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。
$ ?. ]5 {; K6 I! Y" l4 F349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
0 Z* O2 N0 n& Y+ R; Y6 Q1 @        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
2 a7 Z, [" i2 m/ A: R% E( P350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
( p8 `) R4 M. c* n# A  K; H351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
  S( Q' g! M+ z" N5 ~- l! t        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。
: T9 v1 r) b0 \' g2 d352. 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。
2 a0 U) ~. A' w" M) @8 {353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
! z  F$ Q6 _, K6 s- 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。
3 x: N4 N2 g9 `8 a% \; ?. ]354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
# b, `( n. y+ }! ?- B        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。
355. 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。
0 I. M1 `, W6 {7 q0 R8 z356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
8 }6 [7 m, }9 J. W1 D  z1 j        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.
4 F$ y  k5 ^* }" ~        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
9 [7 \3 ]4 p2 S8 v358. 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。
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
1 S- U5 B7 B6 {6 N. D8 E        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。
! F0 L7 b" ?! `, C" C9 d- y360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
( h3 Z! ~" P0 w        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
: a9 W- h! O2 V: J361. 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。
; v8 k  q, G5 G( g5 u362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
- |; I0 [0 e) Q- k* n, v+ p# \        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
- Q5 U2 j* _, ~: s: B1 }7 O363. 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。
% C/ v8 d) o( x1 f+ j/ v365. 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。
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。
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
( f+ ~4 |, O# v1 J! ?1 f        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
4 w+ P. @) Z# ]6 A1 n% U# w368. 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。
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。