2012年2月17日 星期五

Verses on the Prospect of Planting Art and Learning in America

昨天重翻1920年代羅家倫的"科學與玄學"一書 (這本書也引魯拜集一首 注解說胡適的漢譯很好 只是哲學味缺了一點點)


重溫這位了不起的愛智者在美英法6年的讀書生活
他歸國選的詩 比胡適當年回國所選的更幸運 (Newman主教的回憶錄弄錯了Illiad 的一段)
Westward the course of empire takes its way;  The four first Acts already past,  A fifth shall close the Drama with the day;  Time’s noblest offspring is the last.

Bishop George Berkeley

Verses on the Prospect of Planting Art and Learning in America



Why is Berkeley called Berkeley?

On May 24, 1866, some of the trustees of the private College of California met on their future campus site at a place later called Founder’s Rock. The trustees had been hoping for months to find an appropriate name for their property, which included the proposed campus for their College and adjacent land they were subdividing for residential development. Bishop George Berkeley

As they stood at the rock outcropping looking west towards San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate, trustee Frederick Billings recalled a poem written in 1726 by George Berkeley, who later became a respected philosopher and the Anglican Bishop of Cloyne, Ireland. Bishop Berkeley had unsuccessfully endeavoured to create a missionary college for both British colonists and Native Americans in the American colonies. His poem especially the last stanza (see below), expressed his idealism.

Many of the trustees were familiar with George Berkeley’s writings, and the name and poem resonated with them as they stood looking west to the Pacific. That day at lunch at the home of College President Samuel Willey, the trustees apparently continued to discuss "Berkeley." Later in the afternoon, they met formally in San Francisco (with Billings absent) and voted to adopt the name "Berkeley" for their new campus site.

A dozen years later, in 1878 "Berkeley," the settled area around the small campus, merged with "Oceanview," the original community that was establlished along the waterfront, and they incorporated as one. It was decided to officially use the name "Berkeley" for the entire community.

Bishop George Berkeley

Verses on the Prospect of Planting Art and Learning in America
The Muse, disgusted at an age and clime  Barre of every glorious theme,  In distant lands now waits a better time,  Producing subjects worthy fame:  In happy climes, where from the genial sun  Aand virgin earth such scenes ensue,  The force of art by nature seems outdone,  And fancied beauties by the true:   In happy climes, the seat of innocence,  Where nature guides and virtue rules,  Where men shall not impose for truth and sense  The pedantry of courts and schools:
There shall be sung another golden age,  The rise of empire and of arts,  The good and great inspiring epic rage,  The wisest heads and noblest hearts.  Not such as Europe breeds in her decay;  Such as she bred when fresh and young,  When heavenly flame did animate her clay,  By future poets shall be sung.  Westward the course of empire takes its way;  The four first Acts already past,  A fifth shall close the Drama with the day;  Time’s noblest offspring is the last.


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