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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨: b6 m8 ~* C2 N1 D0 W5 d( {
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.3 J( X1 N. F- Z8 _
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。$ w& s* `& A$ l, s" |/ k0 T4 O
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
- Y1 x4 J! N6 ]- v* q 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。+ c4 U; ]" v# I3 u4 j" D( y
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.2 _9 a Y/ G& H& V/ @
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
6 y7 } \2 Z/ o1 P; t. ` u9 q351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match./ L6 F+ E6 l% Y2 w! Z$ c8 i2 l
不过,拳击是十分野蛮的,因为当时没有任何比赛规则,职业拳击手有可能在比赛中受重伤,甚至丧命。
$ C2 A, t \ }6 [3 b( A4 \352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.$ v9 U! O) m6 B9 i% S. B$ f0 b
拳击史上最引人注目的人物之一是丹尼尔.门多萨,他生于1764年。
3 X t2 H# ]7 l/ e+ k353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.- @9 \3 o+ y4 ^6 N
1860年昆斯伯里侯爵第一次为拳击比赛制定了规则,拳击比赛这才用上了手套。
% X2 V5 b/ m- h7 V1 Z354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
' Y' a* y( _! }# `/ \ 虽然门多萨严格来讲不过是个职业拳击手,但在把这种粗野的拳击变成一种体育运动方面,他作出了重大贡献。是他把科学引进了这项运动。5 {1 i* X. ~% `+ ]$ @5 X
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
8 C9 G4 E6 G" { 门多萨在的全盛时期深受大家欢迎,无论是富人还是穷人都对他祟拜备至。- k, @& g" T9 h2 j! V6 |2 t
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
, W$ `* M" y# {# d, ?3 H. J) }6 [ 门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。2 z/ U. M4 }& ]. c+ D
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
$ L9 T/ j- h3 j4 [ 这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。6 b' w, L7 X% L; ~/ V7 N. _4 s# C
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.) w1 r. Q* h' C/ L6 o/ _. P
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
" e$ O- f, L) S- G: E, c359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
1 `0 w% C$ K4 F; P 事实上,门多萨不久便名声大振,致使汉弗莱斯与他反目为敌。; n7 a& `. L3 Z3 g$ Y* d* H+ U0 C# ~
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.5 g8 R8 u* c7 e1 d* o0 ]5 p0 @ i7 }
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。
( _5 Q* L9 D5 i2 J& N% P- o9 y361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
% l# p" i9 ~5 I1 P 于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。! Y. o' W% C/ L5 r1 [3 m/ X3 N
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
) R: c, x+ V- p 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
* T0 d7 a, {# } }363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
q, A# b& V0 }, Z6 L0 J 后来,门多萨与汉弗莱斯再次在拳击场上较量,门多萨又输了一场。
( Q& Z8 l- o& Y' i3 Z5 r# F! u364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.9 I" C, G' }8 q `+ ~; t
直到1790年他们第3次对垒,门多萨才终于击败汉弗莱斯,成了全英拳击冠军。
: I6 Y' V1 z/ A {8 c; \) ^365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
0 S2 T; N0 s% V9 q4 i 同时,他建立了一所拳击学校,办得很成功,连拜伦勋爵也成了他的学生。# p, s* }% x& e9 R) D [! D/ Z- [
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.. S D/ A$ E9 R; T6 {
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
0 V* Y1 I7 m, n) C2 Z367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.: d9 h N- @ G! ^8 K4 r2 D
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
" E& C& |* H: P4 W8 V8 J- G368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.: T9 A4 u$ ^% N! q$ p% q' o% ?7 x3 I
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
3 w. a7 Z/ x1 ^- b, `; `! {369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
' v; \% R9 B L# E% g 他因无力还债而被捕入狱,最后于1836年在贫困中死去。 |
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