新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
7 O/ h3 g7 Q9 r0 ^& H9 D$ |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。
349. 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。
8 m6 X$ f/ j- g+ W" D3 ~350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
& H+ X8 E9 k+ ], F9 B        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
2 c8 i- ^, e9 }        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.
& I) \$ B4 K3 g% L9 g8 j4 B$ I        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。
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。
* E+ @* ]: ~1 T+ L9 T4 @354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
; R- z% E5 Y1 m  i        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.
        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。
; T/ }( x7 ^* l/ G6 W5 R& s356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
8 y/ F, l9 P0 u8 r3 d5 }        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.
) k8 Z  |7 Q* L        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
9 Y2 S+ J7 m5 ?8 F+ p( D! \1 g358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
# n% O8 i- x1 C, t  J7 |3 i: S        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
; r: ~* R' P7 J! \4 |; H359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
6 \& [2 ~, D9 y! a5 I2 O7 A, V- u        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。
* J6 ?7 ~6 C: q$ z1 X- D% P5 Z360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
9 G! l9 {8 k0 U7 v% ?- {        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.
* A4 v( I. l9 |( W  F" H" @( t        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
' ]! u/ A$ E) f# L, y+ F0 v/ T4 ~$ n362. 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。
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
- M' b* v2 v3 E( E, B6 |        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。
# }/ x+ R3 Y2 W: G& O364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
        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。
) s3 g) g% U) [- V+ Z1 N) X/ Z365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
. I- Y! l/ b; 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 $100 for a single appearance.
        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
2 Z! }4 q8 v% A$ D+ Y0 j367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
( K" R+ W' \% q+ Z        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.
        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.
        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。