新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
' A& \9 z8 ?% y/ G( V: c! s1 n348. 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。
- w; u/ ?; n# w. A349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
4 A* P; y/ B8 v- s% C        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'.
, j7 |/ l) ?( O+ c$ `- z0 |2 m        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
; u- i7 V: _4 {6 b351. 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。
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
9 a  n# K6 {$ \- w  `        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。
. J' `+ `0 E  U$ Y$ i7 O! ^# P353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
/ q/ ?8 `& o( P. b5 y( |0 M* g/ [* D2 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。
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。
" g) d+ e8 J$ u355. 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。
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
  f7 o# s5 [% t9 j        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
) h; w) T0 c9 T& `# @357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
0 g4 D& q! i% P4 B/ V- C        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
/ @$ r- i& a7 p358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
- S0 ]1 {1 H9 T( a+ j, A        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.
3 g* Q$ K7 I% Y' w9 \  X7 G        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。
. V! \# D2 ^. S# G1 ]' i. _% [360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
6 h, t# c' C( O5 @        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
6 ^$ B% E8 U+ ~/ X361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
- ^" a1 w" _( G        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
- k; d! Q8 C- H5 |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.
1 c! i3 K6 r# p+ D        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。
  b  g( L' R; H9 B365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
( u& Z: B0 ~$ ?, \3 }! P        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。
4 Y8 M6 p, z. Y8 n8 h5 v366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
) j; @) N* E9 z  p: U0 W        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
1 a- v/ h+ ?, S2 P# T2 K9 Q367. 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.
. |% t9 [6 D7 r* W* `        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
8 g. T3 q+ ?% C4 |4 S! X8 ]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。