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.
# Q3 V& `) C, C) y% a        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
1 }; V+ S* B8 S# o- s# [349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
        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'.
: N2 U/ U# S" x& l$ f1 G# V        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
351. 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。
* p  n4 X3 x# c  Q% [352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
, v, j' t: ?, x: t6 }8 ^        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。
. g7 `* @. i2 P! r353. 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。
; a' I: C1 R, k, R- ^+ S/ e7 G354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
& L0 \, q+ X% _- P0 b5 o3 O+ j        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。
  P1 }8 c, Z. p) w  H& b7 {355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
! ?4 ]4 s: o7 m( z; P& A        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.
: Q& Q. D+ j3 n. R& {& ~        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
  s7 M& D$ F7 r: D% J* |) W5 K( g357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
4 ^1 P$ }' j& a/ \7 I358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
- |) P! Y! W. a2 L- ~; B  u8 X9 h        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
4 W( t( ]( {& }359. 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.
        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
        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.
        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
5 o; j7 R, \& T) `. G4 M363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
/ j- N, D# i; m/ B& q/ L        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.
  R7 E0 d. C& R( h' v; V        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。
0 W8 I8 z8 C/ ?' p8 d0 B366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
& U7 U' a  {9 H$ p, \+ ~$ U6 j4 L367. 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。
* Z6 I' ?3 z- F/ C1 d- D1 h368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
( D/ ^/ s6 x) Q: |# L# q3 F        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 I7 G6 c9 P) I! p4 o        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。