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。
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
7 S5 n0 k. d: `+ o        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
+ v9 r5 f+ o' |6 H7 L  O350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
- A' y% O; M+ M6 r4 ]& w- G5 P4 t! }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。
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
6 o" S. ^5 e! T9 U) 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。
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
# U/ A. e7 w& Q# E        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。
5 a% o2 b% L$ r7 i, }354. 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。
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
; {4 a/ h8 c; \2 |5 m        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.
2 U7 f" y8 g6 E7 ^/ o        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
5 x! @+ r9 p3 F/ ]! ~357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
, O7 U# I# `4 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.
' b& l1 c& H) B' y& J2 j3 q! J        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
2 [9 |% P! o1 k  ~" Q2 U359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
& L# R2 [% @2 W1 S7 v        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。
8 G6 i) v% p0 J! e! B, V+ e" k7 }360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
$ M( R& z" y( S" M6 I361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
1 U2 K- L- {8 W4 A+ w! Z4 Q        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
" v3 c0 s7 }; y8 d( n1 f$ G7 j362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
! @" U: ~  p! q; t# V( e( q        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
" r. V" f4 k6 }+ T# `, u363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
: f2 Z/ [! p# \, j, 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。
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。
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
; w/ P: F$ }* P' O& q5 [' n# ?        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。
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
' `  p- a, y' L2 h        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
, ^2 ~/ e/ s; m# P( z" C367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
6 H- q* {+ \4 A3 P/ e) p- H5 V: h" D        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.
2 ^4 N9 K7 i4 I# g' C1 b        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.
$ F( n* C" {1 S. X        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。