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.
        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
4 L" v6 r4 K+ h- p8 V349. 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。
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
8 I9 d# t8 H9 q1 [$ y        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
  J8 w2 S8 _1 t9 z351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
' g; \  S& S) j' X  D- e; n% t        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.
        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。
, X) o$ [5 ?# T: W1 g353. 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。
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
) K' K/ _; l" j* c  x8 d# U! |        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 X6 o. W3 l& F( d, i        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。
1 k+ L) }& J8 L9 {/ H1 H356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
5 ^* x; H* R, l  `- R' J        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.
1 {' B1 [% l3 l6 g/ R9 o        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
2 Z# f& h8 `; {* F3 C        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
  C: ~$ ?: O+ _3 b9 u: Y359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.
6 u0 r% C! p6 }3 U' U0 R        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。
( ]# a, J' E" G( j7 z' N360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
& ^7 m6 j; y! \2 N: T+ i        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.
        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
% _& H  n3 N+ Q: c5 ~( f( j% P* d362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
) @& Z' O" M* V$ [% U# 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.
) ^, M+ v8 R- q2 P        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。
9 u8 o) P- _4 w% s# m/ W6 {$ X364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
+ r3 X  s' o% p        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.
        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。
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。
& S! ?. w( G7 I) d5 w7 `. j0 X368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
8 m1 S* _& {1 F& L* M& m        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。