Vocabulary

to keep in pace with; to keep up with; to follow (someone's thought); to understand

because

in time of need; for a rainy day; in case of emergency

much less; to say nothing of

accepted; fully-fledged; clear; respectable

bread and circuses

fish biting (striking, taking bait)

father-in-law; foster father; stepfather

at a young age; while still young

bolt from the blue; great surprise

body hair

bubble on the surface of water

freely; generously; liberally; ungrudgingly; unsparingly

early on; earlier on; from early

to visit frequently; to haunt

(with) only the clothes one happens to wear; (with) only the clothes on one's back; (still) wearing the same clothes as before (e.g. before falling asleep)

to picture; to come into one's mind; to remember

long-cherished dream

horse's back

faultless; flawless; perfect; impeccable; unimpeachable; beyond reproach

sound of the wind; voice of the wind

to laugh to oneself; to smile to oneself

to feel sick; to be nauseated

having one misfortune after another; insult to injury

tomfoolery; monkey business

one of these days; someday; one day

one of these days; before very long; in the near future

in a few days; in the near future; soon; one of these days

Battle of Dan-no-ura (final battle of the Genpei War; 1185)

next in line; heir

to be; to exist

fighting with one's back to the wall; having burnt one's bridges; last stand; last-ditch effort

as fast as the wind, as quiet as the forest, as daring as fire, and immovable as the mountain

unable to stay (on); unable to endure being somewhere a second longer; feel like running away

one fifth part

soon; shortly; before long; nearly; almost

the good old days; halcyon days

to have one's breath taken away; to gasp (in surprise, wonder, etc.); to have one's breath catch in one's throat; to gulp

breathtaking

breathtaking; thrilling