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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨6 l+ c& d. v4 E* A7 l2 Q
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.( g+ |6 r! I+ `- ~. d
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。* x9 h$ @# B! \$ X7 B. ?( @
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
, B/ l9 ~$ I: ?; y+ o! v9 l 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。
( }/ Q; b3 h* C3 |7 n/ F350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
$ Z2 v9 b) K) m( c 因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。5 \: h. B! D2 x; b9 ? U+ \: E+ f
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.# L2 ~4 G" U, O6 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。; q, d$ F7 w0 W0 \
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
8 F( Q* f6 k( `+ V 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, G2 v% b+ j2 \353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.8 G5 j3 I. K3 P/ x7 i9 p
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。* y9 q, r/ R% L
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
6 E" O' W: _+ S1 e. 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。
# X) l) _4 J. G0 ^& L355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike. s4 Q4 d" Z- e
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。" ^% S# `; X1 F7 q
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
5 l- I5 m0 J$ t" b# m3 F 门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
4 g% H5 v) c/ {357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
0 ^ ?0 z& x0 y) L3 l 这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
: d! U& L7 d8 S: Z6 T5 ~: N358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.4 R2 T9 y ]. B& \% E1 {; U' q
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。% w0 v2 e6 _+ r3 F# t6 J, p
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.) ^+ f6 Z/ A/ @9 p9 w
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。
3 _5 M% ~, ^7 F' e360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.! G& m# U M! G/ n3 l
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。9 x' O2 ^. g# M) U) x7 b# \& Z6 o
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.) g* O( k. `4 o! S! n6 Q
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。
% d$ P, h, ~* W" B362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
& j; ]8 y0 o0 X4 k/ Y& M( W 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
& C) B3 o5 v' i) H0 D363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
1 B+ a4 p0 @) E3 g8 T! R 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。 h3 _( ]0 U* M( f3 f* @9 j
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
" Z; h; G- _4 P+ S, g" C 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。: }( m& f3 P+ h6 t1 s
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
0 G t! _8 L" Z/ X3 v5 q1 ] 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。- A7 q7 T# W' P, s
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance., H/ X+ T1 s) Z+ h
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。 K$ T k2 l5 k9 O: ]3 s& T
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.$ M q( _3 U7 O6 a5 S2 V2 o: v3 ~
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。& ?. a, @) Y, P; C: X
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
9 l+ o" ?/ {1 u1 H5 N 他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
# d9 l# m: f( H( I369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.7 O' `3 K& Z9 ]# x7 I( k9 I4 |
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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