As Helmichis left the bath he received a wine-cup from the hands of his treacherous wife, and lifted it to his lips. But no sooner had he tasted the liquor, and felt the shock that it gave his system, than he knew that he was poisoned. Death, a speedy death, was in his veins, but he had life enough left for revenge. Seizing his dagger, he pressed it to the breast of Rosamond, and by threats of instant death compelled her to drain the remainder of the cup. In a few minutes both the guilty partners in the death of Alboin had breathed their last.
When Longinus was, at a later moment, summoned into the room, it was to find his late guests both dead upon the floor. The poison had faithfully done its work. Thus ended a historic tragedy than which the stage possesses few of more striking dramatic interest and opportunities for histrionic effect.
1.句子为倒装句,thus表方式,thus ended sth意思是“某事就这样结束了”。又如:
Thus ended any connection with the outside. 这样,和外界的一切联系都断绝了。
2. than which 是一种特殊的倒装用法,举两个例子供你对比和参考:
She is a nurse than whom no one is kinder. 她是个比谁都亲切的护士。
比较:No one is kinder than she, who is a nurse.
It is a bridge than which no other is longer. 这是一条比任何别的桥都长的桥。
比较:No other (bridge) is longer than it, which a bridge.
Thus ended a historic tragedy than which the stage possesses few of more striking dramatic interest and opportunities for histrionic effect.
这个句子的主句为倒装句,但定语从句不能认为是倒装句。因为倒装结构是指主语和谓语动词的相对位置而言的,即操作词移到了主语之前(部分倒装)或者主语后移到谓语动词之后(完全倒装)。而在这个定语从句中,the stage (主语)possesses (谓语动词)为正常语序。所以,这个定语从句不是倒装句。这个定语从句的特别之处是定语从句本身包含了一个more...than...比较结构,than在本句中为介词,关系代词which在定语从句中作介词than的宾语,构成关系短语,关系短语必须前置引导定语从句。
如果觉得我的回答对您有用,请随意打赏。你的支持将鼓励我继续创作!