from VERSES ON THE PROSPECT OF PLANTING ARTS AND LEARNING IN THE NEW WORLD

In happy climes, the seat of innocence,
Where nature guides and virtue rules,
Where men shall not impose for truth or 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 fame did animate her clay,
By future poets shall be sung.

Westward the course of empire takes its way;
The first four acts already past,
A fifth shall close the drama with the day;
Time’s noblest offspring is the last.

-Bishop George Berkeley

Berkeley’s poetry Walk was laid in October 2003 along Edison Street between Shattuck and Milvia Streets. The route includes 128 metal plates with excerpts from songs, each of which is related in one way or another to the city of Berkeley.

Bishop George Berkeley (1753-1685) was an Irish philosopher who advocated the theory of idealism in which things can only be known by the senses. Since he foresaw the American westward expansion (about which the current song speaks), he was honored to have the city of Berkeley named after him.