新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
, [: l$ P  W' H" T  T348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
( y, J" b5 G0 _! B& |  e2 a5 {6 r4 h        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 J' h4 A1 C4 D" {, q        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
1 S; z  t$ S( E, d: y  n350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
. c* e) Y  V0 O' D" A( I351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
/ d8 r7 i# N8 t* p        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。
$ B. P& S5 k! R- b( {5 y9 b3 c( |  |352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
) p0 o) q% t% r, K( x        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.
        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。
) j; u( O2 Q, T# x9 y354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
2 p, ^) |8 q) u, `' K3 T+ o0 U        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。
& v$ M( o3 M" K& _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。
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
6 B1 a. I$ i; \- h/ f        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.
        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
4 p. M8 |7 g: g4 P% d2 w; l358. 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。
- P) j$ b) m8 c: i359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
3 }% h+ a, f2 F% C- q        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。
. y. t. K% [" I/ h* [% z: B' [360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
8 t. g+ I$ D9 e9 v8 t        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
6 n# F/ p; C. a6 @+ _361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
  M* h  `: F" x' o' c! p) P; U% H        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
6 e% ?- s6 \8 B. |( n362. 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.
! g. Q, a, R5 B  T) x5 y        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.
$ z* w' Y1 @- l* F        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。
) g! ]) K5 b4 l5 S365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
" x% i7 c$ d/ i' E        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.
- s5 @7 H( d. K" B  q: E        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
9 D- Y7 p7 i' U5 P1 l/ }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。
: e* v; c3 P' P+ K% P/ z369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。