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.
  z. W0 ^6 P" e  g3 v        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.
  A; U" \! M; j' z1 \        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
% W# a' T" x& G5 d4 f1 C        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
- i; w! u- ?2 G: z2 `6 j! t351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
! r: T; Z7 @. z& t6 |& O        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。
# k8 L& b% Q/ Z  M! S+ p2 |! t352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
0 q6 {* u. ]; Z7 v) o# a( q        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。
% `6 V- @$ v' P$ p353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
) j# n  m  s  P: ~2 n" X  g        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。
& c& @7 l5 }6 ~4 x9 {7 d8 y* U354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
; o. m8 p: `: j( A- 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。
2 W9 b4 f4 W+ Z0 m0 ]9 X1 G6 M# Q355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
7 p) u$ d4 M, d. C4 F6 x        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 J: K+ Y. [4 A5 {& i( `* n356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
  ^" x. \' J- J# u# j+ t. M4 @0 n        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.
: z1 n/ T& P* B% R5 h" f( t8 n        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
$ v+ y' A/ g0 r) C+ b) t" y358. 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。
% Z2 @, r0 {) Y2 i4 q4 l% ~" `359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
  w" x+ W' {" s" P        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。
7 W/ j8 ~! j8 G3 A4 m360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
0 o4 E- F/ t$ n* x8 g) K- x361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
* e) n. R9 }5 M7 O: L1 i1 V        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.
+ m0 k3 E  M7 ?* V: Q        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.
        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。
, }: Y3 e' L" ]1 \/ [) v364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
, d+ M2 Z* s/ ?5 ?8 f        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。
* I3 N  k4 c1 k. I7 E365. 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。
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
; D8 p( U0 R: _) y9 ], }        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
' u, q& Z. o/ r: o% x367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
8 z8 n5 T  @0 \        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
3 ?0 X- W6 V: V, r. X7 f5 c        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
3 ?6 t$ d& r3 w1 P! P- t        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。