新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

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课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
7 S5 `# C8 b4 U348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
3 o" o8 ]3 R9 _5 U* M. W& Z8 Z        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
. _9 f  _7 ^/ C9 z% R- a# C5 F349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
# U  s8 p0 D6 j3 \        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'.
        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
; P, r* D* C$ F% w# x351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
        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.
: L1 X' F- ~, n* f% [- R% g        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.
+ U. T7 A0 O7 N4 [- n        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。
: s, A7 M- u8 D+ R354. 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.
        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.
4 D- Z0 p6 o/ D, }# G. L/ {& D% {        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。
6 Y" G6 G* Z# [0 b: [+ t/ W0 X358. He offered to train Mendoza and his young pupil was quick to learn.
- @$ D' ?" @, e4 n0 d" S5 ]        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.
        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。
$ ?4 N5 b: l' @+ w360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
9 ~: ?) s8 ?5 H# w2 p        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
, p7 P3 }& D4 q6 r' j% W361. 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。
4 V' T/ w$ S. B3 N& X7 V362. 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。
363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
0 {5 }8 k; ?) d1 ?/ B4 C6 G  y        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.
4 K# u7 e8 S8 b' K; m3 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 R' N( P$ o! P. t365. Meanwhile, he founded a highly successful Academy and even Lord Byron became one of his pupils.
0 Y3 F- `4 D0 r- {! g6 \$ U        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 $100 for a single appearance.
; k6 r; t# h7 G        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
4 u  [, F" Y% g& s367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
8 `0 [0 h, P, E* D8 E0 n# F        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
9 ~# K  j5 T7 f$ G368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
  Z/ v/ C! Z- l6 D" E! p1 j        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.
5 W3 ?& u! d" _. \, V% d        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。