新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

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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。
4 t$ ~  `. l$ D7 w+ P1 d# V" W349. 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。
1 m) }' h; `' k* b/ S: _350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
- G4 m8 k/ f6 t$ N351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
4 T5 I8 L6 c9 M  Q# S        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.
$ b+ s' L  f; c0 f+ w( N2 N        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。
5 n  W5 U& R" A  _353. 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。
( B9 ]$ n5 F9 v. J$ n354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
6 Z! Y! @& @: Q1 D7 z% V        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.
. ?& E; i: {& O" F) 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。
6 S# l( H7 r2 f3 S! X356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
4 Q" B+ Q, J7 g3 j( u357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
2 C+ s+ Y+ A# g5 T# v- O  t        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
4 q; |3 b7 _' f$ s8 `" ~  X, W358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
        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.
; |) D' i: T2 a9 D3 Y8 i        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.
- b1 g2 K4 J7 K# K5 ]        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.
, x2 l# m: p! m5 y7 I& @1 a        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
: v/ d- @/ u+ S+ e* S4 ?        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.
% f7 x) a+ U2 x' F2 `        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。
( i* b% M+ V- t) s6 a. |' R& c8 f365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
5 `2 `- }7 K5 b8 W7 l        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。
1 U& X# S6 C( j9 p2 ~5 m366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
5 @% T) c$ J- @# q# N8 k3 X        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
- m% L, S% ^& C5 o+ 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。
  \; p6 o* R) C2 i1 b& _6 r, u* P7 H368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
6 P. n+ d& I( p% [5 ^) L369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。