新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
* `. B/ V) c& T9 T+ I348. 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。
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
: }5 S# P$ p; P8 F2 y        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'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
* `1 v$ R2 A/ u! k, _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。
2 t+ u" R" B" j' X* h352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
2 E: m% M* `6 z        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。
# R& p# T- P5 U6 y0 ~353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
2 o# Q8 H- b4 d& U/ 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。
354. 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。
, ~  T8 V; G9 W+ W3 N355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
  K2 h  A* `2 ]# w        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.
        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.
- I5 U3 i) ]) R4 l        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
7 s8 O- F! l, e7 b! [* b* v358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
5 _& S& E. X) _1 e        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.
        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.
, e* M$ r7 r/ y% V3 O        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.
; U' U! O* k3 Y4 J        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
1 G* k7 M+ [( x% z/ C% r  k2 w, h362. 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。
/ R* P6 I5 ]: g9 |, ^; q" r; [' y363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
$ {" l& G3 g+ M3 T+ b, Z        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。
* H. c- g" q/ @# s364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
; L3 v6 u" f( R/ g' r5 ]5 U        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。
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
; y- n$ N/ a9 H1 Q+ _* Y        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.
5 f0 Q( i, {; v0 l1 j: B/ J        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.
        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.
' I7 p( D8 A( r, C: b- }8 h        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
9 h! o! e" `2 L5 b% l369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
0 o& D* n' ^4 a; R  m; D        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。