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.
& X- o, a5 `+ h2 E: E8 b/ z. O        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.
        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'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
: r, [: |7 T2 s+ F. p( K351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
! e$ Y) N1 e) T9 G* ^' k        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.
# b5 z9 f' V* Q# }* `& Z! e( L        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。
# M2 N$ X6 C4 T( ^( k, W353. 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.
( m5 w# I' l: F1 i9 B8 y) x        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。
( d  {# E9 \1 w- E5 ]3 h. Q, V355. 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。
6 ~* M2 ~! m) R. z) ]( I& L356. 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.
        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
, u# g% m/ I. ?* }7 w5 x- K3 v7 k358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
. I5 S8 I+ }, s0 R7 \, G        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.
6 ?8 X# ^0 y9 ]$ R: Z0 n5 {4 I        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。
; }7 B$ H0 K$ x9 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。
+ i4 n$ o3 d* |7 x# g1 O361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
4 M1 d: u" \& c/ B* V/ p        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。
3 _) ~6 m1 ?# r% ]363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
- ~  W9 M8 L4 Y! n5 R5 A* T        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。
+ ]6 f( _" }0 O364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
% K* U% y" Q1 Y" I5 H        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。
; n( T/ S' g* F# x365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
' T: i7 {5 _. p5 e4 M/ C        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。
' ^5 I* n, T8 h1 R" e) a9 Q# X366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
1 P0 ~& D! Q9 `& Y  N( F- x6 M6 e367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
. m5 ?/ @* s" G. D: |        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
- x0 J: O( o  E' o) @! V7 x$ J368. 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。
8 g6 z3 [; G: y( d( l) K! i369. 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。