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.
        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。
& y0 ~4 E& P! n350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
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 r' I) N  C        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。
& \1 ~' o2 `7 Y6 g352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
2 D6 h" I0 F) q1 ~$ z& g        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。
' m3 b% f! Q- @( x353. 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.
        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.
4 B9 }) X' e8 `        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。
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
6 g4 d& [& D* h' _" e        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.
+ h& c) M% ^: [% o+ j        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.
. m! `# x9 a5 I9 @        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.
; P2 ^2 m7 W8 R; L, w1 @& W        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。
$ Q1 p$ j  A7 V; |. s360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
4 Q/ D5 K9 f; f        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.
        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.
- t8 c7 j' T9 F. c2 p# _        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
: _4 K6 i3 `# l8 s* D- ^363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
0 A$ D4 l3 _: K+ C$ R3 c  Q8 |        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。
7 S+ ~1 T* x0 s8 j% {8 ]- E5 [% E" J364. 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。
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
        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% o8 T" ?! D! y2 Q/ ?+ Z; v366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
8 t, p6 Z3 H& L  O$ I! P367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        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.
" I. ?; z* k3 O+ z, X, A        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
2 S2 Z& s* ^  h369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
2 `% i' H$ t. H  _        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。