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.
& D, S3 q: E2 w8 {" l. A& [' v2 I        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.
        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
+ X& M8 k1 i) Q( o+ i+ 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.
        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。
; w  h8 U) v1 p8 c% i352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
        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。
6 a, U! Q) |& ^353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
- m- e! I( q1 @9 m        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。
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.
        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 d2 ?% S" l/ |. v# k$ V356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
9 Z+ X  ]% K3 W3 g+ J! h% ^9 K357. 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。
4 H5 I4 H' t+ s. `  Z; P358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
, x& `$ U  K& w        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
: \& c. }) k+ E$ K/ n359. 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。
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。
+ ?4 Y+ n% _, p/ a5 r7 v361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
8 J8 Z: G1 G5 ]: \' o9 q/ f        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
: j  ?( a* x+ ?! |/ }( O* e; x362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
/ v, _6 J* ^+ V        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.
- p* G' _- L! o- q$ u5 g6 D; 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。
( J0 t! ^6 v) Z, k364. 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。
  }4 D, o1 H5 n2 p5 |+ q365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
: m7 I8 C, |3 r" K" Q3 ]" B        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。
  I6 c) Y: {7 G4 d3 T; B, a366. 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.
        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.
        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.
' _. |4 o; U5 d% l        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。