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。
: `/ R) w* z& A3 X8 T5 n; Y349. 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'.
4 z+ j1 i% ~. j4 [3 M        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
9 i6 a0 J2 C5 R! U" Y351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
4 y1 q" A' s/ x2 H9 V' d        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.
        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。
; j( ]* y# m) G4 l353. 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。
$ p1 M' z' ~  n  _3 p( q+ A354. 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.
2 v1 J! L+ Z# d- U' w; b        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。
  r4 L+ d- h9 h356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
% j+ q4 D6 N& S$ Q* c1 k        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.
( h: V" {; m, U4 Y$ V, {        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.
        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
) `+ T) [* B% B; T+ z359. 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。
: I% `1 t' r1 V, n  M! F1 S5 s7 V360. 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。
: A; m8 p! C5 q361. 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。
9 |1 U2 C+ q' A5 F; ]( D6 l362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
/ ]6 G; O6 D* o        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.
- c  H2 Y  q+ \" j3 k1 g* }        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。
) R1 D, `1 i9 m8 o3 R365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
6 x  T$ }( S; [8 p2 J0 Y2 i        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。
- D5 t* q1 Q3 }: i3 j2 h0 ^366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
8 t3 P* k* e4 A' \0 u8 c        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
* c( X$ r  L9 \: i. S367. 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。
: N$ V& c& V9 z* n! o& y368. 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。
3 ?  m  p6 B$ ~/ _' F369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
6 e& h3 w- T8 w8 D9 ]        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。