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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨
" o' L& \) B* Q. ]+ t% M. I" I6 [# I348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
9 V: r6 Z, k& G, S- ] 两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。; d$ _5 z! l# N: H: L/ r$ B
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.) Y, T3 W: [6 N0 {9 r
当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。2 z0 G' U$ f1 r* L. p9 S
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'." K& }- H# z |- O9 w
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
2 C! j1 r5 t5 K5 W351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
' d' Y7 [' H# [# w1 {' c* {. P$ I 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。
$ L& E4 G1 g% i e- o( S% N) P352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
8 R) R' t) N' i9 \& ]& M- ]1 l* k 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。
: U$ ]/ U( d q353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.% |! ~! v% A% {' H h' x. F
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。
; T) n+ e) W- S! w354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.. w3 W- J* Y0 a2 S2 j
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。8 m$ U; n' O y" n
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.7 Q4 o1 @% l$ 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。3 o9 d1 l: u$ E! i0 i' v) R1 O
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.# V& ?' \: M8 ~% b, K/ s' c
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。 [& ^2 ~$ m6 g; z( f7 p. |+ V
357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.8 c7 u# Z f) a. @! P
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。/ n7 s6 W: ]) }" F
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.' [7 Q z: I. A& Z7 ?# u
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
- o& K! ~* I: {$ X- Y. |359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.- L1 {; l; h" R% h. A" _- X
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。6 E2 l0 S# g* D8 V$ w
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.! u# Y/ h0 b, F p- a1 }. `: B
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。
' Z2 f# k3 o8 m$ O361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.5 O9 P, g( w( s6 i8 }. ?
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。+ b( \0 C- d2 M. e9 [
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
1 j5 ~; z: i1 F 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
! m/ q% `* B1 T& c3 [363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
; ^. g2 W& U: v) P9 ] 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。! l4 f; |8 l; R5 o$ r
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
& I/ }% N1 c: Q# \' p 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。3 }) j( U+ |/ p$ p
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils., Y9 M# r3 ], H! h& \
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。& g) F9 p4 t6 L* P- m
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.( f7 `& u, }7 a5 o2 p4 Z1 @0 q" w
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
' |% c% _0 S# j9 x367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.; X! H5 G# d1 A4 W2 P" G5 S
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
2 i" ?7 l# P1 S. {8 p368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.- x! B" J# O3 x! Q
他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。- G& X2 `2 K/ j% \
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
6 I r6 E3 I b4 T2 u" G! F+ Y% U 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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