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.
4 D- C3 b! n' p. j& G4 C: E0 k        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.
) d* b: ~+ `5 J        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
; i+ Y! G. h/ D* K% ?$ J350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
1 {) L) f; x) d, Y* o! ^        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
6 O- U) X& R9 n7 b3 Y# {351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
& b; ~% \; }8 g% ?* _% @# }2 {        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.
  Q/ g! Z. [& b, g0 ~$ b        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.
! G4 H0 v6 h) G4 G# y- v3 Q" m$ ~+ E& Q        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。
# h  B) y5 `( E354. 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。
. p( }, o/ m* o9 ^" t  X. Z355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
% Q7 G" p7 F$ m" N        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。
! g4 L' _0 Y. N: }& v! {+ ^; l& k0 e9 W357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
. @* G/ Z" w$ @' D" Q; h        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。
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
1 ^6 l' b: M0 u1 T5 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。
/ _: Q/ U+ z" F# N) P, n360. 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。
3 S/ B5 f$ r9 Y7 X6 `/ ?" }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。
  M- i  }* u& O0 [) ?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。
/ ^% `* N8 @1 i9 p+ x363. 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.
        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 $100 for a single appearance.
4 g  n9 N0 H5 {        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
, o$ e. d' n- O+ J7 \* [, _0 o367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
( H3 ?. ?+ ~( @        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
; Y: G1 k4 ~6 S368. 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。