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.
/ j8 W3 Z" I& n- B3 m5 E7 F0 K        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。
' n3 l' j  K' A350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
6 Y8 R- [9 V  R# T! ]- l        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.
        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。
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
7 ]9 S# J  x' s/ `; V- \2 y. T' u        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 |! ?1 u8 N# z353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
7 i: D. b5 Y4 ?4 J" 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。
+ o$ Z" @7 A9 [3 D354. 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。
3 w% W2 S" G3 k- ^7 x+ m9 @5 u; ~+ _355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
        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.
: z- \+ r0 o/ w: V        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
, g4 w6 f  h. d! S357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
: ^( W( p. y  D9 T5 N' L        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
0 A% m9 y, L" D+ i1 E5 @358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
6 f* L2 N! T+ b" E& f3 W4 G: K- h& R        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
: |. U- o; e; h8 C359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
. A+ `  ^4 F- g7 X4 E        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。
360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
+ k" o: ~8 ^" u) P! y0 Z! h. O        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
$ r& N, b' Q/ R" A7 F361. 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.
        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
7 |/ N( a) o0 }1 ~" R363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
1 P0 Z$ ?6 t; u, n        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。
364. 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。
! a; T  w. r/ d/ |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。
2 K- z; |, O4 M* M; M5 m5 l366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
1 n# ~9 ]. m, F, |367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
: }  u$ l- {7 W6 e8 z+ k% i* T        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
, c- J/ N" H7 q: n; U( G369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
/ A& @% q/ ^5 }- n' A/ Z        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。