an art of a high order but of little value(the art of butchering dragons)

Enjoy an undeserved reputation

be greedy for fame and gain

be greedy and dissatisfied

bare and barren hills(treeless hills)

extremely easy to obtain(acquire something easily)

the ends of the earth

carry snow to fill a well

immensely painful

serious(natural disasters like giant earthquakes and landslides)

intolerable justice(God forfend!)

find fault(pick holes; be captious)

Peach vies for beauty with apricot.

pick and steal(pick up)

add details of(have something to add to)

emperor

Throughout the empire all hearts turned to him.

fall in with other's wishes and acquire admittance

bastion of iron

uneventful(All is quiet along the Potomac.)