新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
& c: T0 `9 w5 u5 G4 N349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
+ u6 O% g! h# H* Z        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
3 D5 X" X9 h" N8 t# j& i! D350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
7 z& }3 [  o9 {0 c        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
        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。
* l' v# f$ ?! Y* O) T' o# f, O0 a352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
( m7 d6 F9 K* s        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.
        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。
/ D+ E0 r& o, b& P! U0 y. x" l354. 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。
4 g+ p' ]" m, |5 e% Q* y355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
! d" u) b, }6 E) ^) R% I        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.
6 I" n) E& V$ o* m8 I        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
, K. u9 G) b' Q9 N, [358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
1 u' F* l/ s( u" G1 p        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
6 R) p- A6 N# |6 u* {  j8 i  E359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
        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。
* L9 m4 |7 G" ^6 R7 a0 B, _360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
& r4 M7 X9 \, e        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
+ O3 V' p  M8 A  E* G7 @1 h' ^0 k! a) [$ M361. 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。
. s# M4 s6 L' d6 t9 z/ S362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
" e- E8 V7 s, O8 C+ Q$ s        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
* q) S& _% V! f. z' p5 l        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.
        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。
$ c2 \$ H5 V: j+ E3 m) X365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
        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。
/ s. K& U/ B5 s- {. w  o! U366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        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.
6 X9 s8 X; O- y, U+ x        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
+ K( m8 k. x, @& W9 c2 K8 p368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
( u5 _  w/ k0 [! ^- X        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
3 m9 z% h) r% O+ f  u- v/ d" N369. 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。