Lavengro · Chapter
LXII explained
The narrator departs from the old city and travels northwest, encountering a sailor who reveals he was a convict in New South Wales.
What happens
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.
Themes in this chapter
Adventure and Roving
The narrator's journey and the sailor's travels from New South Wales to England highlight themes of wandering and exploration.
Honor and Morality
The sailor discusses his past as a convict and his belief that 'honesty is the best policy,' reflecting on moral redemption.
Characters to notice
- Lavengro
The narrator, traveling on foot with bundle and stick, departs the old city and meets a sailor on the road.
- The Sailor
A sailor-like man, formerly a convict in New South Wales, who is returning to England to find his mother.
Key passages
“I am rather tired, master; and, if you please, I will sit down beside you.”
The sailor asks permission to rest beside the narrator.
The sailor initiates a conversation while both are resting on the hill.
“That honesty is the best policy, master.”
The sailor states that being honest is the most advantageous way to live.
The sailor shares his life lesson learned from experience.
“I came all the way back merely for the chance of seeing her.”
The sailor returned to England solely to find his mother.
The sailor explains his motivation for returning from New South Wales.