...stanza of the poem, namely, that which has received special interest from commentators: Westward the Course of Empire takes its Way, The four first Acts...past. A fifth shall close the Drama with the Day, The world's great Effort is the last. (Berkeley 1948-57: 7:370 [America]) In trying to interpret the...

...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...with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last. — George Berkeley, Verses on the Prospect of Planting Arts and Sciences in America (1726) IT WAS...

...culminate triumphantly in what American poets would call "the rising glory of America": Westward the Course of Empire takes its Way; The four first Acts...with the Day; Time's noblest Offspring is the last. (21-24) First written in 1724 and published in a revised form in 1752, Berkeley's poem had a curious...

...almost messianic vision of this new land. The poem concluded with the following stanza: Westward the Course of Empire takes its Way, The four first Acts...past. A fifth shall close the Drama with the Day, The world s great Effort is the last. Because of a navigation error, Berkeley's ship landed in Newport,...

...translat.htm, copyright Debora B. Schwartz. Not such as Europe breeds in her decay; . . . Westward the course of empire takes its way; The four first acts...drama with the day; Time's noblest offspring is the last.13 The transforming nature of the 'space between' — the Atlantic voyage, the 3000 miles' separation,...