新概念英语美音版第三册:Lesson 21 Daniel Mendoza

Lesson 21 Daniel Mendoza
丹尼尔.门多萨
Listen to the tape then answer the question below.
听录音，然后回答以下问题。
How many unsuccessful attempts did Mendoza make before becoming Champion of all England?
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。
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。
Because of this, they were known as 'prizefighters'.
因此，他们被称作“职业拳击手”。
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。
One of the most colourful figures in boxing history was Daniel Mendoza, who was born in 1764.
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。
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。
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。
In his day, Mendoza enjoyed tremendous popularity. He was adored by rich and poor alike.
门多萨在他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。
Mendoza rose to fame swiftly after a boxing match when he was only fourteen years old.
门多萨在14岁时参加了一场拳击赛后一举成名。
This attracted the attention of Richard Humphries who was then the most eminent boxer in England.
这引起了当时英国拳坛名将理查德.汉弗莱斯的注意。
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。
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。
The two men quarrelled bitterly and it was clear that the argument could only be settled by a fight.
两个人争吵不休，显而易见，只有较量一番才能解决问题。
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。
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。
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。
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。
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。
He earned enormous sums of money and was paid as much as $100 for a single appearance.
门多萨挣来大笔大笔的钱，一次出场费就可多达100英镑。
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。
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。
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。