# XLVIII explained — Lavengro

> Chapter companion for Lavengro by George Borrow.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Freedom vs. Convention

The narrator rejects conventional paths like soldiering or porters, and declines Francis Ardry's plan for diversion, seeking a more independent literary path.

### Philology and Learning

The narrator reflects on his translations of Danish ballads and Ab Gwilym, emphasizing his preservation of alliterative euphony and original fire.

## Character check-ins

### Lavengro

Anxious about his future, rejects offers of work and a loan from Francis Ardry.

### Francis Ardry

Visits the narrator, offers a loan of a hundred pounds, and proposes a plan to escort a Frenchwoman to Bagnigge Wells.

### The Armenian

Mentioned as having offered the narrator work translating the Haik Esop, but the narrator declines due to fear of mistreatment.

## Key lines

> Anxious thoughts frequently disturbed me at this time with respect to what I was to do, and how support myself in the Great City.

I was often troubled by worries about my future and how I would survive in London.

_The narrator's anxiety about his financial and professional prospects is introduced._

> I thought that I would make a last and desperate attempt to dispose of the ballads and of Ab Gwilym.

I decided to make one final effort to sell my translations of the ballads and Ab Gwilym.

_The narrator's determination to publish his literary work despite previous rejections._

> I never heard a more foolish plan, said I, or one less likely to terminate profitably or satisfactorily.

I told Francis Ardry that his proposal seemed unwise and unlikely to end well.

_The narrator rejects Francis Ardry's offer of a loan and the plan to escort a Frenchwoman._

## Links

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