“poor george. . . . i wish he were making money. he works hard and remains poor”—thus wrote john borrow to his mother in 1830 from mexico, and it disposes in a measure of any suggestion of mystery with regard to five of those years that he wished to veil. they were not spent, it is clear, in rambling in the east, as he tried to persuade colonel napier many years later. they were spent for the most part in diligent attempt at the capture of words, in reading the poetry and the prose of many lands, and in making translations of unequal merit from these diverse tongues. this is indisputably brought home to me by the manuscripts in my possession. these manuscripts represent years of work. borrow has been counted a considerable linguist, and he had assuredly a reading and speaking acquaintance with a great many languages. but this knowledge was acquired, as all knowledge is, with infinite trouble and patience. i have before me hundreds of small sheets of paper upon which are written english words and their equivalents in some twenty or thirty languages. these serve to show that borrow learnt a language as a small boy in an old-fashioned system of education learns his latin or french—by writing down simple words—“father,” “mother,” “horse,” “dog,” and so on with the same word in latin or french in front of them. of course borrow had a superb memory and abundant enthusiasm, and so was enabled to add one language to another and to make his translations from such books as he could obtain with varied success. i believe that nearly all the books that he handled came from the norwich library, and when mrs. borrow wrote to her elder son to say that george was working hard, as we may fairly assume, from the reply quoted, that she did, she was recalling this laborious work at translation that must have gone on for years. we have seen p. 82the first fruit in the translation from the german—or possibly from the french—of klinger’s faustus; we have seen it in romantic ballads from the danish, the irish, and the swedish. now there really seemed a chance of a more prosperous utilisation of his gift, for borrow had found a zealous friend who was prepared to go forward with him in his work of giving to the english public translations from the literatures of the northern nations. this friend was dr. john bowring, who made a very substantial reputation in his day.
bowring has told his own story in a volume of autobiographical recollections, a singularly dull book for a man whose career was at once so varied and so full of interest. he was born at exeter in 1792 of an old devonshire family, and entered a merchant’s office in his native city on leaving school. he early acquired a taste for the study of languages, and learnt french from a refugee priest precisely in the way in which borrow had done. he also acquired italian, spanish, german and dutch, continuing with a great variety of other languages. indeed, only the very year after borrow had published faustus, he published his ancient poetry and romances of spain, and the year after borrow’s romantic ballads came bowring’s servian popular poetry. with such interest in common it was natural that the two men should be brought together, but bowring had the qualities which enabled him to make a career for himself, and borrow had not. in 1811, as a clerk in a london mercantile house, he was sent to spain, and after this his travels were varied. he was in russia in 1820, and in 1822 was arrested at calais and thrown into prison, being suspected by the bourbon government of abetting the french liberals. canning as foreign minister took up his cause, and he was speedily released. he assisted jeremy bentham in founding the westminster review in 1824. meanwhile he was seeking official employment, and in conjunction with mr. villiers, afterwards earl of clarendon, and that ambassador to spain who befriended borrow when he was in the peninsula, became a commissioner to investigate the commercial relations between england and france. after the reform bill of 1832 bowring was frequently a candidate for parliament, and was finally elected for bolton in 1841. in the meantime he assisted cobden in the formation of the anti-corn law league in 1838. having suffered great monetary losses in p. 83the interval he applied for the appointment of consul at canton, of which place he afterwards became governor, being knighted in 1854. at one period of his career at hong kong his conduct was made the subject of a vote of censure in parliament, lord palmerston, however, warmly defending him. finally returning to england in 1862, he continued his literary work with unfailing zest. he died at exeter, in a house very near that in which he was born, in 1872. his extraordinary energies cannot be too much praised, and there is no doubt but that in addition to being the possessor of great learning he was a man of high character. his literary efforts were surprisingly varied. there are at least thirty-six volumes with his name on the title-page, most of them unreadable to-day; even such works, for example, as his visit to the philippine isles and siam and the siamese, which involved travel into then little-known lands. perhaps the only book by him that to-day commands attention is his translation of chamisso’s peter schlemihl. the most readable of many books by him into which i have dipped is his servian popular poetry of 1827, in which we find interesting stories in verse that remind us of similar stories from the danish in borrow’s romantic ballads published only the year before. the extraordinary thing, indeed, is the many points of likeness between borrow and bowring. both were remarkable linguists; both had spent some time in spain and russia; both had found themselves in foreign prisons. they were alike associated in some measure with norwich—bowring through friendship with taylor—and i might go on to many other points of likeness or of contrast. it is natural, therefore, that the penniless borrow should have welcomed acquaintance with the more prosperous scholar. thus it is that, some thirty years later, borrow described the introduction by taylor:
the writer had just entered into his eighteenth year, when he met at the table of a certain anglo-germanist an individual, apparently somewhat under thirty, of middle stature, a thin and weaselly figure, a sallow complexion, a certain obliquity of vision, and a large pair of spectacles. this person, who had lately come from abroad, and had published a volume of translations, had attracted some slight notice in the literary world, and was looked upon as a kind of lion in a small provincial capital. after dinner he argued a great deal, spoke vehemently against the church, and uttered the most desperate radicalism that was perhaps ever p. 84heard, saying, he hoped that in a short time there would not be a king or queen in europe, and inveighing bitterly against the english aristocracy, and against the duke of wellington in particular, whom he said, if he himself was ever president of an english republic—an event which he seemed to think by no means improbable—he would hang for certain infamous acts of profligacy and bloodshed which he had perpetrated in spain. being informed that the writer was something of a philologist, to which character the individual in question laid great pretensions, he came and sat down by him, and talked about languages and literature. the writer, who was only a boy, was a little frightened at first.
the quarrels of authors are frequently amusing but rarely edifying, and this hatred of bowring that possessed the soul of poor borrow in his later years is of the same texture as the rest. we shall never know the facts, but the position is comprehensible enough. let us turn to the extant correspondence which, as far as we know, opened when borrow paid what was probably his third visit to london in 1829:
to dr. john bowring
17 great russell street, bloomsbury. [dec. 6, 1829.]
my dear sir,—lest i should intrude upon you when you are busy, i write to inquire when you will be unoccupied. i wish to shew you my translation of the death of balder, ewald’s most celebrated production, which, if you approve of, you will perhaps render me some assistance in bringing forth, for i don’t know many publishers. i think this will be a proper time to introduce it to the british public, as your account of danish literature will doubtless cause a sensation. my friend mr. r. taylor has my kæmpe viser, which he has read and approves of; but he is so very deeply occupied, that i am apprehensive he neglects them: but i am unwilling to take them out of his hands, lest i offend him. your letting me know when i may call will greatly oblige,—dear sir, your most obedient servant,
george borrow.
to dr. john bowring
17 great russell street, bloomsbury. [dec. 28, 1829.]
my dear sir,—i trouble you with these lines for the purpose of submitting a little project of mine for your approbation. when i had last the pleasure of being at yours, you mentioned that we might at some future period unite our strength in composing a kind of danish anthology. you know, as well as i, that by far the most remarkable portion of danish poetry is comprised in those ancient popular productions termed kæmpe p. 85viser, which i have translated. suppose we bring forward at once the first volume of the danish anthology, which should contain the heroic and supernatural songs of the k. v., which are certainly the most interesting; they are quite ready for the press with the necessary notes, and with an introduction which i am not ashamed of. the second volume might consist of the historic songs and the ballads and romances, this and the third volume, which should consist of the modern danish poetry, and should commence with the celebrated “ode to the birds” by morten borup, might appear in company at the beginning of next season. to ölenslager should be allotted the principal part of the fourth volume; and it is my opinion that amongst his minor pieces should be given a good translation of his aladdin, by which alone he has rendered his claim to the title of a great poet indubitable. a proper danish anthology cannot be contained in less than 4 volumes, the literature being so copious. the first volume, as i said before, might appear instanter, with no further trouble to yourself than writing, if you should think fit, a page or two of introductory matter.—yours most truly, my dear sir,
george borrow.
to dr. john bowring
17 great russell street, decr. 31, 1829.
my dear sir,—i received your note, and as it appears that you will not be disengaged till next friday evening (this day week) i will call then. you think that no more than two volumes can be ventured on. well! be it so! the first volume can contain 70 choice kæmpe viser; viz. all the heroic, all the supernatural ballads (which two classes are by far the most interesting), and a few of the historic and romantic songs. the sooner the work is advertised the better, for i am terribly afraid of being forestalled in the kæmpe viser by some of those scotch blackguards who affect to translate from all languages, of which they are fully as ignorant as lockhart is of spanish. i am quite ready with the first volume, which might appear by the middle of february (the best time in the whole season), and if we unite our strength in the second, i think we can produce something worthy of fame, for we shall have plenty of matter to employ talent upon.—most truly yours,
george borrow.
to dr. john bowring
17 great russell street, bloomsbury, jany. 7, 1830.
my dear sir,—i send the prospectus for your inspection and for the correction of your master hand. i have endeavoured to assume a danish style, i know not whether i have been successful. alter, i pray you, whatever false logic has crept into it, find a remedy for its incoherencies, and render it fit for its intended p. 86purpose. i have had for the two last days a rising headache which has almost prevented me doing anything. i sat down this morning and translated a hundred lines of the may-day; it is a fine piece.—yours most truly, my dear sir,
george borrow.
to dr. john bowring
17 great russell street, bloomsbury, jany. 14, 1830.
my dear sir,—i approve of the prospectus in every respect; it is business-like, and there is nothing flashy in it. i do not wish to suggest one alteration. i am not idle: i translated yesterday from your volume longish kæmpe visers, among which is the “death of king hacon at kirkwall in orkney,” after his unsuccessful invasion of scotland. to-day i translated “the duke’s daughter of skage,” a noble ballad of 400 lines. when i call again i will, with your permission, retake tullin and attack the surveyor. allow me, my dear sir, to direct your attention to ölenschlæger’s st. hems aftenspil, which is the last in his digte of 1803. it contains his best lyrics, one or two of which i have translated. it might, i think, be contained within 70 pages, and i could translate it in 3 weeks. were we to give the whole of it we should gratify ölenschlæger’s wish expressed to you, that one of his larger pieces should appear. but it is for you to decide entirely on what is or what is not to be done. when you see the foreign editor i should feel much obliged if you would speak to him about my reviewing tegner, and enquire whether a good article on welsh poetry would be received. i have the advantage of not being a welsh-man. i would speak the truth, and would give translations of some of the best welsh poetry; and i really believe that my translations would not be the worst that have been made from the welsh tongue.—most truly yours,
g. borrow.
to dr. john bowring
7 museum street, jany., 1830.
my dear sir,—i write this to inform you that i am at no. 7 museum st., bloomsbury. i have been obliged to decamp from russell st. for the cogent reason of an execution having been sent into the house, and i thought myself happy in escaping with my things. i have got half of the manuscript from mr. richard taylor, but many of the pages must be rewritten owing to their being torn, etc. he is printing the prospectus, but a proof has not yet been struck off. send me some as soon as you get them. i will send one with a letter to h. g.—yours eternally,
g. borrow.
p. 87to dr. john bowring
7 museum street, jany. 25, 1830.
my dear sir,—i find that you called at mine, i am sorry that i was not at home. i have been to richard taylor, and you will have the prospectuses this afternoon. i have translated ferroe’s “worthiness of virtue” for you, and the two other pieces i shall translate this evening, and you shall have them all when i come on wednesday evening. if i can at all assist you in anything, pray let me know, and i shall be proud to do it.—yours most truly,
g. borrow.
to dr. john bowring
7 museum street, feby. 20, 1830.
my dear sir,—to my great pleasure i perceive that the books have all arrived safe. but i find that, instead of an icelandic grammar, you have lent me an essay on the origin of the icelandic language, which i here return. thorlakson’s grave-ode is superlatively fine, and i translated it this morning, as i breakfasted. i have just finished a translation of baggesen’s beautiful poem, and i send it for your inspection.—most sincerely yours,
george borrow.
p.s.—when i come we will make the modifications of this piece, if you think any are requisite, for i have various readings in my mind for every stanza. i wish you a very pleasant journey to cambridge, and hope you will procure some names amongst the literati.
to dr. john bowring
7 museum street, march 9, 1830.
my dear sir,—i have thought over the museum matter which we were talking about last night, and it appears to me that it would be the very thing for me, provided that it could be accomplished. i should feel obliged if you would deliberate upon the best mode of proceeding, so that when i see you again i may have the benefit of your advice.—yours most sincerely,
george borrow.
to this letter bowring replied the same day. he promised to help in the museum project “by every sort of counsel and creation.” “i should rejoice to see you nicked in the british museum,” he concludes.
p. 88to dr. john bowring
7 museum street, friday evening, may 21, 1830.
my dear sir,—i shall be happy to accept your invitation to meet mr. grundtvig to-morrow morning. as at present no doubt seems to be entertained of prince leopold’s accepting the sovereignty of greece, would you have any objection to write to him concerning me? i should be very happy to go to greece in his service. i do not wish to go in a civil or domestic capacity, and i have, moreover, no doubt that all such situations have been long since filled up; i wish to go in a military one, for which i am qualified by birth and early habits. you might inform the prince that i have been for years on the commander-in-chief’s list for a commission, but that i have not had sufficient interest to procure an appointment. one of my reasons for wishing to reside in greece is, that the mines of eastern literature would be acceptable to me. i should soon become an adept in turkish, and would weave and transmit to you such an anthology as would gladden your very heart. as for the songs of scandinavia, all the ballads would be ready before departure, and as i should take books, i would in a few months send you translations of the modern lyric poetry. i hope this letter will not displease you. i do not write it from flightiness, but from thoughtfulness. i am uneasy to find myself at four and twenty drifting on the sea of the world, and likely to continue so.—yours most sincerely,
g. borrow.
to dr. john bowring.
7 museum st., june 1, 1830.
my dear sir,—i send you hafbur and signe to deposit in the scandinavian treasury, and i should feel obliged by your doing the following things.
1. hunting up and lending me your anglo-saxon dictionary as soon as possible, for grundtvig wishes me to assist him in the translation of some anglo-saxon proverbs.
2. when you write to finn magnussen to thank him for his attention, pray request him to send the feeroiska quida, or popular songs of ferroe, and also broder run’s historie, or the history of friar rush, the book which thiele mentions in his folkesagn.—yours most sincerely,
g. borrow.
to dr. john bowring
7 museum street, june 7, 1830.
my dear sir,—i have looked over mr. grundtvig’s manuscripts. it is a very long affair, and the language is norman-saxon. £40 would not be an extravagant price for a transcript, and so p. 89they told him at the museum. however, as i am doing nothing particular at present, and as i might learn something from transcribing it, i would do it for £20. he will call on you to-morrow morning, and then if you please you may recommend me. the character closely resembles the ancient irish, so i think you can answer for my competency.—yours most truly,
g. borrow.
p.s.—do not lose the original copies of the danish translations which you sent to the foreign quarterly, for i have no duplicates. i think the roses of ingemann was sent; it is not printed; so if it be not returned, we shall have to re-translate it.
to dr. john bowring
7 museum st., sept. 14, 1830.
my dear sir,—i return you the bohemian books. i am going to norwich for some short time as i am very unwell, and hope that cold bathing in october and november may prove of service to me. my complaints are, i believe, the offspring of ennui and unsettled prospects. i have thoughts of attempting to get into the french service, as i should like prodigiously to serve under clausel in the next bedouin campaign. i shall leave london next sunday and will call some evening to take my leave; i cannot come in the morning, as early rising kills me.—most sincerely yours,
g. borrow.
borrow’s next letter to bowring that has been preserved is dated 1835 and was written from portugal. with that i will deal when we come to borrow’s travels in the peninsula. here it sufficeth to note that during the years of borrow’s most urgent need he seems to have found a kind friend if not a very zealous helper in the “old radical” whom he came to hate so cordially.