This large body of men had met on the previous night, despite the elements which were opposed to them, a heavy rain falling the whole of the night and drenching them to the skin.

• 这一大群人头天晚上还是聚集到了一起，尽管天公不作美，整夜下着倾盆大雨，大家被淋得浑身湿透。评析：若将“天公不作美”改为“天气跟他们作对”，就差劲多了。