Lavengro · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Lavengro by George Borrow.
Chapter 1
Part I: Lavengro; The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest
The narrator introduces himself as Lavengro, a word meaning 'philologist' in the language of the gypsies, and sets the stage for his encounters with a scholar, a gypsy, and a priest. The chapter establishes his identity as a wandering scholar and linguist, deeply engaged with learning and the world of words.
Chapter 2
Advertisement (1851)
The author states that the work was planned in 1842 and all characters sketched before the end of 1843, to avoid the impression that it was written expressly for the present times. The contents, except the Preface, have existed in manuscript for a considerable time.
Chapter 3
Preface to the First Edition (1851)
The author introduces his work as a dream of study and adventure set in the British Islands during the first quarter of the 19th century. He describes the three principal characters—a Scholar, a Gypsy, and a Priest—and clarifies that they are distinct individuals. He defends the Church of England against the perceived threat of Roman Catholicism, which he accuses of fostering superstition, debasement, and deathbed robbery. He advocates for charity, free manners, and the exposure of priestly humbug, while affirming his own loyalty to the Church of England.
Chapter 4
Preface to the Second Edition (1872)
In this preface, the author reflects on the hostile reception of 'Lavengro' upon its first publication over twenty-one years ago, noting that while it was knocked down by critics—especially friends of Popery in England—it was not killed. He then turns to discuss the Gypsies (Romany Chals), their origins in Hindostan, their arrival in Europe in the early fifteenth century, their language and customs, and their enduring characteristics. He concludes by asserting that a book must stand or fall by its own merits, and that the continued demand for this edition proves the book's worth.
Chapter 5
Chapter I
The narrator awakens at dawn in the dingle, leaving the postillion asleep. He builds a fire, prepares his forge, and examines the damaged chaise. Finding only a linchpin needed, he crafts a replacement using a model from the companion wheel. Belle observes his work, and after finishing, they repair the wheel together. The postillion eventually wakes, marvels at the repair, and joins them for breakfast. He expresses gratitude, promising a warm welcome at his inn, then departs. Belle later leaves on a short expedition, leaving the narrator alone.
Chapter 6
Chapter II
The narrator engages in a deep theological and historical discussion with the man in black about the papal system, nepotism, and the power of the Pope. The man in black recounts anecdotes from the 'Nipotismo di Roma' about Pope Innocent X and Donna Olympia, and discusses the concept of papal omnipotence and the creation of nephews. Belle arrives and joins them. Later, the man in black visits again, continuing the conversation about papal history and the corruption of the Church.
Chapter 7
Chapter III
The man in black reveals his priestly mission to convert Lavengro, arguing that the popish religion is the oldest and best suited for priestcraft, identical to ancient Greek, Roman, and Indian systems. He defends image-worship, claims the New Testament is full of heathen allusions, and explains 'Amen' as a modification of a Hindu formula. Belle grows hostile, but Lavengro insists on hospitality.
Chapter 8
IV
The man in black attempts to recruit the narrator and Belle into the Catholic Church, arguing that Rome is adaptable and will win through various social trends. He mocks Protestantism and the Established Church, but the narrator firmly rejects his proposals, leading to a tense standoff in the dingle.
Chapter 9
V
Lavengro wakes to find Jasper Petulengro and his band of Gypsies arriving at the dingle. He invites Jasper and his wife to breakfast, but Mrs. Chikno refuses because she disapproves of Lavengro and Isopel Berners living together unmarried. Mrs. Petulengro declines the invitation but promises a visit later, while Jasper accepts. Lavengro returns to Isopel and gives her another Armenian lesson.
Chapter 10
Chapter VI
Mr. Petulengro and his wife visit the narrator and Isopel Berners in the dingle. Jasper discusses news of religious movements opposing manly sports and a strange tale of iron roads and fiery vehicles that threaten the gypsy way of life. Mrs. Petulengro braids Belle's hair in the Roman fashion, but Belle rejects the style and announces she will soon depart on a journey, leaving the narrator uneasy about being alone.
Chapter 11
VII
Jasper Petulengro recounts a confrontation with a scornful Scotchman who criticized Romany language, music, and fiddle-playing. The narrator and Jasper discuss the origins of Romani names and words, the morality of 'drabbing baulor' (poisoning pigs), and the parallels between Romani and Scottish folk songs. Ursula sings a Romani song about a broken chastity, prompting reflections on the nature of poetry and national character.
Chapter 12
Chapter VIII
Lavengro attends church with Jasper Petulengro, his wife, and Tawno Chikno. They enter a grand pew despite the sexton's objections, and Lavengro reflects on the liturgy and the sermon, which powerfully addresses the value of the soul and the folly of bartering it for worldly gain or nothing.
Chapter 13
The Cuckoo and the Romany Chal
After the church service, Lavengro and the gypsies return to the encampment, enduring mockery from the congregation. Jasper Petulengro and Lavengro engage in a philosophical debate about the nature and worth of the gypsy people, comparing them to the cuckoo bird. Jasper defends his people's way of life, their freedom, and their distinct identity, while Lavengro presses him on matters of soul, reading, and morality. The chapter ends with Jasper suggesting Lavengro speak with Ursula about a gypsy song.
Chapter 14
Ursula's Virtue and the Gypsy's Temptations
The narrator engages in a philosophical conversation with Ursula about temptation, virtue, and the gypsy way of life. Ursula defends her honor against accusations of being a 'lubbeny' and discusses the temptations of gold and fine clothes. Later, they meet under a hedge where the narrator questions her about marriages between gorgios and Romany chies, and they debate the origins of the half-and-halfs and the character Meridiana.
Chapter 15
XI
Ursula shares her life story with the narrator, detailing her marriage to Launcelot Lovell, his abuse, his arrest for horse theft, her aid in his escape, his eventual drowning, and her subsequent marriage to Sylvester. She also reveals the secret meaning of the gypsy word 'patteran' (leaf), taught to her by her mother Mrs. Herne, and discusses her sister Mikailia Chikno and Jasper Petulengro.
Chapter 16
XII
Lavengro and Isopel Berners part ways in the dingle after a tense conversation. Left alone, Lavengro builds a fire and falls into deep meditation on the existence of the soul, the virtue of gypsy women, and the origins of the Romani people. He reflects on his conversation with Ursula, the meaning of the 'patteran' (leaf), and the value of his wandering life.
Chapter 17
XIII
The narrator visits the landlord, who is in a state of despair due to financial ruin and the impending public renunciation of his religion. The landlord is being mocked and taken advantage of by customers, and he contemplates suicide. The narrator advises him not to change his religion and shares ale with him, dissuading him from drinking sherry.
Chapter 18
XIV
The narrator visits the gypsy encampment and agrees to accompany Jasper Petulengro to a fair. Returning to the dingle, he attempts to teach Belle Armenian grammar, leading to a tense emotional exchange. He proposes they go to America together as man and wife, but Belle asks for time to consider.
Chapter 19
The Fair and the Departure
Lavengro awakens at dawn to join Jasper Petulengro and the Romanies at a horse fair. Belle, who has not slept, bids him a cold farewell. At the fair, Jasper urges Lavengro to buy a fine horse, but he refuses. Later, Jasper loses money to cheating jockeys at cards, and Lavengro returns alone to the dingle, only to find that Isopel Berners has left without a message. He hopes she will return.
Chapter 20
XVI
Lavengro receives a farewell letter from Isopel Berners, who has left for America. He struggles with the temptation to follow her but ultimately decides against it. Jasper Petulengro returns from the fair bruised and having lost money, and later an old woman delivers a letter to Lavengro in the dingle.
Chapter 21
The Landlord's Reversal of Fortune
The narrator awakens in the dingle, visits the gypsy encampment, and then goes to the public house expecting to find the landlord in distress. Instead, he finds the house thronged with customers celebrating the landlord's sudden good fortune. The landlord explains how he knocked down Hunter, received a loan from the clergyman, and is now prosperous and respected. He offers the narrator a job, which is declined.
Chapter 22
The Purchase of the Horse
Jasper Petulengro persuades the narrator to buy a valuable horse by secretly placing fifty pounds in his pocket and winning a bet. The narrator reluctantly agrees, and Jasper leaves to secure the horse, leaving the narrator to contemplate the risks and possibilities of the venture.
Chapter 23
XIX
The narrator purchases a horse from the landlord with money borrowed from Mr. Petulengro, tests the horse's trotting and leaping abilities with Tawno Chikno, and decides to leave the dingle the next day, bestowing his possessions on Ursula and Sylvester. He reflects on Isopel Berners with melancholy.
Chapter 24
XX
The narrator joins the Romany friends for breakfast, takes leave of them, and returns to the public-house to collect his horse. He purchases a bridle, saddle, and valise from the landlord, shares a farewell drink with the landlord and his niece, and departs despite their entreaties to stay until evening.
Chapter 25
Chapter XXI
The narrator, traveling northward, encounters a man who has tricked an old man out of his donkey by paying with stones instead of money. He intervenes, confronts the thief, and recovers the donkey, returning it to the grateful old man. The old man then invites him to his cottage to taste mead.
Chapter 26
XXII
The narrator encounters a gentleman sleeping in a meadow who explains that a lawsuit over his property caused severe insomnia, and that reading a particular book of poetry in this field has restored his sleep. The narrator examines the book, finds it soporific, and advises the man that the narcotic effect lies in the book itself. Twenty years later, the narrator attends a literary tea-party where Byron is dismissed in favor of a poet whose work induces sleep, and he reflects on the cyclical nature of literary fame.
Chapter 27
XXIII
The narrator, weary and depressed while traveling with his horse, is unexpectedly reunited with the postillion he helped during a thunderstorm. The postillion invites him to the inn where he works, and after learning of the narrator's situation—including the loss of Isopel Berners—he arranges for the narrator to be offered a position keeping accounts and supervising the yard. The narrator accepts, grateful for the refuge for himself and his horse.
Chapter 28
XXIV
The narrator describes his life at a bustling inn, his duties distributing hay and corn, and his growing friendship with the old ostler. Through the ostler's tales of highwaymen like Jerry Abershaw and Richard Ferguson, and discussions with the postillion, the chapter explores the decline of highway robbery and the art of horse grooming.
Chapter 29
XXV
The old ostler delivers an extensive monologue on the proper care of a horse and the conduct of a gentleman on a journey, emphasizing the importance of feeding, watering, resting, and grooming the animal, as well as the social niceties of dealing with ostlers and innkeepers.
Chapter 30
XXVI
The narrator describes his good relations with the inn staff and commercial travelers, but his strong dislike for the arrogant and brutal stage-coachmen. He recounts an incident where a coachman named 'the bang-up coachman' insults a poor elderly passenger, who then challenges and soundly defeats the coachman in a fight, using a unique defensive guard. The coachman is humiliated and eventually disappears from the road.
Chapter 31
XXVII
Lavengro is unexpectedly reunited with his friend Francis Ardry at the inn where he works. Francis, melancholy after being abandoned by his lover Annette, decides to stay for a day. They dine together, discuss love, dog-fighting, and great historical figures. Francis advises Lavengro to take his horse to the Horncastle fair. After two days, Francis departs for a lion-and-dog fight, and Lavengro never sees him again, reflecting on the wasted potential of his friend's gifts.
Chapter 32
XXVIII
The narrator encounters the man in black and Mr. Platitude at the inn, who are traveling to a mysterious house for a gathering of clergymen and others. The postillion later recounts the strange meeting, which includes various religious figures and hints at covert activities.
Chapter 33
XXIX
The narrator deliberates whether to remain at the inn as bookkeeper or ostler, but finds neither prospect appealing. He decides to leave for Horncastle to sell his horse. Despite the landlord's offer of a ten-pound cheque and a gift of rare port, he refuses to accept obligations, insisting on independence. He dines with the landlord and a commercial traveller, then prepares to depart.
Chapter 34
The Spirit of Youth and the Road
The narrator reflects on the value of youth and the beauty of England, recounting his journey on horseback through the countryside. He stops at a public-house where he drinks with harvesters and learns from a ratcatcher, then continues his ride until a sudden light spooks his horse, throwing him to the ground and rendering him senseless.
Chapter 35
XXXI
After being thrown from his horse, Lavengro is taken in by an elderly man and his household. He is attended by a surgeon who bandages his arm and bleeds him. Lavengro experiences a disturbing dream in which he becomes his own horse and is ridden by the surgeon to Horncastle, only to wake and find himself safe in bed, soothed by the sight of teacups.
Chapter 36
XXXII
The narrator recovers from his fall under the care of an elderly host, who tends to him with kindness and discretion. During his convalescence, he explores the house and discovers the old man's passion for Chinese porcelain covered in hieroglyphic characters. Their conversation reveals the old man's decades-long study of Chinese writing, and the narrator's knowledge of Armenian sparks a mutual interest in languages.
Chapter 37
XXXIII
The narrator recovers from his injury at the home of his elderly host, who shares his tragic history: he was once a horse dealer who fell victim to a forgery scheme, was arrested, and later exonerated, but his beloved died shortly after their marriage.
Chapter 38
XXXIV
The old man continues his tale of grief after losing his beloved, describing his descent into despair and the strange fascination with Chinese characters on a teapot that led him to learn Chinese. He recounts his struggles with the language, his eventual mastery, and how this pursuit helped alleviate his mental anguish, though his heart remains desolate. The chapter ends with a reflection on affliction and duty.
Chapter 39
XXXV
The narrator takes leave of the old scholar, who has finally deciphered a Chinese inscription about the Spirit of the Hearth. A humorous exchange reveals the old man's inability to tell the exact time despite his deep learning in Chinese, prompting the narrator to counsel him on the practical value of knowing the hour. The old man sees him off.
Chapter 40
XXXVI
The narrator arrives in Horncastle for the horse fair, delivers a letter of introduction to the innkeeper, and prepares his horse for sale. He fends off offers from ostlers, shares a drink with them, and later shares a garret with a mysterious stranger who peers at him in the night.
Chapter 41
XXXVII
The narrator wakes late, prepares his horse for sale, and navigates the horse fair with caution. He encounters a confrontation between a haughty lord and a bold horse dealer named Jack Dale, who ultimately buys the horse after the narrator insists on a character reference from the landlord.
Chapter 42
XXXVIII
In the evening, the narrator, the jockey, and a tall foreigner sit in a smoky room after dining at a fair. The foreigner struggles to express himself in English, and the narrator offers to interpret German. The foreigner proudly declares he is a Hungarian, not a German, and the jockey is impressed by the narrator's linguistic ability.
Chapter 43
XXXIX
The narrator engages in a wide-ranging conversation with a Hungarian nobleman at Horncastle, discussing Tekeli, the Queen of Hungary's water, the origins of the Magyars, Hungarian history and literature, the Turk vs. Magyar conflicts, and the folklore figure Baba Yaga. The Hungarian shares his knowledge from Florentius of Buda and expresses admiration for the Turk, while the narrator defends his horse sale and teases about English diplomacy.
Chapter 44
The Toast to the Romany Rye
The Hungarian's pipe runs out, and he paces the room lamenting Hungary's fate. The jockey praises his stature, but Lavengro claims to have seen a finer man among the gypsies. The jockey recognizes Lavengro as 'the Romany Rye' and, in a boisterous tribute, smashes two bottles of champagne through the window. Over the remaining bottle, the jockey explains how he knows the gypsies and how highly they regard Lavengro. The Hungarian criticizes Walter Scott for his ignorance of gypsy language and Slavic history, and the jockey offers to tell his own story.
Chapter 45
The Jockey's Tale of Crime and Kinship
The jockey recounts his family history of crime, explaining the canting language of thieves' Latin. He describes his grandfather's coin-shortening and his father's note-forging, leading to his own involvement in the gang. After his father's arrest and execution, the jockey reflects on his life and the misfortune of his eye.
Chapter 46
XLII
The jockey confronts Lavengro for interrupting his tale, but after a brief dispute mediated by the Hungarian, they reconcile and continue drinking. The jockey resumes his story, recounting his days with Hopping Ned and Biting Giles, his imprisonment after a stone-throwing incident with a parson, the rise of Ugly Moses and his son the barrister, and finally his own financial crisis relieved by a friend named Jack, who was later hanged.
Chapter 47
XLIII
The narrator prepares to depart from Horncastle, having sewn his horse money into his clothing. He explores the town and its church with the sexton, who discusses the fair, the horse sale, and local history, including a battle during Oliver Cromwell's time. The sexton laments the decline of men and horses since his youth, and the narrator expresses admiration for Cromwell's fight for independence.
Chapter 48
XLIV
The narrator wanders through the fair, reflecting on the fickleness of public opinion, then witnesses a thimble-rigger being outwitted by Jack the jockey. After the confrontation, he follows the disconsolate thimble-man, who turns out to be his old friend Murtagh. They reminisce about their shared past, and the narrator comforts Murtagh by retelling the tale of the snake, then asks for a story of Finn Mac Coul in return.
Chapter 49
Murtagh's Tale of Cards and Clergy
Murtagh continues his story, describing his imprisonment on bread and water, the rector's hypocrisy in forbidding card-playing among scholars while playing himself, and his eventual transfer to a religious house abroad where he uses his pack of cards to pass the time and teach others.
Chapter 50
XLVI
Murtagh recounts his adventures in Rome, where he was imprisoned for three years after a confrontation with the Pope and clergy over a rigged card game, and his subsequent escape with the help of a cook. He then describes his enlistment in the Army of the Faith, his card-playing exploits, a violent robbery in Torre Lodones, a near-fatal encounter in Seville, and his eventual return to London where he became a companion to a thimble-rigger.
Chapter 51
XLVII
The narrator leaves Horncastle and walks eastward, eventually turning south and then east again. He is accosted by a recruiting sergeant for the East India Company, who tries to entice him with promises of adventure and riches in India. The narrator's familiarity with Romany words like 'kauloes' and 'lolloes' unsettles the sergeant, who abruptly ends the recruitment attempt. The narrator muses that Jasper Petulengro and Tawno Chikno may have originated from India and considers going there himself.
Chapter 52
XLVIII
The narrator reflects on his anxious prospects in London, weighing options like translating for the Armenian, becoming a porter, or enlisting as a soldier, but rejecting each. He considers a last attempt to publish his ballads and Ab Gwilym translations, but finds publishers unyielding. Francis Ardry visits, offers a loan of a hundred pounds, and proposes a plan to escort a Frenchwoman to Bagnigge Wells or Brighton, which the narrator declines.
Chapter 53
The Armenian
The narrator describes his frequent visits with the Armenian, a singular man who combines a love of amassing money with a poetic nationalism and a deep attachment to the Haik language. The Armenian reveals his ambition to accumulate two hundred thousand pounds and discusses the state of his nation, the schism between those who revere Ararat and those who follow Rome, and an adventure with a papal emissary. He offers the narrator a place as a merchant, citing his irregular features as a sign of potential, but the narrator declines.
Chapter 54
The Fulfillment of the Armenian's Wish
The Armenian achieves his fortune of over two hundred thousand pounds through a successful speculation and a bequest. He discusses his future plans with the narrator over Cyprus wine. Rabbi Manasseh, a Spanish Jew, visits to deliver money, leading to a conversation about language, interpretation, and the nature of Janus. The narrator challenges the Armenian to use his wealth to free Armenia from Persian oppression.
Chapter 55
LI
The narrator, reduced to a half-crown, resolves to accept the Armenian's offer to translate the Haik Esop or learn Armenian commerce. He visits the Armenian's counting-room, only to receive a letter revealing that the Armenian has departed for Persia to attack the Persians, inspired by the narrator's own words. The narrator is left stunned and destitute, his last hope gone.
Chapter 56
LII
After leaving the Armenian's house, Lavengro wanders to London Bridge, where he speaks with the old apple-woman about her improved state of mind and the comforting voices she now hears. He then walks southeast, following a crowd to a fair near Greenwich, where he observes the naval hospital and its pensioners, then climbs a hill to a green plain with horse-racing and tents. He lies down near a tent and overhears a thimble-rigger cheating players at a pea-and-thimble game.
Chapter 57
LIII
The narrator encounters the thimble-and-pea man on the green, who offers him a position as a 'bonnet'—an accomplice who covers for the game. The narrator declines, despite the man's persuasive talk of wages and his story of leaving theft for this trade. After watching the game and warning the man of an approaching constable with a Romany phrase, the man flees.
Chapter 58
The Rommany Rye
Lavengro encounters Jasper Petulengro and his Gypsy companions carousing near a tent. They welcome him as the 'Rommany Rye' and share ale. Jasper boasts of his fifty pounds earned by fighting, while Lavengro admits to having only eighteen pence from writing 'lils' in the Big City. Tawno Chikno expresses a wish to be a writer so that he might be remembered. Jasper offers to lend Lavengro money, which he declines, and invites him to stay with the Gypsies, but Lavengro refuses, fearing tensions with Jasper's wife. Returning to London, he stops at a bookseller's window and sees a notice: 'A Novel or Tale is much wanted.'
Chapter 59
Chapter LV
The narrator, alone and nearly destitute, resolves to write a tale or novel to earn money. After considering various subjects, including the highwaymen Jemmy Abershaw and Harry Simms, he contemplates writing about Colonel B——, a notorious historical figure. Ultimately, he decides to create a fictitious narrative, 'The Life and Adventures of Joseph Sell, the Great Traveller,' and spends the night planning the work.
Chapter 60
LVI
The narrator awakens late, feeling sobered and hopeless, but resolves to write the life of Joseph Sell. Over several days, he struggles with inspiration, exhaustion, and self-doubt, eventually completing and revising the manuscript.
Chapter 61
The Manuscript Accepted
Lavengro brings his newly written novel to the bookseller, negotiates its sale, and ultimately receives twenty pounds for it, securing his immediate financial future.
Chapter 62
LVIII
The narrator decides to leave London to recover his health, sending his trunk home but choosing not to return to his hometown out of fear of being questioned about his unfinished literary projects. He sends a gold piece to the apple-woman, who refuses it. As he departs, he encounters Francis Ardry in a cabriolet with a beautiful Frenchwoman, exchanges brief pleasantries, and then continues on his way.
Chapter 63
LIX
The narrator leaves London on foot, reflecting on his time in the city with a sense of gratitude for having preserved his independence. He accepts a ride on a mail coach, pays a high fare despite his limited funds, and is eventually dropped off in an unfamiliar town at dawn.
Chapter 64
Stonehenge at Dawn
At dawn, the narrator wanders through a small town, crosses a bridge, and takes a left-hand road onto a moor. He discovers Stonehenge, lies down in the central portal, then explores the circle. A shepherd arrives with his sheep; they engage in a philosophical dialogue about the stones' origin, the nature of the world, and the ancient British past. The narrator drinks ewe's milk, learns of nearby barrows and the Avon, and reflects on the history of conquest.
Chapter 65
LXI
The narrator leaves the shepherd and travels across downs and a river to find a Roman encampment, from which he sees a fair old city with a magnificent spire.
Chapter 66
LXII
The narrator departs from the old city and travels northwest, encountering a sailor who reveals he was a convict in New South Wales. They discuss the sailor's hope to find his mother alive, and share a drink before parting. The narrator continues his journey for several days, eventually arriving at a town where he seeks dinner at an inn.
Chapter 67
LXIII
The narrator arrives at an inn, washes at the pump with the help of the maid Jenny, and sits down to dinner. A stranger in black enters, and after some cautious conversation and subtle gestures (touching a glass, a fork, and later scratching the floor), the narrator invites him to share the meal. The stranger declines to eat but accepts the invitation to converse, and after the narrator finishes, he invites the narrator to his home for further discourse.
Chapter 68
LXIV
The narrator walks with the stranger to his mansion, where they dine and the stranger recounts his family history and his lifelong struggle with excessive sensibility and compulsive behavior.
Chapter 69
The Landlord's Confession
The landlord recounts his life story: a sheltered education by tutors, a close but anxious bond with his mother, his descent into madness after her death, a period of dissipation and travel, and a decade of idle country living. He describes a crisis of purpose at age thirty-five, a failed attempt at public speaking, and his eventual discovery of a talent for writing when he composes a successful election address for a friend.
Chapter 70
The Author's Confession
The narrator's host reveals himself to be an author and recounts his troubled relationship with his work, plagued by doubts about originality, superstitious rituals to ward off evil chance, and the inescapable nature of his vocation.
Chapter 71
LXVII
After a night of disturbed dreams, the narrator awakens in a luxurious room and struggles with a superstitious urge to touch objects. He takes a morning stroll to clear his mind, then returns to find his host gazing at a portrait that serves as his inspiration for writing. The host explains his seriocomic creative process and later introduces the Reverend Mr. Platitude, a priggish clergyman who despises Dissenters and advocates for Church authority. The host recounts Platitude's history and his own moderate Church of England views. The narrator decides to leave, refusing the host's offer of indefinite stay, and departs after a brief farewell.
Chapter 72
LXVIII
The narrator stops at a cottage for ale and encounters a despondent tinker and his family. After sharing his ale, the tinker reveals his troubles: he is being driven off his beat by the Flaming Tinman, a larger and crueler tinker who threatened him. The narrator discusses the virtues of the tinker's life versus a scholar's, and the tinker breaks down at the thought of giving up his trade.
Chapter 73
The Dark Lane and the First Night Alone
After leaving the scene of his last adventure, Lavengro travels by cart with his pony through a solitary, beautiful countryside. As night falls with cold rain, he seeks shelter but finds none. In a dark lane, he narrowly avoids a collision with two riders, one of whom falls and accuses him of robbery. The rider, after recovering, kicks Lavengro with his horse and flees. Lavengro then rides in his cart, dozes, and eventually wakes to find himself in a secluded spot among bushes, apparently a former haunt of the tinker Slingsby. He pitches his tent, builds a fire, and spends his first night alone as a housekeeper, before sleeping until morning.
Chapter 74
The Gypsy Girl's Visit
The narrator spends his days learning tinkering, taking walks, and meditating by a rill. One morning, a young gypsy girl approaches his encampment, singing a Rommany song. They engage in a playful conversation where she questions his identity, his grey hair, and whether he speaks Rommany. She eventually expresses interest in buying his mended kettle.
Chapter 75
LXXI
The narrator continues his tinkering travels, collecting work from villagers who trust him due to his association with Slingsby. After several days of work, he falls into a deep slumber under an ash tree, only to be awakened by the gypsy girl Ursula, who brings him cakes from her grandmother. Mrs. Herne then appears and reveals her vengeful intentions, accusing the narrator of poisoning and attempting to kill him with a drugged cake. A confrontation ensues, but the narrator survives the poison, and Mrs. Herne's attack is thwarted when the tent pole collapses.
Chapter 76
LXXII
After being forced to take oil by strangers, the narrator falls into a deep sleep and awakens to find himself in a meadow with Peter and Winifred. They camp under three oaks, and Winifred questions the narrator about God. Peter preaches a sermon on the necessity of a change of heart to a group of locals. Later, they share a simple meal, and a conversation about Welsh language and history ensues before the group retires for the night.
Chapter 77
The Sabbath Day with Peter and Winifred
The narrator awakens in the company of Peter Williams and his wife Winifred, who reveal it is Sunday. Despite their invitations to attend preaching or church, he declines, preferring to stay under the oak tree. He learns from a farm girl that Peter is a renowned Welsh preacher with a heavy burden, and overhears Peter's anguished cries about 'the sin against the Holy Ghost' during the night. After bathing in a brook, he converses with the girl about her reading of 'The Dairyman's Daughter' and her worries about a friend at sea.
Chapter 78
LXXIV
The narrator departs to buy provisions and returns to find Peter and Winifred waiting. He insists on not being beholden to them for food, leading to a discussion about pride. Later, under the oak tree, the narrator and Peter talk about fairies, the Bardd Cwsg, and Peter's past. Peter becomes deeply distressed when the narrator asks about his story, but eventually agrees to tell it another time.
Chapter 79
The Unpardonable Sin
Peter Williams narrates his childhood in North Wales, where at age seven he overhears a conversation about the sin against the Holy Ghost. Tormented by temptation, he eventually commits the sin one night on a wooden gallery under the stars. Thereafter he feels isolated and doomed, though he excels at school and sports. When his dying father speaks of meeting in heaven, Peter is filled with horror, knowing he is lost forever.
Chapter 80
The Landlord's Tale: Despair and Deliverance
The landlord recounts his spiritual crisis after discovering a damning biblical passage, his subsequent flight into the Welsh wilderness, his rescue by a Methodist minister, his marriage to Winifred, and the return of his despair when he again encounters the fatal scripture.
Chapter 81
Chapter LXXVII
Peter Williams concludes his tale of sin and redemption, recounting how he became a preacher despite his torment over the sin against the Holy Ghost. Lavengro offers wisdom from his reading on London Bridge, suggesting that many carry hidden sins, and declines to confess his own.
Chapter 82
LXXVIII
The narrator observes Peter Williams's transformation after their conversation about the unforgivable sin. Peter becomes cheerful and calm, no longer dreading the Sabbath. Winifred attributes this change to the narrator's words. On Sunday, Peter preaches a powerful sermon on God's power, providence, and goodness, deeply moving the congregation.
Chapter 83
LXXIX
The narrator prepares to depart from Peter and Winifred, who urge him to join them in Wales. Peter recounts a harrowing encounter with a mysterious stranger who tempted him to abandon his ministry, first for the Church of England, then for the Roman Pontiff, and finally denied Christ entirely—revealing himself as an evil spirit. Peter and Winifred each take turns offering spiritual counsel, warning of hell and the joys of heaven, while the narrator remains resolute in his own path.
Chapter 84
The Border Crossing
Lavengro, Peter, and Winifred approach the Welsh border. Peter urges Lavengro to enter Wales, but Lavengro refuses, claiming he already knows Welsh from his boyhood studies and that he would only enter Wales in a grand manner befitting a translator of Ab Gwilym. He instead turns back with Jasper Petulengro, who appears at the ford. Peter gives Lavengro a Welsh Bible as a parting gift.
Chapter 85
LXXXI
Lavengro travels with Mr. Petulengro, who recounts the death and funeral of Mrs. Hearne, who hanged herself. He also tells the story of a Bow Street runner who apprehended a Romany chal after a struggle, revealing himself as the second man present.
Chapter 86
LXXXII
After a physical altercation with Jasper Petulengro over the death of Mrs. Hearne, the narrator declines Jasper's invitation to join the Romani camp and instead seeks solitude. Jasper advises him to a secluded dingle where he can practice his trade of blacksmithing.
Chapter 87
The Forge in the Dingle
The narrator reflects on the poetic nature of forges, especially rural ones at night, and associates them with the legendary blacksmith Volundr. He then describes his own work in the dingle, making a horseshoe for his pony using a primitive forge and gypsy tools and language. Despite initial difficulties and lack of assistance, his perseverance allows him to craft a good shoe and finally shoe the pony, though he pricks it once. The chapter ends with a sense of heaviness.
Chapter 88
LXXXIV
The narrator experiences a profound physical and mental collapse after completing his self-imposed task in the dingle. Overcome by exhaustion, poor nourishment, and lingering effects of Mrs. Hearne's poisoned cake, he is seized by a terrifying, inscrutable horror—a recurrence of the dark visitations he felt in boyhood. He struggles violently, seeks comfort from his horse, and eventually falls asleep. The next morning, he reads the story of Saul in the Welsh Bible and finds a deep sympathy with Saul's own dark hours. The chapter ends with the narrator bracing for the return of the fear, finding some solace in the fire and his horse's company.
Chapter 89
LXXXV
Lavengro, alone in the dingle, decides to go to town for supplies but is interrupted by the arrival of the Flaming Tinman, his wife, and a tall girl named Belle. A confrontation escalates into a fistfight, with Belle intervening to ensure fair play and eventually coaching Lavengro to use his right hand.
Chapter 90
LXXXVI
In the evening, Lavengro and Isopel Berners share tea in the dingle. Lavengro feels ill after his fight with the Flaming Tinman. Isopel tells the story of her birth in the workhouse, her mother's tragic death, her subsequent life in service, her travels with an elderly woman, and her acquaintance with the Bosvilles. She reveals her name and defends her fierce nature. Lavengro confesses fear of the evil one, and Isopel promises to stand by him.
Chapter 91
LXXXVII
The narrator enters a public-house kitchen, where the landlord initially gruff but becomes deferential after noticing the narrator's swollen hand from a recent fight. The narrator drinks ale to soothe his lingering horror from the previous night, and after recovering, observes a Radical guest denouncing England and praising America.
Chapter 92
LXXXVIII
In a public house, Lavengro engages in a heated debate with a radical, a man in black, and others over religion, aristocracy, and America. The radical challenges him to fight for the Pope and against the Church of England, but the landlord intervenes, revealing Lavengro's recent victory over the Flaming Tinman. The confrontation fizzles out as the radical declines to fight, and the man in black also refuses.
Chapter 93
LXXXIX
Lavengro returns to the dingle after visiting the public-house, where he drank ale as Belle advised. They discuss his encounter with the radical and the priest, and Belle expresses her admiration for America. To ease their silences, Lavengro proposes teaching Belle Armenian, beginning with the numerals. Their lesson is interrupted when the man in black from the public-house appears in the dingle.
Chapter 94
XC
The man in black visits the dingle, engaging in a tense philosophical exchange with Lavengro and Belle about hospitality, language, and identity. Lavengro defends his Gypsy lifestyle and philological pursuits, while Belle remains suspicious of the stranger.
Chapter 95
XCI
Belle and Lavengro pass time in the dingle, conversing, sharing stories, and studying Armenian. Belle expresses a desire to travel to America, while Lavengro recounts his adventures with horses, Satan, and publishers.
Chapter 96
The Landlord's Desperate Scheme
The narrator visits the public-house multiple times, finding strength and cheer from the ale. The landlord, once the 'wonder and glory' of the neighborhood, has lost all his money on a cockfight and is deeply in debt to the brewer. He proposes a fraudulent boxing match between the narrator and the young woman he keeps company with, intending to fix the outcome and profit from betting. The narrator refuses to persuade her to fight cross, and the landlord grows frustrated.
Chapter 97
XCIII
The man in black visits Lavengro and Belle again. Over drinks, they discuss philology, high mass, and the linguist Mezzofante. The man in black reveals plans for a wooden statue of Mezzofante at the Vatican library, and the conversation touches on religious conversion and the good things in life.
Chapter 98
XCIV
The narrator engages in a lengthy political and religious debate with the man in black, who argues that Catholic Emancipation will lead to the downfall of the Church of England. The man in black outlines the strategies of the Roman See, including exploiting the lower classes and using violence and bribery to achieve its ends. He criticizes English literary men as sycophants and discusses the role of the Whigs and Radicals in the push for toleration.
Chapter 99
XCV
Belle returns late from selling, and Lavengro has made new shoes for her donkey. They share tea in the dingle, and Lavengro attempts to teach Belle Armenian, but she resists. A thunderstorm approaches, and they take shelter together in his tent, discussing the storm and the sound of thunder.
Chapter 100
XCVI
During a violent thunderstorm, a postillion's chaise is overturned by a fireball. Lavengro and Belle assist the injured man, secure his horses, and offer him shelter in the dingle for the night.
Chapter 101
XCVII
In the dingle after the storm, Lavengro, Belle, and the postillion sit by a charcoal fire. The postillion, initially suspicious, now believes Lavengro and Belle are runaway gentry from college and boarding-school who eloped to Gretna Green. Lavengro reveals his true background as an educated man who chose a wandering life as a tinker, and Belle expresses her regard for him. The postillion shares his own observations of high life and oratory.
Chapter 102
XCVIII
The postillion recounts his family's journey to Italy, where a priest gains influence over the governor's household, leading to financial exploitation and religious manipulation. He contrasts the superstitious practices he witnesses with those of the Barbary coast, and describes the family's eventual travel to the Eternal City.
Chapter 103
XCIX
The postillion recounts his time in Rome, where the family is manipulated by a red-haired priest who tries to convert them to Catholicism. The postillion resists bribery and threats, and when the young master arrives, he violently disrupts a ceremony involving a fetish image, drives the priests away, and arranges for the family's return to England.
Chapter 104
The Servant's Tale
A former servant recounts his life story to Lavengro and Belle, detailing his service with a young baronet, his role in teaching oratory that launched a political career, his subsequent fall from grace due to a duel, and his eventual employment as a postillion at an inn. The tale ends with a mysterious sighting of a red-haired priest from Rome.
Chapter 105
The Editor’s Postscript
The editor provides a scholarly postscript explaining the origins of the terms 'Lavengro' and 'Romany Rye,' the autobiographical nature of the two works, the composition history of 'Lavengro' (written 1842-1851 at Oulton, Suffolk), the state of the manuscripts, and the editorial principles applied to the present edition, including the restoration of previously omitted episodes and the use of contemporaneous records for the notes.
Chapter 106
Part II: The Romany Rye
The narrator continues his journey, now known as the Romany Rye, engaging with Gypsy culture and philosophical discussions, particularly with Jasper Petulengro, while reflecting on themes of identity, freedom, and learning.
Chapter 107
Advertisement (1857)
The author defends his book Lavengro against claims that it was written as a response to the popish agitation of 1850–51, stating that the book was largely written in 1843, completed by 1846, and in the publisher's hands by 1848. He criticizes the publisher for failing to rebut this calumny and asserts his pride in a work that exposed national follies and drew the ire of those the country should least esteem. The chapter closes with a parable about Cogia Efendy, illustrating the vanity of external honors.
Chapter 108
Chapter I
The narrator awakens at dawn in the dingle, leaving the postillion asleep. He builds a fire, prepares his forge, and examines the damaged chaise. Finding only a linchpin needed, he crafts a replacement using a model from the companion wheel. Belle observes his work, and after finishing, they repair the wheel together. The postillion eventually wakes, marvels at the repair, and joins them for breakfast. He expresses gratitude, promising a warm welcome at his inn, then departs. Belle later leaves on a short expedition, leaving the narrator alone.
Chapter 109
Chapter II
The narrator engages in a deep theological and historical discussion with the man in black about the papal system, nepotism, and the power of the Pope. The man in black recounts anecdotes from the 'Nipotismo di Roma' about Pope Innocent X and Donna Olympia, and discusses the concept of papal omnipotence and the creation of nephews. Belle arrives and joins them. Later, the man in black visits again, continuing the conversation about papal history and the corruption of the Church.
Chapter 110
Chapter III
The man in black reveals his priestly mission to convert Lavengro, arguing that the popish religion is the oldest and best suited for priestcraft, identical to ancient Greek, Roman, and Indian systems. He defends image-worship, claims the New Testament is full of heathen allusions, and explains 'Amen' as a modification of a Hindu formula. Belle grows hostile, but Lavengro insists on hospitality.
Chapter 111
IV
The man in black attempts to recruit the narrator and Belle into the Catholic Church, arguing that Rome is adaptable and will win through various social trends. He mocks Protestantism and the Established Church, but the narrator firmly rejects his proposals, leading to a tense standoff in the dingle.
Chapter 112
V
Lavengro wakes to find Jasper Petulengro and his band of Gypsies arriving at the dingle. He invites Jasper and his wife to breakfast, but Mrs. Chikno refuses because she disapproves of Lavengro and Isopel Berners living together unmarried. Mrs. Petulengro declines the invitation but promises a visit later, while Jasper accepts. Lavengro returns to Isopel and gives her another Armenian lesson.
Chapter 113
Chapter VI
Mr. Petulengro and his wife visit the narrator and Isopel Berners in the dingle. Jasper discusses news of religious movements opposing manly sports and a strange tale of iron roads and fiery vehicles that threaten the gypsy way of life. Mrs. Petulengro braids Belle's hair in the Roman fashion, but Belle rejects the style and announces she will soon depart on a journey, leaving the narrator uneasy about being alone.
Chapter 114
VII
Jasper Petulengro recounts a confrontation with a scornful Scotchman who criticized Romany language, music, and fiddle-playing. The narrator and Jasper discuss the origins of Romani names and words, the morality of 'drabbing baulor' (poisoning pigs), and the parallels between Romani and Scottish folk songs. Ursula sings a Romani song about a broken chastity, prompting reflections on the nature of poetry and national character.
Chapter 115
Chapter VIII
Lavengro attends church with Jasper Petulengro, his wife, and Tawno Chikno. They enter a grand pew despite the sexton's objections, and Lavengro reflects on the liturgy and the sermon, which powerfully addresses the value of the soul and the folly of bartering it for worldly gain or nothing.
Chapter 116
The Cuckoo and the Romany Chal
After the church service, Lavengro and the gypsies return to the encampment, enduring mockery from the congregation. Jasper Petulengro and Lavengro engage in a philosophical debate about the nature and worth of the gypsy people, comparing them to the cuckoo bird. Jasper defends his people's way of life, their freedom, and their distinct identity, while Lavengro presses him on matters of soul, reading, and morality. The chapter ends with Jasper suggesting Lavengro speak with Ursula about a gypsy song.
Chapter 117
Ursula's Virtue and the Gypsy's Temptations
The narrator engages in a philosophical conversation with Ursula about temptation, virtue, and the gypsy way of life. Ursula defends her honor against accusations of being a 'lubbeny' and discusses the temptations of gold and fine clothes. Later, they meet under a hedge where the narrator questions her about marriages between gorgios and Romany chies, and they debate the origins of the half-and-halfs and the character Meridiana.
Chapter 118
XI
Ursula shares her life story with the narrator, detailing her marriage to Launcelot Lovell, his abuse, his arrest for horse theft, her aid in his escape, his eventual drowning, and her subsequent marriage to Sylvester. She also reveals the secret meaning of the gypsy word 'patteran' (leaf), taught to her by her mother Mrs. Herne, and discusses her sister Mikailia Chikno and Jasper Petulengro.
Chapter 119
XII
Lavengro and Isopel Berners part ways in the dingle after a tense conversation. Left alone, Lavengro builds a fire and falls into deep meditation on the existence of the soul, the virtue of gypsy women, and the origins of the Romani people. He reflects on his conversation with Ursula, the meaning of the 'patteran' (leaf), and the value of his wandering life.
Chapter 120
XIII
The narrator visits the landlord, who is in a state of despair due to financial ruin and the impending public renunciation of his religion. The landlord is being mocked and taken advantage of by customers, and he contemplates suicide. The narrator advises him not to change his religion and shares ale with him, dissuading him from drinking sherry.
Chapter 121
XIV
The narrator visits the gypsy encampment and agrees to accompany Jasper Petulengro to a fair. Returning to the dingle, he attempts to teach Belle Armenian grammar, leading to a tense emotional exchange. He proposes they go to America together as man and wife, but Belle asks for time to consider.
Chapter 122
The Fair and the Departure
Lavengro awakens at dawn to join Jasper Petulengro and the Romanies at a horse fair. Belle, who has not slept, bids him a cold farewell. At the fair, Jasper urges Lavengro to buy a fine horse, but he refuses. Later, Jasper loses money to cheating jockeys at cards, and Lavengro returns alone to the dingle, only to find that Isopel Berners has left without a message. He hopes she will return.
Chapter 123
XVI
Lavengro receives a farewell letter from Isopel Berners, who has left for America. He struggles with the temptation to follow her but ultimately decides against it. Jasper Petulengro returns from the fair bruised and having lost money, and later an old woman delivers a letter to Lavengro in the dingle.
Chapter 124
The Landlord's Reversal of Fortune
The narrator awakens in the dingle, visits the gypsy encampment, and then goes to the public house expecting to find the landlord in distress. Instead, he finds the house thronged with customers celebrating the landlord's sudden good fortune. The landlord explains how he knocked down Hunter, received a loan from the clergyman, and is now prosperous and respected. He offers the narrator a job, which is declined.
Chapter 125
The Purchase of the Horse
Jasper Petulengro persuades the narrator to buy a valuable horse by secretly placing fifty pounds in his pocket and winning a bet. The narrator reluctantly agrees, and Jasper leaves to secure the horse, leaving the narrator to contemplate the risks and possibilities of the venture.
Chapter 126
XIX
The narrator purchases a horse from the landlord with money borrowed from Mr. Petulengro, tests the horse's trotting and leaping abilities with Tawno Chikno, and decides to leave the dingle the next day, bestowing his possessions on Ursula and Sylvester. He reflects on Isopel Berners with melancholy.
Chapter 127
XX
The narrator joins the Romany friends for breakfast, takes leave of them, and returns to the public-house to collect his horse. He purchases a bridle, saddle, and valise from the landlord, shares a farewell drink with the landlord and his niece, and departs despite their entreaties to stay until evening.
Chapter 128
Chapter XXI
The narrator, traveling northward, encounters a man who has tricked an old man out of his donkey by paying with stones instead of money. He intervenes, confronts the thief, and recovers the donkey, returning it to the grateful old man. The old man then invites him to his cottage to taste mead.
Chapter 129
XXII
The narrator encounters a gentleman sleeping in a meadow who explains that a lawsuit over his property caused severe insomnia, and that reading a particular book of poetry in this field has restored his sleep. The narrator examines the book, finds it soporific, and advises the man that the narcotic effect lies in the book itself. Twenty years later, the narrator attends a literary tea-party where Byron is dismissed in favor of a poet whose work induces sleep, and he reflects on the cyclical nature of literary fame.
Chapter 130
XXIII
The narrator, weary and depressed while traveling with his horse, is unexpectedly reunited with the postillion he helped during a thunderstorm. The postillion invites him to the inn where he works, and after learning of the narrator's situation—including the loss of Isopel Berners—he arranges for the narrator to be offered a position keeping accounts and supervising the yard. The narrator accepts, grateful for the refuge for himself and his horse.
Chapter 131
XXIV
The narrator describes his life at a bustling inn, his duties distributing hay and corn, and his growing friendship with the old ostler. Through the ostler's tales of highwaymen like Jerry Abershaw and Richard Ferguson, and discussions with the postillion, the chapter explores the decline of highway robbery and the art of horse grooming.
Chapter 132
XXV
The old ostler delivers an extensive monologue on the proper care of a horse and the conduct of a gentleman on a journey, emphasizing the importance of feeding, watering, resting, and grooming the animal, as well as the social niceties of dealing with ostlers and innkeepers.
Chapter 133
XXVI
The narrator describes his good relations with the inn staff and commercial travelers, but his strong dislike for the arrogant and brutal stage-coachmen. He recounts an incident where a coachman named 'the bang-up coachman' insults a poor elderly passenger, who then challenges and soundly defeats the coachman in a fight, using a unique defensive guard. The coachman is humiliated and eventually disappears from the road.
Chapter 134
XXVII
Lavengro is unexpectedly reunited with his friend Francis Ardry at the inn where he works. Francis, melancholy after being abandoned by his lover Annette, decides to stay for a day. They dine together, discuss love, dog-fighting, and great historical figures. Francis advises Lavengro to take his horse to the Horncastle fair. After two days, Francis departs for a lion-and-dog fight, and Lavengro never sees him again, reflecting on the wasted potential of his friend's gifts.
Chapter 135
XXVIII
The narrator encounters the man in black and Mr. Platitude at the inn, who are traveling to a mysterious house for a gathering of clergymen and others. The postillion later recounts the strange meeting, which includes various religious figures and hints at covert activities.
Chapter 136
XXIX
The narrator deliberates whether to remain at the inn as bookkeeper or ostler, but finds neither prospect appealing. He decides to leave for Horncastle to sell his horse. Despite the landlord's offer of a ten-pound cheque and a gift of rare port, he refuses to accept obligations, insisting on independence. He dines with the landlord and a commercial traveller, then prepares to depart.
Chapter 137
The Spirit of Youth and the Road
The narrator reflects on the value of youth and the beauty of England, recounting his journey on horseback through the countryside. He stops at a public-house where he drinks with harvesters and learns from a ratcatcher, then continues his ride until a sudden light spooks his horse, throwing him to the ground and rendering him senseless.
Chapter 138
XXXI
After being thrown from his horse, Lavengro is taken in by an elderly man and his household. He is attended by a surgeon who bandages his arm and bleeds him. Lavengro experiences a disturbing dream in which he becomes his own horse and is ridden by the surgeon to Horncastle, only to wake and find himself safe in bed, soothed by the sight of teacups.
Chapter 139
XXXII
The narrator recovers from his fall under the care of an elderly host, who tends to him with kindness and discretion. During his convalescence, he explores the house and discovers the old man's passion for Chinese porcelain covered in hieroglyphic characters. Their conversation reveals the old man's decades-long study of Chinese writing, and the narrator's knowledge of Armenian sparks a mutual interest in languages.
Chapter 140
XXXIII
The narrator recovers from his injury at the home of his elderly host, who shares his tragic history: he was once a horse dealer who fell victim to a forgery scheme, was arrested, and later exonerated, but his beloved died shortly after their marriage.
Chapter 141
XXXIV
The old man continues his tale of grief after losing his beloved, describing his descent into despair and the strange fascination with Chinese characters on a teapot that led him to learn Chinese. He recounts his struggles with the language, his eventual mastery, and how this pursuit helped alleviate his mental anguish, though his heart remains desolate. The chapter ends with a reflection on affliction and duty.
Chapter 142
XXXV
The narrator takes leave of the old scholar, who has finally deciphered a Chinese inscription about the Spirit of the Hearth. A humorous exchange reveals the old man's inability to tell the exact time despite his deep learning in Chinese, prompting the narrator to counsel him on the practical value of knowing the hour. The old man sees him off.
Chapter 143
XXXVI
The narrator arrives in Horncastle for the horse fair, delivers a letter of introduction to the innkeeper, and prepares his horse for sale. He fends off offers from ostlers, shares a drink with them, and later shares a garret with a mysterious stranger who peers at him in the night.
Chapter 144
XXXVII
The narrator wakes late, prepares his horse for sale, and navigates the horse fair with caution. He encounters a confrontation between a haughty lord and a bold horse dealer named Jack Dale, who ultimately buys the horse after the narrator insists on a character reference from the landlord.
Chapter 145
XXXVIII
In the evening, the narrator, the jockey, and a tall foreigner sit in a smoky room after dining at a fair. The foreigner struggles to express himself in English, and the narrator offers to interpret German. The foreigner proudly declares he is a Hungarian, not a German, and the jockey is impressed by the narrator's linguistic ability.
Chapter 146
XXXIX
The narrator engages in a wide-ranging conversation with a Hungarian nobleman at Horncastle, discussing Tekeli, the Queen of Hungary's water, the origins of the Magyars, Hungarian history and literature, the Turk vs. Magyar conflicts, and the folklore figure Baba Yaga. The Hungarian shares his knowledge from Florentius of Buda and expresses admiration for the Turk, while the narrator defends his horse sale and teases about English diplomacy.
Chapter 147
The Toast to the Romany Rye
The Hungarian's pipe runs out, and he paces the room lamenting Hungary's fate. The jockey praises his stature, but Lavengro claims to have seen a finer man among the gypsies. The jockey recognizes Lavengro as 'the Romany Rye' and, in a boisterous tribute, smashes two bottles of champagne through the window. Over the remaining bottle, the jockey explains how he knows the gypsies and how highly they regard Lavengro. The Hungarian criticizes Walter Scott for his ignorance of gypsy language and Slavic history, and the jockey offers to tell his own story.
Chapter 148
The Jockey's Tale of Crime and Kinship
The jockey recounts his family history of crime, explaining the canting language of thieves' Latin. He describes his grandfather's coin-shortening and his father's note-forging, leading to his own involvement in the gang. After his father's arrest and execution, the jockey reflects on his life and the misfortune of his eye.
Chapter 149
XLII
The jockey confronts Lavengro for interrupting his tale, but after a brief dispute mediated by the Hungarian, they reconcile and continue drinking. The jockey resumes his story, recounting his days with Hopping Ned and Biting Giles, his imprisonment after a stone-throwing incident with a parson, the rise of Ugly Moses and his son the barrister, and finally his own financial crisis relieved by a friend named Jack, who was later hanged.
Chapter 150
XLIII
The narrator prepares to depart from Horncastle, having sewn his horse money into his clothing. He explores the town and its church with the sexton, who discusses the fair, the horse sale, and local history, including a battle during Oliver Cromwell's time. The sexton laments the decline of men and horses since his youth, and the narrator expresses admiration for Cromwell's fight for independence.
Chapter 151
XLIV
The narrator wanders through the fair, reflecting on the fickleness of public opinion, then witnesses a thimble-rigger being outwitted by Jack the jockey. After the confrontation, he follows the disconsolate thimble-man, who turns out to be his old friend Murtagh. They reminisce about their shared past, and the narrator comforts Murtagh by retelling the tale of the snake, then asks for a story of Finn Mac Coul in return.
Chapter 152
Murtagh's Tale of Cards and Clergy
Murtagh continues his story, describing his imprisonment on bread and water, the rector's hypocrisy in forbidding card-playing among scholars while playing himself, and his eventual transfer to a religious house abroad where he uses his pack of cards to pass the time and teach others.
Chapter 153
XLVI
Murtagh recounts his adventures in Rome, where he was imprisoned for three years after a confrontation with the Pope and clergy over a rigged card game, and his subsequent escape with the help of a cook. He then describes his enlistment in the Army of the Faith, his card-playing exploits, a violent robbery in Torre Lodones, a near-fatal encounter in Seville, and his eventual return to London where he became a companion to a thimble-rigger.
Chapter 154
XLVII
The narrator leaves Horncastle and walks eastward, eventually turning south and then east again. He is accosted by a recruiting sergeant for the East India Company, who tries to entice him with promises of adventure and riches in India. The narrator's familiarity with Romany words like 'kauloes' and 'lolloes' unsettles the sergeant, who abruptly ends the recruitment attempt. The narrator muses that Jasper Petulengro and Tawno Chikno may have originated from India and considers going there himself.
Chapter 155
Part III: Appendix
The appendix of Part III provides supplementary material, including a letter from the author to the reader, discussing the nature of the book and its characters, with reflections on language, learning, and the author's intentions.
Chapter 156
A Word for Lavengro
The author responds to reader inquiries about the drift and tendency of 'Lavengro,' explaining that it is the history of a peculiar mind with a love of independence, philological curiosity, and a roving spirit. He outlines the hero's journey from childhood through London hack authorship to a life of tinkering and gypsy association, emphasizing that the book illustrates the kindness and providence of God, exposes priestcraft, and warns against effeminacy and fashion. The author defends the hero's moral character and suggests that true religion does not require rigid precision.
Chapter 157
On Priestcraft
The author explains his personal vendetta against the Roman Catholic Church, which he equates with Buddhism and calls 'the great lie of the world.' He details his motives for writing against Rome, asserting his independence from any society or clerical ambition, and defends his lack of bigotry while condemning the cruelty and hypocrisy of Popish converts and priests.
Chapter 158
On Foreign Nonsense
The author critiques the English tendency to idolize foreign languages, literatures, and customs, particularly the Germanomania prevalent among Anglo-Germanists. He defends English language and culture, citing historical examples like Andrew Borde, and argues for a balanced appreciation of foreign cultures without losing national identity.
Chapter 159
On Gentility Nonsense
The chapter examines the concept of gentility in England, arguing that it is defined by glittering, tawdry appearances and varies by class. The aristocracy idolizes imperial military figures, the middle class admires the aristocracy, and the lower classes worship wealthy railroad contractors like Mr. Flamson, who amasses a fortune through dubious means while corrupting rural innocence and ruining investors. The chapter critiques the moral decay and superficial values underlying these ideals.
Chapter 160
Subject of Gentility Continued
The narrator continues his discourse on gentility, distinguishing between mere genteel appearance and true gentlemanly character. He argues that a gentleman is defined by high feeling, courage, generosity, propriety, and liberal education—not by wealth, title, or fine clothes. Using Lavengro as an example, he shows that a person may lack all external marks of gentility yet be a true gentleman, while a wealthy or titled person may be a cowardly miscreant. He criticizes the English obsession with gentility and defends Lavengro's humble occupations as honorable alternatives to vice.
Chapter 161
On Scotch Gentility Nonsense
The narrator launches a fierce critique of Sir Walter Scott's novels, accusing them of inventing a romanticized literature that glorifies the Stuart family and promotes Jacobite and Popish sentiments. He condemns the Stuarts as a family of criminals, cowards, and tyrants, and argues that Scott's works have corrupted English society, leading the genteel classes to adopt Jacobitism and Roman Catholicism. The narrator traces the spread of these ideas to Oxford, where pedants have used Scott's novels to teach Popish and Jacobite nonsense to young students, corrupting their religious and political principles.
Chapter 162
VII: Same Subject Continued
The author continues his critique of Sir Walter Scott, arguing that Scott's novels and poems promoted Jacobitism, Popery, and arbitrary power, leading to moral and social harm. He contrasts Scott's gentility-obsessed pedigree with that of Joachim Murat, defending Murat's noble Moorish ancestry and heroic legacy. The author interprets Scott's personal and familial decline as divine punishment for his literary choices, culminating in his house becoming a center of Popery after his death.
Chapter 163
On Canting Nonsense
The author delivers a direct address to the reader, defending pugilism and self-defense while attacking various forms of cant, including temperance teetotalism, hypocritical piety, and literary cowardice. He cites the examples of Lavengro and Isopel Berners as models of independence and self-reliance, and contrasts the heroic actions of prizefighters like Pearce, Cribb, and Spring with the inaction of aristocrats. He advises readers to enjoy life moderately, trust in God, be charitable, and take their own parts, while condemning those who side with the strongest party rather than truth.
Chapter 164
Pseudo-Critics
The author defends his book 'Lavengro' against pseudo-critics, exposing their ignorance in philology by deliberately misspelling foreign words to trap them. He taunts critics for failing to detect errors in Armenian, Welsh, and Italian, and highlights the book's merits, including a physiological fact about touching objects to avert bad luck and the introduction of the 'Sleeping Bard.' He then attacks specific groups: literary coxcombs and 'Charlie o'er the water' Scotch critics, defending his use of Romany and exposing their hypocrisy.
Chapter 165
Pseudo-Radicals
The author launches a polemic against the 'pseudo-Radicals' of the 1820s-30s, contrasting their hypocrisy and gentility with genuine republicanism. He defends the Duke of Wellington against earlier calumnies while refusing to join in later sycophancy, and praises the honesty and bravery of true Radicals like Thistlewood and Ings, who died for their principles.
Chapter 166
The Old Radical
The author recounts his encounter with an old Radical friend who had betrayed him by securing a government appointment for himself after years of professing that the author was the only one qualified for it. The Radical, now a well-paid official, attacks the author over his book 'Lavengro', accusing him of grumbling and presenting a melancholy view of human nature. The author defends his work as a book inculcating virtue, love of country, learning, and genuine religion, while condemning the Radical's hypocrisy and jobbery. The chapter includes a flashback to their first meeting when the author was eighteen, where the Radical displayed vehement anti-Church and anti-monarchy sentiments.
Chapter 167
Complete List of English Gypsy Words Scattered Through Lavengro and Romany Rye
This chapter is a glossary of Romani words used in George Borrow's works, providing English translations and, in parentheses, common European Gypsy forms. It serves as a linguistic reference for the reader.
Chapter 168
Endnotes
The endnotes provide scholarly annotations and clarifications for the main text of Lavengro, including corrections, identifications of real persons and places, explanations of foreign phrases and allusions, and commentary on the autobiographical nature of the work. They also include a political statement from the author disavowing party affiliation and criticizing the Whig government of the time.
