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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨0 `; G8 Z$ i' o
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.+ W- \) [% S+ U( ]! @& l9 P
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。% {. O. Q/ ]$ x' v# a
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
" u7 ?& R1 V& O' t! F' G" E 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。
. u; z* ?( j; y350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.3 Q+ X* a/ C+ }7 E* R# [
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。8 U7 [) |8 b) k! G+ K
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
4 X1 f) _ Y! P" W$ `& Q; L& V 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。# b" A6 l$ ?2 e" x! L
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
+ |1 {" Q1 W t: F# C 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。
" V% @' L# I' [; S' U( j& s6 L353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
- r" I8 d7 M9 ~3 o1 C& b 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。
' F, [0 o% d3 U5 ~354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
8 `/ O2 _1 m; j* o3 ~! i- s 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。5 S# X3 t# m) {0 T
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.( I9 Q+ l9 }4 B4 t
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。. p1 p: o& V! w! H( u7 C
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
% J; f3 o' s2 C# D# c: l+ |; i 门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
7 ]$ G2 Z$ a8 E/ u5 ~' |357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.2 b- R$ c7 Q/ b
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。) Q3 j8 W; M; D# D( ~6 r" ~
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.( a; z# c! {3 l& p) L# h
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
9 {8 ~& ?' M$ r6 Y- Y5 N7 i359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.' D: R) W$ S, @$ {) D0 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。
, ]! N4 m7 A5 ] @360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
) D) C5 h& h9 W" q 两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。" k1 d$ K- I, `$ w6 f
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.( j" b( J, k# K, r* i, I
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。; k6 M5 c! Z8 V; f C5 E V
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
; N7 q$ ^0 T$ `) Q; |+ L 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
2 \8 X9 q4 L7 V. |363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
0 }0 q6 b0 H7 A4 Y9 D 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。" C: ?% {/ u* T+ L/ Z5 c! T3 a5 j
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
% h9 `: X$ R% |; @* f% {6 K 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。
. i/ U( ^8 f2 `0 K! r3 f365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.! O. d/ A; f( y
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。
6 p/ j* \8 V$ x* ^, ?366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.! b& Z+ e8 _, ?9 o5 M3 \: `; _
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
6 P. E; i4 V& r4 p0 e5 \% @2 v367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt., s8 }* w6 P% M" \
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
. t/ h! W n, `9 n+ v7 G0 Q6 ]368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
% x3 c { O/ V7 g- `, N6 M% b: u 他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
8 q# X% b2 G, \ a: m4 Y3 ^369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
W: d) a5 R7 Q! l. b% B M; ]1 A4 R5 g 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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