新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
5 n/ ?( f) O% \+ z- w348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
) }& I3 U' v5 r        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
* g6 D+ v" F4 Z/ y; ~4 W349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
% {' D5 }; t/ P0 S        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'.
+ u4 M# |5 K6 I* ]* c8 Q        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.
7 w  k% r  b5 Z) {' ]        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.
        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 E, T5 C2 v- v3 O! S353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
) n4 I# C7 L  s3 J        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。
( E. O7 g" w* C* z354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
( b0 \- |7 [1 h9 `+ n0 I" j' i        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。
# j4 p( {3 b( h$ Z355. 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。
! S7 w, p" I+ B3 S356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
- z5 @) j+ L) ^; U/ K4 h        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.
! ^: j! q0 h' _+ p        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
1 t; C3 r1 e* K- f: c358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
9 x7 f, }! ~9 @5 [* w& {        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
; K7 m& n  `/ a$ M% @3 a359. 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.
6 t$ q5 V- H2 [( u9 u8 U5 J8 `2 l7 \1 ^        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。
! L: z- _& Z2 i' l8 g362. 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。
2 L  Y& X2 K* Z/ A  K363. 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。
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。
7 w, V0 N* R2 _) Y365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
" R. [: S! H6 ~% T        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。
$ u) ~9 r9 `# ?+ Y9 Q6 P' d& [) V9 V367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
  [# {0 B) O& {        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.
6 a2 z; ]5 L  L+ w6 a5 K( r        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.
        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。