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22. Boston: Hearth of American Culture
波士頓：美國文化重鎮
When people think of "American culture and values," they are unconsciously referring to a set of principles, a world view, and a lifestyle which can best be found in Boston,
當人們想到“美國文化和價值觀”時，他們不自覺中指的是以波士頓最具代表性的一套準則、一項世界觀以及一種生活方式；
capital of the state of Massachusetts and the major city in all of New England, those six relatively small states tucked away in the northeastern corner of the United States.
波士頓是麻州首府和新英格蘭（位于美國東北角落六個相當隱蔽的小州）全境的主要城市。
Although Boston is perhaps the seventh or eighth largest city in the U.S., no other city in America can compare with the influence which Boston has had on the development of government, education, medicine, and the arts.
盡管波士頓也許是全美第七或第八大城市，但沒有其它一個美國城市能夠在政府、教育、醫學和藝術等各項發展的影響上與它媲美。
This influence is due in no small part to Boston's central role in the building of a new nation.
這種影響力大部分歸因于波士頓在新國家建立時所扮演的中心角色。
Many people think that the United States was established in 1776;
很多人以為美國是在1776年建立的；
however, that was the year of the Declaration of Independence, a revolutionary document claiming self-rule from its mother country, England.
然而，該年是獨立宣言（宣布脫離母國——英國而自治的革命文件）發表的那一年，
Actual independence —— the formation of a government with an acting president (George Washington) —— did not begin until 1789.
真正的獨立要到1789年才開始——也就是代理總統喬治?華盛頓政府的成立。
Boston was nearly middle-aged then, as it had had its beginnings a century and a half earlier, in 1630.
那時波士頓幾乎已步入中年，因為它早在一個半世紀以前（即1630年）就已存在了。
It maintained its position as the colonies' pre-eminent center for politics, education, and commerce until the mid-18th century, when both New York and Philadelphia (the young nation's first and second capitals, respectively) overtook Boston in size.
它繼續保持殖民地政治、教育和商業的首要中心地位，直到18世紀中葉，紐約和費城（分別為新國家第一個和第二個首都）的規模超越過波士頓。
Boston was settled by religious immigrants from the Church of England.
波士頓是由來自英國教會的宗教移民所開墾。
It was with these early settlers that the first outlines of an American culture began:
這些早期拓荒者開創了美國文化的雛型：
a strict adherence to religious dicta, diligence in work, educational aspirations, and a conservative lifestyle.
嚴守宗教訓示、勤奮工作、熱心教育和保守的生活方式。
Because Boston is closer to Europe than any other city in the U.S., it was the point of entry to the colonies until the 19th century, when New York became the new magnet for the "poor, tired, and huddled masses" who were to become the backbone of the new American economy.
由于波士頓比任何其它美國城市更靠近歐洲，一直以來它都是殖民地的門戶，直到19世紀紐約成為“貧窮、疲累和縮瑟移民”心目中的新樂土，而這些人日后成了美國新經濟的主干。
Boston remained, however, an important commercial center until the 20th century.
然而，波士頓直到20世紀仍是一個重要的商業中心。
Today Boston caters to finance and banking, education, and medicine, with some of the top international mutual fund and insurance companies, world-renowned educational institutes, and state-of-the-art medical centers and schools.
今天波士頓以財政、金融、教育和醫學為重點，有一些首屈一指的國際共同基金和保險公司、世界知名的教育機構、最先進的醫學中心和學校都在這里。
The city has also managed to preserve much of its earlier identity as the home of the American Revolution;
該市也設法維持美國早期革命發源地的原貌；
thus, tourism is an important sector in the economy of Boston as well.
因此，觀光業也是波士頓經濟重要的一環。
Like San Francisco or New Orleans, Boston has a reputation for being a pleasant city to admire while walking around it.
如同舊金山和新奧爾良一樣，波士頓是出名的宜人城市，很值得去走走瞻仰一番。
What can one do in Boston? Important historic sites, well-preserved examples of architecture from the 17th-20th centuries, and spacious parks invite the tourist or resident to "smell the roses" while in Boston.
在波士頓能做什么呢？重要的歷史遺跡、保存完善的17～20世紀的建筑典范，以及寬廣的公園都誘使觀光客或居民在停留波士頓期間去“好好享受人生”。
Its unhurried but sophisticated citizens boast not only high incomes but also high levels of education.
波士頓悠閑但世故的市民不僅以高收入自豪，而且也以教育水平高而自豪。
Music flourishes here: the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the New England Conservatory of Music, and the Boston Pops Orchestra offer first-class musical entertainment in both public and private venues.
音樂在此很興盛：波士頓交響樂團、新英格蘭音樂學院和波士頓流行管弦樂團在公開和私人的場合都提供一流的音樂欣賞。
The Museum of Fine Arts is a major world gallery.
這里的美術館是世界主要的美術展覽會場。
Science Park, situated midway between Boston and its major satellite city, Cambridge, offers the Museum of Science.
位于波士頓和其主要衛星城劍橋中間的科學公園內則有科學博物館。
Had enough of "high-brow culture"? Boston affords its citizens and visitors many first-class restaurants and shopping dockside in Faneuil Hall.
受夠了“高格調文化”嗎？波士頓為市民、游客提供許多一流的餐廳和位于法納爾大廳的購物區。
Historic walking tours are a must for the tourist, especially Boston Commons, a city park, and Beacon Hill, with its roads still paved with the original stones from the 17th century.
游覽歷史步道是觀光客不可錯過的一件事，特別是波士頓市民公園（一座市立公園）和道路仍鋪著17世紀原始石頭的比肯山。
Admirers of university campuses steeped in tradition should see Harvard, the nation's oldest university (1636), as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emerson College, Boston College, and Boston University, all in the metropolitan area.
偏愛悠久傳統校園的人應該去看看美國最早的哈佛大學（1636），以及麻省理工學院、艾默生學院、波士頓學院和波士頓大學，這些全都在都會區內。
In short, no matter one's interest, any visitor is sure to enjoy his stay in Boston, hearth of American culture and still a leader in education, medicine, and music.
總而言之，不論你的興趣為何，任何訪客到波士頓這個美國文化重鎮以及依然居教育、醫學和音樂領導地位的城市游玩，都一定會玩得非常盡興。
