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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨
) T7 c- h; t% L7 @4 S" v5 Z! G$ A348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.2 `- L% T9 e9 L" A: k g4 d" o
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。3 R2 l5 o9 \) u; J
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
" ]+ o% u% W/ i 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。
& ?) t# z5 x. i+ |4 S350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.) ^( b$ e1 Q7 j& \; i: p
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。0 }( ~7 @9 k0 A% l- j' t$ W1 c
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
8 L" L+ Z! _3 @3 z+ k; t* J ^+ @1 r 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。
/ \, j9 b+ i* @% _352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
, w. O) t6 U {* 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。" a+ h( t9 p0 q4 p/ |
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules." E/ {1 C5 A7 j, V' {
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。. n* f8 f, R% n0 ]6 q5 ~( i
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.0 \% ^; Y$ g8 Q7 V0 _5 Y- A7 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。2 O6 r1 k4 v5 S6 J& K
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.; \6 z7 Y7 K7 W0 R
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。
$ G1 |- D, ?# k" Z356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.9 E9 l& N8 a+ t1 H9 N
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
% r# B n0 R6 Q; M. v# l' Y357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
/ _2 J1 T+ O2 I5 \9 J9 q 这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
5 G4 B, N H' i) I358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.1 x1 V, w6 T U+ K
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。$ [; Q! n0 N' _" R( H6 ^, q# E: R4 g
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.+ U( k7 j! N# Q8 k, V; M+ i
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。
" m# n0 b" {. e; ^; }1 _4 j7 W360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight." G1 i) y4 c" E
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。' T/ x. a( d# H
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour., P9 T/ I/ @5 z2 F
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。! v! i- g+ f* Z
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
4 A* k+ O5 r+ h, d) p7 X 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
d2 ^5 j# q% P; Y/ Y363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.; V3 y5 C( P& p$ M+ \$ @* J
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。+ q9 _' b1 ?8 N6 G* R6 i5 a2 I
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.0 ^8 N: b* B% l- f( S2 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。
7 R8 q/ }# ?4 i3 t; V V* _365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
) }( D7 N* \; x 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。
9 ~+ l- m+ d# M% I366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.% W6 n/ m. x# X5 b' m3 `! g: c
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
( t! S/ R3 z: n367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
) Y: M9 m9 N1 t$ d% U 尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
) W* C0 j4 }2 m3 m% T368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten./ y. ^: K9 f7 C# {* g( z+ ?8 e2 l
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
( E; K4 U7 E' W( n u5 C369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.7 q* ~/ Q* i! ^% V9 w+ a
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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