Town and Gown
城市与大学
Unlike the universities in China, Cambridge University has no fence or gate at all, but with its colleges scattering around the Cambridge city. There is nothing to feel surprised about if you get to know how the medieval universities came into existence.
与中国的大学不同,剑桥大学既没有围墙,也没有大门,它的各个学院零散地分布在剑桥市的各个角落,当你了解了中世纪时期大学的形成过程,你就不会感到奇怪了。
Nearly all the medieval universities were founded without physical campuses. The masters simply rented lecture halls in the host cities. Early on there were few Identifiable campus buildings. Most students took lodging in the university towns. The scholars often congregated in identifiable areas of cities. Thus, the medieval institutions were more integrated into the cities than in the case of the Academy.
几乎所有的中世纪大学都没有固定的校园。教师们通常只是租用城市的厅堂来进行授课。早期属于学校的建筑寥寥无几,大多数学生都居住在大学所在的市镇里。学者们常常在城市某个特定地点集会。所以在中世纪时期,大学与城市结合得更加紧密, 而不仅仅是一个作学问的高等学府。
Over the centuries, the relationship between town and gown has remained ambivalent and the University at Cambridge owes much to “town and gown” troubles at Oxford University. In 1209 scholars and masters escaping troubles between the university and townsfolk in Oxford began arriving in Cambridge. By 1226 the scholars had organized them-selves, offered regular courses of study, and named a Chancellor to lead them.
几个世纪以来,市镇和大学的关系都比较紧张,剑桥大学的形成就是牛津大学城市镇和大学之间矛盾激化的结果。1209年,一些牛津的学者和教师为了躲避纠纷,来到了剑桥。从1226年开始,这些学者们开始有组织地进行授课,还任命了一位校长来进行领导。
The first great boost to the formation of a university came from Henry III,who gave the scholars his support as early as 1231. Henry decreed that only students studying under a recognized Master were allowed to remain in Cambridge.
剑桥大学的第一次大发展要归功于亨利三世。早在1231年,他就表示了自己对学者们的支持。他还颁布法令,只有从师于剑桥正式导师的学生才可以留在剑桥。
Like Oxford, Cambridge experienced a fair share of trouble between townsfolk and scholars. Both sides were protective of their unique rights and privileges. Later, the tension between the scholars at Cambridge and the towns people forced the King to grant special privileges and protection to Cambridge University, which helped enormously in the survival and future success of the University. For example, The university had the right to enforce laws regulating the quality of bread and ale sold in the town, and to monitor rates charged for food, fuel, and candles.
和牛津一样,剑桥也经历过一段市民与学者的纷争。双方互不相让,都努力维护自己的利益和特权。之后,剑桥市的学者和民众之间的矛盾愈演愈烈,国王不得不亲自出面授予大学一些特权来保护它,所以日后才有了剑桥大学的繁荣和成就。例如,大学有权执行法令来限定麦芽酒的销售、规定面包的质量,监察食物、燃料和蜡烛的价格。
In 1381 tension between the town and university exploded into violence, with attacks on university property throughout Cambridge. The result was that even more civil authority was awarded to the University Chancellor. Late until early in the 21th Century, the Blair Government has taken the last privilege of Cambridge.
1381年,市镇和大学的矛盾空前激化,发生了暴动,大学遭到袭击。结果,大学反而被赋予了更多的特权。直到21世纪初,布莱尔政府才取消了剑桥大学最后的特权。
Eight centries elapsed in a flash, the relationship between town and gown in Cambridge has been closer and more harmonious than ever.
转眼间,8个世纪过去了,剑桥的市镇和大学之间的联系更加紧密,关系也愈加和谐。