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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨7 d& E& @5 l& @3 R) L8 E
348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.4 c! a! u8 X' N, Q+ \
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。% r9 }* z& H# l* {9 [
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
) B) I+ y/ H$ ]& s0 W* \" G 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。. k. W: a; L& f& m
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'. w2 d! `, y1 c! z. O6 t
因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
) \( M2 J2 r% Y2 F" S x351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
B* n; O; G( Y. Y: H6 P6 l 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。5 K2 S; f) J- e. P
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
8 g8 ]- I* l0 F) i7 M* a2 Z" t! _) ] 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 S. [% y- [$ G
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.: ?& i7 b2 T4 d0 E" K
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。
5 d0 d2 F7 p: g$ E354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
! d. a# c$ ]% c7 c, Y 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。
1 |0 r, B; [3 y# F: v3 F4 I8 |' j- ~2 L355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.8 R# Y+ H9 K# j" Z& {& K
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。
+ A9 Z- x) O( h, \2 S356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.7 y c K3 h, A7 n7 a: C2 e
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
2 b, ~5 c: s5 q/ g; J; |% y& A5 z357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.( q! c3 j# E/ K% C0 L5 A+ _
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。) K9 P) V2 Y; B, s( r P w& o
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
. D, Q; g4 s4 q 他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。
! a" y0 S$ `: {; E, H359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him., z7 p1 f' h, J! Z5 N
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 S3 {6 p5 X* i& s360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
- j) N4 [7 G- O9 i& o 两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。" U3 J8 J9 a: f- R6 x: @
361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour. z' R m. {7 p* f
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。8 D% w4 V; I" T8 w: B- F. n, |
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
- I3 n0 E/ l( g. F9 n 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。' l9 i2 a+ t& Q+ p+ q" h. Y" ?
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time. W7 j" ^" D2 r/ N2 E
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。7 O! W& I* ^8 ]8 @
364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
, b# N% I$ I8 @! L: H5 X; a/ V 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。
$ _3 l1 G3 \2 Q/ N, ]' A* ?365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
; r4 s$ I4 _, H# j' z 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。9 E; ~3 U' J# j1 {8 o' A
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
6 Z; q$ {+ e2 a I 门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。7 I) L/ M' d8 z- h5 e; T+ t, b7 [. |
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
. g! T' J8 A" m 尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
; i" m" O7 }' Q$ N4 I, o' {368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
) {. q2 q8 s, @5 X) { 他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
4 \2 I6 V! G8 P6 i369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.9 p0 C: d M; _* q0 i2 W+ ~' \
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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