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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨
# j' C0 J6 u) b C! |348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.! I. o7 @; F" C4 b
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。9 Q9 \6 f$ S: }8 m/ Y8 h6 g
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.% t1 X& R+ _ E, J" P" A* S
当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。
b( I8 E/ F8 ^1 k8 j. P* o! F350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
7 I% W( q; B4 \+ S8 V 因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。2 F" N; i9 `# j' {3 ^3 ~( b' {
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.. F2 E7 z4 _* b: ] ]
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。
; G. j/ p3 u. n6 ?7 o352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764./ L% h9 G) i: w: L( B" t3 D( h
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。# `; ?. t+ H1 `& c; P
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.* `+ x: A+ f- N5 X
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。
% q; |- f% B3 x3 D5 P3 t354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game., J" D- a/ } W2 }
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 j# x# g- c& N355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
0 C0 }" ~: |6 d. b 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。- C, D! ?- d4 {; I
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.& k' Q7 E$ ^7 D% _2 l8 s% Q
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。9 N5 X6 I: A: x* A- B% C' H$ x
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.: L- r- [3 q* [: F
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。' Q% p% e. L1 g+ e& M$ U4 d
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.- K; t2 x& h/ c: S. @
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。/ ?" y$ D8 A8 b; V
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
; T$ P: r7 r! z2 C0 ]/ V3 k/ \* 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。. |; [+ }2 A# m$ i$ K6 R
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
: k4 U$ C! J$ u1 e4 e2 k 两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。# f2 w: h9 K& g+ h
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.! z) h$ F- Q% D9 `( f$ T
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。
" K8 |8 g$ Z$ Q# E3 U$ S$ ]5 N362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.4 Q" A( S5 |# c! V2 q8 U3 {
公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。# ^/ d; D5 i# M% q0 }7 T" D
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
' w7 P! z Q* P" h1 i 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。
, l* c+ ~% D4 M% ?5 ^& l364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
. Z% ^/ Y6 G( [ 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。
- @+ ?! ~: @9 h, W4 y* B Y365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
+ X8 z4 W9 h& o0 e# r# I 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 x/ N z% a: L z" [% q7 L6 U
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.0 G! E2 T. R& u; e! U
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
; y; ^+ \( o3 X9 o367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.# u& w* G, k2 E4 `7 f* N0 L
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
6 K3 \! ?. o a2 }$ h. v. g* R368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
$ N. p$ V7 Y! w' S 他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
# q: J% _7 D3 \1 F/ M, O$ f369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.' X# ~! C/ J E* T' C6 v
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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