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。
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。
& d# ]8 N; L7 g350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
/ i, t4 t' ?- A        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.
5 G" M/ S8 M) U) x8 J/ K        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。
8 f) J7 j/ o' d353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
5 @: R' H* E- `5 H5 ^        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。
* Y& c& Z0 V, [355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
* h% |9 R. a- _* c: q, g        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。
1 Y0 e' J% d, r; d1 K357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
3 R7 @4 }* c: n8 `% ~0 }& [" i- P) Z        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.
7 [& Y0 P* C) h6 C# b1 j        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
7 v0 @/ l0 G5 M# m9 L359. 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.
        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
) ^; B3 d& N& q361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
7 g( Y, C+ H' E        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
. K6 q  o. Q) }362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
0 [; V8 E1 H* M. Q        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
. C, ~  E) B$ W& f) _363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
        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。
6 x! k4 G* v! \. {364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
  m( @$ _6 Y- q* P( w7 d6 l* f; 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。
' H& S2 Q/ Q1 U365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
# U6 B; l4 }0 e. F; O9 `        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。
8 o. c1 S3 m1 W! C3 p366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
& I4 L9 Q) Y+ _" K- }        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
+ `0 O- @8 ~5 `9 w367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
1 A* g8 L7 ?$ x# G7 |5 F368. 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.
- [- e8 C& ]! {( f! h4 K4 b        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。