新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
; e1 K. a3 o4 R4 D7 L        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
, o2 w8 C2 f& `+ v# ?350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
5 C2 t/ f3 u0 }# w4 i8 x" Q$ _# Y0 k        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。
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
( D' C! D5 `) I        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。
7 k$ K" ~; _" D$ ]7 D6 z, f353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
        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。
: H* m' o3 y3 y% B1 u354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
        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。
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
        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。
' k8 ?3 F7 w$ U356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
7 Y0 k6 |) A! e5 ~% z( s8 @        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
/ ?! |7 S4 c% x* X/ A        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
' g% c% J) Z6 d# L$ w* ~359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
: n9 r9 O/ |  ]$ {# s( p5 b( y        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。
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
, h! }- O5 Y! B1 w3 j1 s- u        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
/ Y/ K+ Q" `. d+ `2 i9 b        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。
- f" v& M1 e5 Z9 ]" N% E. |6 [9 V364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
        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。
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
! \1 s" K; t$ t! K+ `! S" u1 v  z        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。
, F% h0 |/ p& K2 b0 J2 Z5 e4 ?366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
0 ^9 C2 J- e3 E5 J9 z+ B        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
. c4 q. L, @& D% E& U2 n! u1 }        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。