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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨
2 T. ]5 ]/ @+ s, r& J C348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago./ Q/ B2 D2 b! [. W8 P
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
8 h1 |5 r9 k& f" D1 B/ t" d349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.) [& K) z! y+ {: R
当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。* r |# ?$ H* p8 ^4 }* h
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
! p$ P9 X: k/ l! L3 C2 \* | 因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
/ c1 ^* V2 c: Q: _0 }) J5 a351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match./ x0 P4 ?. y6 {% d
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。# ]' R7 c j9 O' y, J0 @" c2 y
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.- z3 Q- s7 `9 B1 G( f
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 [% C" P' M" {: t) u' P& l
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.2 H+ i0 l0 k% C. Y) w, U" E: @
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。
$ F/ S$ n" b B8 x: t8 }354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
3 {# }" _) Z3 o& s8 k. ~ 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。5 D8 B7 c' _% k& O. e6 y% m4 P
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
D* m+ K2 E: M' h* F4 B 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。: z5 r j; T1 @! b+ ]1 \
356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
5 g1 i8 W, ]! q 门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
) c3 \9 w+ t8 _6 ~" S357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
) x, s- C: u6 L8 ]* d. K 这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。: `& V/ c& h O6 r9 e* A
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn." y0 g: s0 ~7 A, h
他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
7 h1 h& `9 \0 S7 w2 N359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.- T: l7 n' I6 R( m
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。# _: j# l& i7 z" a! t0 _- Y& e
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
% v6 s; N! H( m+ k5 } H 两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。
+ U7 H* e1 `" l k L+ s361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.+ E6 L; r! _. }& K
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。% q* p' o* F2 `5 O% ~& W- F( p
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.& j) e' f* M: p. v
公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。
, O5 {; G( ~9 n- |4 i" U363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
. a0 P, X0 N0 a$ [ s. a3 v% W 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。
?/ p( a/ N. k- R- n |" K9 h' s: ^9 e364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.7 q1 \9 {7 F4 N" z
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。! w3 n6 A j# [7 F) {- O
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.! J9 N8 K- p8 H1 v5 u
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。' t) c8 O" k2 {9 B: M3 s* a8 C9 O
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.# N* n7 a% C% Y0 J$ t0 y9 G9 @
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
( C& ]/ x9 e- O8 ~* J367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.1 A8 d- [& S+ L T2 R1 V5 \. b
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
8 N1 ?/ G# M6 g! R2 ?2 d0 R/ K368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
& U4 u; P# ]" h) o, R& B 他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。$ }$ X0 y6 ?" Q# u5 S$ a
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.( x( Q) q* B8 g2 K
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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