Chapter 49

What to Do--Strong Enough--Fame and Profit--Alliterative Euphony--Excellent Fellow--Listen to Me--A Plan--Bagnigge Wells.

Anxious thoughts frequently disturbed me at this time with respect to what I was to do, and how support myself in the great city. My future prospects were gloomy enough, and I looked forward and feared; sometimes I felt half disposed to accept the offer of the Armenian, and to commence forthwith, under his superintendence, the translation of the Haik Esop; but the remembrance of the cuffs which I had seen him bestow upon the Moldavian, when glancing over his shoulder into the ledger or whatever it was on which he was employed, immediately drove the inclination from my mind. I could not support the idea of the possibility of his staring over my shoulder upon my translation of the Haik Esop, and, dissatisfied with my attempts, treating me as he had treated the Moldavian clerk; placing myself in a position which exposed me to such treatment, would indeed be plunging into the fire after escaping from the frying-pan. The publisher, insolent and overbearing as he was, whatever he might have wished or thought, had never lifted his hand against me, or told me that I merited crucifixion.

What was I to do? turn porter? I was strong; but there was something besides strength required to ply the trade of a porter--a mind of a particularly phlegmatic temperament, which I did not possess. What should I do?--enlist as a soldier? I was tall enough; but something besides height is required to make a man play with credit the part of soldier, I mean a private one--a spirit, if spirit it can be called, which will not only enable a man to submit with patience to insolence and abuse, and even to cuffs and kicks, but occasionally to the lash. I felt that I was not qualified to be a soldier, at least a private one; far better be a drudge to the most ferocious of publishers, editing Newgate Lives, and writing in eighteenpenny Reviews--better to translate the Haik Esop, under the superintendence of ten Armenians, than be a private soldier in the English service; I did not decide rashly--I knew something of soldiering. What should I do? I thought that I would make a last and desperate attempt to dispose of the ballads and of Ab Gwilym.

I had still an idea that, provided I could persuade any spirited publisher to give these translations to the world, I should acquire both considerable fame and profit; not, perhaps, a world-embracing fame such as Byron's; but a fame not to be sneered at, which would last me a considerable time, and would keep my heart from breaking;--profit, not equal to that which Scott had made by his wondrous novels, but which would prevent me from starving, and enable me to achieve some other literary enterprise. I read and re-read my ballads, and the more I read them the more I was convinced that the public, in the event of their being published, would freely purchase, and hail them with the merited applause. Were not the deeds and adventures wonderful and heart-stirring, from which it is true I could claim no merit, being but the translator; but had I not rendered them into English, with all their original fire? Yes, I was confident I had; and I had no doubt that the public would say so. And then, with respect to Ab Gwilym, had I not done as much justice to him as to the Danish ballads; not only rendering faithfully his thoughts, imagery, and phraseology, but even preserving in my translation the alliterative euphony which constitutes one of the most remarkable features of Welsh prosody? Yes, I had accomplished all this; and I doubted not that the public would receive my translations from Ab Gwilym with quite as much eagerness as my version of the Danish ballads. But I found the publishers as untractable as ever, and to this day the public has never had an opportunity of doing justice to the glowing fire of my ballad versification, {397} and the alliterative euphony of my imitations of Ab Gwilym.

I had not seen Francis Ardry since the day I had seen him taking lessons in elocution. One afternoon as I was seated at my table, my head resting on my hands, he entered my apartment; sitting down, he inquired of me why I had not been to see him.

"I might ask the same question of you," I replied. "Wherefore have you not been to see me?" Whereupon Francis Ardry told me that he had been much engaged in his oratorical exercises, also in escorting the young Frenchwoman about to places of public amusement; he then again questioned me as to the reason of my not having been to see him.

I returned an evasive answer. The truth was, that for some time past my appearance, owing to the state of my finances, had been rather shabby; and I did not wish to expose a fashionable young man like Francis Ardry, who lived in a fashionable neighbourhood, to the imputation of having a shabby acquaintance. I was aware that Francis Ardry was an excellent fellow; but, on that very account, I felt, under existing circumstances, a delicacy in visiting him.

It is very possible that he had an inkling of how matters stood, as he presently began to talk of my affairs and prospects. I told him of my late ill success with the booksellers, and inveighed against their blindness to their own interest in refusing to publish my translations. "The last that I addressed myself to," said I, "told me not to trouble him again unless I could bring him a decent novel or a tale."

"Well," said Frank, "and why did you not carry him a decent novel or a tale?"

"Because I have neither," said I; "and to write them is, I believe, above my capacity. At present I feel divested of all energy--heartless, and almost hopeless."

"I see how it is," said Francis Ardry, "you have overworked yourself, and, worst of all, to no purpose. Take my advice; cast all care aside, and only think of diverting yourself for a month at least."

"Divert myself," said I; "and where am I to find the means?"

"Be that care on my shoulders," said Francis Ardry. "Listen to me--my uncles have been so delighted with the favourable accounts which they have lately received from T--- of my progress in oratory, that, in the warmth of their hearts, they made me a present yesterday of two hundred pounds. This is more money than I want, at least for the present; do me the favour to take half of it as a loan--hear me," said he, observing that I was about to interrupt him; "I have a plan in my head--one of the prettiest in the world. The sister of my charmer is just arrived from France; she cannot speak a word of English; and, as Annette and myself are much engaged in our own matters, we cannot pay her the attention which we should wish, and which she deserves, for she is a truly fascinating creature, although somewhat differing from my charmer, having blue eyes and flaxen hair; whilst Annette, on the contrary . . . But I hope you will shortly see Annette. Now, my plan is this--Take the money, dress yourself fashionably, and conduct Annette's sister to Bagnigge Wells."

"And what should we do at Bagnigge Wells?"

"Do!" said Francis Ardry. "Dance!"

"But," said I, "I scarcely know anything of dancing."

"Then here's an excellent opportunity of improving yourself. Like most Frenchwomen, she dances divinely; however, if you object to Bagnigge Wells and dancing, go to Brighton, and remain there a month or two, at the end of which time you can return with your mind refreshed and invigorated, and materials, perhaps, for a tale or novel."

"I never heard a more foolish plan," said I, "or one less likely to terminate profitably or satisfactorily. I thank you, however, for your offer, which is, I dare say, well meant. If I am to escape from my cares and troubles, and find my mind refreshed and invigorated, I must adopt other means than conducting a French demoiselle to Brighton or Bagnigge Wells, defraying the expense by borrowing from a friend."

Footnotes:

{0a} Pronounced _Lav'en-gro_, not _Lav-en'gro_, the two first syllables exactly like those of _lavender_. Borrow meant it to stand for "word- master, philologist," but--_nomen omen_--already in Grellmann (1787) _latcho lavengro_ stood for "a liar."

{1a} On 5th July 1803, at East Dereham, Norfolk, 17 miles west-north- west of Norwich.

{1b} Captain Thomas Borrow (1758-1824), the youngest of a family of eight (three daughters and five sons).

{1c} Trethinnick, near St. Cleer.

{2} "In Cornwall are the best gentlemen."--_Corn. Prov._ (B.)

{4a} Earl of Orford. Borrow's father rose from private to sergeant in the Coldstream Guards, and, passing in 1792 to the West Norfolk Militia, was six years later promoted adjutant with the rank of captain (Knapp, i. 7-16).

{4b} Dereham.

{4c} Ann Perfrement (1772-1858). They married in 1793 (Knapp, i. 16- 26).

{7} John Thomas Borrow (1800-1833), ensign and lieutenant in his father's regiment, art student under Old Crome and Benjamin Haydon, and from 1826 a mining agent in Mexico.

{19} Norwegian ells--about eight feet. (B.)

{22} Dereham.

{31a} Charles Hyde Wollaston (1772-1850), vicar from 1806--my mother's uncle.

{31b} James Philo (1745-1829), an old soldier, for fifty years parish clerk.

{33} In 1810.

{37} Whittlesea Mere. In 1786 it measured 3.5 miles from east to west by 2.5 miles, and it was drained in 1850-51.

{44} Much such a man, perhaps a descendant, travelled East Anglia about 1866. He used to visit schools to exhibit his snakes.

{48} Better _bengesko_ or _beng's_, devil's.

{50} _Tiny tawny_ is not Romany. _Tarno_ means "small" or "young."

{52} _Sap_, snake; _sapengro_, snake-charmer.

{65} Berwick-upon-Tweed. Its walls are not lofty.

{69a} In 1813.

{69b} South-western.

{71} Borrow and his brother seem to have been at the High School in March 1814, probably only for the one winter session. James Pillans was rector, and the four under-masters were William Ritchie, Aglionby Ross Carson (Borrow's), George Irvine, James Gray.

{72} William Bowie; probably from Gaelic _buidhe_, yellow, and so not Norse at all.

{75} Northern.

{79} David Haggart (1801-21), thief, was born and hanged at Edinburgh. He enlisted as a drummer in July 1813, and killed a Dumfries turnkey in 1820. His curious _Autobiography_ is written largely in thieves' cant.

{82a} Northern.

{82b} Perhaps two hundred feet.

{88} Fifteen months.

{89a} Harwich.

{89b} Cork Harbour.

{90} Cork.

{93} Clonmel.

{98} Elzevirs are not generally huge.

{104} In Tipperary county, twenty miles north of Clonmel. In 1816.

{131} Norwich.

{132a} Till 1886 a prison, and now a museum. A square Norman keep.

{132b} The tower is Norman, the spire Decorated, 215 feet high.

{133} The Bishop's Bridge (1295) over the Wensum.

{134} Horatio, Viscount Nelson (1758-1805), was born at Burnham-Thorpe Rectory, Norfolk, near Wells.

{140} Borrow clean omits his two years (1816-18) at Norwich Grammar School, under Edward Valpy (1764-1832), headmaster 1810-29. This was probably because, horsed on James Martineau's back, he was flogged for running away to turn smuggler or freebooter. Sir James Brooke was another schoolfellow.

{142} The Rev. Thomas D'Eterville, a Norman _emigre_.

{146} The Yare.

{147} Earlham Hall.

{148} Joseph John Gurney (1788-1847), Quaker banker of Norwich, and philanthropist, a brother of Mrs. Fry. See A. J. C. Hare's _The Gurneys of Earlham_ (2 vols., 1895).

{152} Tombland Fair, on Norwich Castle Hill, the day before Good Friday.

{154} _Cf._ Introduction, p. xxv.

{156} Snake-charmer.

{157} Monschold (pron. _Muzzle_) Heath, near Norwich.

{158} Better _Tarno Tikno_, little baby.

{161} _Petulengro_, farrier, the esoteric Romany name of the Smith family. It is derived from the Modern Greek _petalon_, horse-shoe, if that, indeed, is not borrowed from the Romany.

{162a} Truth, brother.

{162b} Book.

{162c} Hill.

{163a} Passing bad money.

{163b} Gypsies.

{163c} Better _gaujoes_, non-Gypsies or Gentiles.

{164a} Yes.

{164b} Magistrate of the town.

{165a} Child.

{165b} In the town, telling fortunes.

{166a} House.

{166b} Going.

{169a} In Vol. i. p. 320 of _Etymologicon Universale_ (3 vols., 1822- 25), by the Rev. Walter Whiter (1758-1832), from 1797 rector of Hardingham, near Wymondham, occurs this suggestion: "It will perhaps be discovered by some future inquirer that from a horde of vagrant _Gipseys_ once issued that band of sturdy robbers, the companions of Romulus and of Remus, who laid the foundations of the _Eternal City_ on the banks of the Tibur." This sounds truly Borrovian; and scattered through the amazing _Etymologicon_ are twenty-six Romany words, very correctly spelt, which I used to think Whiter must have learnt from George Borrow. But there are words that Borrow does not seem to have known--_poshe_, near; _kam_, sun; _ria_, sir (vocative), and _petalles_, horse-shoe (accusative). Whiter appears to have known Romany better than Borrow. Borrow certainly meant to write a good deal about Whiter, for in a letter to John Murray of 1st December 1842 he sketches _Lavengro_: "Capital subject--early life; studies and adventures; some account of my father, William Taylor, Whiter, Big Ben, etc. etc." (Knapp, ii. 5). But he barely mentions Whiter in chap. xxiv. of _Lavengro_. In the _Gypsy Lore Journal_ (i. 1888, pp. 102-4) I had an article on Whiter. That on Whiter by Mr. Courtney, in vol. lxi. of the _Dictionary of National Biography_ (1900), shows that he was writing on the Gypsy language in 1800 and 1811.

{169b} Fighter.

{170a} Husband.

{170b} Gentleman.

{170c} London.

{170d} Song.

{178} Borrow's _Wild Wales_ gives a full account of his Welsh studies at this period.

{180} He was articled on 30th March 1819 to Messrs. Simpson & Rackham solicitors, for five years.

{198} Klopstock. (B.)

{199} John Crome, "Old Crome" (1768-1811), the great landscape-painter of the "Norwich School."

{208} Lodowick Muggleton (1609-98), a London Puritan tailor, founded his sect about 1651.

{211} William Taylor (1765-1836), "of Norwich," introduced German literature to English readers, and corresponded with Southey, Scott, Godwin, etc. He seems to have made an infidel of Borrow by 1824 (Knapp, ii. 261-2). See Life of Taylor by Robberds (1843).

{225a} Samuel Parr (1747-1825).

{225b} See note on p. 169.

{230} John Thurtell (_c._ 1791-1824), the son of a Norwich alderman, was hanged at Hertford for the brutal murder in Gill's Hill Lane of a fellow- swindler, William Weare. He figures also in Hazlitt's "Prize-fight," and Sir Walter Scott visited the scene of Weare's murder.

{233} Spinoza.

{239} Rather shaky Romany. _Chivios_ and _rovel_ should be _chido si_ and _rovenna_.

{240} Enough.

{249} Absolutely meaningless to any English Gypsy that ever walked. Borrow seems to have fancied it was Hungarian Romany, but it isn't.

{264} Anglo-Hanoverian victory over the French, 1759.

{265} 2nd April 1824.

{270} Sir Richard Phillips (1767-1840), schoolmaster, hosier, stationer, publisher, author, Radical, vegetarian, etc., removed from Leicester to London in 1795, was knighted in 1808, and finally retired to Brighton.

{278} By the Rev. Legh Richmond (1772-1827). Elizabeth Wallbridge, the dairyman's daughter, is buried at Arreton, in the Isle of Wight; and 2,000,000 copies of the tract, which was written in 1809, are said to have been sold in the author's lifetime.

{287} _The Fortunes and Misfortunes of the famous Moll Flanders_, by Daniel Defoe, appeared on 27th January 1722.

{293} Quite incredible. Norwich had its own papers.

{306} By Prof. Knapp identified with William Gifford (1757-1826), translator of Juvenal, editor of the _Anti-Jacobin_, the _Quarterly Review_, etc.; but Mr. Leslie Stephen argues, in _Literature_ (April 8, 1899, p. 375), that Gifford was then a rich bachelor with a sinecure of 1000 pounds a year, and that a much likelier identification is with John Carey (1756-1826), the "_Gradus_ Carey," who edited Quintilian in 1822, and did work for Sir Richard Phillips.

{316a} _Celebrated Trials_ (6 vols., 1825).

{316b} _The Universal Review_, March 1824-Jan. 1825.

{324} 29th April 1824.

{326} The ex-mayor, Robert Hawkes.

{328} Benjamin Robert Haydon (1786-1846), who shot himself in his studio.

{335} George Borrow about this time suffered much from the horrors, and meditated suicide (Knapp, i. 96-98).

{340} Byron's corpse, on its way from Missolonghi to Hucknall Church, near Newstead in Notts, was removed on Monday, 12th July 1814, from Sir Edward Knatchbull's house in Great George Street, Westminster, at 11 a.m.

{365} John Murray (1778-1843), publisher, the second of the name, the first of Albemarle Street.

{386} _Tarno_ means simply "young" or "little."

{397} _Romantic Ballads_, _translated from the Danish_, _and Miscellaneous Pieces_, by George Borrow, did appear in Norwich in 1826.