大学是莘莘学子向往的象牙塔，这不仅是因为其拥有宁静优美的校园，还在于它们那带点神秘色彩的悠久历史。而在众多大学中，最令人心驰神往的莫过于下面这些在全球享有盛誉的学府了，不信就来一睹它们的风采吧！
It's hard to imagine a more picturesque1) university than Oxford. The oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford dates back to 1167, when King Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. On the campus, regal2) Gothic buildings housing classrooms, dormitories and dining halls stand out against the quad's3) verdant4) lawn, where you can imagine Percy Bysshe Shelley,Oscar Wilde and W. H. Auden lounging5) between classes. Oxford's circular Radcliffe Camera is a masterpiece of Palladian6) architecture and one of the world's most stunning libraries.
Insider Tip: Harry Potter fans touring the campus should pay attention to see where scenes at Hogwarts were filmed.
很难想象有比牛津大学更具诗情画意的大学了。牛津大学是英语国家中最古老的大学，它的历史可以追溯到1167年，当时国王亨利二世禁止英国学生去巴黎大学就读。在牛津大学的校园里，包括教室、宿舍和食堂在内的富有王室风格的哥特式建筑在方院里那郁郁葱葱的草坪的映衬下显得愈发醒目。站在草坪上，你可以想象珀西·比希·雪莱、奥斯卡·王尔德和W. H. 奥登(编注：美国诗人)在课间懒洋洋地躺在草坪上的情景。牛津大学的拉德克里夫圆楼是帕拉弟奥式建筑的代表作，也是世界上最令人叹为观止的图书馆之一。
内部人士支招：《哈利·波特》的粉丝们在参观时可要留意看看霍格沃茨魔法学院的那些场景是在哪儿拍的哦。
Cambridge University is characterized less by a proper campus than a collection of colleges, medieval churches, courtyards and wisteria7)-filled gardens. The town of Cambridge originated in Roman times, and the university dates back to 1209. The exact founding story is unknown, but the version told to Cambridge students recounts8) that some Oxford scholars chased out after the accidental shooting of a peasant fled to Cambridge, where they established a new university. The famous university is shrouded9) in mythology and funny stories of students' pranks10).
Insider Tip: When passing under the Great Gate at Trinity College11), look up at the statue of Henry VIII. At some point, the scepter12) in his hand was replaced by a table leg, but when or how the switch was made is one of Cambridge's great mysteries.
能体现剑桥大学特色的不只是像模像样的校园，更多的在于它那一系列的学院、中世纪的教堂、庭院和满是紫藤的花园。剑桥镇建于罗马时代，而剑桥大学的历史则可以追溯到1209年。关于学校成立的故事并没有确切的说法，但学校告诉学生的版本是这样的：一些牛津大学的学者因为不小心射死了一个农民而被追捕，于是便逃到剑桥，在那里建了一所新的大学。这所著名的大学如今笼罩在各种神秘传说和学生们的搞怪趣事中。
内部人士支招：从三一学院的大门下经过时，记得抬头看看亨利八世的雕像。他手里的权杖在某个时刻被换成了一条桌子腿，但这是什么时候发生的，是怎么换上去的，至今都是剑桥大学最大的谜团之一。
Roaming the green campus of Trinity College, you'll likely feel connected to the great literary tradition there. Jonathan Swift, Oscar Wilde, Bram Stoker and Samuel Beckett all studied at Trinity, and their busts13) stand proudly in the library. Most of the university's buildings were constructed in the 18th and 19th centuries, butQueen Elizabeth I established Trinity College in 1592 with the aim of "civilizing" Dubliners. In the historic Examination Hall—designed by architect Sir William Chambers—you can marvel at the impressive 18th-century interiors and the organ, which was recovered from a Spanish ship.
Insider Tip: In James Joyce's Ulysses, Leopold Bloom visits Sweny's Pharmacy near the college14). Today, many Trinity students work there, selling the lemon soap that Joyce described.
漫步在圣三一学院绿草如茵的校园中，你可能会感受到周围浓郁的文学传统氛围。乔纳森·斯威夫特、奥斯卡·王尔德、布莱姆·斯托克(编注：爱尔兰作家)和塞缪尔·贝克特(编注：法国作家)都曾经就读于圣三一学院，如今他们的半身像庄严地摆放在图书馆里。学校里的大多数建筑都建于18世纪和19世纪，但英国女王伊丽莎白一世早在1592年就建立了圣三一学院，旨在“教化”都柏林人。在历史悠久的考试大厅(由建筑师威廉·钱伯斯爵士设计)里，令人印象深刻的18世纪的内部装饰以及那架从一艘西班牙轮船上找回的风琴都会让你惊叹不已。
内部人士支招：在詹姆斯·乔伊斯的小说《尤利西斯》里，利奥波德·布罗姆光顾过学院附近的斯维尼药房。如今，圣三一学院的许多学生都在那里工作，出售乔伊斯所描述的那种柠檬香皂。
America's oldest and most prestigious university is comprised of a series of buildings that narrate the progression of architecture in America. Established in 1636—over a century before America was an independent country—Harvard University took its name from John Harvard, who donated his entire library and half his wealth to the university upon his death. His statue stands at the center of the gated campus, in Harvard Yard. Visitors can freely wander the grounds admiring the charming red brick buildings, though many have restricted access for students and faculty only. Memorial Hall, with Saunders Theater inside, is a Victorian masterpiece and a memorial to the Harvard men who died for the Union cause during the Civil War.
Insider Tip: Tourists love to take photos with the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard, but beware—Harvard students make a habit of peeing on it.
这是美国最古老且最有名的大学，校园里那一栋栋建筑讲述着美国建筑式样的演变。哈佛大学建于1636年，比美国独立还要早一个多世纪。哈佛大学是以约翰·哈佛(编注：一位美国牧师)之名命名的，他在去世前把其全部藏书和一半的财产都捐给了这所大学，如今他的雕像屹立在哈佛园的封闭校园中央。参观者可以自由地在校园内漫步，欣赏一幢幢迷人的红砖建筑，不过不少建筑有通行限制，只对学生和教职员工开放。学校里还有一座纪念堂，旨在纪念那些在美国内战期间为了美利坚合众国的事业而牺牲的哈佛人，这座纪念堂是维多利亚式建筑的典范，里面还有一个桑德斯剧院。
内部人士支招：游客们都喜欢和哈佛园里的约翰·哈佛的雕像合影留念，但要注意，哈佛学生有往上面撒尿的习惯哦。
Originally founded as King's College in 1754, Columbia University is one of the oldest universities in America, but has only occupied its current campus since the early 20th century. It's a bit of an idyllic oasis15) in the city, with plenty of green space surrounded by red brick and stone classroom buildings, libraries and chapels. Columbia has its fair share of secrets, like the origins of the oldest building on campus—the Maison Franç aise—as a mental hospital. Allan Poe's Raven Mantel, donated to Columbia in 1908, was recently rediscovered in a back room16) of Butler Library after being lost for over 100 years.
Insider Tip: After touring the campus, head over to the Hungarian Pastry Shop, one of New York's most storied17) literary haunts18).
哥伦比亚大学是美国最古老的大学之一，前身是1754年建成的国王学院，但直到20世纪初才搬到了现在的校址。这里有点像是城市当中的一片田园绿洲，大片的绿地四周是由红砖和石头砌成的教学楼、图书馆和教堂。哥伦比亚大学也有不少秘密，比如校园里那个最古老的建筑(即法式古屋)是一个精神病院，其由来就是个秘密。还有爱伦·坡1908年捐给哥伦比亚大学的乌鸦壁炉架，它在丢失了100多年后，最近在巴特勒图书馆的密室里又被找到了。
内部人士支招：参观完校园后去匈牙利点心店看看吧，这是纽约市历史上最有名的文人墨客时常光顾的场所之一。
It's no wonder that Peking University is considered one of China's most beautiful universities—it's located on the grounds of the former Qing Dynasty gardens. Founded in 1898 as the Imperial University of Peking, it was originally in the center of Beijing, near the Forbidden City, but was moved to its location near the Summer Palace in 1952. The gorgeous campus is full of traditional houses, gardens and pagodas19).
Insider Tip: Of the three gates that lead into the campus, the West Gate is the most beautiful, with elaborate ceiling murals20).
北京大学所在地是前清的皇家园林，难怪被认为是中国最美丽的大学之一。北京大学于1898年建校，当时叫做京师大学堂，最初位于北京市中心，靠近紫禁城，但在1952年迁到了其位于颐和园附近的现址。这所美丽的校园内到处都是极富传统气息的房屋、花园和宝塔。
内部人士支招：北京大学有三个门可以进校园，其中西门是最漂亮的，门顶上有各种精美的壁画。
1. picturesque [ˌpɪktʃəˈresk] adj. 风景如画的；别致的
2. regal [ˈriːɡl] adj. 王室的；奢华的；威严的
3. quad [kwɒd] n. (在牛津大学的学院中，有建筑物围着的)四方院子
4. verdant [ˈvɜːdnt] adj. 青葱的；翠绿的；郁郁葱葱的
5. lounge [laʊndʒ] vi. 懒洋洋地靠(或躺)
6. Palladian: (16世纪意大利建筑师)帕拉弟奥的；帕拉弟奥新古典主义建筑风格的
7. wisteria [wɪˈstɪəriə] n. 紫藤
8. recount [rɪˈkaʊnt] vt. 叙述；讲述
9. shroud [ʃraʊd] vt. 掩盖；掩藏
10. prank [præŋk] n. 恶作剧；开玩笑
11. Trinity College: 三一学院，剑桥大学的一个学院
12. scepter [ˈseptə(r)] n. 权杖；节杖
13. bust [bʌst] n. 半身雕像
14. 在爱尔兰作家James Joyce的小说《尤利西斯》中，小说主人公Leopold Bloom在Sweny's Pharmacy买过柠檬香皂。
15. oasis [əʊˈeɪsɪs] n. (不愉快环境中的)宜人之所，安适之地
16. back room: 里屋；密室
17. storied [ˈstɔːrid] adj. 历史上(或传说中)有名的；历史上(或传说中)有记载的
18. haunt [hɔːnt] n. 某人常去的地方
19. pagoda [pəˈɡəʊdə] n. (尤指佛教的)宝塔
20. mural [ˈmjʊərəl] n. 壁画
