# XCI explained — Lavengro

> Chapter companion for Lavengro by George Borrow.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Adventure and Roving

Belle's desire to wander America with her cart and Lavengro's tales of taming mares and wrestling with Satan reflect a life of adventure and roving.

## Character check-ins

### Lavengro

Lives with Belle in the dingle, teaches her Armenian, and shares stories of his past.

### Isopel Berners

Lives with Lavengro, learns Armenian, tells anecdotes of road characters, and longs to travel to America.

## Key lines

> I would endeavour to entertain her with strange dreams of adventure, in which I figured in opaque forests, strangling wild beasts, or discovering and plundering the hordes of dragons; and sometimes I would narrate to her other things far more genuine⁠—how I had tamed savage mares, wrestled with Satan, and had dealings with ferocious publishers.

Lavengro would tell Belle fantastical tales of adventure, as well as true stories of his past exploits with horses, Satan, and publishers.

_Lavengro mixes fiction and autobiography to entertain Belle._

> Belle had a craving desire to visit that country, and to wander with cart and little animal amongst its forests; when I would occasionally object, that she would be exposed to danger from strange and perverse customers, she said that she had not wandered the roads of England so long and alone, to be afraid of anything which might befall in America; and that she hoped, with God’s favour, to be able to take her own part, and to give to perverse customers as good as they might bring.

Belle longed to travel America with her cart and animal, and was undaunted by potential dangers, confident in her ability to defend herself.

_Belle's fearless spirit and desire for a new life in America are highlighted._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xci
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lavengro_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lavengro_se/chapters