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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨
9 s7 c5 d( T9 P; Z* k. X2 }8 s348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.$ `+ p8 S3 `/ F' a; @
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。5 k( l$ L- x- Y" J1 u! y
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
9 M9 {7 P* m- A, v 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。
; K# l9 P/ u8 e* m6 }; a350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.5 i0 a! s9 i9 x, A7 l% W
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。' i% w* u+ _' p0 P. d
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
3 A7 U. R9 D- g5 O7 ] 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。
; U& v9 M: Z8 e3 y352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.* H" i' A; O; p$ A
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。3 T$ g! w5 N% q& e' e0 A
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.% m* `- O$ O8 X7 ]6 ]& P* u
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。; C0 |# X7 g0 x
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.7 |& Z& A9 Z+ g# }9 O
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。
l2 f: l }' g' p+ q2 ]& @1 [355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.2 F/ F9 `, r, ?7 L' M- M/ E3 D. 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。0 \$ u% L" W0 [; R: j
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.% e. e! b) N$ k. X. T
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。% U F- V4 D0 F- f* c, G
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.: k2 z8 u! J {: p, L9 Z
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
y! I& y( p, P, A5 R5 w358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
$ W1 Q$ `$ w( h- N; v7 k7 H 他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
) N1 H0 I& J$ q/ C: @359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.1 |% Z2 a: c( z4 k) }: q {7 n/ 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。8 y( c7 H! [. {
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight." K" ?9 \2 ?. z. y+ i: w: E4 n# \
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。 G, ]1 Y9 [/ R
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.) ^0 O9 x' ]/ H% c
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。
% [6 U% e. F1 a5 @9 R3 F& K$ d362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
$ i8 I2 I$ N3 q& ` 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。' v$ c: I8 w5 ? ~$ D/ O. s$ A; W
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.( n) a6 r; E4 L; {
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。0 Q7 l, A! U4 \5 w/ k) T2 J
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.7 H0 W& V% m/ f( o$ 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。! p$ Q! L; W5 B( F* ~7 l
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.8 Z+ s) o8 y5 m+ a% s: L b8 b
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。' d& z- f, j+ x' x0 d1 g
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
( r7 I6 a( Q8 h3 X9 s8 `6 _" H9 k9 K2 { 门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
7 }' \3 A" S' @+ r8 k367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
7 F& V% B2 J# d( ?2 `' a$ ]: E2 a 尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。/ L2 h9 L: y. w9 R& ^2 {8 Y! E
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.) h+ @: E' F( D) ~* @' T# W
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。' B# t4 G" b" F c2 [
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
9 @" G+ N' n+ H/ `" D) a 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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