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。
" T" d8 C, m3 k* @349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
) s; k$ V. ~9 [. d/ T6 N6 x        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'.
# t0 z3 k% j$ \1 A, H: n. v        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
0 {0 K; b& a. |3 x3 V2 I351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
& b# {4 o9 A! U- {        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。
! ~( d# w: a3 b( `+ J, ]352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
( ]$ w( {# }% ?6 R; r! 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。
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
! m# F7 K, x. T7 a, J, q        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。
4 `# Z* U, V3 f, j8 F354. 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。
- ]) k2 b( U; L+ t. c' R) ~* L355. 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. i/ y* r4 L. q1 h+ |/ Q356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
+ L$ r% N/ y! o4 x9 k( l        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.
        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
) j( z* H& }, C2 B8 o( x; C  r358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
        他主动提出教授门多萨，而年少的门多萨一学就会。
* c( O) r* `, j, g5 i* ~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。
3 x+ w- D& n1 K( T! W0 z! L* `4 j# t360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
. Q& c; z! z( F, K        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
6 }5 o5 A1 v2 p7 D$ H361. 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。
& m5 X+ d9 G  U/ A362. 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。
# u2 Q! v( Y" t363. 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。
- ^0 C9 |# P0 r: O% ?% _; K( e1 K364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.
& f+ _5 u6 e! W" `" k1 R        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。
0 E% ]$ ]" }" v9 f5 V6 ^6 G- I365. 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。
1 O' Q6 A$ i8 m0 h# a4 \0 ~366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
7 B: M' p! u' W6 e, f        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.
        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。