高級(jí)英語(yǔ) Advanced English(張漢熙) 第一冊(cè) 15.No Signposts in the Sea
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No Signposts in the Sea
In the dining-saloon I sit at a table with three other men; Laura sits some way off with a married couple and their daughter. I can observe her without her knowing, and this gives me pleasure, for it is as in a moving picture that I can note the grace of her gestures, whether she raises a glass of wine to her lips or turns with a remark to one of her neighbours or takes a cigarette from her case with those slender fingers. I have never had much of an eye for noticing the clothes of women, but I get the impression that Laura is always in grey and white by day, looking cool when other people are flushed and shiny in the tropical heat; in the evening she wears soft rich colours, dark red, olive green, midnight blue, always of the most supple flowing texture. I ventured to say something of the kind to her, when she laughed at my clumsy compliment and said I had better take to writing fashion articles instead of political leaders.
The tall Colonel whose name is Dalrymple seems a nice chap . He and I and Laura and a Chinese woman improbably galled Mme Merveille have made up a Bridge-tour and thus beguile ourselves for an hour or so after dinner while others dance on deck. The Colonel, who is not too offensively an Empire-builder, sometimes tries to talk to me about public affairs; he says he used to read me, and is rather charmingly deferential , prefacing his remarks by 'Of course it's not for me to suggest to you…" and then proceeding to tell me exactly how he thinks some topical item of our dome, the or foreign policy should be handled. He is by no means stupid or ill-informed; a little opinionated perhaps, and just about as far to the Right as anybody could go, but I like him, and try not to tease him by putting forward views which would only bring a puzzled look to his face. Besides, I do not want to become involved in discussion. I observe with amusement how totally the concerns of the world, which once absorbed me to the exclusion of all else except an occasional relaxation with poetry or music, have lost interest for me even to the extent of a bored distaste. Doubtless some instinct impels me gluttonously to cram these the last weeks of my life with the gentler things I never had time for, releasing some suppressed inclination which in fact was always latent. Or maybe Laura's unwitting influence has called it out.
Dismissive as Pharisee, I regarded as moonlings all those whose life was lived on a less practical plane. Protests about damage to 'natural beauty' froze me with contempt, for I believed in progress and could spare no regrets for a lake dammed into hydraulic use for the benefit of an industrial city in the Midlands. And so it was for all things. A hard materialism was my creed, accepted as a law of progress; any ascription of disinterested motives aroused not only my suspicion but my scorn.
And now see how I stand, as sentimental and sensitive as any old maid doing water-colour s of sunsets! I once flattered myself that I was an adult man; I now perceive that I am gloriously and abolescently silly. A new Clovis, loving what I have despised, and suffering from calf-love into the bargain, I want my till of beauty before I go. Geographically I did not care and scarcely know where I am. There are no signposts in the sea.
The young moon lies on her back tonight as is her habit in the tropics, and as, I think, is suitable if not seemly for a virgin. Not a star but might not shoot down and accept the invitation to become her lover. When all my fellow-passengers have finally dispersed to bed, I creep up again to the deserted deck and slip into the swimming pool and float, no longer what people believe me to be, a middle-aged journalist taking a holiday on an ocean-going liner, but a liberated being, bathed in mythological waters, an Endymion young and strong, with a god for his father and a vision of the world inspired from Olympus. All weight is lifted from my limbs; I am one with the night; I understand the meaning of pantheism . How my friends would laugh if they knew I had come to this! To have discarded , as I believe, all usual frailties , to have become incapable of envy, ambition, malice , the desire to score off my neighbour, to enjoy this purification even as I enjoy the clean voluptuousness of the warm breeze on my skin and the cool support of the water. Thus, I imagine, must the pious feel cleansed on leaving the confessional after the solemnity of absolution .
Sometimes Laura and I lean over the taffrail , and that is happiness. It may be by daylight, looking at the sea, rippled with little white ponies, or with no ripples at all but only the lazy satin of blue, marbled at the edge where the passage of our ship has disturbed it. Or it may be at night, when the sky surely seems blacker than ever at home and the stars more golden. I recall a phrase from the diary of a half-literate soldier, ‘ The stars seemed little cuts in the black cover, through which a bright beyond was seen.' Sometimes these untaught scribblers have a way of putting things.
The wireless told us today that there is fog all over England.
Sometimes we follow a coastline, it may be precipitous bluffs of grey limestone rising sheer out of the sea, or a low-lying arid stretch with miles of white sandy beach, and no sign of habitation, very bleached and barren. These coasts remind me of people; either they are forbidding and unapproachable , or else they present no mystery and show all they have to give at a glance, you feel the country would continue to be flat and featureless however far you penetrated inland. What I like best are the stern cliffs, with ranges of mountains soaring behind them, full of possibilities, peaks to be scaled only by the most daring. What plants of the high altitudes grow unravished among their crags and valleys? So do I let my imagination play over the recesses of Laura's Character, so austere in the foreground but nurturing what treasures of tenderness, like delicate flowers, for the discovery of the venturesome.
My fellow-passengers apparently do not share my admiration.
‘Drearee sorter cowst,' said an Australian. ‘Makes you Iong for a bit of green. '
Darkness falls, and there is nothing but the intermittent gleam of a lighthouse on a solitary promontory .
We rounded just such a cape towards sunset, the most easterly point of a continent, dramatically high and lonely, a great purple mountain overhung by a great purple cloud. The sea had turned to a corresponding dusk of lavender . Aloof on the top, the yellow light revolved, steady, warning; I wondered what mortal controlled it, in what must be one of the loneliest, most forbidding spots on Earth. Haunted too, for many wrecks had piled up on the reefs in the past, when there was no beacon to guide them.
The Colonel joined us.
‘How would you care for that man's job?' he said.
‘I suppose he sets relieved every so often?'
‘On the contrary, he refuses ever to leave. He is an Italian, and he has been there for years and years, with a native woman for his only company. Most people would think him crazy, but I must say I find it refreshing to think there are still a few odd fish left in the world.
This is the unexpected kind of remark that makes me like the Colonel; there is a touch of rough poetry about him. I like also the out-of-the-way information which he imparts from time to time without insistence; he has traveled much, and has used his eyes and kept his ears open. I have discovered also that he knows quite a lot about sea-birds; he puts me right about the different sorts of gull, and tells me very nicely that that couldn't possibly be an albatross , not in these waters. The albatross, it appears, follows a ship only to a certain latitude and then turns back; it know show far it should go and no farther. How wise is the albatross! We might all take a lesson from him, knowing the latitude we can permit ourselves. Thus, and no farther, can I foIlow Laura. I suspect also that there is quite a lot of lore stored away in the Colonel's otherwise not very interesting mind. Laura likes him too, and although I prefer having her to myself I don't really resent it when he lounges up to make a third.
In all this great serenity of ocean it is seldom that we espy so much as another ship; the jolly dolphins and the scratchy little flying-fish have the vast circle all to themselves, 'the Flying Fish, who has a part with the birds, ' and doubtless are glad to see the last of the monster which bears us into and out of sight. Our wake closes up and we might never have been. But it does happen from time to "Time that an island appears on the horizon, nameless to us and full of mystery, the peak of a submarine mountain range, lonely, unblemished , remote. Does one like islands because one unconsciously appropriates them, a small manageable domain in a large unmanageable world? I cannot tell why it should give me such a queer sensation to reflect that that island has always been there (unless indeed it be no more than the work of the patient coral ) and will be there still, should I return to find it waiting for me. It is the same sensation as I have experienced in looking at a photograph of, say, some river valley of innermost China, and seen a boulder, and thought that if I could find myself transported to that spot I could touch the reality of that particular piece of rock ... It is there. For me. I could sit on that very boulder . I explain myself badly, and it is not a sensation I could expect anyone save Laura to understand, but of such incommunicable quirks is the private mind made up.
Well, the islands. I divert myself by inventing the life upon them, and am amused to find my imagination always turning towards the idyllic. This is the new Edmund Carr with a vengeance. If we have seen a skiff sailing close in shore, I follow the fisherman as he beaches his craft in the little cove and gives a cry like a sea-bird to announce his coming. His woman meets him; they are young, and their skins of a golden-brown; she takes his catch from him. In their plaited hut there is nothing but health and love.
One night we passed two islands, steeply humped against faint reflected moonlight; and on each of them, high up, shone a steady yellow gleam.
‘Not lighthouses.' I said to Laura. ‘Villages.'
We gazed, as the ship slid by and the humps receded into darkness and even the lights were obscured by the shoulder of a hill, never to be seen by us again. So peaceful and secret; so self-contained .
One of the ship's officers joined us, off duty.
‘Yes, 'he said, following our gaze. ‘One of them is a leper colony and the other a penal settlement.'
God, is there no escape from suffering and sin?
Laura and I amuse ourselves by watching for the green flash which comes at the instant the sun disappears below the line of the horizon. This does not happen every day, for sky must be entirely clear of cloud and clouds seem very liable to gather along the path of the setting sun, but we are as pleased as children when our game succeeds. Laura claps her hands. Only a second does it last, that streak of green light; we wait for it while the red ball, cut in half as though by a knife, sinks to its daily doom . Then come the twilight colours of sea and heaven (we have discovered the fallacy of saying that darkness falls suddenly in these latitudes, at any rate on sea level), the wine pink width of water merging into lawns of aquamarine , and the sky a tender of pink and blue. But the green flash is our chief delight.
‘creme de menthe , ' says Laura
‘Jade, ' I say.
‘ Emerald , ' says Laura. ' Jade is too opaque
‘Vicious viridian , ' I say, not to be outdone .
'You always did lose yourself in the pleasure of words Edmund. Say green as jealousy and be done with it.'
‘I have never known the meaning of jealousy.'
I am sorry to see the sun go, for one of the pleasures I have discovered is the warmth of his touch on my skin. At home in London I never noticed the weather, unless actually inconvenienced by fog or rain; I had no temptation to take a flying holiday to the South and understood little when people spoke or wrote of sunlight on white walls. Now the indolence of southern latitudes has captured me. I like to see dusky men sitting about doing nothing. I like the footfall of naked feet in the dust, silent as a cat passing. I like turning a corner from the shade of a house into the full torrid glare of an open space. I put my hand on metal railings and snatch it away, burnt. But it is seldom that I go ashore.
I would never have believed in the simple bliss of being, day after day, at sea. Our ports of call are few, and when they do occur I resent them. I should like this empty existence to be prolonged beyond calculation. In the ship's library stands a large globe whose function so far as I am concerned is to reveal the proportion of ocean to the landmasses of the troubled would; the Pacific alone dwarfs all the continents put together. Blue, the colour of peace. And then I like all the small noises of a ship: the faint creaking, as of the saddle-leather to a horseman riding across turf , the slap of a rope, the hiss of sudden spray . I have been exhilarated by two days of storm, but above all I love these long purposeless days in which I shed all that I have ever been.
(from No Signposts in the Sea, 1961)
第十五課海上無(wú)路標(biāo)(節(jié)選)
V?薩克維爾?韋斯特
在餐廳里，我同另外三個(gè)男人圍坐在一張桌子旁，而勞拉同一對(duì)夫婦及他們的女兒一塊兒坐在離我不遠(yuǎn)的地方。我可以觀(guān)察她而不讓她發(fā)覺(jué)，這使我覺(jué)得開(kāi)心，因?yàn)槲铱梢韵窨措娪耙粯拥匦蕾p她優(yōu)雅的動(dòng)作，不論是舉杯送到唇邊，還是扭頭與鄰座交談，抑或是用她那纖細(xì)的手指從煙盒中夾取香煙的動(dòng)作。我向來(lái)不太會(huì)欣賞也不大注意女人的衣著，但我卻有這樣的印象：勞拉白天總穿著灰色和白色的衣服，因而當(dāng)別人被熱帶的高溫烘烤得紅光滿(mǎn)面時(shí)，她看上去卻給人一種清爽的感覺(jué)。到了晚間，她又總是穿著深紅、橄欖綠、深藍(lán)等色調(diào)柔和富麗、質(zhì)料柔軟光滑的衣服。當(dāng)我不揣冒昧地將這話(huà)對(duì)她講時(shí)，她對(duì)我這種笨拙的恭維報(bào)以開(kāi)心的大笑，還說(shuō)我最好不再寫(xiě)什么政壇人物的述評(píng)文章而改行專(zhuān)寫(xiě)時(shí)裝評(píng)論算了。
※ 那個(gè)名叫達(dá)里波的高個(gè)子上?？礃幼邮莻€(gè)好相處的人。他和我同勞拉及一個(gè)竟被人稱(chēng)呼為麥爾維爾夫人的中國(guó)婦女湊成一桌橋牌，四人搭檔。這樣，晚飯后，當(dāng)其他的人在甲板上跳舞時(shí)，我們便用打牌來(lái)消遣個(gè)把小時(shí)。上校不是個(gè)令人討厭的帝國(guó)的衛(wèi)道士，他經(jīng)常找我談?wù)撘恍﹪?guó)家大事。他說(shuō)他以前常讀我寫(xiě)的文章;他說(shuō)話(huà)溫文爾雅，彬彬有禮，一開(kāi)口總是先來(lái)上一句"當(dāng)然，我沒(méi)有資格建議您……"接下來(lái)他就會(huì)明確地談他該如何處置關(guān)于某項(xiàng)國(guó)內(nèi)或外交事務(wù)的意見(jiàn)。他決不算愚笨，也絕談不上孤陋寡聞，只是可能有一點(diǎn)偏執(zhí)，政治思想上極端右傾保守，但我對(duì)他頗有好感，因而盡量不提出一些只會(huì)使他露出困惑的神色的見(jiàn)解，以免使他難堪。況且，我也不想陷入討論的旋渦。我有趣地發(fā)覺(jué)，自己過(guò)去除偶爾借詩(shī)歌或音樂(lè)消遣放松一下外，一心專(zhuān)注的世界大事現(xiàn)在不僅是索然無(wú)味，而且簡(jiǎn)直是令人厭煩了。這無(wú)疑是自己受某種本能的驅(qū)使，要貪婪地用一些過(guò)去無(wú)暇享受的賞心樂(lè)事來(lái)填補(bǔ)自己生命中的最后幾周，釋放那些在過(guò)去雖受到壓抑但一直潛伏在自己心中的欲望。也許是勞拉的無(wú)意的影響喚起了我心中的欲望。
※ 過(guò)去，我像法利賽人一樣自以為是，輕視別人。只要?jiǎng)e人的生活不像我這么講求實(shí)際，我就把他們看作月球居民。對(duì)于人們因"大自然的美"遭到破壞而提出的抗議我嗤之以鼻，因?yàn)槲蚁嘈盼拿鞯倪M(jìn)步的合理性。對(duì)于為了利用水力使內(nèi)地某個(gè)工業(yè)城市受益而在某個(gè)湖泊上筑起攔湖大壩這種事情我根本不覺(jué)得遺憾。對(duì)一切事物我都是這種態(tài)度。我信仰絕對(duì)的實(shí)用主義，并將其看作是人類(lèi)進(jìn)步的自然法則。任何人若標(biāo)榜自己的行為出于無(wú)私的動(dòng)機(jī)，那不僅會(huì)引起我的懷疑，而且會(huì)引起我的輕蔑。
可是看看現(xiàn)在的我吧，竟然像一個(gè)老處女正用水彩畫(huà)著西下的殘陽(yáng)，十分地多愁善感!我曾自詡為老成持重，現(xiàn)在卻意識(shí)到自己原來(lái)這么幼稚無(wú)知。就像那個(gè)改弦易轍的克洛維一樣，我竟然對(duì)自己過(guò)去所鄙視的一切開(kāi)始熱愛(ài)起來(lái)，并且還要遭受少年初戀的痛苦。我想在離開(kāi)人世之前盡情享受一切美好的東西。我不知道也不想知道自己身處何方。茫茫大海無(wú)路標(biāo)。
※ 今夜的一彎新月仰面斜躺在天空，這是月亮在熱帶地區(qū)常見(jiàn)的姿勢(shì)。在我看來(lái)，這種姿勢(shì)對(duì)一個(gè)少女來(lái)說(shuō)雖說(shuō)有些不雅，但卻還是適宜的。沒(méi)有哪一顆星星不愿飛射下來(lái)接受邀請(qǐng)做她的情人。當(dāng)船上的其他乘客最后一個(gè)個(gè)都回艙就寢之后，我一個(gè)人又悄悄爬上空蕩蕩的甲板，滑人游泳池，在水面上浮游著。這時(shí)我已不再是人們所熟悉的那位在遠(yuǎn)洋海輪上度假的中年記者了，而是一個(gè)無(wú)拘無(wú)束的沐浴著天池神水的自由快樂(lè)的人，就像神話(huà)中那位有天神作父親并有一雙奧林匹斯山諸神所賜的觀(guān)察人世的慧眼的年輕健壯的恩底彌翁。我只覺(jué)身體四肢輕飄飄的沒(méi)有任何重量，并且和夜的世界合為一體。我悟出了泛神論的真正意義。我的那些朋友們?nèi)糁牢乙炎兂蛇@樣，他們不知會(huì)笑成什么樣子!在享受著這暖風(fēng)浴膚，涼水托體所帶來(lái)的清新快感時(shí)，我相信我的心靈也得到了凈化，丟棄了凡人皆有的種種弱點(diǎn)，變得不會(huì)嫉妒，沒(méi)有野心，沒(méi)有惡意，與世無(wú)爭(zhēng)。照我想象，那些虔誠(chéng)的教徒在做完莊嚴(yán)的懺悔儀式離開(kāi)懺悔室時(shí)，他們心靈得到凈化的感覺(jué)一定就像我此時(shí)的感覺(jué)一樣。
※ 有時(shí)，勞拉和我一起倚在船尾欄桿上，這對(duì)我是一種幸福。倘是在白天，我們憑欄遠(yuǎn)眺大海，只見(jiàn)海面上時(shí)而翻卷起白色的浪花，時(shí)而平靜得宛若一幅微微飄動(dòng)起伏著的藍(lán)色緞面，完全見(jiàn)不到翻起的浪花，只有我們的輪船駛過(guò)之處才泛起一道道如大理石般的波紋。若是在夜晚，我們翹首望天，這兒的夜空比故鄉(xiāng)的更黑，星光卻顯得更加璀璨。此時(shí)此景令我不由想起一個(gè)粗通文墨的士兵在日記中寫(xiě)的這樣一句話(huà)："星星看起來(lái)就像一個(gè)黑鍋蓋上挖的許多小窟窿，透過(guò)這些小窟窿可以看見(jiàn)鍋蓋外面的亮光。"有時(shí)候那些沒(méi)念過(guò)書(shū)的人信筆涂鴉寫(xiě)的東西倒也有那么兩下子。
據(jù)無(wú)線(xiàn)電廣播，今天全英格蘭彌漫著大霧。
※ 有時(shí)，我們的輪船沿著海岸線(xiàn)航行。時(shí)而是突拔而起的石灰?guī)r峭壁，時(shí)而是地勢(shì)低洼連綿數(shù)英里的茫茫沙灘，渺無(wú)人跡，凄慘荒涼。這種海岸景象使我聯(lián)想到這樣一些人，他們或者是令人望而生畏，難以接近，或者是無(wú)秘可隱，讓人一眼就可看穿?？匆?jiàn)這些海岸，你會(huì)產(chǎn)生這樣的感覺(jué)：不論你向內(nèi)陸腹地深人多遠(yuǎn)，那里的土地都將和岸邊一樣平淡無(wú)奇。我最喜愛(ài)的是岸邊的那些懸崖峭壁及其背后的那高聳云端、神秘莫測(cè)的峰巒疊嶂，那山峰只有最英勇無(wú)畏的人才能夠攀登上去。在崇山峻嶺之間人跡未至的石隙和幽谷中生長(zhǎng)著的是一些什么樣的高原植物呢?我也這樣地讓自己的想象力盡情地探索勞拉性格深處的秘密。她的性情表面上嚴(yán)肅冷峻，但她內(nèi)心里卻蘊(yùn)育著豐富溫柔的情感，宛如嬌嫩的花朵，等待著勇士去發(fā)現(xiàn)。
同船的其他乘客們顯然不能以我這樣的眼光去欣賞海岸上的景色。
"這海岸景象真是荒涼，"一位澳大利亞人說(shuō)。"它讓人渴望見(jiàn)到一點(diǎn)綠色。"
※ 夜幕降臨，四野茫茫，唯見(jiàn)一處荒涼的岬角的一座燈塔上的航標(biāo)燈忽明忽暗地閃爍著。
※ 日落時(shí)分，我們的輪船正好繞過(guò)這樣一個(gè)海角，它位于一塊大陸的最東端，是一座孤峰高聳的紫色大山，山頂上籠罩著大片紫色的云霧。海水也相應(yīng)地變成了淡紫色。山頂上，黃色的航標(biāo)燈不停地旋轉(zhuǎn)著，向過(guò)往船只發(fā)出警示信號(hào)。我心中好奇，在這也許稱(chēng)得上世界上最荒僻最危險(xiǎn)的地方，究竟是什么樣的人在那里看守著燈塔呢?那一帶還是鬼魂出沒(méi)的地方，因?yàn)樵谶^(guò)去沒(méi)有指航燈指航的歲月里，那兒的礁石上堆滿(mǎn)了遇難船只的殘骸。
上校來(lái)到了我們身邊。
"你覺(jué)得那人的職業(yè)怎樣?''他問(wèn)道。
"大概經(jīng)常有人來(lái)?yè)Q班吧?''
"恰恰相反，他一直不肯離開(kāi)那兒。他是個(gè)意大利人，在那兒守了好多好多年了，與他作伴的只有一個(gè)當(dāng)?shù)貗D女。一般人大概都會(huì)覺(jué)得他這人古怪，但我一想到世上居然還剩著這樣幾個(gè)怪人，就感到挺愜意。"
這種}義論有點(diǎn)出人意料，也正是這一點(diǎn)使我對(duì)上校產(chǎn)生了好感，他這人還頗有一點(diǎn)樸素的詩(shī)人氣質(zhì)呢。我也喜歡他經(jīng)常主動(dòng)講給我們聽(tīng)的一些奇聞怪事。他走南闖北，見(jiàn)多識(shí)廣。我還發(fā)現(xiàn)他有關(guān)海鳥(niǎo)的知識(shí)也很豐富，他教我識(shí)別不同種類(lèi)的海鷗，還很有禮貌地告訴我那只鳥(niǎo)不可能是信天翁，這片海域不會(huì)有信天翁。信天翁似乎只跟隨輪船飛到一定的緯度就折回，它知道自己應(yīng)該走多遠(yuǎn)，到了極限距離就決不向前多走一步。信天翁有多么明智啊!我們都應(yīng)該向信天翁學(xué)習(xí)，認(rèn)明自己行動(dòng)所應(yīng)達(dá)到的極限。我追勞拉也只能追到此為止了，決不能再跨前一步。我想，這方面的知識(shí)上校的頭腦里一定也裝著不少，盡管他的頭腦在其他方面并不令人感到有趣。勞拉也喜歡他，盡管我想獨(dú)占勞拉，但當(dāng)他漫步走過(guò)來(lái)成為第三者時(shí)，我并沒(méi)有對(duì)他產(chǎn)生反感。
※ 在這一片無(wú)比寧?kù)o的大海上，我們就連一艘其他的船只也難得見(jiàn)到。歡樂(lè)的海豚和那些吱吱叫的小飛魚(yú)是這片廣闊天地的主人。當(dāng)它們?cè)僖部床坏侥禽d著我們駛?cè)胨鼈兊囊暰€(xiàn)又很快消失的怪物時(shí)，"這些與鳥(niǎo)兒有點(diǎn)相似的小飛魚(yú)"肯定高興得很。船過(guò)水合，毫無(wú)痕跡，似乎我們從未經(jīng)過(guò)那兒似的。但是，偶爾也會(huì)有一座島嶼出現(xiàn)在遠(yuǎn)處地平線(xiàn)上，我們不知其名，令人充滿(mǎn)著神秘之感，它是海底山脈之頂峰，顯得孤獨(dú)、無(wú)暇、遙遠(yuǎn)。人們喜愛(ài)島嶼，是不是因?yàn)樵陔y以駕馭的廣袤的世界之中有這么些易于治理的小塊領(lǐng)地，就不知不覺(jué)地要占為己有呢?想到那座島嶼一直屹立在那里(除非它確實(shí)只不過(guò)是耐心的珊瑚蟲(chóng)的作品)，而且仍將繼續(xù)屹立在原地不動(dòng)，假若我們能返回原地，將會(huì)發(fā)現(xiàn)它還在那里等待著我們。當(dāng)我想到這些時(shí)，我有一種奇特的感覺(jué)，為什么會(huì)這樣，我也說(shuō)不清。當(dāng)我看到一幅照片，比如說(shuō)中國(guó)內(nèi)地某河谷的照片并發(fā)現(xiàn)一塊大漂石時(shí)，我也會(huì)產(chǎn)生這樣的感覺(jué)。我想，如果能把我送到那塊大漂石的所在地，我就能實(shí)實(shí)在在地觸摸一下那塊大漂石……那塊漂石屹立在原地，等待著我，我可以坐在那塊漂石上。我不善于表達(dá)自己的感受，我所要說(shuō)明的這種感覺(jué)我也不敢指望除勞拉外的任何人能理解。但人的心靈深處本來(lái)就充滿(mǎn)著這樣一些不可言傳的隱秘古怪的念頭。
哇，那些海島!為了消愁解悶，我開(kāi)始想象島上生活的情景。令我覺(jué)得有趣的是，我發(fā)現(xiàn)我的想象總是竭力靠近田園詩(shī)般的生活。這完完全全是另一個(gè)愛(ài)德蒙?卡爾。假如我們看見(jiàn)一葉扁舟靠向海島的岸邊，我的想象便隨著那扁舟上的漁夫而去，看著他把船推上小海灣的沙灘，接著發(fā)出一聲海鳥(niǎo)的叫喚，向家中人通報(bào)他的歸來(lái)，他的女人馬上出門(mén)迎接他。他們都很年輕，皮膚是金褐色的。她從他手中接過(guò)捕撈的魚(yú)，他們那間茅草編成的棚屋里充滿(mǎn)著健康和愛(ài)。
有一天夜里，我們駛過(guò)了兩座海島，在海水反射的昏黃的月色映照下，海島呈現(xiàn)出陡峭的駝峰形輪廓，兩個(gè)海島的峰頂上都閃爍著一種穩(wěn)定的黃色的微光。
"不是燈塔，"我對(duì)勞拉說(shuō)。"是村落。"
我們注目凝視著，輪船這時(shí)已漸漸從島邊滑過(guò)，海島的駝峰形輪廓也漸漸消失在一片黑暗中，連島上的閃光都給一個(gè)山肩擋住，從我們的視線(xiàn)中永遠(yuǎn)地消失了。多么寧?kù)o、隱秘而又深沉。
船上的一名下了班的高級(jí)船員走過(guò)來(lái)加入了我們的談話(huà)。
"沒(méi)錯(cuò)，"他順著我們的目光望去，一邊說(shuō)，"其中的一個(gè)村落是麻風(fēng)病患者聚居點(diǎn)，另一個(gè)是犯人勞改營(yíng)。"
天哪，難道就沒(méi)有辦法擺脫苦難和罪惡?jiǎn)?
※ 勞拉和我還有一種白娛的方法，就是等著觀(guān)看太陽(yáng)從地平線(xiàn)上消失的那一瞬間產(chǎn)生的一道綠色的閃光。這種綠色的閃光不是每天都能看到的，只有當(dāng)天空沒(méi)有一絲云彩時(shí)才能看到，而云彩卻又特別喜歡沿著日落的軌道聚集。每當(dāng)我們的這一游戲成功(即看到綠光)時(shí)，我們就會(huì)像孩子般的興高采烈，勞拉還會(huì)不住的拍手。那道綠色光芒一閃即逝。我們等著看這道綠光時(shí)，太陽(yáng)宛如被刀子切去一半的紅球，隨即墜落到每日的歸宿之處。接著便見(jiàn)大海和天空上出現(xiàn)一片茫茫的暮色(有人說(shuō)，在這種緯度的地區(qū)的海面上，夜幕總是突如其來(lái)地降臨，我們發(fā)現(xiàn)這種說(shuō)法是錯(cuò)誤的)，深紅色的海面漸漸變成了一塊塊藍(lán)綠色的草坪，天空則變成了一塊柔和的淺紅色和藍(lán)色的調(diào)色板。但最使我們喜悅的還是那道綠色的閃光。
"薄荷酒色，"勞拉說(shuō)。
"裴翠色，"我說(shuō)。
"鮮綠色，"勞拉說(shuō)，"裴翠色太暗了。"
"墨綠色，"我不想輸給她，又說(shuō)了一句。
"愛(ài)德蒙，你一咬文嚼字起來(lái)總是那么忘乎所以。干脆就說(shuō)綠得發(fā)青叫人嫉妒好了，別再爭(zhēng)下去了。"
"我可從來(lái)不知道什么是嫉妒。"
※ 看到太陽(yáng)落下去了，我感到惋惜，因?yàn)槲野l(fā)覺(jué)溫暖的陽(yáng)光照到皮膚上是令人舒心愜意的。在家鄉(xiāng)倫敦時(shí)，我從來(lái)不去注意天氣情況，除非是雨和霧確實(shí)給我?guī)?lái)了不便。我又從未想過(guò)去南方作一次短暫的旅行，因此也不大理解別人談?wù)摶蛎鑼?xiě)陽(yáng)光灑滿(mǎn)白墻的情景。而現(xiàn)在南緯地帶懶洋洋的氣氛深深地吸引著我。我喜歡看那些曬得黑黝黝的男人無(wú)所事事地閑坐著的樣子，我喜歡聽(tīng)人們打赤腳踩踏在塵土中所發(fā)出的像貓兒一樣輕的腳步聲，我喜歡繞過(guò)一個(gè)屋角時(shí)從房屋的陰影中一步跨人在烈日照射下赤熱耀眼的空曠場(chǎng)地時(shí)的感覺(jué)。我剛把手搭到金屬欄桿上立刻便縮了回來(lái)，燙得要命。但我很少上岸。
※ 若非有了這一回的親身經(jīng)歷，我永遠(yuǎn)也不會(huì)相信日復(fù)一日地航行于大海上竟會(huì)是這樣的其樂(lè)無(wú)窮。我們的船停靠的港口很少，真正?？扛劭跁r(shí)，我也只感到厭煩。我寧愿這種灑脫的海上生活永無(wú)休止地持續(xù)下去。船上的圖書(shū)室里放著一架巨大的地球儀，照我看來(lái)，它的作用就是展示海洋與動(dòng)蕩不安的世界上的陸地之間的比例，僅一個(gè)太平洋就比所有的大陸加在一起還要大。藍(lán)色，和平的顏色。而且我也喜歡船上的一切輕微的聲響：那如同草地上奔馳的騎手耳中聽(tīng)到的鞍皮發(fā)出的吱嘎聲，繩索的拍打聲以及浪花飛濺的嘶嘶聲。兩天的暴風(fēng)雨使我欣喜萬(wàn)分，但我首先喜歡的還是這漫長(zhǎng)的無(wú)所事事的日子，在這些日子里，我拋棄了舊我，脫胎換骨，獲得了新生。
(摘自《海上無(wú)路標(biāo)》，1961)
詞匯(Vocabulary)
signpost ( n.) :a post bearing a sign;guidepost廣告柱;路標(biāo)
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supple ( adj.) :able to bend and move easily and nimbly;lithe;limber柔軟的;可塑的;能輕易彎曲的
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beguile ( v.) :cause(time)to pass without being noticed消磨(時(shí)間
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deferential ( adj.) :showing deference;very respectful表示敬意的，恭敬的
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opinionated ( adj.) :holding unreasonably or obstinatedly to one's own opinions固執(zhí)己見(jiàn)的;固守成見(jiàn)的
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gluttonous ( adj.) :inclined to eat too much and greedily貪食的
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latent (adj.) : present but invisible or inactive;lying hidden and undeveloped within a person or thing，as a quality or power;potential潛在的;潛伏的
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unwitting ( adj.) :not intended;unintentional無(wú)意的;非有意的
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dismissive ( adj.) :haughty or contemptuous傲慢的，目中無(wú)人的;輕蔑的，輕視的
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hydraulic ( adj.) : operated by the movement and force of liquid水力的;液壓的
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ascription ( n.) :regarding as belonging to or coming from someone歸屬;歸因、;歸咎
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adolescent ( adj.) : of characteristic of adolescence; youthful，exuberant，immature，unsettled，young，etc.青春期的，青年的;發(fā)育未全的;未成熟的
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calf-love ( n.) :immature love that adolescent boys and girls may feel for each other;puppy love雛戀，幼戀
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disperse ( v.) :break up and move in different directions;scatter分散，散開(kāi);散去
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pantheism ( n.) :the doctrine that God is not a personality(as in Christianity)but that a11 laws，forces. manifestations, etc.，of the self-existing universe are God泛神論
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malice ( n.) :active ill will;desire to harm another or to do mischief;spite敵意;怨恨
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voluptuous ( adj.) :giving a fine delight to the senses;giving a satisfying feeling of rest and enjoyment令人舒服的;安逸的
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pious ( adj.) :showing religious devotion and zealous in the performance of religious obligations虔誠(chéng)的
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confessional ( n.) :a small，enclosed place in a church. where a priest hears confessions(教堂中神父聽(tīng)取懺悔的)懺悔室
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absolution ( n.) :remission(of sin or penalty for it)：specif., in some churches，such remission formally given by a priest in the sacrament of penance(罪或懲罰的)赦免
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taffrail ( n.) :the rail around the stern of a ship or boat船尾欄桿
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ripple ( v.) :cause to ripple使起細(xì)浪;使波動(dòng)(或飄動(dòng))
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pony ( n.) :a small horse矮種馬;小馬
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satin ( n.) :a kind or very fine smooth cloth mainly of silk. which is shiny on the front and dull on the back緞子
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marble ( v.) :stain or color to look like mottled or streaked marble把……弄上大理石花紋
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scribbler ( n.) :a person who writes illegibly or carelessly 筆跡潦草的人
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precipitous ( adj.) : dangerously steep：frighteningly high above the ground陡峭的;險(xiǎn)峻的;懸崖峭壁般的
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bluff ( n.) :a high，steep，broad-faced bank or cliff陡坡;懸崖
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arid ( adj.) :(of land or a country)having so little rain as to be very dry and unproductive(土地等)干旱的;貧脊的
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bleach ( v.) :(cause to)become white or whiter(使)變白，漂白
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ravish (v.) :take 0r carry away by force;rape強(qiáng)搶;強(qiáng)奪;強(qiáng)奸
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recess ( n.) :(often pl.)a secluded，withdrawn，or inner place(常用復(fù)數(shù))深處;幽深之處
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austere ( adj. ) :having a severe or stern look，manner，etc.;forbidding嚴(yán)厲的，嚴(yán)峻的;嚴(yán)肅的;苛刻的
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intermittent (adj.) :happening，then stopping，then happening again，with pauses in between;not continuous斷斷續(xù)續(xù)的，間斷的
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promontory ( n.) :a peak or high land that juts out into a body of water;headland岬(角);海角
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lavender ( n.) :a pale purple colour淡紫色
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albatross ( n.) :any of various large strong，mostly white seabirds famous for their ability to fly long distances信天翁
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lore ( n.) :knowledge or wisdom，especially of an unscientific kind，about a certain subject學(xué)問(wèn);知識(shí)(尤指某門(mén)學(xué)科知識(shí))
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lounge ( v.) :stand，move，sit，lie，etc.in a relaxed or lazy way;loll(懶散地)站(走，坐，躺)
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serenity ( n.) :the quality or state of being serene;calmness;tranquillity寧?kù)o;晴朗
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espy ( v.) :catch sight of;make out;spy;descry(偶爾)看見(jiàn);發(fā)現(xiàn);探出;窺見(jiàn)
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dolphin ( n.) :a type of toothed sea-animal 2-3 metres long，which swims about very quickly in groups。going over and under the surface of the water in curves海豚
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blemish ( v.) :mar，as by some flaw or fault;spoil the perfection of損害;損傷;玷污;有損……的完美
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boulder ( n.) :any large rock worn smooth and round by weather and water巨石
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quirk ( n.) :a peculiarity，peculiar trait，or mannerism怪癖，古怪行為
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skiff ( n.) :any light rowboat輕舟，小舟
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leper ( n.) :a person having leprosy麻風(fēng)病患者
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aquamarine ( n.) :the colour of bluish-green藍(lán)綠色
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creme de menthe ( n.) :[Fre.]a sweet liqueur，usually green in colour，flavoured with mint[法語(yǔ)]薄荷酒
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emerald ( n.) :bright green翠綠色
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opaque ( adj.) :not reflecting light;not shining or lustrous;dull or dark不反光的;不發(fā)亮的;暗的
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vicious viridian ( n.) :very intense bluish-green colour墨綠色
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indolence ( n.) :the quality or state of disliking or avoiding work;the state of being idle or lazy懶惰;懶散;無(wú)所事事
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torrid ( adj. ) :so hot as to be parching or oppresive;scorching灼熱的;酷熱的
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bliss ( n.) :great joy or happiness極大的快樂(lè);完美的幸福
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turf ( n.) :a surface layer of earth containing grass plants with their matted roots;sod;sward草皮;草地
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exhilarate ( v.) :make cheerful，merry，or lively使高興;使快樂(lè);使快活
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短語(yǔ)(Expressions)
take to sth./doing sth: begin to do sth.as a habit逐漸慣于做某事
例：He took t0 gardening in his retirement.他退休后就搞起了園藝。
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lose oneself in sth: be totally absorbed in sth.專(zhuān)心致志于某事物
例：I soon lost myself in the excitement of the film.影片中的刺激情節(jié)很快就把我吸引住了。
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with a vengeance: to a greater degree than is normal，expected or desired比正常的，預(yù)期的或想要的程度更深或更甚
例：to a greater degree than is normal，expected or desired比正常的，預(yù)期的或想要的程度更深或更甚
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to the exclusion of: so as to keep out，leave out，exclude排除(其他的一切)
例：He spent his spare time gardening to the exclusion of all other interests.他把空余時(shí)間都用在園藝上了，沒(méi)有任何其他愛(ài)好。
16課詞匯(Vocabulary)
abridge ( v.) :shorten by using fewer words but keeping the main contents;condense(在保留主要內(nèi)容的同時(shí))減少……的篇幅;刪去;簡(jiǎn)寫(xiě)，精簡(jiǎn)(文章等)
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custodian ( n.) :a person who has the custody or care of something，as of a private library;caretaker;keeper(私人圖書(shū)館等的)管理員，看管人
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tally ( n.) :anything used as a record for an account，reckoning，or score記帳或記分用物
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abstain ( v.) :decline to use vote(投票時(shí))棄權(quán)
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horsefly ( n.) :any of a number of related large flies(Tabanidae)，the female of which sucks the blood of horses，cattle，etc.虻
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quill ( n.) :the hollow，horny stem of a feather;calamus羽毛管
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inkwell ( n.) :a container for holding ink，usually set in the top of a desk，inkstand，etc.(鑲在桌上或墨水臺(tái)上的)墨水池
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holler ( v.) :[colloq.]shout or yell[口]叫喊，呼喊
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mill ( v.) :[AmE]move slowly in a circle，as cattle，or aimlessly，as a confused crowd(often with around or about)[美](人、家畜)成群地兜圈子;亂哄哄地推擠(常與around或about連用)
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Quaker ( n.) :a popular name for a member of the Society of Friends：Friend 貴格會(huì)教徒(基督教新教的教友派或"公誼會(huì)"教徒的別稱(chēng))
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distill ( v.) :remove，extract，or produce by distillation用蒸餾法提取(或生產(chǎn))，由蒸餾而得;提純;精制
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rum ( n.) :an alcoholic liquor distilled from fermented sugar cane，molasses，etc.朗姆灑(甘蔗汁制的一種甜酒)
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dammit ( interj.) :amn it(used to express annoyance，disgust，impatience)該死的;他媽的
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tria juncta in uno :[Latin]three joined in one[拉]三人意見(jiàn)統(tǒng)一
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wart ( n.) :an imperfection，failing，flaw，etc.缺點(diǎn);缺陷;瑕疵
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portly ( adj.) :stout;corpulent肥胖的;粗壯的;魁梧的
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hawkish ( adj.) :of or like a hawk像鷹一樣的
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bespectacled ( adj.) :wearing spectacles戴眼鏡的
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sycophant ( n.) :a person who seeks favour by flattering people of wealth or influece諂媚者，拍馬者
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gout ( n.) :disease with inflammation of joints，esp. of big toe [醫(yī)]痛風(fēng)
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drowse ( v. ) :sleep lightly;be half asleep;dose打瞌睡，打盹
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pappy ( n.) :[dial.or colloq.]father[方或口]爸爸
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vehement ( adj.) :having or characterized by intense feeling or strong passion;fervent;impassioned，etc.熱情的;熱烈的;激情的
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quietude ( n.) :a state of being quiet;rest;calmness平靜，寧?kù)o
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pedantic ( adj. ) :like or of a pedant學(xué)究氣的，書(shū)呆子似的
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festivity ( n.) :[pl.]festive proceedings;things done in celebration[復(fù)]慶?；顒?dòng)，慶典
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swat ( v.) :[colloq.]hit with a quick，sharp blow[口]重拍，猛擊
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whoop ( n.) :a loud shout，cry高叫聲，呼喊聲
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absolve ( v.) :free(from a duty，promise.etc)解除(或免) 除…的(責(zé)任);使不受(諾言等)約束
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allegiance ( n.) :the obligation of support and loyalty to one's ruler, government, or country(對(duì)統(tǒng)治者、政府、國(guó)家)效忠
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dissolve ( v.) :end by or as by breaking up;terminate使結(jié)束，使中止
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second ( v.) :indicate formally one's approval。r support of (a motion，nomination，etc.)贊成;支持(動(dòng)議等)
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motion ( n.) :a proposal;suggestion;a proposal formally made in an assembly or meeting提議;動(dòng)議;會(huì)議提案
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weasel ( n.) :a sly，cunning，or sneaky person狡猾的人，奸刁的人
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intone ( v.) :speak or recite in a singing tone or in prolonged monotones;chant吟詠;吟誦;以拖長(zhǎng)的音調(diào)說(shuō)話(huà)或朗誦
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brunt ( n.) :the heaviest or hardest part正面的沖擊;主要的壓力
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skeptical ( adj.) :not easily persuaded or convinced;doubting;questioning難以說(shuō)服的;好懷疑的
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itch ( v.) :have a restless desire or hankering渴望，追求
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sever ( v.) :part or break off，as by cutting or with force;cut in two切斷，割斷
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cripple ( v.) :make unable or unfit to act，function effectively，etc.;disable使損傷，使喪失活動(dòng)能力;削弱
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muster ( v.) :gather together and display;collect;summon鼓起;振作(常與up連用)
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forsake ( v.) :abandon拋棄，遺棄
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anarchist ( n.) :a person who believes in or advocated anarchism無(wú)政府主義者，無(wú)政府主義鼓吹者
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redress ( v.) :set right;rectify or remedy，often by making compensation for(a wrong，grievance，etc.)糾正，矯正;補(bǔ)償
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treason ( n.) :violation of the allegiance owed to one's sovereign or state;betrayal of one's country叛國(guó)罪;叛逆行為
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pound ( v.) :deprive of money or property by violence;loot 掠奪(某地)的財(cái)物;搶劫(某人)的財(cái)物
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stifle ( v.) :suppress or repress;check，stop，inhibit，etc.抑制;撲滅;鎮(zhèn)壓
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spawn ( vt.) :bring forth or be the source of釀成，引起
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status quo :the existing state of affairs(at a particular time)(also"status in quo")現(xiàn)狀(亦作status in quo)
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seditious ( adj.) :engaging in resistence or rebellion against the government in power叛亂的
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fugitive ( n.) :a person who flees or has fled from danger，justice，etc.逃亡者，逃犯
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chaos ( n.) :extreme confusion or disorder紛亂，混亂(狀態(tài))，無(wú)秩序
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reek ( vi.) :be permeated with anything very unpleasant充滿(mǎn)(某種極不愉快的東西)(通常與of，with連用)
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roach ( n.) :any of an order(Blattalia)of insects with long feelers and a flat soft body(some species are common house-hold pests)蟑螂
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aye ( adv.) :yes;yea是;當(dāng)然
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infernal ( adj.) :[colloq.]hateful;outrageous[口]可恨的，可惡的，討厭的，該死的
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incendiary ( n.) :a person who willfully stirs up strife. riot，rebellion，etc.煽動(dòng)者
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demagogue ( n.) :a person who tries to stir up the people by appeals to emotion，prejudice，etc.in order to win them over quickly and so gain power煽動(dòng)者，鼓動(dòng)者;蠱惑人心的政客
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fribble ( n.) :any trifling act or thought無(wú)聊的行為或思想
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whack ( vt.) :[colloq.]strike or slap with a sharp。Resounding blow[口]使勁打;重?fù)?/p>
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bedlam ( n.) :any place or condition of noise and confusion渲鬧或混亂的地方或狀態(tài)
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ascetic ( adj.) : self-denying;austere苦行(主義)的，禁欲的
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emblem ( n.) :a sign，badge，or device標(biāo)記;徽章;像章
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ditto ( n.) :the same(as something said or appearing above or before)同上，同前
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felicity ( n.) :a quality or knack of appropriate and pleasing expression in writing，speaking，painting，etc.(措詞等的)恰當(dāng)，恰如其分;貼切;巧妙
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anteroom ( n.) :a room leading to a larger or more important room;waiting room前廳;(來(lái)賓)接待室
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inalienable ( adj.) :that may not be taken away or transferred不可剝奪的;不能轉(zhuǎn)讓的
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levy ( v.) :wage(war)發(fā)動(dòng)(戰(zhàn)爭(zhēng))
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bonny，bonnie ( adj.) :[now chiefly Scot.or Eng.dial.]fine;pleasant[現(xiàn)主蘇格蘭或英方]好的，愉快的，快活的
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mercenary ( n.) :a professional soldier hired to serve in a foreign army外國(guó)雇傭兵
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kilt ( n.) :a pleated skirt reaching to the knees;esp.，the tartan.skirt worth sometimes by men of the Scottish Highlands蘇格蘭高地男子和蘇格蘭兵團(tuán)士兵穿的、方格呢制的褶裥短裙
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antagonize ( v. ) :incur the dislike of;.make an enemy of招…的怨;引起…的反對(duì);使…與自己為敵
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august ( adj.) :inspiring awe and reverence;imposing and magnificent威嚴(yán)的，威風(fēng)凜凜的;(建筑物等)莊嚴(yán)雄偉的
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contention ( n.) :a statement or point that one argues for as true or valid(爭(zhēng)論中的)論點(diǎn);爭(zhēng)論點(diǎn)
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apoplexy ( n.) :apoplexy sudden paralysis with total or partial loss of consciousness and sensation，caused by the breaking or obstruction of a blood vessel in the brain;stroke[醫(yī)]中風(fēng)
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piddle ( v.) :dawdle or trifle(sometimes with away)鬼混;游蕩;偷懶(有時(shí)與away連用)
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abdicate ( v.) :give up formally(a high office，throne，authority，etc.)(國(guó)王)退(位);辭(職)
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incite ( v.) :urge to action;stir up;rouse促成;激勵(lì);慫恿;鼓動(dòng)
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prostitute ( v.) :sell(oneself，one's artistic or moral integrity，etc.)for low or unworthy purposes出賣(mài)(名譽(yù)等);為(錢(qián))而自甘墮落
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aroma ( n.) :a characteristic quality or atmosphere格調(diào)，風(fēng)格，風(fēng)味，韻味
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seafaring (adj.) :of or engaged in life at sea航海的;海上生活的
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elate ( v.) :raise the spirit of;make very happy，proud，or joyful使精神振奮;使歡欣鼓舞;使得意洋洋
glum ( adj. ) :feeling or looking gloomy，sullen，or morose憂(yōu)郁的，悶悶不樂(lè)的，愁眉不展的
bastard ( n.) :a person regarded with contempt，hatred，pity，resentment，etc.or sometimes with playful affection討厭鬼;壞蛋;家伙(有時(shí)用于開(kāi)玩笑的場(chǎng)合)
tavern ( n.) :saloon;bar酒館
credential ( n.) :[usu.pl.]a letter or certificate given to a person to show that he has a right to confidence or to the exercise of a certain position or authority(常用復(fù))證明書(shū)，介紹信;信任狀;(大使等的)國(guó)書(shū)
jeopardize ( v.) :put in jeopardy;endanger使處于險(xiǎn)境;危及，危害
fishwife ( n.) :a coarse，scolding woman粗野的女人，潑婦，悍婦
obnoxious ( adj.) :very unpleasant;objectionable;offensive令人非常不快的;引起反感的;討厭的
pageant ( n.) :a spectacular exhibition，elaborate parade，etc.，as a procession with floats華麗的展覽;壯觀(guān)的行列
dilemma ( n.) :any situation in which one must choose between unpleasant alternatives窘境，左右為難
demigod ( n.) :[myth.]a lesser god;minor deity[神話(huà)]半人半神
poll (v.) :[AmE.]require each member of(a jury，committee，etc.)to declare his vote individually[美]個(gè)別征求…中成員的意見(jiàn)
nonentity ( n.) :a person or thing of little or no importance無(wú)足輕重的或無(wú)用的人或物
anonymity ( n.) :the condition or fact of being anonymous不知名，無(wú)名
reconciliation ( n.) :a reconciling和解;調(diào)解
flourish ( n.) :a decorative or curved line or lines in writing(手寫(xiě)花體字上的)花邊，曲線(xiàn)
belfry ( n.) :a bell tower，esp. one that is part of a building，placed at the top(尤指建筑物頂上的)鐘塔，鐘樓
短語(yǔ)(Expressions)
stand(或get)in the way: prevent妨礙
例：She is determined to succeed and won't let anything get/ stand in her way.她決心要成功，不讓任何事情妨礙她。
in aIl fairness: You use this phrase when you are about to add a com. ment that corrects a falsa or unfair impression.完全出于公平起見(jiàn)。
例：In all fairness to Jack，he was just trying to be helpful.為杰克說(shuō)句公平話(huà)，他只是想幫忙。
take a chance: take a risk冒險(xiǎn)
例：You don't get anywhere in life without taking chances.在生活中，你不冒險(xiǎn)就會(huì)一事無(wú)成。
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