爱丁堡探索：多元文化研究

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.When the Picts built a fort on a volcanic crag in the 5th century，to protect Scotland from the invading Angles of Northumberland，Edinburgh's history began.The present Castle was built on the site by Michael Canmore（1057-1093）; his wife St.Margaret built the chapel which you can still visit today.

爱丁堡是苏格兰的首府。5世纪，当皮克特人在火山峭壁上建起堡垒，保护苏格兰免受诺森伯兰郡盎格鲁人入侵的时候，爱丁堡的历史就此展开。现存的爱丁堡城堡由迈克尔·坎摩尔（1057—1093）修建，直到今天人们依旧可以参观其妻圣玛格丽特修建的礼拜堂。

Building space was limited within the fortification w all，and so the tow n grew upwards.Some tall buildings were up to fourteen stories high with narrow alleys，and this is what is known as old town.People were crowded together，noblemen，thieves，artisans and shopkeepers.This was the Edinburgh of Mary Queen of Scots，of the famous preacher John Knox，and of Heroes such as the Marquis of Montrose.Edinburgh had much to be proud of，it was home to the Scottish Parliament and the University of Edinburgh; the town had survived everything from war，civil and religious strife，to overcrowding，severe shortage of water and outbreak of the plague.

由于防御围墙内建筑空间有限，所以爱丁堡城镇向上部发展。一些建筑高达14层，且街巷狭窄，这就是为大家所熟知的老城。贵族、小偷、工匠和店主都聚集于此。这里是苏格兰玛丽女王、著名传教士约翰·诺克斯和诸如蒙特罗斯侯爵等英雄聚集的爱丁堡。爱丁堡有许多值得骄傲的地方，这儿是苏格兰议会和爱丁堡大学所在地；城市历经风雨，从战争、内战和宗教冲突到过度拥挤、严重缺水、瘟疫爆发等，最终幸存了下来。

In the mid 18th century the loch surrounding the castle was drained，North Bridge was built，and what is known as new town burgeoned forth.Edinburgh grew throughout the remainder of the 18th and 19th centuries.The first public building，Register House，was designed by Robert Adam; he also designed the University and the north side of Charlotte Square.Many classical buildings such as the National Gallery of Scotland were inspired by ancient Greece，and from these Edinburgh became known as the Athens of the North.Edinburgh blossomed into one of Europe's cultural centers.This was the Edinburgh of James Boswell，Robert Burns and Sir Walter Scott; of the philosopher David Hume and the political economist Adam Smith.

18世纪中叶，城堡周围的湖泊干涸，北桥建成，著名的新城逐渐发展起来。爱丁堡的成长跨越了18世纪后半叶和整个19世纪。堡内第一座公共建筑——注册大楼由设计师罗伯特·亚当设计，他还设计了爱丁堡大学和夏洛特广场的北缘。苏格兰国家艺术馆等许多古典建筑受古希腊风格的启发而建，因此爱丁堡被称为“北方的雅典”。爱丁堡迅速发展成了欧洲的一个文化中心。文化名人辈出，有詹姆斯·波斯威尔、罗伯特·彭斯和沃尔特·斯科特爵士；也有哲学家大卫·休谟和政治经济学家亚当·斯密等。

Upholding its tradition for culture Edinburgh hosts the annual International Festival，three weeks of the very best of music，opera，drama and ballet.From Edinburgh Castle downward，historic houses，churches，galleries and museums surround you，each with its own history.

为了继承传统文化，爱丁堡每年都会举行为期3周的国际艺术节，届时会有最精彩的音乐、歌剧、戏剧和芭蕾舞剧等表演。从城堡上向下俯瞰，能一览许多历史名宅、教堂、艺术馆和博物馆，各具历史底蕴。

Apart fromits varied and stunning architecture，Edinburgh is a visually beautiful place，with many parks and gardens，to take a leisurely stroll through，or simply sit and watch the world go by.For those who enjoy gardens you are in for a treat! Edinburgh is the home of the world famous Royal Botanic Garden.

除了各式各样令人称奇的建筑，爱丁堡也是一个令人赏心悦目的地方，这里有许多公园和花园，人们可漫步其间，也可坐下来观赏景致。喜爱花园的人会在这里尽情地享受！爱丁堡也是闻名世界的皇家植物园所在地。(www.xing528.com)

Edinburgh boasts lots of sporting and leisure pursuits：you can visit a Sports Centre，Archery Centre or Swimming Pool; go Kart Racing and visit a Dry Ski Centre; sail on the Firth of Forth，play Golf and go fishing，visit a Country Park or walk in the Pentland Hills.

爱丁堡有许多运动休闲的好去处：如体育中心、箭术中心和游泳馆；人们也可以参加小型赛车比赛或去滑雪场玩；在福斯湾驾船游玩、打高尔夫、垂钓、逛乡村公园或去彭特兰山徒步旅行等。

The name Edinburgh most probably comes from the Gaelic DinEidyn which means a fortress and burg，the Anglo-Saxon word for a stronghold or a town.The rock on which the Castle is set is like Arthur's Seat of volcanic origin and there has been a fortress here from at least 600 A.D.King Malcolm III，the conqueror of Macbeth and his Hungarian-born English Queen Margaret made the Castle one of their homes while the Scottish capital was still at Dunferm line and it was one of their sons，David I who probably built Edinburgh's oldest surviving building，the tiny but beautiful Norman chapel known as St.Magaret 's Chapel in memory of his mother.The famous 15th century cannon，Mons Meg is in the French prison beneath the Great Hall.Salutes are fired from the Castle battlements by modern guns on special occasions and everyday，except Sunday，the "one o' clock gun" provides visitors and citizens alike with a time check.

爱丁堡的名字很可能源于盖尔语Din Eidyn，意为“堡垒”，以及盎格鲁-撒克逊语“burg”，意为“要塞、城镇”。古城堡坐落在一块形似亚瑟王宝座般的火山口上，早在600年这里就是一座堡垒。苏格兰首府还是邓弗姆林时，这座城堡就已是麦克白的征服者——马尔科姆王三世和他的英国王后——出生在匈牙利的玛格丽特的行宫之一。他们的儿子大卫一世为纪念其母而建的诺曼教堂，小巧而美丽，以“圣玛格丽特教堂”之名享誉世界，是爱丁堡现存遗迹中最古老的建筑。15世纪著名的蒙斯梅格大炮，位于主殿下方的法国监狱里。如今，每逢特殊活动，古城垛上的大炮便鸣响庆贺。另外，除了星期日外，每天午后一点整大炮也会鸣响，向游客和市民报时，供人们校对时间。

At the top of the Castle rock，the Palace buildings form three sides of a square，the fourth of which is occupied by the Scottish National War Memorial，a fine example of the Scottish stonemason's art.A t the western end is the United Services Museum and on the southern side is the Great Hall which has one of the finest hammer beam ceilings in Britain and a notable collection of armor.

在城堡岩石的顶部，宫殿建筑群呈方形围绕广场的三面而建，剩下一面是苏格兰民族战争纪念馆，它是苏格兰石匠艺术的典范。广场西面尽头是“联合服务博物馆”，南面是“大殿”，殿里有英国最杰出的椽尾小梁天花板建筑，并以盔甲收藏闻名于世。

The east side of the square is occupied by what was once the medieval royal palace in which is the tiny roomin which the first king of Great Britain，James Ⅵof Scotland and I of England was born and the Crown Room which houses the Honors of Scotland，the Crown，the Sceptre and the Sword of State，almost certainly the oldest royal regalia in Europe.

广场东面是中世纪时的皇宫。首位大不列颠国王苏格兰詹姆斯六世，即英格兰詹姆斯一世就诞生在这里的一间小屋里。此外，这里的皇冠陈列室收藏着苏格兰人引以为荣的皇冠、君王的节杖和国剑。它们是欧洲最古老的王权标志。