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.
2 V7 j% b) O/ L        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
0 g# z5 z6 \! F; f# ^- @' M349. 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'.
3 K* Z! ^+ K. E& L3 c' n7 f! b; \; A        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
0 O/ k( B! z3 ~351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
3 M% K% E7 U2 P' ]$ G        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.
5 i7 ]8 R% [. I# Z+ p        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。
  U5 N/ G% P( k- b- [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。
$ W# m2 E$ L" x( T) N354. 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。
' @1 A0 n7 N  P; j355. 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。
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
2 Z( @) ~* J$ P9 @% Z1 B) w6 S4 P9 v9 {5 x        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
$ Y" m. _' v: J: {5 ~, v2 X357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
: D+ G. m* p. O4 s' T        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.
) k+ q: l5 k' a; `6 `        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.
4 V5 W. `$ j  s; E- n7 G- \        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。
) H# z* w5 y  C: z; h360. 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。
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
& y8 m5 R$ u& ^! u5 p. z        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
$ S: i# s3 w# k1 N7 g( ~        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
  Z8 N/ V' |% U7 c, A363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
8 K5 `; u3 }$ X        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。
7 D9 g5 z3 H- H2 D/ c364. 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.
        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.
  R5 Y; z4 a+ {7 p% Q        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.
: Q- a' @! r) i! v1 r        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.
: Q3 a' h7 s* ~# R4 Q, k5 B! _        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。