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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨
: {( @+ O2 J, V348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.! R; K3 J7 Y/ R: t7 }5 v% ^
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。" T1 y- O* C9 h+ ]
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
; ?4 v' Z7 G5 s& Q 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。, N. |* G! B0 u. H9 M- D
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.& i" b) f: W6 }) z1 n; D: Y) v
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。) G; T& |- k3 X4 T3 [& v
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
( K" J1 P- s2 k/ g# l# m! _ 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。8 N: H5 [9 ]: p" \) r
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764., `, Q- x% e, } W! @
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。6 m) _+ ~, B" M7 O+ P2 b; X2 ^- ?
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
. K H+ L A& ~5 [( F 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。
6 {; \0 R( l& z* D354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.8 h5 ?5 a' m3 \7 g
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。: r! k$ |# g p2 E
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.% n3 M% I; h# j# Z0 Y5 d
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。! @8 c0 a$ u' A# s" w) k
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
% \* W" V3 d4 |2 c% j 门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。2 h9 p2 ~" s# B- x* E4 ^
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
" X% `: K. o: b6 x* S 这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
% D/ y* e) ?5 _8 W* c, h Z- V/ S. o; b358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
. Y7 n$ t; S; x6 j 他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。) o* V$ n. `: S. w; u. o5 p( m
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him., R p+ B9 }: y7 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。, Q, Q4 M# o1 i" B: y2 \! V( {
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.. x; W V3 J' ?% J' ^
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。/ N; `. a* e8 T7 }
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
2 T( t* m# z0 m. Q, g! M e* U 于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。
% K9 y( e0 Y. O- a; b362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
- P8 N3 m! T7 W- ~ 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
0 b* g6 w$ C: x( r363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
* q) Q* c, v' m 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。/ @/ _ }2 @8 I7 I+ {6 e) A. G
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
& `( Y7 W$ n# R 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。3 `; ?; M# P7 t7 G% M4 M% k4 j
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
/ M) n& P$ n/ r7 K: p* F% U 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。
: A% C+ A! }, q$ [5 K) A366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
# E5 x+ n+ N7 A9 q; K+ O5 u8 S 门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
! m; |9 O* C- h5 F; ?367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.( v- T* T! }9 P6 H9 e7 U
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。7 M8 L) T% V% v" n( X1 a
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.! ]5 x2 n/ {/ ^7 \
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。( a4 p0 ?$ f1 K1 @8 s
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.# h& p3 L* K2 ?8 |1 O
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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