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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨) x, Q* r6 b4 k( w' @! ]
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
+ [( X5 `8 v' \/ { 两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。 K" f, G5 s, B6 ~7 K5 w/ w! V
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.+ D6 C M8 w( P8 y) Q
当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。/ ^! R- {5 _7 E& @ y
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
' i: F$ q+ i4 j' {0 m/ g& R 因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
& }6 m1 P5 O# [0 ~2 j9 ?1 X3 x' u351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.' F2 N6 ]4 m3 j2 O9 _2 d) e, ?
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。
) i C( B5 G8 \$ w! B m( d, B; o352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.3 z5 h1 @6 A) \- [1 n
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* R; J! i7 [! J5 A$ J
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.5 i, \9 R# E$ B. u) z8 C3 a6 S- s
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。+ z' {2 s7 X% \0 w( u
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.% d# ]8 N3 q4 W
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。* t5 `4 H! v. I; f! M( m2 r
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.* h7 v5 V) U0 ~6 Q7 [) P
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 r$ ^$ \: j Y0 ]' m5 y x
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.& d& {, G+ W0 C1 h8 \
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。9 D$ W. V7 O. s# a- T* E
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.8 L+ Q |+ r) N
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。( j2 D6 C6 b* M4 X; s5 X9 N
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
+ w$ v$ ]* U$ ]3 p r 他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。3 A4 P8 l# P4 P# M' e1 l
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
' c+ P, v' \6 C6 g! o5 k" F 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。
6 D6 x- p6 |( A360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
Q& s$ R+ B. m2 I 两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。! v8 S: k2 J: ^9 B- F( O
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
% g! s8 z- k% t9 G: v: W 于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。
^0 O$ ^2 p$ Z8 V8 u9 |8 S; S; X362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
* O4 U' {# }9 p9 h 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。& l9 g$ @* L2 H
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
& l# N/ I6 j( H' j2 V6 {4 h 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。' r1 }( x }! a8 ^! Q. p
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
7 X6 [! A# p) { 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。* U9 c9 { K0 g9 V# j( N' {6 o# c
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils." l+ A, ]$ n r5 l/ t3 K
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。
- S2 D$ K/ k; X" V0 Y% K- b- d5 x366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
9 r Z5 \5 N1 X; V# K7 g5 N" n) V 门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
4 T$ z' v. R1 U: I& l6 z# g N* }367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.1 o: i. u4 _3 b; L& \
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
3 O; D/ c0 ^- `) k; L368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten./ t9 ?% W* w g+ K
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。) R/ M' Q! n! _9 ~8 ^$ W
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.1 z' f. P& w. g
他因无力还债而被捕入狱,最后于1836年在贫困中死去。 |
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