Translatio
Imperii: "The Westwardness of Everything" (Wallace
Stevens) |
1. |
The Aeneid
Arma virumque cano
Troiae qui primus ab oris
Italiam fato profugus
Laviniaque
venit litora.
~ Virgil, 19 B.C.E.
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2. |
Cligés
Our books have taught
us that Greece had the first fame of chivalry and learning. Then
chivalry and the primacy of letters passed to Rome, and now it
has come to France. God grant that it remain there, and that the
place may please it so well that the honor which has come to make
stay in France may never depart thence.
~ Chrétien de Troyes, 12 century
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3. |
Cymbeline
The fingers of the pow'rs
above do tune
The harmony of this peace. The vision
Which I make known to Lucius ere the stroke
Of this yet scarce-old battle, at this instant
Is full accomplished; for the Roman eagle,
From south to west on wing soaring aloft,
Lessened herself and in the beams o' th' sun
so vanished; which foreshadowed our princely eagle,
Th' imperial Caesar, should again unite
His favor with the radiant Cymbeline
Which shines here in the West.
~ Shakespeare, 1609
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4. |
Verses
on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Learning in America
The Muse, disgusted at an Age and Clime
Barren of every glorious Theme,
In distant Lands now waits a better Time
Producing subject worthy Fame...
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 heav'nly 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.
~ George Berkeley, published in 1752
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| 5. |
Starting
from Paumanok
Starting from the fish-shape
Paumanok where I was born,
Well-begotten, and rais'd by a perfect mother,
After roaming many lands, lover of populous pavements,
Dweller in Mannahatta my city, or on southern savannas,
Or a soldier camp'd or carrying my knapsack and gun, or a miner in California,
Or rude in my home in Dakota's woods, my diet meat, my drink from the spring,
Or withdrawn to muse and meditate in some deep recess,
Far from the clank of crowds intervals passing rapt and happy,
Aware of the fresh free giver the flowing Missouri, aware of mighty Niagara,
Aware of the buffalo herds grazing the plains, the hirsute and strong-breasted
bull,
Of earth, rocks, fifth-month flowers experienced, stars, rain, snow, my amaze,
Having studied the mocking-bird's tones and the flight of the mountain-hawk,
And heard at dawn the unrivall'd one, the hermit thrush from the swamp cedars,
Solitary, singing in the West, I strike up for a New World.
~ Walt Whitman, published in 1867
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6.
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Go
West
Together, we will go our way.
Together, we will leave someday.
Together, your hand in my hand,
Together, we will make our plans.
Together, we will fly so high,
Together, tell our friends goodbye.
Together, we will start like new.
Together, this is what we'll do.
Go West! life is peaceful there.
Go West! lots of open air.
Go West! to begin anew.
Go West! this is what we'll do.
Go West! sun in the winter time.
Go West! we will do just fine.
Go West! where the skies are blue.
Go West! this is what we'll do.
~ The Village People, Go West, 1978 |
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