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.
2 y: z3 o2 L1 J  s% e        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。
! ?/ T* \6 O- S0 `; J0 K1 N" [: x# z( K350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
8 W6 H' r0 w- o1 c! `        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
- U2 u$ {2 _8 j5 _, Y& K  d351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
" F4 Y1 N5 R) C" X/ E# D, p        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。
+ y8 f" L; d# R9 e5 v  r) n! S352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
! A5 j* l$ s9 M5 H        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.
# ]9 J. L- `8 d  ~! 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。
, `  ]) U6 k- |; e0 m( ~4 K354. 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。
355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
9 n* S. R3 c! }9 B1 y+ Z* \; o        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。
$ {$ ]( Y- ?6 I* Z1 s356. 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。
; q& c, J% c  Y9 m357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
; `  u2 E* N2 J$ W1 t4 d) b: t7 y        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.
        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.
9 F4 ?/ Y6 Y6 b/ Q# ?8 P        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.
' U0 N- _% N5 r' q# z        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
* n. G: x# F7 V/ G9 ~$ k361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
. `* Q$ c% {; s# c        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
9 N1 n4 U. y$ H+ n) l' p/ W        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
7 _& J2 {2 P8 l+ s  c% S363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
7 A" }' `* M/ U5 Q4 E6 R        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。
364. 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。
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。
+ Q( T! a6 I. f9 `5 Q) P366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
% I& x( O, b  s5 G; I        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
0 X1 d& N- j( z. e6 D, Z367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
9 g+ M2 }0 g. o4 Y+ u368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
6 ~: l' i/ u( w7 T" x* v1 e1 T        他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。
+ ^6 {- U$ U, z8 u369. 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。