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.
8 v# l  S; O# l+ g        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
5 ]+ w$ D* [( q349. 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'.
6 Z% ~' Z, {1 K9 m! ~        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
4 P4 H$ w5 c5 q" _* F( I  T351. 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。
) |! Y, j( P1 a1 s352. 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。
8 |* `: I, C% R  ?" y3 j353. 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。
0 |/ f4 L& K. h2 h' j( B354. 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。
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。
5 c% s* v7 E6 z2 C356. 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。
1 `$ U9 `2 c& d) C357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
( n2 I( m2 h* a! `        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.
# l* k2 J4 n, R3 ]1 M        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
( Y9 K5 g5 N$ G# _+ X/ [359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
$ F% o9 d9 s6 J" H        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。
) B# ~' T* Y  ~6 `# x8 L360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
# p" D: X3 R; L" Z4 E5 S$ C        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.
% j' v2 D. J- h7 l# K        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。
4 K/ p& N6 V9 x7 H& {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。
* Q/ r/ o4 n3 d364. 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。
, y4 X9 p  x+ U: F! s365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
: h5 Z6 v9 @3 l" Y) v* ~5 X        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。
( X) k; y' \/ P# I# a5 l" E0 e6 G366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
: |3 s/ ^! F* O) e        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
+ k( L1 d* ?2 T9 c: y! y5 j$ n367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
0 E$ {( b) F1 K* _        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.
2 P8 q$ ?  [) ?# ]' `8 ?% r- v        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
% A# m! h) a/ _  a6 G369. 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。