新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
  W" H  ~/ M$ ?6 G% t348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
, u7 i2 i/ K8 g9 p2 D        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
& A  u; t2 l4 P1 U, W: A5 _349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
' N/ b0 z# C# t        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
3 M/ W4 d6 t9 C; b3 \) }350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
+ L! |/ T" A( E9 Y8 R% }        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.
) F. j% }6 y' g* Z" C        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。
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
/ Q8 E# j) F5 d$ @1 _: a        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。
0 o! F# ]% h& V354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
+ p$ {$ _; R' K; }0 j: t        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。
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
        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。
* K# r6 |2 z. f8 X. h- \3 L0 P356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
! z' p7 v6 @  Y& Q6 z8 \        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
& `: n" g7 g% M4 g& d357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
! g' x+ x% _% v& @& S        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
! P3 U0 s4 w! j1 k# j% {" ]        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
9 r6 p# [/ k5 L: 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。
9 ?! U8 v8 R% b6 h360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
; M/ d- ~- Y. {) F9 w$ m& w: I* O/ M        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
, M& b6 G. a9 V' D+ ]$ D  k361. 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。
# y- q& P7 A6 v% w4 l5 H! R) ?$ S362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
        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.
        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.
% [4 s! g/ I! j        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。
365. 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。
' W8 _& i( m2 G/ \' O. K) s" ?366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
( R0 U4 ]7 ~" o/ O3 r$ V& E        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
# V9 M+ x5 Y# l! j6 T1 u. v9 Z367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
" U: N+ @" G) o8 }: `) F4 r0 c        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
369. 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。