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.
        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
/ U, x. @- C9 s        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
. `" g5 w) _7 e' |1 y2 S350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
9 }3 S$ Z& p: `! U1 ^        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
8 }4 L2 |' B) ]# l* j7 A351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
- T1 ^4 K: O2 ]: y1 B: F        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。
5 I/ M4 y' t: {8 ]5 w- l352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
6 N7 P6 a6 ^9 t& }5 f        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。
) \& U$ r% j( f/ }( b3 B6 [353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
( t1 T3 M$ K) T; o; v, d        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.
* f# v* I) o# A) c. `( `        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 ^, h" G$ l2 h355. 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.
        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
/ ?; _1 i: h3 L3 ^* n( n357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
" m: X2 q6 o: p( `! c2 s" Z        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.
        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
' ]9 Z# s1 e! H7 V' m- x359. 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。
5 y& [. m( Q4 K9 G: Q7 p361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
& K' i  T, b3 K# q1 L        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。
& x# ?( f: W& x: x5 j9 p- O5 G; Q363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
2 H& l6 v  J: x# R# e8 p        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.
9 ]3 B( I' a" {) A$ A6 S        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。
+ ~6 ]' E/ t: f" V366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
4 r& r$ a8 ?+ r9 a# C; H' x( ^9 ^+ Y367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
4 r2 O" s" {1 |) s$ g; m" A. c. n        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。
% L2 {' e3 _$ q- ?, E369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
) ~# B8 p8 M9 j. O# t        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。