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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨8 S7 s) \2 Z2 _# @9 M) l
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.* E' H# U6 Z3 X+ q
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。6 a; p% O- Q4 u0 R3 X* {6 j! h k
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money./ |5 c, e2 ^1 T. K9 _4 O$ n+ {
当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。, o# q: p! L. z/ W A) l: n
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.0 ~. n) s5 |1 o( j8 w a
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。! A9 _ g( Q( T' e; u9 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.
1 W# e: i4 k/ N1 @9 J- { 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。6 ^) U! N0 v. y) K
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.( m5 Q; q5 p" |. @7 J( Y
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。. Y/ O4 b# a5 o( l: }' {
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
, J7 h, t2 m1 d% k! w' @ q* O 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。: o: I. y& E1 R1 u1 M- P! g% U: _
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.6 F6 G5 d5 p' m' h
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。
& z, \+ e( g; q- _! U355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
0 ^, D: q9 V8 H% G4 s3 y 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。
: n; z0 C5 j+ y( o356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
- Z2 I* r w0 p+ C3 Q& k 门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。 G8 e/ y& }3 F2 }
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England." a! l+ f" b+ y$ A
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。" n$ r" N, P% s* s ?7 X% Y
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
7 Z+ p/ u0 ]6 V$ ]2 j% B 他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
1 R( I, J1 T. T @3 p% p359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him." w; D+ a' D& ^& `0 x& n9 A
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。5 [3 \* n. {5 N6 m- h
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.; [2 t! \. w, \# A9 B! ?6 w* 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- i4 W9 @. `+ i' X! k& ]
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour. c Z9 m) x) m. Q
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。# q6 _" H3 l. n' Y3 d
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.4 y' l+ R3 c6 Q; \8 w
公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
0 @ u) `0 _7 {, g6 c363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.+ p V3 r6 U6 x/ u+ v
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。
. K' f* r3 R. ~; H3 y364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
, Q& s) o4 [5 c 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。6 L& ^1 X% L) F" [" J$ s
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
! U# F- g6 [3 J5 c9 S; r 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。# o# Z1 Q- v% o" i% Y" b$ I: S' ^
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance. B8 a9 O, L+ z: z j7 E" B. i* i
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。4 q8 d! }, l- c5 u. C9 L& _' M
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.8 m4 ^- t7 W4 }) r# v
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
. }/ z$ t+ s! e) {368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
/ W% |; P1 e9 m8 s9 @ 他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
" G+ a% `, p. _( }4 I) G369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
p0 q, k3 |3 r( ^# `/ Q 他因无力还债而被捕入狱,最后于1836年在贫困中死去。 |
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