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《The American Scholar Ralph Waldo Emerson》由会员上传分享，免费在线阅读，更多相关内容在学术论文-天天文库。
1、TheAmericanScholarRalphWaldoEmersonAnOrationdeliveredbeforethePhiBetaKappaSociety,atCambridge,August31,1837Mr.PresidentandGentlemen,Igreetyouonthere-commencementofourliteraryyear.Ouranniversaryisoneofhope,and,perhaps,notenoughoflabor.Wedonotmeetforgamesofstrengthorskill,forther
2、ecitationofhistories,tragedies,andodes,liketheancientGreeks;forparliamentsofloveandpoesy,liketheTroubadours;norfortheadvancementofscience,likeourcontemporariesintheBritishandEuropeancapitals.Thusfar,ourholidayhasbeensimplyafriendlysignofthesurvivaloftheloveoflettersamongstapeop
3、letoobusytogivetolettersanymore.Assuch,itispreciousasthesignofanindestructibleinstinct.Perhapsthetimeisalreadycome,whenitoughttobe,andwillbe,somethingelse;whenthesluggardintellectofthiscontinentwilllookfromunderitsironlids,andfillthepostponedexpectationoftheworldwithsomethingbe
4、tterthantheexertionsofmechanicalskill.Ourdayofdependence,ourlongapprenticeshiptothelearningofotherlands,drawstoaclose.Themillions,thataroundusarerushingintolife,cannotalwaysbefedonthesereremainsofforeignharvests.Events,actionsarise,thatmustbesung,thatwillsingthemselves.Whocando
5、ubt,thatpoetrywillreviveandleadinanewage,asthestarintheconstellationHarp,whichnowflamesinourzenith,astronomersannounce,shallonedaybethepole-starforathousandyears?Inthishope,Iacceptthetopicwhichnotonlyusage,butthenatureofourassociation,seemtoprescribetothisday,-theAMERICANSCHOLA
6、R.Yearbyyear,wecomeuphithertoreadonemorechapterofhisbiography.Letusinquirewhatlightnewdaysandeventshavethrownonhischaracter,andhishopes.Itisoneofthosefables,which,outofanunknownantiquity,conveyanunlooked-forwisdom,thatthegods,inthebeginning,dividedManintomen,thathemightbemorehe
7、lpfultohimself;justasthehandwasdividedintofingers,thebettertoansweritsend.Theoldfablecoversadoctrineevernewandsublime;thatthereisOneMan,-presenttoallparticularmenonlypartially,orthroughonefaculty;andthatyoumusttakethewholesocietytofindthewholeman.Manisnotafarmer,oraprofessor,or
8、anengineer,butheisall.Manispriest,andscholar,andstates
