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.
! J* J6 q/ }) A: e        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
# ~3 O6 X# u+ @349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
: f) A0 O% h. C' e1 e5 `2 G        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
" d! r' t  N# g2 \350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
% `9 |6 L. n. e0 f0 Z351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
0 i7 _  x# J1 M/ u0 n& 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。
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
$ o( @' ^9 I% }1 r0 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。
9 }; K7 M* K2 Y+ j4 o9 `353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
; ^! h# H" F9 I! f' J9 g3 P! Q        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。
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
/ E9 z; [" V8 i* `. j  X4 j0 G        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.
7 ?9 c$ ~# o5 A: N5 ]        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。
, z0 A9 h. {8 h2 a2 R356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
* Z2 Z" q2 A6 K  x3 Y- a4 W        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
( b6 A4 j2 l( n. e# e0 |357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
1 }) C4 L) }7 ?; p% e( a        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
  K, ?# B! p: Q" s358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
  Q! w0 O9 l0 m% f        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
, a! }1 a8 S0 `% v359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
- ]$ b0 U0 w0 S( J/ [% r. L9 V        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。
; [4 j3 f  p" }1 N! x/ m6 @360. 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。
& m' ^( A! d; \7 o361. 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。
+ i5 Q8 g# p: Q4 E. G- k, \362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
% q8 T7 J* `/ R) T        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.
4 D3 {0 o: Q* p  d( f* F0 x        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.
  i% L9 d: Z1 V/ v1 P+ X        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。
4 j. V% {2 Z/ H& A9 X365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
* a4 A3 r8 c- I% l5 e        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。
  o' p2 x# E% q$ C% B# u366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
( z) i" Y/ k- A( H# u        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
0 Q$ W. i, X! s, A3 j368. 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。
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
, a) ~. ]9 u2 w+ o        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。