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课文21 丹尼尔.门多萨
3 W/ _, ^- i$ `0 m) i$ C" |348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago. ~! o+ P3 M$ n6 L2 o6 g
两百年前,拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。# S* r* C! m6 D$ S9 a+ B- }
349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
2 H4 U. [; ~9 S8 O' P2 ` 当时,拳击手们不戴手套,为争夺奖金而搏斗。; A0 @$ a- u A$ o
350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
. i/ w7 a/ U H( t) C 因此,他们被称作“职业拳击手”。; M) ]( h) p, e, P7 e! f/ E
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' H, A+ g- d$ _6 k* B3 V
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。1 w! n; z6 E$ N8 T9 C2 V( |
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
5 [0 n, f/ B& Y2 m% P, a$ a 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。& q' \) x3 g+ B6 ^2 o' ~4 A
353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.8 \7 w% l+ `$ b0 @, L
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。 _( n! Z5 U! J1 Z# p/ X
354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game., q+ a0 t6 z0 |
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。
4 n/ C& s* l$ r8 Q355. In this day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.7 N M$ B) |1 [; I) I B9 Y
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。
% \( h, N& a9 d4 g9 V" d0 q356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old./ R+ G; Y+ Y5 Q' s5 |
门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
* X& G0 f' S o% ~) T0 I: }% ]- @8 A357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England." Z# h8 { w# Q9 y( V% `6 v
这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。" X4 T& Q% f- L+ ?
358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
: v( s8 _2 x! D3 V' T% o 他主动提出教授门多萨,而年少的门多萨一学就会。 w0 h# r/ A9 r& @9 m
359. In fact, Mendoza soon became so successful that Humphries turned against him.1 X3 E1 K' f% B! z w% a2 @
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 E. o4 `8 T n& g0 G# ? n360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.8 T. L! j) n) L% n4 ~) L. N$ H
两个人争吵不休,显而易见,只有较量一番才能解决问题。
. R0 V$ g% j8 F9 E' w361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.2 u3 }+ N3 V& j+ d
于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场,厮打了一个小时。( b% x6 J, [$ x+ ~4 o' h6 z( m5 l
362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
" t0 w3 b2 Z$ g9 f" {0 L 公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上,但他却输了。/ I3 \2 b# [8 `
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
2 T8 \* n2 r9 z/ _ 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。
* g8 x6 V y" ~+ @7 Y$ Q9 _$ |364. It was not until his third match in 1790 that he finally beat Humphries and became Champion of England.$ p; [+ W7 R# V, W* e( I
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 y8 F, g1 y+ m
365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
8 x- T8 v/ O4 U( A& Z: d 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。0 t( ^' C: E" A: {6 j
366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.- C0 o9 X8 P* D0 q( b
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱,一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
% b/ N: c( U! y. m6 Z367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.3 u1 {1 K2 I- N/ f ]3 j
尽管收入不少,但他挥霍无度,经常债台高筑。
/ ~5 W; j+ n- [5 F368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
0 Q' d- L7 ]6 m6 A: t7 A# f0 e 他在被一个叫杰克逊绅士的拳击手击败后很快被遗忘。. O3 W# b4 ] V9 I( {
369. He was sent to prison for failing to pay his debts and died in poverty in 1836.
, Z) {3 G" U( T6 | 他因无力还债而被捕入狱,最后于1836年在贫困中死去。 |
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