新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
. Z" E( n3 K* a/ b5 q+ N; l348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
7 ]" X# f* [; h0 r8 s+ N        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.
        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'.
1 ^" q4 L: g1 R$ @$ n        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
& ]# H; X5 ~  Q6 G& u" V, T0 k! `* e351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
9 v1 Y- }/ Y6 h. r0 }3 _        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.
4 q+ n* J" g% z, O( Y2 }( 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。
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
4 i0 q" G( s! `* y* u: z        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.
        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。
  l7 C& ]& ]: S/ H% S8 d4 P( Q: n355. 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。
5 b! D( u1 X; e' I4 P357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
5 a% Q2 X1 k7 B; I, I$ }        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
2 F9 E) L' M; ]9 I1 {* D358. 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.
: j4 N' Y5 n1 B1 d9 j, p' m+ ^) B        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.
9 K  P. D. u( Q) ~        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。
7 E1 I7 P# s& P5 k( q! f0 `  M362. 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。
3 f* U9 _: T- H363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
: G2 ?. F  ?5 Y; @0 e        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 @  {/ ~' I) W  O5 q        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。
# F9 r" t/ N7 `1 O' I1 e365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
* g' W7 g4 F; \- F0 ?. j! U: Z2 b1 L( w        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 R) n  A- c9 ~8 ^366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
' [9 ~$ k1 O* T, ]: Z        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.
5 q6 Z& [) R) m: N8 m2 E        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
/ e+ @% t0 Y1 Y4 R0 x368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
; j9 J% s2 K) z) n        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
0 M5 D, O- a5 T$ q+ o369. 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。