Bohemianism; English literature -- 19th century -- History and criticism
Obviously, Borrow was a man of an ingratiating personality, which is a
very different thing from saying that he was a man with an ingratiating
manner. Of all manners, the ingratiating is the one most likely to
arouse suspicion in the minds of all but the most obtuse. An
ingratiating personality, however, is one that without effort and in the
simplest way attracts others, as a magnet attracts iron. Once get Borrow
interested in a man, it followed quite naturally that the man was
interested in Borrow. He might be a rough, unsociable fellow with whom
others found it hard to get on, but Borrow would win his confidence in a
few moments.
Borrow seemed to know exactly how to approach people, what to say, and
how to say it. Sometimes he may have preferred to stand aloof in moody
reserve; that is another matter. But given the inclination, he had a
genius for companionship, as some men have a genius for friendship. As a
rule it will be found that the Vagabond, the Wanderer, is far better as a
companion than as friend. What he cares for is to smile, chatter, and
pass on. Loyal he may be to those who have done him service, but he is
not ready to encroach upon his own comfort and convenience for any man.
Borrow remained steadfast to his friends, but a personal slight, even if
not intended, he regarded as unforgivable.
The late Dr. Martineau was at school with him at Norwich, and after a
youthful escapade on Borrow’s part, Martineau was selected by the master
as the boy to “horse” Borrow while he was undergoing corporal punishment.
Probably the proceeding was quite as distasteful to the young Martineau
as to the scapegrace. But Borrow never forgot the incident nor forgave
the compulsory participator in his degradation. And years afterwards he
declined to attend a social function when he had ascertained that
Martineau would be there, making a point of deliberately avoiding him.
Another instance this of the morbid egotism of the man.
Where, however, no whim or caprice stood in the way, Borrow reminds one
of the man who knows as soon as he has tapped the earth with the
“divining rod” whether or no there is water there. Directly he saw a man
he could tell by instinct whether there was stuff of interest there; and
he knew how to elicit it. And never is he more successful than when
dealing with the “powerful, uneducated man.” Consequently, no portion of
his writings are more fascinating than when he has to deal with such
figures. Who can forget his delightful pictures of the gypsy—“Mr.
Petulengro”? Especially the famous meeting in _Lavengro_, when he and
the narrator discourse on death.
“‘Life is sweet, brother.’
“‘Do you think so?’
“‘Think so! There’s night and day, brother, both sweet things; sun,
moon, and stars, brother, all sweet things; there’s likewise a wind
on the heath. Life is very sweet, brother. Who would wish to die?’
“‘I would wish to die.’
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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