Words & Expressions

Thrown into consternation, the Emperor, according to custom, moved to another palace as a sign of respect for God, and ordered poorer food to be served forhis dinner.

consternation

[U]a feeling of worry, shock, or fear 惊愕；震惊；惊惶失措

eg.The government’s plans have caused considerable consternation among many Americans.

A new power station is being built much to the consternation of environmental groups (=they are very worried about it) .

in consternation

eg. He looked at her in consternation.

The quiet Tseyu just kept on producing children until he had three sons and seven daughters, whom Su Tungpo helped to marry off.

marry sb.off  为某人寻得配偶（含贬义）

eg. They married her off to the first young man who came along.

Given this  vital, expansive spirit so characteristic of Su Tungpo's bubbling personality, he was constantly...

bubble

文中写苏轼的个性时，出现了两次。

(also 又作 bubble over )to be excited 激动，兴奋

eg.Mary was bubbling over with excitement. 

(also 又作 bubble away/up )if a feeling or activity bubbles, it continues to exist 〔某种情感或活动〕继续存在

eg.Resentment was still bubbling inside her. 

Speculation that he plans to resign has been bubbling away for months.

the bubble bursts used for saying that a very successful or happy period of time suddenly ends 成为泡影，泡沫破灭

eg.The bubble has finally burst in the mobile phone industry.

burst / prick sb’s bubble to make someone suddenly realize that something is not as good as they thought it was 戳破肥皂泡，使某人的幻想破灭

Excerpts

Tseyu was steady, practical, reserved, and given to few words; Tungpo was volatile, expansive, loquacious, naive and inclined to disregard the consequences of his actions.

What distinguished greater personalities from lesser people was often the difference in the energy, drive, dash, and vivacity of such men.

Main Ideas

看完第九章和第十章节，感觉就是一曲高歌之后突遇暂停，然后大家各奔东西。第九章主要是讲王安书变法失败以及最后的归宿。第十章主要讲两兄弟在历经朝堂的动荡以及变化之后赴杭州上任后的闲淡时光。并就兄弟二人外貌、政见以及文学style进行了比较。兄弟二人虽在性格上有差异，但也能互相理解、惺惺相惜。