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.
' L4 \1 m" A5 Y( t6 l2 c        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
0 S2 n/ z- P3 G# J349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
5 V1 T- Y0 j4 b4 p        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
. J% {6 h6 z- e& I# P$ _        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
  B  j% S! L1 ~. o# a5 H4 L, k  h0 x: B351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
$ z. W' a& G0 D        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.
# a, w& I2 ]+ Q' C4 ?# I9 ?        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。
, _9 I; _( M! E7 c/ e" X% X& [353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
* j% @4 Q0 V7 |' u1 H  P        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。
4 E4 l7 p- {, }7 g354. 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.
. h( X) F& b0 p' @( D+ f+ u        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。
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。
* G) {* n* J; y; v: @$ l) ~$ t- W6 t357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
6 r( q9 v/ K1 D" t: a$ i/ R        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.
) Z) |; u  W0 \/ F* y        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
+ v& y2 p# w" p  t        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。
1 K& L% I6 c& M7 t! w* p360. 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。
: H, V- M& G% v5 y& I+ `+ C/ Z0 W361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
- O# P0 z2 B/ I# G# Z  W9 [  C        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.
& A3 j6 Z% A& W) }4 `$ D* t        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.
        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。
' o/ c: M2 `/ R/ t364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
4 k2 @: r" u7 {3 @0 z        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.
        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。
5 H4 e# n8 v% {" _366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
. x: e" t4 @; B+ L0 W! l! @        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.
        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
& Q! p9 Y- {* b369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
0 x% B- I! S8 a7 k  G2 @' ?# t( x        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。