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.
% c" L% w4 g. t( T4 `: }        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
6 S, B/ ^( o) _349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
4 f9 M- t3 U! Y1 O2 ~2 n+ d; z3 n        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
4 R5 B* }. ]: H3 b% Z6 Q% D0 o350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
8 ?: y/ f% _, \# A        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/ Q- Z& W* ]  U352. 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。
, q* V4 l: S/ Q8 A353. 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。
& d1 m5 a( F$ U# m' G8 t7 S354. 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 G. B/ M4 G* y$ @6 x        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.
        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
, H% L8 S/ U& v) C- x4 f: O; J5 [9 @1 ^0 q357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
: {2 j- j2 U0 x) ~2 ~        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.
0 _' N# q* w. m! ^        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
$ w  @' u6 b% J! h0 @0 A359. 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。
$ C. @5 I  ^$ c8 K360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
/ L- K- ?" O6 u# R  o        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.
        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.
        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.
- X" w4 k# f; c, V) G' t% t$ [. Q        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.
        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。
& B5 o* k0 B/ X( l$ J: r366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
  G$ I- a8 i' P$ ~& N368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
, O+ M2 ^0 [+ n2 t9 b+ [        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
9 S" ]! g# N# L5 n. a369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
, n7 K3 X, j) n' f2 t' O        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。