新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
8 t8 ~* {; R" s# x4 F7 S348. 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。
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
( s0 b8 y: f6 c2 Z  z        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
+ d6 r) N+ w+ ?3 N- H" z350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
! S  O" g5 [! }. s, n        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
" y; c! n0 [) _# D% v351. 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。
9 g5 i1 m2 ^0 ^) l2 ]' V' [; [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。
3 b6 L' h: K0 M9 s1 d353. 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。
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。
; E4 w/ q) Z% g% ^8 j3 E355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
3 |9 u! r; F* k        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。
, k4 x/ h& Q4 ~! D/ k' q- z' w/ W356. 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。
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
  t( B, X! v& n6 F  U; C6 Y9 o        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 C; p6 p( J6 {6 Q4 F9 X1 F        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.
        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。
& r7 R0 O6 h! a  I360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
1 U5 c% J  u( ]4 k  v        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。
3 a0 ?$ r/ @) F3 S- Y/ w362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
  N) h5 o" ]$ X$ d7 s  q        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.
        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.
  |& X* E* m3 O0 E/ _        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 U8 v3 ]) a365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
* q$ m# c; r- Y5 n& K        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.
        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.
6 _1 L& |4 U2 N. P! Q0 D        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
! ]6 S% p5 q4 A4 y) F- M; U368. 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.
        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。