Cambridge – a University Town

Unlike Oxford, which is both a university town and an industrial city, Cambridge, as the saying goes, "is" the University. Cambridge without the University is like Hamlet without the hero, or bacon without eggs! Although sometimes Town and Gown have their quarrels, the two are for the most part inseparable. In spite of this, we shall in fact now separate them for a moment, just to see how each of them has grown up.

All right then, first let's look at the town. Cambridge is so called because most of the town is built on the east side of the River Cam, a tributary of the Ouse. Slight hills rise gently on the south and west. Roman remains suggest the existence of a small town first situated around two hills, Castle Hill and Market Hill. Even today these two hills may be said to dominate the town. This is certainly true for those poor students who have to cycle up the steep slope of Castle Hill on the way to lectures. Or even more true for those who risk cycling down it at top speed when their brakes are not working well. Many shoes are worn out in this way. Market Hill still retains its importance too. Every day, and especially on Saturdays, its cobbled square is the scene of a busy market, selling all kinds of fruit, vegetables, groceries, trinkets, antiques, etc. Housewives come here to haggle (bargain) for their food, and students come here in search of cheap books, which you can still buy for 6 d. or a shilling.

The beauty of the city is enhanced by a large number of commons and other open spaces, including Jesus Green and Midsummer Common, Parker's Piece and the Backs. The Backs are landscaped lawns and flower-beds, very beautiful, especially in spring, through which the Cam winds behind the main line of University colleges, including Queen's, St. Catharine's, King's, Trinity and St. John's. The river also passes under a series of magnificent bridges, of which the Bridge of Sighs (in St. John's College), the old stone bridge of Clare College with thick stone balls on the parapets, and the Mathematical Bridge of Queen's are among the best known.

So you see, the River Cam has led us already from Cambridge to the University, from Town to Gown. For modern Cambridge has been described as "perhaps the only true University Town in England", and, indeed, the colleges provide the main architectural interest. The best known building in Cambridge is King's College Chapel (designed by Henry VI). Yet lofty spires and turrets and fine stained-glass windows are notable features of the Chapel, which is one of the major monuments of English mediaeval architecture. Apart from this, there are now 22 colleges. The first one, Peterhouse, was founded in 1284, and in 1963 Churchill College (named after Sir Winston Churchill).

Until 1964, undergraduates (students studying for a first degree) had to wear black cloaks, called gowns, after dark, but now they are obliged to wear them for dinners and some lectures. This tradition is fast disappearing, but one, which is still upheld, is that of punting on the Cam. It is a favourite summer pastime for students to take food, drink, guitars (or, alas, transistor radios) and girl-friends on to a punt (a long slim boat, rather like a gondola) and sail down the river, trying very hard to forget about exams! Many students feel that they have not been christened into the University until they have fallen from the punt into the River Cam. This has almost become a tourist attraction.

Students also have an official excuse to "let themselves loose" once a year (usually in November) on Rag Day. On this day, hundreds of different schemes are thought up to collect money for charity, and it is not unusual to see students in the streets playing guitars, pianos, violins, singing, dancing, fishing in drains for money, or even just lying in beds suspended over the street swinging a bucket for money to be thrown into.

Such tradition, in such beautiful surroundings, often helps to make Cambridge almost as idyllic today as it was in the 13^th century. The parking meters in the main street of King's Parade assert the presence of modern life, in contrast to the ancient chimes of the church in the evening.

(By Terry Doyle)

steep slope – крутой склон brake – тормоз trinket – безделушка, пустяк haggle / bargain – торговать(ся) d. from Lat. denarius – пенни, один пенс enhance – увеличивать common – общинная земля, пустырь Jesus Green – зеленые насаждения, луг колледжа, ктр. называется Джизус (Иисус)

Parker's Piece – участок земли, принадлежащий компании "Паркер" Bridge of Sighs – мост Вздохов turret – башенка stained-glass – сделанный из цветного, витражного стекла chimes – перезвон (колоколов)

 

Oxbridge

Oxford and Cambridge are the oldest and the most prestigious universities in Great Britain. They are often called collectively Oxbridge. Both universities are independent. Only the education elite go to Oxford or Cambridge. Most of their students are former public schools leavers.

The normal length of the degree course is three years, after which the students take the Degree of Bachelor of Arts (B. A.). Some courses such as languages or medicine may take one or two years longer. The students may work for other degrees as well. The degrees are awarded at public degree ceremonies. Oxford and Cambridge cling to their traditions, such as the use of Latin at degree ceremonies. Full academic dress is worn at examinations. Oxford and Cambridge universities consist of a number of colleges. Each college is different, but in many ways they are alike. Each college has its name, its coat of arms. Each college is governed by a Master. The larger colleges have more than 400 students, the smallest ones less than 30. Each college offers teaching in a wide range of subjects. Within the college one will normally find a chapel, a dining hall, a library, rooms for undergraduates, fellows and the Master, and also rooms for teaching purposes.

Oxford is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It is the second largest in Britain, after London. The town of Oxford is first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 911 AD and it was popular with the early English kings (Richard Cœur de Lion was probably here). The university's earliest charter is dated to 1213.

There are now twenty-four colleges for men, five for women and another five which have both men and women members, many from overseas studying for higher degrees. Among the oldest colleges are University College, All Souls and Christ Church. Cambridge University started during the 13^th century and has grown until today. Now there are more than thirty colleges.

On the banks of the River Cam willow trees drown their branches into the water. The colleges line the right bank. There are beautiful college gardens with green lawns and lines of tall trees. The oldest college is Peterhouse, which was founded in 1284, and the most recent is Robinson College opened in 1977. The most famous is probably King's College because of its magnificent chapel, the largest and the most beautiful building in Cambridge and the most perfect example of English fifteenth-century architecture. Its choir of boys and undergraduates is also very well-known.

The University was only for men until 1871, when the first women's college was opened. In the 1970s most colleges opened their doors both for men and women. Almost all colleges now are mixed.

Many great men studied at Cambridge, among them Desiderius Erasmus, the great Dutch scholar; Roger Bacon, the philosopher; Milton, the poet; Oliver Cromwell, the soldier; Newton, the scientist, and Pyetr Kapitza, the famous Russian physicist.

The universities have over a hundred societies and clubs, enough for every interest one could imagine. Sport is part of students' life at Oxbridge. The most popular sports are rowing and punting.

 

degree ceremony – церемония вручений ученых степеней, званий full academic dress – парадная форма одежды coat of arms – герб fellow – младший научный работник колледжа или университета (занимается исследованиями в к-л. области) Master – мастер (титул главы некоторых колледжей в Оксфорде и Кембридже) Anglo-Saxon Chronicle – Англо-Саксонские хроники (вестник) Richard Cœur de Lion – Richard, the Lionheart – Ричард Львиное Сердце (1157 – 1199) (англ. король с 1189 г.; последний из династии Плантагенетов) charter – хартия, грамота, устав University College – Юниверсити – Колледж (основан в 1249 г.)

All Souls – Колледж Всех Душ (основан в 1438 г.) Christ Church ['kraıst 'tʃə:tʃ] – Крайст-Черч (один из самых крупных аристократических колледжей Оксфордского университета основан в 1525 г.) King's College – Кинг-Колледж, королевский колледж (один из крупных колледжей Кембриджского университета; основан в 1441 г.) Desiderius Erasmus [ı'ræzməs] – Дезидерий Эразм Роттердамский (1469 – 1536), гуманист эпохи Возрождения Roger Bacon – Роджер Бэкон (ок. 1214 – 1292), английский философ; профессор в Оксфорде Oliver Cromwell – Оливер Кромвель (1599 – 1658), деятель английской буржуазной революции XVII века.