 鲜花( 0)  鸡蛋( 0)
|
课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨' M+ b5 @: H+ F1 e
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago." e1 k! Z8 k! Y: m3 b
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。! g+ j2 ]7 @' O& z7 ]: M' u" n
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
$ ]& K- P) Q# ~' h5 c9 b$ ^ 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。$ c/ F: D4 E- ?5 K1 {
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.7 T8 {8 {, k0 B( k9 b
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
. a! I! [; i6 w9 o2 |' Q M( g351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.% i5 H, ]. K. c) u 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。
% v5 m7 F( D" f2 y) d0 o352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.. v" R4 W, [. q5 C, d- `; H4 n+ w
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。! k) S! P3 T+ R3 H
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules." k+ V& I) z$ m' 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。
3 L7 }6 [. I3 {3 C& {: ^354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.; \4 L8 U" A ~3 ^
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。3 H" G1 Q3 C/ x0 C6 c0 N I1 G
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.: S: U( h0 ^% D% }
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。
M7 ]9 M5 R' V. H% c356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
& z& S: ?. H$ M% k+ M9 {8 @* y 门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。9 Q) a# `6 \* D E2 ~5 y
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.9 c' ?; n! I& W0 P! e7 }7 s h
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
a( V; k9 k8 d m# f' ^358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
7 D$ T' }: N6 i8 F3 H. I 他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
3 _& I9 N& W+ Y* s( `0 M359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
# x: g: u- R; J. U1 N5 B 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。
& `# Z0 M' Y% `360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
& P8 O+ [+ m9 N9 @# s* f 两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。$ F8 U) X7 N4 N8 y& L8 b
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.5 }6 W3 n3 o. ~1 G4 d1 i0 f
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。
' d+ q& r8 C; k' e362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.! g; @$ `8 S C/ t4 z
公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。2 G7 B- l& {+ o$ l: Y
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.7 N2 g8 _1 p7 f- 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。
" H0 K1 _. |# V2 k8 R. r364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.. F/ i# b) R6 Y: b# y
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。7 O3 w. ]; h0 ^" K6 ]
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils." s& E6 R; Y. }! m1 Y
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。- j7 Z: _9 U) _, n' S
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
9 G7 L! K! u$ h1 b5 g" \2 ]" `- } 门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
$ m d) x# O2 C1 \367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
`; l: E7 i5 w' d% Q1 I3 s 尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
' p" j' h, n! [! E$ O* b368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.' _. ]% N2 A+ Y* q8 J! F! X, r
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。+ z, K2 Q7 W4 e$ @
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
: c1 j) J: } J W1 a" x9 C: p 他因无力还债而被捕入狱,最后于1836年在贫困中死去。 |
|