 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨
' W$ S1 G; ~8 c+ N, b) m/ r348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.7 `/ I: k2 A4 ~
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。9 C2 O U0 K4 `! Z6 m
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money." {1 U' y0 \: X5 k- K! z) C
当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。
- d, y0 r8 z/ \+ ]350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
) x$ A5 t: Q# S, p 因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。* s* [$ [- P) v+ X7 {6 |
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 C n) E! F8 \- i3 ^. ^ 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 j& L3 ?% {; h' J8 B352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
, a& w+ U5 c, P7 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。
+ R3 l$ W& _% |353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
2 W' {- ?& |; R, d9 {) k( { 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。7 `1 ^* d" ~& x9 q; z+ W, P
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
/ W0 W1 }8 B* ]6 q/ K, U 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。
9 V: f1 D: M- c9 ]0 ^* ?/ s- \355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.6 \: U( F J' l
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。* R* ^* K- ^, D7 [
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.. A4 l {. v: e5 a2 D$ W
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
0 C6 `+ j2 N% i a" H) l357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
& a/ z1 Z! x5 z) ~ Y$ \ 这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。9 H. `! j' @2 F, ]" k$ {8 H
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
% G5 v: a9 F5 a& U4 g! }( V 他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
% C9 h/ p$ Y, ]' k; {/ u% A359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
x0 ]8 r3 W9 x: @0 M8 J 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。2 ?+ E2 c# a5 `/ a; Q5 V
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.% @. O9 \, a, y& f& z) ~1 n; e& G
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。9 I, Z5 g; F& Z
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.+ D, s4 x' U' x
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。2 V3 c6 ^) O/ `( G0 X
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.. q# w7 B6 J% D/ M+ J
公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。' D5 c/ }5 }1 I
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
U2 D9 F% s/ z( M1 @ 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。
9 k1 ]' |. Y" Y1 W364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
/ ~4 O! C& _* J' k( w 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。
) I1 C7 e. n1 \ b& n+ L365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
* B4 L* ?" ]' T 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。7 c9 v8 q- D L# p' `
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.+ D- K4 x( s; @/ S5 b9 G8 T
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
2 [2 G$ }; x, C9 a: M367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
. g9 s8 r7 d) }) W" E4 b, J2 T 尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。' o* @: `! V' g* j8 B; G) s4 w, J
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.! U) N7 K" k/ b
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
, A# |1 o0 s1 B5 p$ @369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
3 ~; O5 N: C2 s" s 他因无力还债而被捕入狱,最后于1836年在贫困中死去。 |
|