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Lavengro; The Scholar; The Gypsy; The Priest




by George Borrow







PREFACE







IN the following pages I have endeavoured to describe a dream; 

partly of study; partly of adventure; in which will be found 

copious notices of books; and many descriptions of life and 

manners; some in a very unusual form。



The scenes of action lie in the British Islands; … pray be not 

displeased; gentle reader; if perchance thou hast imagined that I 

was about to conduct thee to distant lands; and didst promise 

thyself much instruction and entertainment from what I might tell 

thee of them。  I do assure thee that thou hast no reason to be 

displeased; inasmuch as there are no countries in the world less 

known by the British than these selfsame British Islands; or where 

more strange things are every day occurring; whether in road or 

street; house or dingle。



The time embraces nearly the first quarter of the present century:  

this information again may; perhaps; be anything but agreeable to 

thee; it is a long time to revert to; but fret not thyself; many 

matters which at present much occupy the public mind originated in 

some degree towards the latter end of that period; and some of them 

will be treated of。



The principal actors in this dream; or drama; are; as you will have 

gathered from the title…page; a Scholar; a Gypsy; and a Priest。  

Should you imagine that these three form one; permit me to assure 

you that you are very much mistaken。  Should there be something of 

the Gypsy manifest in the Scholar; there is certainly nothing of 

the Priest。  With respect to the Gypsy … decidedly the most 

entertaining character of the three … there is certainly nothing of 

the Scholar or the Priest in him; and as for the Priest; though 

there may be something in him both of scholarship and gypsyism; 

neither the Scholar nor the Gypsy would feel at all flattered by 

being confounded with him。



Many characters which may be called subordinate will be found; and 

it is probable that some of these characters will afford much more 

interest to the reader than those styled the principal。  The 

favourites with the writer are a brave old soldier and his 

helpmate; an ancient gentlewoman who sold apples; and a strange 

kind of wandering man and his wife。



Amongst the many things attempted in this book is the encouragement 

of charity; and free and genial manners; and the exposure of 

humbug; of which there are various kinds; but of which the most 

perfidious; the most debasing; and the most cruel; is the humbug of 

the Priest。



Yet let no one think that irreligion is advocated in this book。  

With respect to religious tenets I wish to observe that I am a 

member of the Church of England; into whose communion I was 

baptized; and to which my forefathers belonged。  Its being the 

religion in which I was baptized; and of my forefathers; would be a 

strong inducement to me to cling to it; for I do not happen to be 

one of those choice spirits 'who turn from their banner when the 

battle bears strongly against it; and go over to the enemy;' and 

who receive at first a hug and a 'viva;' and in the sequel contempt 

and spittle in the face; but my chief reason for belonging to it 

is; because; of all churches calling themselves Christian ones; I 

believe there is none so good; so well founded upon Scripture; or 

whose ministers are; upon the whole; so exemplary in their lives 

and conversation; so well read in the book from which they preach; 

or so versed in general learning; so useful in their immediate 

neighbourhoods; or so unwilling to persecute people of other 

denominations for matters of doctrine。



In the communion of this Church; and with the religious consolation 

of its ministers; I wish and hope to live and die; and in its and 

their defence will at all times be ready; if required; to speak; 

though humbly; and to fight; though feebly; against enemies; 

whether carnal or spiritual。



And is there no priestcraft in the Church of England?  There is 

certainly; or rather there was; a modicum of priestcraft in the 

Church of England; but I have generally found that those who are 

most vehement against the Church of England are chiefly 

dissatisfied with her because there is only a modicum of that 

article in her … were she stuffed to the very cupola with it; like 

a certain other Church; they would have much less to say against 

the Church of England。



By the other Church; I mean Rome。  Its system was once prevalent in 

England; and; during the period that it prevailed there; was more 

prolific of debasement and crime than all other causes united。  The 

people and the government at last becoming enlightened by means of 

the Scripture spurned it from the island with disgust and horror; 

the land instantly after its disappearance becoming a fair field; 

in which arts; sciences; and all the amiable virtues flourished; 

instead of being a pestilent marsh where swine…like ignorance 

wallowed; and artful hypocrites; like so many Wills…o'…the…wisp; 

played antic gambols about; around; and above debased humanity。



But Popery still wished to play her old part; to regain her lost 

dominion; to reconvert the smiling land into the pestilential 

morass; where she could play again her old antics。  From the period 

of the Reformation in England up to the present time; she has kept 

her emissaries here; individuals contemptible in intellect; it is 

true; but cat…like and gliding; who; at her bidding; have 

endeavoured; as much as in their power has lain; to damp and stifle 

every genial; honest; loyal; and independent thought; and to reduce 

minds to such a state of dotage as would enable their old Popish 

mother to do what she pleased with them。



And in every country; however enlightened; there are always minds 

inclined to grovelling superstition … minds fond of eating dust and 

swallowing clay … minds never at rest; save when prostrate before 

some fellow in a surplice; and these Popish emissaries found always 

some weak enough to bow down before them; astounded by their 

dreadful denunciations of eternal woe and damnation to any who 

should refuse to believe their Romania; but they played a poor game 

… the law protected the servants of Scripture; and the priest with 

his beads seldom ventured to approach any but the remnant of those 

of the eikonolatry … representatives of worm…eaten houses; their 

debased dependants; and a few poor crazy creatures amongst the 

middle classes … he played a poor game; and the labour was about to 

prove almost entirely in vain; when the English legislature; in 

compassion or contempt; or; yet more probably; influenced by that 

spirit of toleration and kindness which is so mixed up with 

Protestantism; removed almost entirely the disabilities under which 

Popery laboured; and enabled it to raise its head and to speak out 

almost without fear。



And i
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