Lavengro · Chapter
XIII explained
The narrator reflects on the relationship between philology and horsemanship, recounting his first ride on a dangerous Irish cob.
What happens
The narrator reflects on the relationship between philology and horsemanship, recounting his first ride on a dangerous Irish cob. After a groom persuades him to mount the horse, the narrator overcomes his fear and experiences a transformative ride around the Devil's Hill, which instills in him a lifelong passion for horses. He contrasts the noble pursuit of language with the mere collection of words, arguing that his love of horses has kept his philological studies grounded.
Themes in this chapter
Philology and Learning
The narrator contrasts genuine philological understanding with mere word-culling, arguing that language study should be grounded in broader experience.
Adventure and Roving
The narrator's first ride on the cob is depicted as a liberating adventure, marking an epoch in his life and awakening a passion for horses.
Characters to notice
- Lavengro
The narrator reflects on his early philological pursuits and describes his transformative first ride on a dangerous Irish cob.
Key passages
“I cannot help thinking that it was fortunate for myself, who am, to a certain extent, a philologist, that with me the pursuit of languages has been always modified by the love of horses; for scarcely had I turned my mind to the former, when I also mounted the wild cob, and hurried forth in the direction of the Devil's Hill, scattering dust and flint-stones on every side;”
The narrator believes it was lucky that his interest in languages was balanced by his love of horses, because as soon as he began studying words, he also started riding a wild horse toward the Devil's Hill.
This passage introduces the central contrast between intellectual and physical pursuits.
“Oh, that ride! that first ride!—most truly it was an epoch in my existence; and I still look back to it with feelings of longing and regret.”
The narrator recalls his first ride as a defining moment in his life, one he remembers with both nostalgia and wistfulness.
This emphasizes the transformative impact of the riding experience.