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I've been wanting to introduce you to the name of this blog for quite a while.  The only reasons why I have been thwarted from doing so were the fact that I've seemed to have something else to write about, or that I have not yet found the inspiration to do so.  'What's in a name?' as good-o Willy would say.  Well, it's important to me.  I saw Saphi writing about the name of her blog, thinking perhaps it's time for me to do this as well.

很早就想要寫一篇介紹版名的文章。不是一直有其他文章要寫，不然就是一直沒靈感。介紹版名可不能隨便亂來。至少我自己可是很重視的勒！最近看到網友Saphi介紹自己的版名，想說是不是也到了自己該介紹一下版名的時候了。

What is the 'Romantic Garden'?  Those of you who have followed me here from Celeste's Scrapblog would know, that the initial plan was to go to England and obtain a master's degree in English Romantic Literature.  It has always been the most attractive era to me.  Be it William Blake, William Wordsworth, or Percy Bysshe Shelley, they are more than just poets to me.

何謂Romantic Garden？我想從舊站[Celeste's Scrapblog]就認識我的人應該知道，原本要去英國念的就是English Romantic Literature。從剛開始接觸文學一直到現在對於浪漫時期的詩，總是無法抗拒。無論是William Blake、William Wordsworth、Percy Bysshe Shelley等，他們在我眼中都不只是單單的詩人。

One must read Blake's poetry in conjunction with his engravings to come to a full appreciation of his works.  Every little piece contains deep philosophy, compelling me to see Blake as a philosopher, artist, and poet at the same time.  The only thing that bothers me a bit, is the fact that he didn't seem to think very much of Wordsworth.  Well, although Wordsworth became less insistent upon his ideals as he became older, he is still my favorite poet laureate.  One of the reasons for choosing the University of Liverpool was also because it was extremely close to the Lake district, the place where Wordsworth lived with his sister, Dorothy, and friend, Coleridge.  It would be rather convenient to take a weekend excursion up there, wouldn't it!  On top of that, I've also discovered some similarities between Wordsworth and Lao-tzu.  I even spent two weeks researching and writing a paper discussing their similarities in order to show the school my ability to write a full-length essay1.

Blake的詩配上他親手製作的版畫，以及每一篇詩裡的哲學含意，使得我不得不將他列為我最愛的詩人之一。唯一的困擾是，Blake好像似乎不怎麼欣賞Wordsworth。雖然邁入老年後的Wordsworth不再像年輕時這麼堅持自己對於生命的理想，但不可否認的是他是我最喜歡的桂冠詩人。會選擇Liverpool這所學校，有一部份的原因其實也是因為他離Wordsworth與Coleridge當年所居住的湖區[Lake District]相當近。另外，我發現Wordsworth所嚮往的哲學與老子的道家思想相當類似。當初校方要求一篇約兩千字的essay時，我還花了兩個禮拜的時間初步研究了一下兩者的哲學理論1。

My appreciation for Shelley began only recently.  The reason that got me into Shelley was his essay 'On Natural Diet'.  The essay is one of the best I have ever read concerning vegetarianism.  Also, he is closely related to four other famous literary figures: Mary Shelley[wife], Mary Wollstonecraft[mother-in-law], William Godwin[father-in-law], and Lord Byron[friend].

對於Shelley的崇拜，其實只是在最近才產生的。最主要會使我短期內對他的尊敬提升不少的原因是因為他寫了一篇我超愛的素食理論[On Natural Diet]。另外，他同時也跟另外四位文學界名人有非凡的關係呦！[Mary Shelley的老公、Mary Wollstonecraft及William Godwin的女婿、Lord Byron的好友2]

These poets are not merely poets to me.  The simplicity and pastoral ideals that these Romantic poets pursue, are the exact ideals that I wish to pursue.  Although Shelley's the only one we know for sure that had been a vegetarian, I wouldn't be surprised at all to find out that Blake and Wordsworth, too, were vegetarians.

這些文學家在我眼裡不只是詩人。對我來說，浪漫時期的詩人所嚮往的那種簡單、樸素生活也是我嚮往的。雖然除了Shelley是有經過證實，但若Blake和Wordsworth也曾是素食者，那我可真是一點都不會感到訝異。

Perhaps some may think 'romantic' may mean that dreamy-frilly love type adjective.  Plus the fact that I have often identified myself as a typical Pisces, it wouldn't be at all unreasonable to make that assumption.  However, having read a few articles at random, you'll quickly discover that there is nothing 'romantic' about this blog.  At least, not in that sense.  If you have also read the article 'On Singleness', a prose which disparages marriage for marriage's sake, you're probably wondering why in the world would I call my blog 'romantic'.

是不是有人曾想過，本站所謂的'Romantic'是指那種粉紅夢幻類型的形容詞？再加上版主身為典型的雙魚座個性，我想若有人有這種想法，其實應該是很合理的。不過觀看本站一陣子就知道，我不僅不是普遍大家所想的那種浪漫，就連關於我愛你你愛我的那種文章我也很少在寫。何況，自己貼了一篇[On Singleness]提倡不要為結婚而結婚的這麼現實短文，真是搞不懂這版主到底浪漫在哪？

Well, now you know.

Romantic poets were mainly inspired by Nature.  Compared to other literary epochs, this is the one I adore most.  Because of all the flowers, trees, grass, and living beings, plus human beings living harmoniously with them all.  Thus I named this little blog 'garden'.  Imaging myself as a gardener, sowing seeds.  Perhaps some may also be inspired, by the flowers that blossom here.   No matter how trivial a matter, anything that triggers the slightest bit of inspiration, can be spread and signified here.  This is the essence of this blog. 

因為浪漫時期詩人所寫的詩，靈感皆來自於最偉大的大自然。比起前前後後的文學時期來說，這也是為什麼我會這麼喜歡出自這個時期的詩。因為有花、有草、有大小生物、以及需要與大自然和諧生活的人們。我則將這塊地盤稱為Garden[花園]。想像自己像個園丁一樣，散撥種子。希望花開時，也能夠像浪漫時期詩人們一樣，帶給來這裡的朋友們一些生活上的靈感。無論是多麼為小的事物，都有可能是帶給我們人生中最重要的啟發性靈感。我是抱持著這樣的態度在寫部落格文章的。

The Renaissance is yet another period of artistic development that attracts me.  Although my masters course will only deal with English literature, this fecund epoch may take a full lifetime to understand and appreciate! 

除了浪漫時期的文學之外，還有一個時期是相當吸引我的：文藝復興時期。雖然學校課程只有專研英國文學部份，但是出自這段時期的藝術作品實在廣大到可能一輩子都不能好好的了解！因為啟蒙於義大利，因此我還將版名改成了義大利文。

Though the area of research have changed, my passion for Romantic poets will not.  That is why, the blog continues to use the name 'The Romantic Garden'.  I try to disperse the philosophy and ideals of these poets to others, and in doing that, live closer to the ideal myself.

雖然專研領域改了，但我對浪漫時期文學以及詩人們的崇敬不變。所以即使如此，我還是繼續使用此版名。而且，盡量將眾詩人們想傳遞的理想及理念從文章內襯托出來，延續下去。

註：
1. William Wordsworth and Lao-tzu: the Similarities between a Philosophical Poet and a Poetic Philosopher
2. Mary Shelley是Frankenstien[科學怪人]的作者。Mary Wollstonecraft有『女性主義之母』之稱。著名作品為The Vindication of the Rights of Women。被我視為每個女性必讀作品！William Godwin是一位提倡無政府論的政治性質作家。Lord Byron也是浪漫時期的詩人。著名作品為Don Juan[未完成]。

碎碎念：
1. Shelley那篇"On Natural Diet" 雖然提倡的是嚴格無肉＋無酒飲食[我愛海泥根啊！]，但以文學的角度來看，寫的實在是很精彩！文內附上連結。有興趣的朋友們，請務必一定要給他一讀[give it a read]。
2.  看完這篇，各位部落格中的連結是否要改為義大利文版的【il Giardino Romantico】或維持英文版的【The Romantic Garden】就是看各位的喜好了。我沒意見。
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