peris. They rubbed it on their eyes, and by the Divine might saw again.
'They thanked heaven and me, and then considered what they could do to show their gratitude to me. "Our peri-king," they said, "has a daughter whom he keeps under his own eye and thinks the most lovely girl on earth. In good sooth, she has not her equal! Now we will get you into her house and you must win her heart, and if she has an inclination161 for another, you must drive it out and win her for yourself. Her mother loves her so dearly that she has no ease but in her presence, and she will give her to no one in marriage. Teach her to love you so that she cannot exist without you. But if the matter becomes known to her mother she will have you burned in the fire. Then you must beg, as a last favour, that your body may be anointed with oil so that you may burn the more quickly and be spared torture. If the peri-king allows this favour, we two will manage to be your anointers, and we will put an oil on you such that if you were a thousand years in the fire not a trace of burning would remain."
'In the end the two peris. took me to the girl's house. I saw her sleeping daintily. She was most lovely, and I was so amazed at the perfection of her beauty that I stood with senses lost, and did not know if she were real or a dream. When at last I saw that she was a real girl, I returned thanks that I, the runner, had come to my goal, and that I, the seeker, had found my treasure.
'When the peri opened her eyes she asked in affright: "Who are you? Have you come to steal? How did you get here? Be quick! save yourself from this whirlpool of destruction, for the demons and peris. who guard me will wake and seize you."
'But love's arrow had struck me deep, and the girl, too, looked kindly162 on me. I could not go away. For some months I remained hidden in her house. 'We did not dare to let her mother know of our love. Sometimes the girl was very sad and fearful lest her mother should come to know. One day her father said to her: "Sweetheart, for some time I have noticed that your beauty is not what it was. How is this? Has sickness touched you? Tell me that I may seek a cure." Alas163! there was now no way of concealing164 the mingled165 delight and anguish166 of our love; from secret it became known. I was put in prison and the world grew dark to my rose, bereft167 of her lover.
'The peri-king ordered me to be burnt, and said: "Why have you, a man, done this perfidious168 thing in my house?" His demons and peris. collected amber-wood and made a pile, and would have set me on it, when I remembered the word of life which the two peris. I had rescued had breathed into my ear, and I asked that my body might be rubbed with oil to release me the sooner from torture. This was allowed, and those two contrived169 to be the anointers. I was put into the fire and it was kept up for seven days and nights. By the will of the Great King it left no trace upon me. At the end of a week the pert-king ordered the ashes to be cast upon the dust-heap, and I was found alive and unharmed.
'Peris who had seen Gul consumed by her love for me now interceded170 with the king, and said: "It is clear that your daughter's fortunes are bound up with his, for the fire has not hurt him. It is best to give him the girl, for they love one another. He is King of Waq of Qaf, and you will find none better."
'To this the king agreed, and made formal marriage between Gul and me. You now know the price I paid for this faithless creature. O prince! remember our compact.'
'I remember,' said the prince; ' but tell me what brought Queen Gul to her present pass?'
'One night,' continued King Sinaubar,'I was aroused by feeling Gul's hands and feet, deadly cold, against my body. I asked her where she had been to get so cold, and she said she had had to go out. Next morning, when I went to my stable I saw that two of my horses, Windfoot and Tiger, were thin and worn out. I reprimanded the groom171 and beat him. He asked where his fault lay, and said that every night my wife took one or other of these horses and rode away, and came back only just before dawn. A flame kindled172 in my heart, and I asked myself where she could go and what she could do. I told the groom to be silent, and when next Gul took a horse from the stable to saddle another quickly and bring it to me. That day I did not hunt, but stayed at home to follow the matter up. I lay down as usual at night and pretended to fall asleep. When I seemed safely off Gul got up and went to the stable as her custom was. That night it was Tiger's turn. She rode off on him, and I took Windfoot and followed. With me went that dog you see, a faithful friend who never left me.
'When I came to the foot of those hills which lie outside the city I saw Gul dismount and go towards a house which some negroes have built there. Over against the door was a high seat, and on it lay a giant negro, before whom she salaamed. He got up and beat her till she was marked with weals, but she uttered no complaint. I was dumfounded, for once when I had struck her with a rose stalk she had complained and fretted for three days! Then the negro said to her: " How now, ugly one and shaven head! Why are you so late, and why are you not wearing wedding garments?" She answered him: "That person did not go to sleep quickly, and he stayed at home all day, so that I was not able to adorn134 myself. I came as soon as I could." In a little while he called her to sit beside him; but this was more than I could bear. I lost control of myself and rushed upon him. He clutched my collar and we grappled in a death struggle. Suddenly she came behind me, caught my feet and threw me. While he held me on the ground, she drew out my own knife and gave it to him. I should have been killed but for that faithful dog which seized his throat and pulled him down and pinned him to the ground. Then I got up and despatched the wretch. There were four other negroes at the place; three I killed and the fourth got away, and has taken refuge beneath the throne of Mihr-afruz, daughter of King Quimus. I took Gul back to my palace, and from that time till now I have treated her as a dog is treated, and I have cared for my dog as though it were my wife. Now you know what the rose did to the cypress; and now you must keep compact with me.'
'I shall keep my word,' said the prince; 'but may a little water be taken to the roof so that I may make my last ablution?'
To this request the king consented. The prince mounted to the roof, and, getting into a corner, struck his fire-steel and burned one of the Sirurgh's feathers in the flame. Straightway it appeared, and by the majesty of its presence made the city quake. It took the prince on its back and soared away to the zenith.
After a time King Sinaubar said: 'That young man is a long time on the roof; go and bring him here.' But there was no sign of the prince upon the roof; only, far away in the sky, the Simurgh was seen carrying him off. When the king heard of his escape he thanked heaven that his hands were clean of this blood.
Up and up flew the Simurgh, till earth looked like an egg resting on an ocean. At length it dropped straight down to its own place, where the kind prince was welcomed by the young birds and most hospitably173 entertained. He told the whole story of the rose and the cypress, and then, laden with gifts which the Simurgh had gathered from cities far and near, he set his face for the Castle of Clashing Swords. The king-lion came out to meet him; he took the negro chief's daughter---whose name was also Gul--in lawful174 marriage, and then marched with her and her possessions and her attendants to the Place of Gifts. Here they halted for a night, and at dawn said good-bye to the king-lion and set out for Jamila's country.
When the Lady Jamila heard that Prince Almas was near, she went out, with many a fair handmaid, to give him loving reception. Their meeting was joyful175, and they went together to the garden-palace. Jamila summoned all her notables, and in their presence her marriage with the prince was solemnised. A few days later she entrusted her affairs to her wazir, and made preparation to go with the prince to his own country. Before she started she restored all the men whom her sister, Latifa, had bewitched, to their own forms, and received their blessings176, and set them forward to their homes. The wicked Latifa herself she left quite alone in her garden-house. When all was ready they set out with all her servants and slaves, all her treasure and goods, and journeyed at ease to the city of King Quimus.
When King Quimus heard of the approach of such a great company, he sent out his wazir to give the prince honourable177 meeting, and to ask what had procured178 him the favour of the visit. The prince sent back word that he had no thought of war, but he wrote: ' Learn and know, King Quimus, that I am here to end the crimes of your insolent179 daughter who has tyrannously done to death many kings and kings sons, and has hung their heads on your citadel. I am here to give her the answer to her riddle.' Later on he entered the city, beat boldly on the drums, and was conducted to the presence.
The king entreated180 him to have nothing to do with the riddle, for that no man had come out of it alive. 'O king!' replied the prince, 'it is to answer it that I am here; I will not withdraw.'
Mihr-afruz was told that one man more had staked his head on her question, and that this was one who said he knew the answer. At the request of the prince, all the officers and notables of the land were summoned to hear his reply to the princess. All assembled, and the king and his queen Gul-rakh, and the girl and the prince were there.
The prince addressed Mihr-afruz: 'What is the question you ask?'
'What did the rose do to the cypress?' she rejoined.
The prince smiled, and turned and addressed the assembly.
'You who are experienced men and versed in affairs, did you ever know or hear and see anything of this matter?'
'No!' they answered, 'no one has ever known or heard or seen aught about it; it is an empty fancy.'
'From whom, then, did the princess hear of it? This empty fancy it is that has done many a servant of God to death!'
All saw the good sense of his words and showed their approval. Then he turned to the princess: 'Tell us the truth, princess; who told you of this thing? I know it hair by hair, and in and out; but if I tell you what I know, who is there that can say I speak the truth? You must produce the person who can confirm my words.'
Her heart sank, for she feared that her long-kept secret was now to be noised abroad. But she said merely: 'Explain yourself.'
'I shall explain myself fully17 when you bring here the negro whom you hide beneath your throne.'
Here the king shouted in wonderment: 'Explain yourself, young man! What negro does my daughter hide beneath her throne?'
'That,' said the prince, 'you will see if you order to be brought here the negro who will be found beneath the throne of the princess.'
Messengers were forthwith despatched to the garden house, and after awhile they returned bringing a negro whom they had discovered in a secret chamber181 underneath the throne of Mihr-afruz, dressed in a dress of honour, and surrounded with luxury. The king was overwhelmed with astonishment182, but the girl had taken heart again. She had had time to think that perhaps the prince had heard of the presence of the negro, and knew no more. So she said haughtily183: 'Prince! you have not answered my riddle.'
'O most amazingly impudent184 person,' cried he, 'do you not yet repent?'
Then he turned to the people, and told them the whole story of the rose and the cypress, of King Sinaubar and Queen Gul. When he came to the killing of the negroes, he said to the one who stood before them: 'You, too, were present.'
'That is so; all happened as you have told it!'
There was great rejoicing in the court and all through the country over the solving of the riddle, and because now no more kings and princes would be killed. King Quimus made over his daughter to Prince Almas, but the latter refused to marry her, and took her as his captive. He then asked that the heads should be removed from the battlements and given decent burial. This was done. He received from the king everything that belonged to Mihr-afruz; her treasure of gold and silver; her costly stuffs and carpets; her household plenishing; her horses and camels; her servants and slaves.
Then he returned to his camp and sent for Dil-aram, who came bringing her goods and chattels185, her gold and her jewels. When all was ready, Prince Almas set out for home, taking with him Jamila, and Dil-aram and Gul, daughter of Taram-taq, and the wicked Mihr-afruz, and all the belongings of the four, packed on horses and camels, and in carts without number.
As he approached the borders of his father's country word of his coming went before him, and all the city came forth to give him welcome. King Saman-lal-posh-- Jessamine, wearer of rubies--had so bewept the loss of his sons that he was now blind. When the prince had kissed his feet and received his blessing, he took from a casket a little collyrium of Solomon, which the Simurgh had given him, and which reveals the hidden things of earth, and rubbed it on his father's eyes. Light came, and the king saw his son.
Mihr-afruz was brought before the king, and the prince said: 'This is the murderer of your sons; do with her as you will.' The king fancied that the prince might care for the girl's beauty, and replied: 'You have humbled186 her; do with her as you will.'
Upon this the prince sent for four swift and strong horses, and had the negro bound to each one of them; then each was driven to one of the four quarters, and he tore in pieces like muslin.
This frightened Mihr-afruz horribly, for she thought the same thing might be done to herself. She cried out to the prince: 'O Prince Almas! what is hardest to get is most valued. Up till now I have been subject to no man, and no man had had my love. The many kings and kings sons who have died at my hands have died because it was their fate to die like this. In this matter I have not sinned. That was their fate from eternity; and from the beginning it was predestined that my fate should be bound up with yours.'
The prince gave ear to the argument from pre-ordainment, and as she was a very lovely maiden187 he took her too in lawful marriage. She and Jamila, set up house together, and Dil-aram and Gul set up theirs; and the prince passed the rest of his life with the four in perfect happiness, and in pleasant and sociable188 entertainment.
Now has been told what the rose did to the cypress.
点击 收听单词发音
1
eldest
|
|
adj.最年长的,最年老的 |
参考例句: |
- The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
- The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
|
2
hawks
|
|
鹰( hawk的名词复数 ); 鹰派人物,主战派人物 |
参考例句: |
- Two hawks were hover ing overhead. 两只鹰在头顶盘旋。
- Both hawks and doves have expanded their conditions for ending the war. 鹰派和鸽派都充分阐明了各自的停战条件。
|
3
falcons
|
|
n.猎鹰( falcon的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Peregrine falcons usually pluck the feathers and strip the flesh off their bird prey. 游隼捕到鸟类猎物时,通常是先拔掉它们的羽毛,再把肉撕下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Though he doubted the wisdom of using falcons, Dr. de la Fuente undertook the project. 虽然德·拉·富恩特博士怀疑使用游隼是否明智,但他还是执行了这项计划。 来自辞典例句
|
4
cheetahs
|
|
n.(奔跑极快的)非洲猎豹( cheetah的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Unlike lions or cheetahs, leopards are secretive, solitary cats. 花豹不像狮子或印度豹,是属于较神秘而隐居的大猫。 来自互联网
- Among this lot are cheetahs, lions, leopards, rhinoceroses, spotted hyenas and elephants. 印度豹、狮子、花豹、犀牛、斑点土狼、大象等,都是此地的居民。 来自互联网
|
5
leopards
|
|
n.豹( leopard的名词复数 );本性难移 |
参考例句: |
- Lions, tigers and leopards are all cats. 狮、虎和豹都是猫科动物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- For example, airlines never ship leopards and canaries on the same flight. 例如,飞机上从来不会同时运送豹和金丝雀。 来自英语晨读30分(初三)
|
6
noose
|
|
n.绳套,绞索(刑);v.用套索捉;使落入圈套;处以绞刑 |
参考例句: |
- They tied a noose round her neck.他们在她脖子上系了一个活扣。
- A hangman's noose had already been placed around his neck.一个绞刑的绳圈已经套在他的脖子上。
|
7
followers
|
|
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 |
参考例句: |
- the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
- The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。
|
8
drenched
|
|
adj.湿透的;充满的v.使湿透( drench的过去式和过去分词 );在某人(某物)上大量使用(某液体) |
参考例句: |
- We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. 我们遇上了暴雨,淋得浑身透湿。
- The rain drenched us. 雨把我们淋得湿透。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
9
toiled
|
|
长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 |
参考例句: |
- They toiled up the hill in the blazing sun. 他们冒着炎炎烈日艰难地一步一步爬上山冈。
- He toiled all day long but earned very little. 他整天劳碌但挣得很少。
|
10
bridle
|
|
n.笼头,束缚;vt.抑制,约束;动怒 |
参考例句: |
- He learned to bridle his temper.他学会了控制脾气。
- I told my wife to put a bridle on her tongue.我告诉妻子说话要谨慎。
|
11
mustered
|
|
v.集合,召集,集结(尤指部队)( muster的过去式和过去分词 );(自他人处)搜集某事物;聚集;激发 |
参考例句: |
- We mustered what support we could for the plan. 我们极尽所能为这项计划寻求支持。
- The troops mustered on the square. 部队已在广场上集合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
12
crest
|
|
n.顶点;饰章;羽冠;vt.达到顶点;vi.形成浪尖 |
参考例句: |
- The rooster bristled his crest.公鸡竖起了鸡冠。
- He reached the crest of the hill before dawn.他于黎明前到达山顶。
|
13
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。
|
14
underneath
|
|
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面 |
参考例句: |
- Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
- She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣,里面套着一条连衣裙。
|
15
amazement
|
|
n.惊奇,惊讶 |
参考例句: |
- All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
- He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
|
16
spoke
|
|
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 |
参考例句: |
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
|
17
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。
|
18
dwelling
|
|
n.住宅,住所,寓所 |
参考例句: |
- Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
- He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。
|
19
wilderness
|
|
n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等,荒漠 |
参考例句: |
- She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
- Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。
|
20
untold
|
|
adj.数不清的,无数的 |
参考例句: |
- She has done untold damage to our chances.她给我们的机遇造成了不可估量的损害。
- They suffered untold terrors in the dark and huddled together for comfort.他们遭受着黑暗中的难以言传的种种恐怖,因而只好挤在一堆互相壮胆。
|
21
belongings
|
|
n.私人物品,私人财物 |
参考例句: |
- I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
- Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。
|
22
versed
|
|
adj. 精通,熟练 |
参考例句: |
- He is well versed in history.他精通历史。
- He versed himself in European literature. 他精通欧洲文学。
|
23
azure
|
|
adj.天蓝色的,蔚蓝色的 |
参考例句: |
- His eyes are azure.他的眼睛是天蓝色的。
- The sun shone out of a clear azure sky.清朗蔚蓝的天空中阳光明媚。
|
24
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。
|
25
bestow
|
|
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 |
参考例句: |
- He wished to bestow great honors upon the hero.他希望将那些伟大的荣誉授予这位英雄。
- What great inspiration wiII you bestow on me?你有什么伟大的灵感能馈赠给我?
|
26
citadel
|
|
n.城堡;堡垒;避难所 |
参考例句: |
- The citadel was solid.城堡是坚固的。
- This citadel is built on high ground for protecting the city.这座城堡建于高处是为保护城市。
|
27
cypress
|
|
n.柏树 |
参考例句: |
- The towering pine and cypress trees defy frost and snow.松柏参天傲霜雪。
- The pine and the cypress remain green all the year round.苍松翠柏,常绿不凋。
|
28
lament
|
|
n.悲叹,悔恨,恸哭;v.哀悼,悔恨,悲叹 |
参考例句: |
- Her face showed lament.她的脸上露出悲伤的样子。
- We lament the dead.我们哀悼死者。
|
29
lamenting
|
|
adj.悲伤的,悲哀的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Katydids were lamenting fall's approach. 蝈蝈儿正为秋天临近而哀鸣。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Lamenting because the papers hadn't been destroyed and the money kept. 她正在吃后悔药呢,后悔自己没有毁了那张字条,把钱昧下来! 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
|
30
ravage
|
|
vt.使...荒废,破坏...;n.破坏,掠夺,荒废 |
参考例句: |
- Just in time to watch a plague ravage his village.恰好目睹了瘟疫毁灭了他的村庄。
- For two decades the country has been ravaged by civil war and foreign intervention.20年来,这个国家一直被内战外侵所蹂躏。
|
31
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。
|
32
abide
|
|
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受 |
参考例句: |
- You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
- If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部,你就得遵守它的规章。
|
33
withholding
|
|
扣缴税款 |
参考例句: |
- She was accused of withholding information from the police. 她被指控对警方知情不报。
- The judge suspected the witness was withholding information. 法官怀疑见证人在隐瞒情况。
|
34
moths
|
|
n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The moths have eaten holes in my wool coat. 蛀虫将我的羊毛衫蛀蚀了几个小洞。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The moths tapped and blurred at the window screen. 飞蛾在窗帘上跳来跳去,弄上了许多污点。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
|
35
rankled
|
|
v.(使)痛苦不已,(使)怨恨不已( rankle的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Her comments still rankled. 她的评价仍然让人耿耿于怀。
- The insult rankled in his mind. 这种侮辱使他心里难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
36
laden
|
|
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 |
参考例句: |
- He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
- Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。
|
37
rubies
|
|
红宝石( ruby的名词复数 ); 红宝石色,深红色 |
参考例句: |
- a necklace of rubies intertwined with pearls 缠着珍珠的红宝石项链
- The crown was set with precious jewels—diamonds, rubies and emeralds. 王冠上镶嵌着稀世珍宝—有钻石、红宝石、绿宝石。
|
38
suite
|
|
n.一套(家具);套房;随从人员 |
参考例句: |
- She has a suite of rooms in the hotel.她在那家旅馆有一套房间。
- That is a nice suite of furniture.那套家具很不错。
|
39
solace
|
|
n.安慰;v.使快乐;vt.安慰(物),缓和 |
参考例句: |
- They sought solace in religion from the harshness of their everyday lives.他们日常生活很艰难,就在宗教中寻求安慰。
- His acting career took a nosedive and he turned to drink for solace.演艺事业突然一落千丈,他便借酒浇愁。
|
40
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。
|
41
consequential
|
|
adj.作为结果的,间接的;重要的 |
参考例句: |
- She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
- This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。
|
42
repent
|
|
v.悔悟,悔改,忏悔,后悔 |
参考例句: |
- He has nothing to repent of.他没有什么要懊悔的。
- Remission of sins is promised to those who repent.悔罪者可得到赦免。
|
43
costly
|
|
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的 |
参考例句: |
- It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
- This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
|
44
crimson
|
|
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色 |
参考例句: |
- She went crimson with embarrassment.她羞得满脸通红。
- Maple leaves have turned crimson.枫叶已经红了。
|
45
ravaged
|
|
毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 ); 蹂躏; 劫掠; 抢劫 |
参考例句: |
- a country ravaged by civil war 遭受内战重创的国家
- The whole area was ravaged by forest fires. 森林火灾使整个地区荒废了。
|
46
flirt
|
|
v.调情,挑逗,调戏;n.调情者,卖俏者 |
参考例句: |
- He used to flirt with every girl he met.过去他总是看到一个姑娘便跟她调情。
- He watched the stranger flirt with his girlfriend and got fighting mad.看着那个陌生人和他女朋友调情,他都要抓狂了。
|
47
folly
|
|
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 |
参考例句: |
- Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
- Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。
|
48
eloquent
|
|
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的 |
参考例句: |
- He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩,胜过最好的演说家。
- These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。
|
49
hesitation
|
|
n.犹豫,踌躇 |
参考例句: |
- After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
- There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
|
50
omnipotent
|
|
adj.全能的,万能的 |
参考例句: |
- When we are omnipotent we shall have no more need of science.我们达到万能以后就不需要科学了。
- Money is not omnipotent,but we can't survive without money.金钱不是万能的,但是没有金钱我们却无法生存。
|
51
lute
|
|
n.琵琶,鲁特琴 |
参考例句: |
- He idly plucked the strings of the lute.他漫不经心地拨弄着鲁特琴的琴弦。
- He knows how to play the Chinese lute.他会弹琵琶。
|
52
stony
|
|
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的 |
参考例句: |
- The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干,而且布满了石头。
- He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。
|
53
plunged
|
|
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 |
参考例句: |
- The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
- She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳,从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
|
54
avenge
|
|
v.为...复仇,为...报仇 |
参考例句: |
- He swore to avenge himself on the mafia.他发誓说要向黑手党报仇。
- He will avenge the people on their oppressor.他将为人民向压迫者报仇。
|
55
beheld
|
|
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 |
参考例句: |
- His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
|
56
oratory
|
|
n.演讲术;词藻华丽的言辞 |
参考例句: |
- I admire the oratory of some politicians.我佩服某些政治家的辩才。
- He dazzled the crowd with his oratory.他的雄辩口才使听众赞叹不已。
|
57
gateway
|
|
n.大门口,出入口,途径,方法 |
参考例句: |
- Hard work is the gateway to success.努力工作是通往成功之路。
- A man collected tolls at the gateway.一个人在大门口收通行费。
|
58
supplication
|
|
n.恳求,祈愿,哀求 |
参考例句: |
- She knelt in supplication. 她跪地祷求。
- The supplication touched him home. 这个请求深深地打动了他。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
|
59
holder
|
|
n.持有者,占有者;(台,架等)支持物 |
参考例句: |
- The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
- That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。
|
60
prancing
|
|
v.(马)腾跃( prance的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The lead singer was prancing around with the microphone. 首席歌手手执麦克风,神气地走来走去。
- The King lifted Gretel on to his prancing horse and they rode to his palace. 国王把格雷特尔扶上腾跃着的马,他们骑马向天宫走去。 来自辞典例句
|
61
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。
|
62
bestowed
|
|
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
- He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
|
63
lamented
|
|
adj.被哀悼的,令人遗憾的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- her late lamented husband 她那令人怀念的已故的丈夫
- We lamented over our bad luck. 我们为自己的不幸而悲伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
64
fretted
|
|
焦躁的,附有弦马的,腐蚀的 |
参考例句: |
- The wind whistled through the twigs and fretted the occasional, dirty-looking crocuses. 寒风穿过枯枝,有时把发脏的藏红花吹刮跑了。 来自英汉文学
- The lady's fame for hitting the mark fretted him. 这位太太看问题深刻的名声在折磨着他。
|
65
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。
|
66
avenged
|
|
v.为…复仇,报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 );为…报复 |
参考例句: |
- She avenged her mother's death upon the Nazi soldiers. 她惩处了纳粹士兵以报杀母之仇。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Indians avenged the burning of their village on〔upon〕 the settlers. 印第安人因为村庄被焚毁向拓居者们进行报复。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
67
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。
|
68
vengeance
|
|
n.报复,报仇,复仇 |
参考例句: |
- He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
- For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。
|
69
manly
|
|
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地 |
参考例句: |
- The boy walked with a confident manly stride.这男孩以自信的男人步伐行走。
- He set himself manly tasks and expected others to follow his example.他给自己定下了男子汉的任务,并希望别人效之。
|
70
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》
|
71
serene
|
|
adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 |
参考例句: |
- He has entered the serene autumn of his life.他已进入了美好的中年时期。
- He didn't speak much,he just smiled with that serene smile of his.他话不多,只是脸上露出他招牌式的淡定的微笑。
|
72
countenance
|
|
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 |
参考例句: |
- At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
- I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
|
73
reverence
|
|
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 |
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。
- We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it.我们尊重传统,但不被传统所束缚。
|
74
salaamed
|
|
行额手礼( salaam的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He looked from one to the other of them, then salaamed and left. 他扫了他们每个人一眼,行了个额手礼就离开了。 来自柯林斯例句
|
75
revered
|
|
v.崇敬,尊崇,敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- A number of institutions revered and respected in earlier times have become Aunt Sally for the present generation. 一些早年受到尊崇的惯例,现在已经成了这代人嘲弄的对象了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The Chinese revered corn as a gift from heaven. 中国人将谷物奉为上天的恩赐。 来自辞典例句
|
76
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。
|
77
demons
|
|
n.恶人( demon的名词复数 );恶魔;精力过人的人;邪念 |
参考例句: |
- demons torturing the sinners in Hell 地狱里折磨罪人的魔鬼
- He is plagued by demons which go back to his traumatic childhood. 他为心魔所困扰,那可追溯至他饱受创伤的童年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
78
slab
|
|
n.平板,厚的切片;v.切成厚板,以平板盖上 |
参考例句: |
- This heavy slab of oak now stood between the bomb and Hitler.这时笨重的橡木厚板就横在炸弹和希特勒之间了。
- The monument consists of two vertical pillars supporting a horizontal slab.这座纪念碑由两根垂直的柱体构成,它们共同支撑着一块平板。
|
79
inscribed
|
|
v.写,刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 );内接 |
参考例句: |
- His name was inscribed on the trophy. 他的名字刻在奖杯上。
- The names of the dead were inscribed on the wall. 死者的名字被刻在墙上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
80
blessing
|
|
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 |
参考例句: |
- The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
- A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
|
81
inscription
|
|
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文 |
参考例句: |
- The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损,无法辨认了。
- He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。
|
82
woe
|
|
n.悲哀,苦痛,不幸,困难;int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 |
参考例句: |
- Our two peoples are brothers sharing weal and woe.我们两国人民是患难与共的兄弟。
- A man is well or woe as he thinks himself so.自认祸是祸,自认福是福。
|
83
hazardous
|
|
adj.(有)危险的,冒险的;碰运气的 |
参考例句: |
- These conditions are very hazardous for shipping.这些情况对航海非常不利。
- Everybody said that it was a hazardous investment.大家都说那是一次危险的投资。
|
84
peril
|
|
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物 |
参考例句: |
- The refugees were in peril of death from hunger.难民有饿死的危险。
- The embankment is in great peril.河堤岌岌可危。
|
85
eyebrow
|
|
n.眉毛,眉 |
参考例句: |
- Her eyebrow is well penciled.她的眉毛画得很好。
- With an eyebrow raised,he seemed divided between surprise and amusement.他一只眉毛扬了扬,似乎既感到吃惊,又觉有趣。
|
86
upwards
|
|
adv.向上,在更高处...以上 |
参考例句: |
- The trend of prices is still upwards.物价的趋向是仍在上涨。
- The smoke rose straight upwards.烟一直向上升。
|
87
nostrils
|
|
鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Her nostrils flared with anger. 她气得两个鼻孔都鼓了起来。
- The horse dilated its nostrils. 马张大鼻孔。
|
88
thigh
|
|
n.大腿;股骨 |
参考例句: |
- He is suffering from a strained thigh muscle.他的大腿肌肉拉伤了,疼得很。
- The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。
|
89
enchanted
|
|
adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的
动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
- He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。
|
90
banishing
|
|
v.放逐,驱逐( banish的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- And he breathes out fast, like a king banishing a servant. 他呼气则非常迅速,像一个国王驱逐自己的奴仆。 来自互联网
- Banishing genetic disability must therefore be our primary concern. 消除基因缺陷是我们的首要之急。 来自互联网
|
91
writhe
|
|
vt.挣扎,痛苦地扭曲;vi.扭曲,翻腾,受苦;n.翻腾,苦恼 |
参考例句: |
- They surely writhe under this pressure.他们肯定对这种压力感到苦恼。
- Her words made him writhe with shame.她的话使他惭愧地感到浑身不自在。
|
92
jealousy
|
|
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 |
参考例句: |
- Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
- I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。
|
93
brilliance
|
|
n.光辉,辉煌,壮丽,(卓越的)才华,才智 |
参考例句: |
- I was totally amazed by the brilliance of her paintings.她的绘画才能令我惊歎不已。
- The gorgeous costume added to the brilliance of the dance.华丽的服装使舞蹈更加光彩夺目。
|
94
enchanting
|
|
a.讨人喜欢的 |
参考例句: |
- His smile, at once enchanting and melancholy, is just his father's. 他那种既迷人又有些忧郁的微笑,活脱儿象他父亲。
- Its interior was an enchanting place that both lured and frightened me. 它的里头是个吸引人的地方,我又向往又害怕。
|
95
darts
|
|
n.掷飞镖游戏;飞镖( dart的名词复数 );急驰,飞奔v.投掷,投射( dart的第三人称单数 );向前冲,飞奔 |
参考例句: |
- His darts trophy takes pride of place on the mantelpiece. 他将掷镖奖杯放在壁炉顶上最显著的地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I never saw so many darts in a bodice! 我从没见过紧身胸衣上纳了这么多的缝褶! 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
96
unaware
|
|
a.不知道的,未意识到的 |
参考例句: |
- They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
- I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。
|
97
coveted
|
|
adj.令人垂涎的;垂涎的,梦寐以求的v.贪求,觊觎(covet的过去分词);垂涎;贪图 |
参考例句: |
- He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。
- Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
98
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。
|
99
tottering
|
|
adj.蹒跚的,动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 );踉跄;蹒跚;摇摇欲坠 |
参考例句: |
- the tottering walls of the castle 古城堡摇摇欲坠的墙壁
- With power and to spare we must pursue the tottering foe. 宜将剩勇追穷寇。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
|
100
gilded
|
|
a.镀金的,富有的 |
参考例句: |
- The golden light gilded the sea. 金色的阳光使大海如金子般闪闪发光。
- "Friends, they are only gilded disks of lead!" "朋友们,这只不过是些镀金的铅饼! 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡
|
101
leash
|
|
n.牵狗的皮带,束缚;v.用皮带系住 |
参考例句: |
- I reached for the leash,but the dog got in between.我伸手去拿系狗绳,但被狗挡住了路。
- The dog strains at the leash,eager to be off.狗拼命地扯拉皮带,想挣脱开去。
|
102
caressed
|
|
爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- His fingers caressed the back of her neck. 他的手指抚摩着她的后颈。
- He caressed his wife lovingly. 他怜爱万分地抚摸着妻子。
|
103
darted
|
|
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 |
参考例句: |
- The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
104
alcove
|
|
n.凹室 |
参考例句: |
- The bookcase fits neatly into the alcove.书架正好放得进壁凹。
- In the alcoves on either side of the fire were bookshelves.火炉两边的凹室里是书架。
|
105
prostrated
|
|
v.使俯伏,使拜倒( prostrate的过去式和过去分词 );(指疾病、天气等)使某人无能为力 |
参考例句: |
- He was prostrated by the loss of his wife. 他因丧妻而忧郁。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- They prostrated themselves before the emperor. 他们拜倒在皇帝的面前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
106
treasuries
|
|
n.(政府的)财政部( treasury的名词复数 );国库,金库 |
参考例句: |
- Yields on Treasuries, Bunds and gilts can remain at historically low levels. 美国国债、德国国债和英国国债的收益率仍然可以维持在历史低位。 来自互联网
- Treasuries and gold rose in response but the dollar fell sharply. 接着,国债和黄金的价格上涨,而美元价格则猛跌。 来自互联网
|
107
secondly
|
|
adv.第二,其次 |
参考例句: |
- Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二,动脑筋提出自己的见解。
- Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次,需要确定所作用的载荷。
|
108
scorpion
|
|
n.蝎子,心黑的人,蝎子鞭 |
参考例句: |
- The scorpion has a sting that can be deadly.蝎子有可以致命的螫针。
- The scorpion has a sting that can be deadly.蝎子有可以致命的螫针。
|
109
cleave
|
|
v.(clave;cleaved)粘着,粘住;坚持;依恋 |
参考例句: |
- It examines how the decision to quit gold or to cleave to it affected trade policies.论文分析了放弃或坚持金本位是如何影响贸易政策的。
- Those who cleave to the latter view include many conservative American politicians.坚持后一种观点的大多是美国的保守派政客。
|
110
dagger
|
|
n.匕首,短剑,剑号 |
参考例句: |
- The bad news is a dagger to his heart.这条坏消息刺痛了他的心。
- The murderer thrust a dagger into her heart.凶手将匕首刺进她的心脏。
|
111
sage
|
|
n.圣人,哲人;adj.贤明的,明智的 |
参考例句: |
- I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
- The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。
|
112
fowl
|
|
n.家禽,鸡,禽肉 |
参考例句: |
- Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch.禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
- Since my heart attack,I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat.自从我患了心脏病后,我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉,少吃红色肉类。
|
113
transgressor
|
|
n.违背者 |
参考例句: |
- We expect the transgressor to make any atonement possible to him. 我们期待犯了过失的人有可能做到的赎罪行为。 来自辞典例句
- We expect transgressor to make any atonement possible to him. “我深信,”西丝又重说一遍,“这是你能做的唯一的赎罪的办法。” 来自互联网
|
114
cleansed
|
|
弄干净,清洗( cleanse的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The nurse cleansed the wound before stitching it. 护士先把伤口弄干净后才把它缝合。
- The notorious Hell Row was burned down in a fire, and much dirt was cleansed away. 臭名远场的阎王路已在一场大火中化为乌有,许多焦土灰烬被清除一空。
|
115
molestation
|
|
n.骚扰,干扰,调戏;折磨 |
参考例句: |
- Michael Jackson is arrested by police on charges of child molestation. 2003年的今天,迈克尔·杰克逊因被警方指控有儿童性骚扰行为而被捕。 来自互联网
- Jackson pleads not guilty on the molestation charges. 2004年:杰克逊认罪不认罪的性骚扰指控。 来自互联网
|
116
foretold
|
|
v.预言,预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She foretold that the man would die soon. 她预言那人快要死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Must lose one joy, by his life's star foretold. 这样注定:他,为了信守一个盟誓/就非得拿牺牲一个喜悦作代价。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
|
117
saluted
|
|
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂 |
参考例句: |
- The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
- He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
118
drooped
|
|
弯曲或下垂,发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。
- The flowers drooped in the heat of the sun. 花儿晒蔫了。
|
119
beckoned
|
|
v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
- The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
120
eternity
|
|
n.不朽,来世;永恒,无穷 |
参考例句: |
- The dull play seemed to last an eternity.这场乏味的剧似乎演个没完没了。
- Finally,Ying Tai and Shan Bo could be together for all of eternity.英台和山伯终能双宿双飞,永世相随。
|
121
wretch
|
|
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人 |
参考例句: |
- You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他,还埋怨他,真不知好歹。
- The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。
|
122
craving
|
|
n.渴望,热望 |
参考例句: |
- a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
- She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐,以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。
|
123
reins
|
|
感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带 |
参考例句: |
- She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
- The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。
|
124
mighty
|
|
adj.强有力的;巨大的 |
参考例句: |
- A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
- The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
|
125
fatigue
|
|
n.疲劳,劳累 |
参考例句: |
- The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
- I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。
|
126
respite
|
|
n.休息,中止,暂缓 |
参考例句: |
- She was interrogated without respite for twenty-four hours.她被不间断地审问了二十四小时。
- Devaluation would only give the economy a brief respite.贬值只能让经济得到暂时的缓解。
|
127
scourges
|
|
带来灾难的人或东西,祸害( scourge的名词复数 ); 鞭子 |
参考例句: |
- Textile workers suffer from three scourges -- noise, dust and humidity. 纱厂工人的三大威胁,就是音响、尘埃和湿气。 来自汉英文学 - 现代散文
- Believe, if Internet remains great scourges, also won't have present dimensions. 相信,如果互联网仍然是洪水猛兽,也不会有现在的规模。
|
128
cleft
|
|
n.裂缝;adj.裂开的 |
参考例句: |
- I hid the message in a cleft in the rock.我把情报藏在石块的裂缝里。
- He was cleft from his brother during the war.在战争期间,他与他的哥哥分离。
|
129
fray
|
|
v.争吵;打斗;磨损,磨破;n.吵架;打斗 |
参考例句: |
- Why should you get involved in their fray?你为什么要介入他们的争吵呢?
- Tempers began to fray in the hot weather.大热天脾气烦燥。
|
130
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。
|
131
defiant
|
|
adj.无礼的,挑战的 |
参考例句: |
- With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时,仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
- He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。
|
132
soften
|
|
v.(使)变柔软;(使)变柔和 |
参考例句: |
- Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
- This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。
|
133
hurled
|
|
v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 |
参考例句: |
- He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
- The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
134
adorn
|
|
vt.使美化,装饰 |
参考例句: |
- She loved to adorn herself with finery.她喜欢穿戴华丽的服饰。
- His watercolour designs adorn a wide range of books.他的水彩设计使许多图书大为生色。
|
135
adorned
|
|
[计]被修饰的 |
参考例句: |
- The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
- And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。
|
136
refreshment
|
|
n.恢复,精神爽快,提神之事物;(复数)refreshments:点心,茶点 |
参考例句: |
- He needs to stop fairly often for refreshment.他须时不时地停下来喘口气。
- A hot bath is a great refreshment after a day's work.在一天工作之后洗个热水澡真是舒畅。
|
137
dozing
|
|
v.打瞌睡,假寐
n.瞌睡 |
参考例句: |
- The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
- He never falters in his determination. 他的决心从不动摇。
|
138
notch
|
|
n.(V字形)槽口,缺口,等级 |
参考例句: |
- The peanuts they grow are top-notch.他们种的花生是拔尖的。
- He cut a notch in the stick with a sharp knife.他用利刃在棒上刻了一个凹痕。
|
139
writhed
|
|
(因极度痛苦而)扭动或翻滚( writhe的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He writhed at the memory, revolted with himself for that temporary weakness. 他一想起来就痛悔不已,只恨自己当一时糊涂。
- The insect, writhed, and lay prostrate again. 昆虫折腾了几下,重又直挺挺地倒了下去。
|
140
belched
|
|
v.打嗝( belch的过去式和过去分词 );喷出,吐出;打(嗝);嗳(气) |
参考例句: |
- He wiped his hand across his mouth, then belched loudly. 他用手抹了抹嘴,然后打了个响亮的饱嗝。
- Artillery growled and belched on the horizon. 大炮轰鸣在地平面上猛烈地爆炸。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
|
141
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!
|
142
gore
|
|
n.凝血,血污;v.(动物)用角撞伤,用牙刺破;缝以补裆;顶 |
参考例句: |
- The fox lay dying in a pool of gore.狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
- Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros.卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。
|
143
condemn
|
|
vt.谴责,指责;宣判(罪犯),判刑 |
参考例句: |
- Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他,而有些人谴责他。
- We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。
|
144
averted
|
|
防止,避免( avert的过去式和过去分词 ); 转移 |
参考例句: |
- A disaster was narrowly averted. 及时防止了一场灾难。
- Thanks to her skilful handling of the affair, the problem was averted. 多亏她对事情处理得巧妙,才避免了麻烦。
|
145
gratitude
|
|
adj.感激,感谢 |
参考例句: |
- I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
- She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
|
146
foe
|
|
n.敌人,仇敌 |
参考例句: |
- He knew that Karl could be an implacable foe.他明白卡尔可能会成为他的死敌。
- A friend is a friend;a foe is a foe;one must be clearly distinguished from the other.敌是敌,友是友,必须分清界限。
|
147
requisite
|
|
adj.需要的,必不可少的;n.必需品 |
参考例句: |
- He hasn't got the requisite qualifications for the job.他不具备这工作所需的资格。
- Food and air are requisite for life.食物和空气是生命的必需品。
|
148
solitude
|
|
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 |
参考例句: |
- People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
- They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
|
149
bazaars
|
|
(东方国家的)市场( bazaar的名词复数 ); 义卖; 义卖市场; (出售花哨商品等的)小商品市场 |
参考例句: |
- When the sky chooses, glory can rain into the Chandrapore bazaars. 如果天公有意,昌德拉卜的集市也会大放光彩。
- He visited the shops and bazaars. 他视察起各色铺子和市场来。
|
150
liking
|
|
n.爱好;嗜好;喜欢 |
参考例句: |
- The word palate also means taste or liking.Palate这个词也有“口味”或“嗜好”的意思。
- I must admit I have no liking for exaggeration.我必须承认我不喜欢夸大其词。
|
151
abruptly
|
|
adv.突然地,出其不意地 |
参考例句: |
- He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
- I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
|
152
plundered
|
|
掠夺,抢劫( plunder的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Many of our cultural treasures have been plundered by imperialists. 我国许多珍贵文物被帝国主义掠走了。
- The imperialists plundered many valuable works of art. 帝国主义列强掠夺了许多珍贵的艺术品。
|
153
astounded
|
|
v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词);愕然;愕;惊讶 |
参考例句: |
- His arrogance astounded her. 他的傲慢使她震惊。
- How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. 你怎么能说出那种话?我感到大为震惊。
|
154
beguiled
|
|
v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 );使陶醉;使高兴;消磨(时间等) |
参考例句: |
- She beguiled them into believing her version of events. 她哄骗他们相信了她叙述的事情。
- He beguiled me into signing this contract. 他诱骗我签订了这项合同。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
|
155
majesty
|
|
n.雄伟,壮丽,庄严,威严;最高权威,王权 |
参考例句: |
- The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。
- Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下,您必须赶快做出决定!
|
156
velvet
|
|
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的 |
参考例句: |
- This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
- The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
|
157
fettered
|
|
v.给…上脚镣,束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it. 我们尊重传统,但不被传统所束缚。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- Many people are fettered by lack of self-confidence. 许多人都因缺乏自信心而缩手缩脚。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
|
158
extraordinarily
|
|
adv.格外地;极端地 |
参考例句: |
- She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。
- The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨,大海出奇地宁静。
|
159
treasury
|
|
n.宝库;国库,金库;文库 |
参考例句: |
- The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
- This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
|
160
debtors
|
|
n.债务人,借方( debtor的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Never in a debtors' prison? 从没有因债务坐过牢么? 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
|
161
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。
|
162
kindly
|
|
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 |
参考例句: |
- Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
- A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
|
163
alas
|
|
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) |
参考例句: |
- Alas!The window is broken!哎呀!窗子破了!
- Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
|
164
concealing
|
|
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善,我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定,还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产
|
165
mingled
|
|
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] |
参考例句: |
- The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
- The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候,这一男一女就开始交往了。
|
166
anguish
|
|
n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦,烦恼 |
参考例句: |
- She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时,她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
- The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。
|
167
bereft
|
|
adj.被剥夺的 |
参考例句: |
- The place seemed to be utterly bereft of human life.这个地方似乎根本没有人烟。
- She was bereft of happiness.她失去了幸福。
|
168
perfidious
|
|
adj.不忠的,背信弃义的 |
参考例句: |
- Their feet will trample on the dead bodies of their perfidious aggressors.他们将从背信弃义的侵略者的尸体上踏过。
- Your perfidious gossip is malicious and dangerous.你说的那些背信弃义的话是很刻毒险恶的。
|
169
contrived
|
|
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的 |
参考例句: |
- There was nothing contrived or calculated about what he said.他说的话里没有任何蓄意捏造的成分。
- The plot seems contrived.情节看起来不真实。
|
170
interceded
|
|
v.斡旋,调解( intercede的过去式和过去分词 );说情 |
参考例句: |
- They interceded with the authorities on behalf of the detainees. 他们为被拘留者向当局求情。
- He interceded with the teacher for me. 他为我向老师求情。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
|
171
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。
|
172
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。
|
173
hospitably
|
|
亲切地,招待周到地,善于款待地 |
参考例句: |
- At Peking was the Great Khan, and they were hospitably entertained. 忽必烈汗在北京,他们受到了盛情款待。
- She was received hospitably by her new family. 她的新家人热情地接待了她。
|
174
lawful
|
|
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 |
参考例句: |
- It is not lawful to park in front of a hydrant.在消火栓前停车是不合法的。
- We don't recognised him to be the lawful heir.我们不承认他为合法继承人。
|
175
joyful
|
|
adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的 |
参考例句: |
- She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
- They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。
|
176
blessings
|
|
n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福 |
参考例句: |
- Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
|
177
honourable
|
|
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 |
参考例句: |
- I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号,我可担当不起。
- I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。
|
178
procured
|
|
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 |
参考例句: |
- These cars are to be procured through open tender. 这些汽车要用公开招标的办法购买。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- A friend procured a position in the bank for my big brother. 一位朋友为我哥哥谋得了一个银行的职位。 来自《用法词典》
|
179
insolent
|
|
adj.傲慢的,无理的 |
参考例句: |
- His insolent manner really got my blood up.他那傲慢的态度把我的肺都气炸了。
- It was insolent of them to demand special treatment.他们要求给予特殊待遇,脸皮真厚。
|
180
entreated
|
|
恳求,乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- They entreated and threatened, but all this seemed of no avail. 他们时而恳求,时而威胁,但这一切看来都没有用。
- 'One word,' the Doctor entreated. 'Will you tell me who denounced him?' “还有一个问题,”医生请求道,“你可否告诉我是谁告发他的?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
|
181
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。
|
182
astonishment
|
|
n.惊奇,惊异 |
参考例句: |
- They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
- I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
|
183
haughtily
|
|
adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 |
参考例句: |
- She carries herself haughtily. 她举止傲慢。
- Haughtily, he stalked out onto the second floor where I was standing. 他傲然跨出电梯,走到二楼,我刚好站在那儿。
|
184
impudent
|
|
adj.鲁莽的,卑鄙的,厚颜无耻的 |
参考例句: |
- She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
- The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。
|
185
chattels
|
|
n.动产,奴隶( chattel的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- An assignment is a total alienation of chattels personal. 动产转让是指属人动产的完全转让。 来自辞典例句
- Alan and I, getting our chattels together, struck into another road to reassume our flight. 艾伦和我收拾好我们的财物,急匆匆地走上了另一条路,继续过我们的亡命生活。 来自辞典例句
|
186
humbled
|
|
adj. 卑下的,谦逊的,粗陋的
vt. 使 ... 卑下,贬低 |
参考例句: |
- The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
- I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。
|
187
maiden
|
|
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 |
参考例句: |
- The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。
- The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。
|
188
sociable
|
|
adj.好交际的,友好的,合群的 |
参考例句: |
- Roger is a very sociable person.罗杰是个非常好交际的人。
- Some children have more sociable personalities than others.有些孩子比其他孩子更善于交际。
|
|
|
|
|