新概念英语3--（一天学一篇）--- 21

ltlong52010

课文21  丹尼尔.门多萨
' @( m4 i' q6 Y# ]: \348. Boxing matches were very popular in England two hundred years ago.
' T5 Z% [9 J* w' H- O, B        两百年前，拳击比赛在英国非常盛行。
, s" `* b8 k9 P* J* k+ v349. In those days, boxers fought with bare fists for prize money.
1 P6 S# u1 h/ g( _% w+ q        当时，拳击手们不戴手套，为争夺奖金而搏斗。
; f/ }& w4 d) ]  \2 J3 n& P350. Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
8 O- t% {) A# s- ]2 F. {% Z7 E        因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
* F0 ^. S5 i) R5 X9 E351. However, boxing was very crude, for there were no rules and a prizefighter could be seriously injured or even killed during a match.
( ?; y1 i% i: G, P4 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。
352. One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
, M6 y1 U( _) Y        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。
/ b; I& [+ q8 T1 @- G. |. H353. The use of gloves was not introduced until 1860, when the Marquis of Queensberry drew up the first set of rules.
        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。
5 L4 j0 T  w. w+ u' R" S354. Though he was technically a prizefighter, Mendoza did much to change crude prizefighting into a sport, for he brought science to the game.
( R) i% ]6 p! q6 i6 V! `  H  F+ T        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.
2 f4 M. a! X2 K. d2 t: @$ t2 S% E        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。
4 X8 x1 A* t8 m! M' v' }% @356. Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
/ P# j0 T: N  K        门多萨在14岁时参加一场拳击赛后一举成名。
/ d  M1 s3 w9 \! W7 w0 g% d357. This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
$ X6 M5 {" z- Z% v/ D6 Z7 K  Z: g        这引起当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
( Z- }. h3 M& ]" _) U3 F, q358. 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.
& a7 c! c$ R: b4 {; V/ k        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。
$ |2 X3 T: v3 O* w: D" W5 E360. The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
* b1 ~1 i8 r0 ?  z2 B5 K, s        两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
* f4 w/ a5 Q9 O. w& \361. A match was held at Stilton, where both men fought for an hour.
9 Z$ h7 [7 j: @, T: @        于是两人在斯蒂尔顿设下赛场，厮打了一个小时。
$ u( {3 `2 E4 q) \. F362. The public bet a great deal of money on Mendoza, but he was defeated.
9 j+ @- ?* A/ J+ _! X        公众把大笔赌注下到了门多萨身上，但他却输了。
* X$ s3 Q: j8 a  j$ x; y! o363. Mendoza met Humphries in the ring on a later occasion and he lost for a second time.
" Z' u/ e5 a- ?        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 `- b8 x+ X; R364. 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。
2 Q* i1 P4 t6 l8 x2 E$ K) q365. 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。
. w; p! H' j, G) n366. He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
1 d8 k% i9 x1 z9 n        门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就多可达100英镑。
367. Despite this, he was so extravagant that he was always in debt.
: |1 j. B# ~8 w& P& w! u* _        尽管收入不少，但他挥霍无度，经常债台高筑。
368. After he was defeated by a boxer called Gentleman Jackson, he was quickly forgotten.
& n" Y. c  ]; a( K$ {        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.
9 Z; O: _  _! y! C1 |! {        他因无力还债而被捕入狱，最后于1836年在贫困中死去。