毒刑 meaning in Chinese

cruel corporal punishment; horrible torture

What these happy persons took for reality was but a dream ; but it was a dream so soft , so voluptuous , so enthralling , that they sold themselves body and soul to him who gave it to them , and obedient to his orders as to those of a deity , struck down the designated victim , died in torture without a murmur , believing that the death they underwent was but a quick transition to that life of delights of which the holy herb , now before you had given them a slight foretaste .
嗯，这些快乐的人所认为的现实，实际上只是一个梦，但这个梦是这样的宁静，这样的安逸，这样的使人迷恋，以致谁把梦给他们，他们就把自己的肉体和灵魂卖给他。他们服从他的命令象服从上帝一样。他指使他们去杀死谁，他们就走遍天涯海角去谋害那个牺牲者，即便是他们在毒刑拷打之下死去，也没人发出一声怨言，因为他们相信死只是超度到极乐世界的捷径，而他们已从圣草中尝到过极乐世界的滋味。