新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
: C* _; A) ?5 Z! X( T2 y348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
        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.
- a* l1 t2 [9 n1 b% f5 o/ M: y% n# j7 l        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
+ c' j* P* c+ w  v( e" ]2 x4 U350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
: J2 ]0 O9 E- ]0 F351. 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。
; m1 @+ A& \- |- `: ^3 B: a0 a; Y352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
" T: ]. Y! r$ p( D        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。
* o, p8 g( X# `3 s' G. @353. 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。
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
( `' R+ J" J: ^; R        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。
% v6 ?) h/ ~! B: y5 \, U# n355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
8 W: L7 ^+ W+ Q3 _        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。
7 d" j+ \5 k( J: W% r356. 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.
8 |2 i7 x; ]+ p) B6 b3 i9 e+ u        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
: m: Q7 Z+ C2 B, H358. 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。
4 z* p1 h1 Z' N* ]0 R359. 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。
4 m8 U, O2 r. ?( ~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。
  }8 A2 k- }" D+ S+ N. A( ~9 W  m+ H3 W361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
, w- X) k7 E0 N2 h) F+ f$ |1 [2 l        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.
# F/ G  G% s5 Y7 s        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
( |# o: C6 c" I0 u+ Q9 n8 O363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
) L% A" H( o& Y7 d8 S  t        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.
        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.
- X& @, i: y* W/ x7 l2 x7 ?" P7 y: R        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.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
+ C% e/ M  T( ~3 ?" w! x" W- v367. 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。
) q8 s' z, @6 c6 a- w. j368. 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。
( B' `+ f) F+ }: O+ o+ S3 H! w369. 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。