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.
" P+ |1 ^) n. n8 m% M        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.
7 \8 I1 n; J7 G- @  F0 d) O        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
" k% H' l5 s2 i$ ?$ |: H$ }5 V350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
3 t7 T4 `2 `4 }7 {$ T9 Y! Y        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
/ j& t. U+ c" f7 c351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
        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。
/ W4 t; X/ B- h1 r4 C6 g# J# G+ E( ]352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
        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。
# d8 ~' z, i7 A0 N) F* {/ w! H! l353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
# H. v! ?$ x/ \! R7 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。
) @3 ?" Z3 {' v1 k, Z4 B8 b6 {354. 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。
8 G% W$ i. c! j- _' ]4 H355. 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。
4 {0 B5 u6 {# ?2 }/ b5 ]356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
        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.
/ i* ~- C* O. b% m0 d! X5 O        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
, G1 B  G! s7 e1 S# u358. 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。
1 k/ G9 {+ ^6 o. R3 D3 X( W359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
        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.
: _6 s3 ^0 S; W4 Y7 k7 Q) ]        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
* I- D' G. S+ m! Q361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
! H- X6 V6 a* e* I1 a  b! d+ M! Q        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
5 v! B# G) ]4 Y" F1 d1 {' c362. 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。
1 e! v/ w+ h+ q* u% V  f9 x" ^363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
: w( J& Y! P. @3 `        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。
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
/ J) R! o* m) [2 C( t- q        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.
( F& t& Z8 E# [4 y2 Z; A        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。
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
! _5 A# x% C. }! J0 \' \7 ^6 E% M        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.
7 d! T/ s: r9 Q/ O# r        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.
        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.
5 K# Q" I; s7 m# A        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。