Chapter IV: Part I: Editiones Principes, Etc (2)

"I subsequently published the Gospel of St. Luke in the Rommany and
Biscayan languages. With respect to the first, I beg leave to
observe that no work printed in Spain ever caused so great and so
general a sensation, not so much amongst the Gypsies, for whom it was
intended, as amongst the Spaniards themselves, who, though they look
upon the Roma with some degree of contempt, nevertheless take a
strange interest in all that concerns them. . . . Respecting the
Gospel in Basque I have less to say. It was originally translated
into the dialect of Guipuscoa by Dr. Oteiza, and subsequently
received corrections and alterations from myself. It can scarcely be
said to have been published, it having been prohibited and copies of
it seized on the second day of its appearance. But it is in my power
to state that it is anxiously expected in the Basque provinces, where
books in the aboriginal tongue are both scarce and dear."--[_Borrow's
Survey of his last two years in Spain_, _printed in his Letters to
the Bible Society_, 1911, pp. 360-361.]

There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Gospel of St. Luke in the dialect of the Spanish Gypsies_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is C.51.aa.12. The Museum also possesses a copy of the Gospel in the Basque dialect; the Pressmark is C.51.aa.13.

[Picture: Title page of Embeo e Majaro Lucas]

(7) [THE ZINCALI: 1841]

The Zincali; / Or, / An Account / of the / Gypsies of Spain. / With / An Original Collection of their / Songs and Poetry, / and / A Copious Dictionary of their Language. / By / George Borrow, / Late Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society / in Spain. / "_For that_, _which is unclean by nature_, _thou canst entertain no hope_: _no_ / _washing will turn the Gypsy white_."--Ferdousi. / In Two Volumes. / Vol. I. [_Vol. II_] / London: / John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1841.

_Vol. I_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. xvi + 362; consisting of: Half-title (with imprint "_G. Woodfall and Son_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. iii-iv; Dedication _To the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon_, _G.C.B._ (with blank reverse) pp. v-vi; _Preface_ pp. vii-xii; Table of _Contents_ pp. xiii-xvi; and Text pp. 1-362, including a separate Fly-title (with blank reverse) to _The Zincali_, _Part II_. There are headlines throughout, each verso being headed _The Zincali_, whilst each recto carries at its head a note of the particular subject occupying it. The imprint is repeated at the foot of p. 362. The signatures are a (six leaves), b (two leaves), B to Q (15 sheets, each 12 leaves), plus R (two leaves). Sig. R 2 is a blank.

_Vol. II_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. vi + 156 + vi + *135; consisting of: Half-title (with imprint "_G. Woodfall and Son_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. iii-iv; Table of _Contents_ pp. v-vi; Fly-title to _The Zincali_, _Part III_ (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Text of _Part III_ (including separate Fly-titles, each with blank reverse, to _The Praise of Buddh_, _On the Language of the Gitanos_, and _Robber Language_) pp. 3-156; Fly-title (with blank reverse) to _The Zincali_. _Vocabulary of their Language_ pp. i-ii; _Advertisement to the Vocabulary_ pp. iii-v; p. vi is blank; Text of the _Vocabulary_ pp. *1-*113; p. *114 is blank; Fly-title (with blank reverse) to _Miscellanies in the Gitano Language_ pp. *115-*116; _Advertisement_ to the _Miscellanies_ p. *117; and Text of the _Miscellanies_ pp. *118-*135. The reverse of p. *135 is blank. There are head-lines throughout, each verso being headed _The Zincali_, whilst each recto carries at its head a note of the particular subject occupying it. The imprint is repeated at the foot of p. *135. The signatures are a (2 leaves), b (one leaf), B to G (6 sheets, each 12 leaves), H (6 leaves), A (3 leaves), B to E (4 sheets, each 12 leaves), F (9 leaves), and G (12 leaves). B 6, B 8, and B 12 are cancel-leaves. The last leaf of Sig. G is occupied by a series of Advertisements of _Works just Published_ by John Murray.

Issued (in _April_, 1841) in dark blue cloth boards, with white paper back-label, lettered "_Borrow's_ / _Gypsies_ / _of_ / _Spain_. / _Two Volumes_. / _Vol. I_. [Vol. II.]." The leaves measure 7.875 x 4.75 inches. The published price was 18_s._

Of the First Edition of _The Zincali_ Seven Hundred and Fifty Copies only were printed. A Second Edition, to which a new Preface was added, was published in _March_, 1843, and a Third in _September_, 1843, each of which was restricted to the same number of copies. The Fourth Edition appeared in 1846, the Fifth in 1870, the Sixth in 1882, the Seventh in 1888, and the Eighth in 1893. The book has since been included in various popular editions, and translated into several foreign languages.

Examples of _The Zincali_ may sometimes be met with bearing dates other than those noted above. These are merely copies of the editions specified, furnished with new title-pages.

Included in the second volume of _The Zincali_ is a considerable amount of verse, as follows:

PAGE

RHYMES OF THE GITANOS. [_Unto a refuge me they led_] 13

THE DELUGE. PART I. [_I with fear and terror quake_] 65

THE DELUGE. PART II. [_When I last did bid farewell_] 75

THE PESTILENCE. [_I'm resolved now to tell_] 85

The whole of the above pieces are accompanied on the opposite pages by the original texts from which Borrow translated them.

POEM, RELATING TO THE WORSHIP OF THE GREAT FOUTSA OR 94 BUDDH. [_Should I Foutsa's force and glory_]

Previously printed in _Targum_, 1835, p. 13.

There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Zincali_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 1429.g.14.

(8) [THE BIBLE IN SPAIN: 1843.]

The / Bible in Spain; / Or, the / Journeys, Adventures, and Imprisonments / Of an Englishman, / in / An Attempt to Circulate the Scriptures / in / The Peninsula. / By George Borrow, / Author of "The Gypsies of Spain." / In three volumes. / Vol. I. [Vol. II, etc.] / London: / John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1843.

_Vol. I_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo pp. xxiv + 370; consisting of: Half-title (with imprint "_G. Woodfall and Son_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. iii-iv; _Contents of Vol. i_ pp. v-viii; _Preface_ pp. ix-xxiv; and Text pp. 1-370. There are head-lines throughout, each verso being headed _The Bible in Spain_ together with the number of the Chapter, whilst each recto carries at its head a note of the particular subject occupying it, with the Chapter number repeated. The imprint is repeated at the foot of p. 370. The signatures are A to Q (sixteen sheets, each 12 leaves), plus R (a half-sheet of 6 leaves). The last leaf of sig. R carries a series of Advertisements of books published by John Murray.

_Vol. II_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. viii + 398; consisting of Half-title (with imprint "_G. Woodfall and Son_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. iii-iv; _Contents of Vol. ii._ pp. v-viii; and _Text_ pp. 1-398. There are headlines throughout, as in the first volume. The imprint is repeated at the foot of p. 398. The signatures are A (four leaves), B to R (sixteen sheets, each 12 leaves), plus S (8 leaves). The last leaf of Sig. R carries a series of Advertisements of books published by John Murray.

_Vol. III_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. viii + 391; consisting of: Half-title (with imprint "_G. Woodfall and Son_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. iii-iv; _Contents of Vol iii_ pp. v-viii; and Text pp. 1-391. There are headlines throughout, as in the two preceding volumes. The reverse of p. 391 is occupied by Advertisements of _Romantic Ballads_, _Targum_, and _The Zincali_. The imprint is repeated at the foot of p. 391. The signatures are a (2 leaves), b (2 leaves), B to R (sixteen sheets, each 12 leaves), plus S (4 leaves).

Issued (in _December_, 1842) in deep claret-coloured cloth boards, with white paper back-label, lettered "_The_ | _Bible_ | _in_ | _Spain_ | _Vol. I_. [_Vol. II_, &c.]." The leaves measure 7.75 x 4.75 inches. The published price was 27_s._

Although the title page of the First Edition of _The Bible in Spain_ is dated 1843, there can be no doubt that the book was ready early in the preceding December. I have in my own library a copy, still in the original cloth boards, with the following inscription in Borrow's handwriting upon the flyleaf:

[Picture: Borrow's inscription]

Autographed presentation copies of Borrow's books are remarkably few in number, I only know of four, in addition to the above. One of these is preserved in the Borrow Museum, at Norwich.

Of the First Edition of _The Bible in Spain_ One Thousand Copies were printed. The Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Editions were all published in 1843. By 1896 eighteen authorised editions had made their appearance. Since that date the book has been re-issued in numberless popular editions, and has been translated into various foreign languages.

The following verses made their first appearance in _The Bible in Spain_:

VOL. I., PAGE

FRAGMENT OF A SPANISH HYMN. [_Once of old upon 67 a mountain_, _shepherds overcome with sleep_]

LINES FROM AN EASTERN POET. [_I'll weary 149 myself each night and each day_]

A GACHAPLA. [_I stole a plump and bonny fowl_] 175

VOL. II., PAGE

FRAGMENT OF A PATRIOTIC SONG. [_Don Carlos is 141 a hoary churl_]

SAINT JAMES. [_Thou shield of that faith which 176 in Spain we revere_]

A reduced facsimile of the first page of the Manuscript of _Saint James_ will be found facing the present page.

LINES. [_May the Lord God preserve us from 310 evil birds three_]

LINES. [_A handless man a letter did write_] 312

There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Bible in Spain_ in the Library of the British Museum. The press-mark is 1369.f 23.

[Picture: Manuscript of The Hymn to St. James]

(9) [REVIEW OF FORD'S "HAND-BOOK FOR TRAVELLERS IN SPAIN": 1845]

Art.--Hand-book for Travellers in Spain. London: 2 Vols. / post 8vo. 1845.

Collation:--Folio, pp. 12. There is no Title-page proper, the title, as above, being imposed upon the upper portion of the first page, after the manner of a 'dropped head.' The head-line is _Spanish Hand-book_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. There is no printer's imprint. There are also no signatures; but the pamphlet is composed of three sheets, each two leaves, making twelve pages in all.

Issued stitched, and without wrappers. The leaves measure 13.5 x 8.5 inches. The pamphlet is undated. It was printed in 1845.

This _Review_ is unquestionably the rarest of the First Editions of Borrow's Works. No more than two copies would appear to have been struck off, and both are fortunately extant to-day. One of these was formerly in the possession of Dr. William I. Knapp, and is now the property of the Hispanic Society, of New York. The second example is in my own library. This was Borrow's own copy, and is freely corrected in his characteristic handwriting. A greatly reduced facsimile of the last page of the pamphlet is given herewith.

In 1845 Richard Ford published his _Hand-Book for Travellers in Spain and Readers at Home_ [2 Vols. 8vo.], a work, the compilation of which is said to have occupied its author for more than sixteen years. In conformity with the wish of Ford (who had himself favourably reviewed _The Bible in Spain_) Borrow undertook to produce a study of the _Hand-Book_ for _The Quarterly Review_. The above Essay was the result.

But the Essay, brilliant though it is, was not a 'Review.' Not until page 6 is the _Hand-Book_ even mentioned, and but little concerning it appears thereafter. Lockhart, then editing the _Quarterly_, proposed to render it more suitable for the purpose for which it had been intended by himself interpolating a series of extracts from Ford's volumes. But Borrow would tolerate no interference with his work, and promptly withdrew the Essay, which had meanwhile been set up in type. The following letter, addressed by Lockhart to Ford, sufficiently explains the position:

_London_,
_June_ 13_th_, 1845.

_Dear Ford_,

'_El Gitano_' _sent me a paper on the_ "_Hand-Book_" _which I read
with delight_. _It seemed just another capital chapter of his_
"_Bible in Spain_" _and I thought_, _as there was hardly a word of_
'_review_,' _and no extract giving the least notion of the peculiar
merits and style of the_ "_Hand-Book_," _that I could easily_ (_as is
my constant custom_) _supply the humbler part myself_, _and so
present at once a fair review of the work_, _and a lively specimen of
our friend's vein of eloquence in exordio_.

_But_, _behold_! _he will not allow any tampering_ . . . . _I now
write to condole with you_; _for I am very sensible_, _after all_,
_that you run a great risk in having your book committed to hands far
less competent for treating it or any other book of Spanish interest
than Borrow's would have been_ . . ._ and I consider that_, _after
all_, _in the case of a new author_, _it is the first duty of the_
"_Quarterly Review_" _to introduce that author fully and fairly to
the public_.

_Ever Yours Truly_,
_J. G. Lockhart_.

"Our author pictures Gibraltar as a human entity thus addressing
Spain:

_Accursed land_! _I hate thee_, _and far from being a defence_,
_will invariably prove a thorn in thy side_.

And so on through many sentences of excited rhetoric. Borrow forgot
while he wrote that he had a book to review--a book, moreover, issued
by the publishing house which issued the periodical in which his
review was to appear."--[_George Borrow and his Circle_, 1913, p.
257].

In 1913 Borrow's _Review_ was reprinted in the following Pamphlet:

_A_ / _Supplementary Chapter_ / _to_ / _The Bible in Spain_ / _Inspired by_ / _Ford's_ "_Handbook for Travellers in Spain_." / _By_ / _George Borrow_ / _London_: / _Printed for Private Circulation_ / 1913.--Square demy 8vo, pp. 46. [See _post_, No. 10.]

[Picture: Printed extract from the Review with hand-written notes]

[Picture: Title page of Supplementary Chapter to The Bible in Spain,
1913]

(10) [A SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER TO "THE BIBLE IN SPAIN": 1913]

A / Supplementary Chapter / to / The Bible in Spain / Inspired by / Ford's "Handbook for Travellers in Spain." / By / George Borrow / London: / Printed for Private Circulation / 1913.

Collation:--Square demy octavo, pp. 46; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. 1-2; Frontispiece (with blank recto) pp. 3-4; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. 5-6; _Prefatory Note_ (signed '_T. J. W._') pp. 7-10; and text of the _Chapter pp._ 11-46. There are head-lines throughout, each verso being headed _A Supplementary Chapter_, and each recto _To the Bible in Spain_. Following p. 46 is a leaf, with blank recto, and with the following imprint upon the reverse, "_London_: / _Printed for Thomas J. Wise_, _Hampstead_, _N. W._ / _Edition limited to Thirty Copies_." The signatures are A to C (3 sheets, each 8 leaves), inset within each other.

Issued in bright green paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges, and with the title-page reproduced upon the front. The leaves measure 8.75 x 6.875 inches.

Thirty Copies only were printed.

The Frontispiece consists of a greatly reduced facsimile of the last page, bearing Borrow's corrections, of the original edition of his _Review of Ford's_ '_Hand-Book_.'

This _Supplementary Chapter to_ "_The Bible in Spain_" is a reprint of the Review of Ford's _Hand-book for Travellers in Spain_ written by Borrow in 1845 for insertion in _The Quarterly Review_, but withdrawn by him in consequence of the proposal made by the Editor, John Gibson Lockhart, that he should himself introduce into Borrow's Essay a series of extracts from the _Handbook_. [See _ante_, No. 9.]

Included in the _Prefatory Note_ is the following amusing squib, written by Borrow in 1845, but never printed by him. I chanced to light upon the Manuscript in a packet of his still unpublished verse:

_Would it not be more dignified_
_To run up debts on every side_,
_And then to pay your debts refuse_,
_Than write for rascally Reviews_?
_And lectures give to great and small_,
_In pot-house_, _theatre_, _and town-hall_,
_Wearing your brains by night and day_
_To win the means to pay your way_?
_I vow by him who reigns in_ [_hell_],
_It would be more respectable_!

There is a copy of _A Supplementary Chapter to_ "_The Bible in Spain_" in the Library of the British Museum. The press-mark is C. 57. d. 19 (2).

[Picture: Manuscript of verse on reviewing]

(11) [LAVENGRO: 1851]

Lavengro; / The Scholar--The Gypsy--The Priest. / By George Borrow, / Author of "The Bible in Spain," and "The Gypsies of Spain" / In Three Volumes.--Vol. I. [_Vol. II._, _&c._] / London: / John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1851.

_Vol. I_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. xviii {85} + 360; consisting of: Half-title (with imprint "_London_: / _George Woodfall and Son_, / _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_" upon the centre of the reverse). Pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with Advertisements of _The Bible in Spain_ and _The Zincali_ upon the reverse) pp. iii-iv; _Preface_ pp. v-xii; and Text pp. 1-360. At the foot of p. 360 the imprint is repeated thus, "_G. Woodfall and Son_, _Printers_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_." There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the number of the chapter, together with the title of the individual subject occupying it. The signatures are A (nine leaves, a single leaf being inserted between A 6 and A 7), and B to Q (fifteen sheets, each 12 leaves).

A Portrait of Borrow, engraved by W. Holl from a painting by H. W.
Phillips, serves as Frontispiece.

_Vol. II_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. xii + 366; consisting of: Half-title (with imprint "_London_: / _George Woodfall and Son_, / _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with Advertisements of _The Bible in Spain_ and _The Zincali_ upon the reverse) pp. iii-iv; _Contents_ of Vol. II pp. v-xi; p. xii is blank; and Text pp. 1-366. At the foot of p. 366 the imprint is repeated thus, "_G. Woodfall and Son_, _Printers_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_." There are head-lines throughout, as in the first volume. The signatures are _a_ (2 leaves), _b_ (4 leaves), B to Q (fifteen sheets, each 12 leaves), plus R (3 leaves).

_Vol. III_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. xii + 426; consisting of: Half-title (with imprint "_London_: / _George Woodfall and Son_, / _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with Advertisements of _The Bible in Spain_ and _The Zincali_ upon the reverse) pp. iii-iv; _Contents_ of Vol. III pp. v-xi; p. xii is blank; and Text pp. 1-426. At the foot of p. 426 the imprint is repeated thus, "_G. Woodfall and Son_, _Printers_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_." There are head-lines throughout, as in the first volume. The signatures are _a_ (2 leaves), _b_ (4 leaves), B to S (seventeen sheets, each 12 leaves), T (6 leaves), and U (3 leaves).

Issued in dark blue cloth boards, with white paper back-labels, lettered "_Lavengro_; / _the_ / _Scholar_, / _the Gypsy_, / _and_ / _the Priest_. / _By George Borrow_ / _Vol. i_. [_Vol. ii_., _&c._]" The leaves measure 7.75 x 4.875 inches. The edition consisted of 3,000 Copies. The published price was 30_s._

A Second Edition (miscalled _Third Edition_) was issued in 1872; a Third (miscalled _Fourth_) in 1888; and a Fourth (miscalled _Fifth_) in 1896. To the edition of 1872 was prefixed a new _Preface_, in which Borrow replied to his critics in a somewhat angry and irritable manner. Copies of the First Edition of _Lavengro_ are to be met with, the three volumes bound in one, in original publishers' cloth, bearing the name of the firm of Chapman and Hall upon the back. These copies are 'remainders.' They were made up in 1870. It is by no means unlikely that in 1872 some confusion prevailed as to the nature of this subsidiary issue, and that it was mistaken for a Second Edition of the book. If so the incorrect numbering of the edition of that date, the actual Second Edition, may be readily accounted for.

An important edition of _Lavengro_ is:

_Lavengro_ / _By George Borrow_ / _A New Edition_ / _Containing the unaltered Text of the Original Issue_; / _some Suppressed Passages now printed for the_ / _first time_; _MS. Variorum_, _Vocabulary and Notes_ / _By the Author of_ / _The Life of George Borrow_ / _London_ / _John Murray_, _Albemarle Street_ / 1900.--Crown 8vo, pp. xxviii + 569.

The book was reprinted in 1911. The Editor was Dr. William Knapp.

An edition of _Lavengro_, with a valuable Introduction by Mr. Theodore Watts-Dunton, was published by Messrs. Ward, Lock & Co., in 1893. The work is also included in _Everyman's Library_, and in other series of popular reprints.

When put to press in February, 1849, the first volume of _Lavengro_ was set up with the title-page reading as follows:--

_Life_, _A Drama_. / _By_ / _George Borrow_, _Esq._, / _Author of_ "_The Bible in Spain_," _etc._ / _In Three Volumes_. / _Vol. i_. / _London_: / _John Murray_, _Albemarle Street_. / 1849.

Only two examples of the volume with this interesting early title-page are known to have survived. One of these is now in the possession of the Hispanic Society, of New York. The other is the property of Mr. Otto Kyllmann.

Later in the same year Murray advertised the work under the following title:--

_Lavengro_, _An Autobiography_. _By George Borrow_, _Esq._, _&c._

The same title was employed in the advertisements of 1850.

Mr. Clement Shorter possesses the original draft of the first portion of _Lavengro_. In this draft the title-page appears in its earliest form, and describes the book as _Some Account of the Life_, _Pursuits_, _and Adventures of a Norfolk Man_. A facsimile of this tentative title was given by Mr. Shorter in _George Borrow and his Circle_, 1913, p. 280.

"Borrow took many years to write _Lavengro_. 'I am writing the
work,' he told Dawson Turner, 'in precisely the same manner as _The
Bible in Spain_, viz. on blank sheets of old account-books, backs of
letters,' &c., and he recalls Mahomet writing the Koran on mutton
bones as an analogy to his own 'slovenliness of manuscript.' I have
had plenty of opportunity of testing this slovenliness in the
collection of manuscripts of portions of _Lavengro_ that have come
into my possession. These are written upon pieces of paper of all
shapes and sizes, although at least a third of the book in Borrow's
very neat handwriting is contained in a leather notebook. The
title-page demonstrates the earliest form of Borrow's conception.
Not only did he then contemplate an undisguised autobiography, but
even described himself as 'a Norfolk man.' Before the book was
finished, however, he repudiated the autobiographical note, and we
find him fiercely denouncing his critics for coming to such a
conclusion. 'The writer,' he declares, 'never said it was an
autobiography; never authorised any person to say it was one.' Which
was doubtless true, in a measure."--[_George Borrow and his Circle_,
1913, pp. 279-281].

There is a copy of the First Edition of _Lavengro_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 12622. f. 7.

(12.) [THE ROMANY RYE: 1857]

The / Romany Rye; / A Sequel to "Lavengro." / By George Borrow, / Author of / "The Bible in Spain," "The Gypsies of Spain," etc. / "_Fear God_, _and take your own part_." / In Two Volumes.--Vol. I. [_Vol. II._] / London: John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1857. / [The Right of Translation is reserved.]

_Vol. I_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. xii + 372; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with imprint "_London_: _Woodfall and Kinder_, _Printers_, / _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_" at the foot of the reverse) pp. iii-iv; Preface (styled _Advertisement_) pp. v-vi; Table of _Contents_ pp. vii-xi; Extract from _Pleasantries of the Cogia Nasr Eddin Efendi_ p. xii; and Text pp. 1-372. The head-line is _The Romany Rye_ throughout, upon both sides of the page; each page also bears at its head the number of the particular Chapter occupying it. At the foot of p. 372 the imprint is repeated thus, "_Woodfall and Kinder_, _Printers_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_." The signatures are A (a half-sheet of 6 leaves), B to Q (15 sheets, each 12 leaves), plus R (a half-sheet of 6 leaves).

_Vol. II_.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. viii + 375 + ix; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with imprint "_London_: _Woodfall and Kinder_, _Printers_, / _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_" at the foot of the reverse) pp. iii-iv; Table of _Contents_ pp. v-vii; p. viii is blank; and Text pp. 1-375. The reverse of p. 375 is blank. The volume is completed by eight unnumbered pages of Advertisements of _Works by the Author of_ "_The Bible in Spain_" _ready for the Press_. There are head-lines throughout; up to, and including, p. 244 the head-line is _The Romany Rye_, together with the numbers of the Chapters, pp. 245-375 are headed _Appendix_, accompanied by the numbers of the Chapters. At the foot of the last of the eight unnumbered pages carrying the Advertisements (Sig. R 12 verso) the imprint is repeated thus, "_Woodfall and Kinder_, _Printers_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_." The signatures are A (four leaves), plus B to R (16 sheets, each 12 leaves).

Issued (on _April_ 30_th_, 1857) in dark blue cloth boards, with white paper back-labels, lettered "_The_ / _Romany Rye_. / _By_ / _George Borrow_. / _Vol. I_. [_Vol. II_.]" The leaves measure 7.875 x 5 inches.

Of the First Edition of _The Romany Rye_ One Thousand Copies were printed. The published price was 21_s._ A Second Edition was published in 1858, a Third in 1872, a Fourth in 1888, and a Fifth in 1896. The book is included in _Everyman's Library_, and in other series of popular reprints.

The series of Advertisements of _Works_ by Borrow, announced as "Ready for the Press," which occupy the last eight pages of the second volume of _The Romany Rye_ are of especial interest. No less than twelve distinct works are included in these advertisements. Of these twelve _The Bible in Spain_ was already in the hands of the public, _Wild Wales_ duly appeared in 1862, and _The Sleeping Bard_ in 1860. These three were all that Borrow lived to see in print. Two others, _The Turkish Jester_ and _The Death of Balder_, were published posthumously in 1884 and 1889 respectively; but the remaining seven, _Celtic Bards_, _Chiefs_, _and Kings_, _Songs of Europe_, _Koempe Viser_, _Penquite and Pentyre_, _Russian Popular Tales_, _Northern Skalds_, _Kings_, _and Earls_, and _Bayr Jairgey and Glion Doo_: _The Red Path and the Black Valley_, were never destined to see the light. However, practically the whole of the verse prepared for them was included in the series of Pamphlets which have been printed for private circulation during the past twelve months.

As was the case with _Lavengro_, Borrow delayed the completion of _The Romany Rye_ to an extent that much disconcerted his publisher, John Murray. The correspondence which passed between author and publisher is given at some length by Dr. Knapp, in whose pages the whole question is fully discussed.

Mr. Shorter presents the matter clearly and fairly in the paragraphs he devotes to the subject:

"The most distinctly English book--at least in a certain absence of
cosmopolitanism--that Victorian literature produced was to a great
extent written on scraps of paper during a prolonged Continental tour
which included Constantinople and Budapest. In _Lavengro_ we have
only half a book, the whole work, which included what came to be
published as _The Romany Rye_, having been intended to appear in four
volumes. The first volume was written in 1843, the second in 1845,
and the third volume in the years between 1845 and 1848. Then in
1852 Borrow wrote out an advertisement of a fourth volume, which runs
as follows:

_Shortly will be published in one volume_. _Price_ 10_s._ _The
Rommany Rye_, _Being the fourth volume of Lavengro_. _By George
Borrow_, _author of The Bible in Spain_.

But this volume did not make an appearance 'shortly.' Its author was
far too much offended with the critics, too disheartened it may be,
to care to offer himself again for their gibes. The years rolled on,
and not until 1857 did _The Romany Rye_ appear. The book was now in
two volumes, and we see that the word _Romany_ had dropped an _m_. .
. .

The incidents of _Lavengro_ are supposed to have taken place between
the 24_th_ of _May_ 1825, and the 18_th of July_ of that year. In
_The Romany Rye_ the incidents apparently occur between the 19_th_ of
_July_ and the 3_rd_ of _August_ 1825. In the opinion of Mr. John
Sampson, the whole of the episodes in the five volumes occurred in
seventy-two days."--[_George Borrow and his Circle_, 1913, pp.
341-343.]

A useful edition of _The Romany Rye_ is:

_The Romany Rye_ / _A Sequel to_ "_Lavengro_" / _By George Borrow_ / _A New Edition_ / _Containing the unaltered text of the Original_ / _Issue_, _with Notes_, _etc._, _by the Author of_ / "_The Life of George Borrow_" / _London_ / _John Murray_, _Albemarle Street_ / 1900.--Crown 8vo. pp. xvi + 403.

The book was edited by Dr. William Knapp.

There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Romany Rye_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 12622. f. 8.

(13) [THE SLEEPING BARD: 1860]

The Sleeping Bard; / Or / Visions of the World, Death, and Hell, / By / Elis Wyn. / Translated from the Cambrian British / By / George Borrow, / Author of/ "The Bible in Spain," "The Gypsies of Spain," etc. / London: / John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1860.

Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. x + 128; consisting of: Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. i-ii; _Preface_ pp. iii-vii; p. viii is blank; Fly-title to _A Vision of the Course of the World_ (with blank reverse) pp. ix-x; and Text of the three _Visions_ pp. 1-128. There are head-lines throughout, each double-page being headed with the title of the particular _Vision_ occupying it. _A Vision of Hell_ is preceded by a separate Fly-title (pp. 67-68) with blank reverse. At the foot of p. 128 is the following imprint, "_James M. Denew_, _Printer_, 72, _Hall Plain_, _Great Yarmouth_." The sheets carry no register. The book was issued without any Half-title. In some copies the Christian name of the printer is misprinted _Jamms_.

Issued (in _June_, 1860) in magenta coloured cloth boards, lettered in gold along the back, "_The Sleeping Bard_," and "_London_ / _John Murray_" across the foot. The published price was 5_s._; 250 copies were printed. Murray's connection with the work was nominal. The book was actually issued at Yarmouth by J. M. Denew, the printer by whom it was produced. The cost was borne by the author himself, to whom the majority of the copies were ultimately delivered.

Some few copies of _The Sleeping Bard_ would appear to have been put up in yellowish-brown plain paper wrappers, with untrimmed edges. One such example is in the possession of Mr. Paul Lemperley, of Cleveland, Ohio; a second is in the library of Mr. Clement Shorter. The leaves of both these copies measure 8.75 x 5.75 inches. The leaves of ordinary copies in cloth measure 7.5 x 4.75 inches. The translation was made in 1830.

The text of _The Sleeping Bard_ is divided into three sections. Each of these sections closes with a poem of some length, as follows:--

PAGE

1. The Perishing World. [_O man_, _upon this building 38 gaze_]

2. Death the Great. [_Leave land and house we must some 63 day_]

In the printed text the seventh stanza of _Death the Great_ reads thus:

_The song and dance afford_, _I ween_,
_Relief from spleen_, _and sorrows grave_;
_How very strange there is no dance_,
_Nor tune of France_, _from Death can save_!

About the year 1871 Borrow re-wrote this stanza, as follows:

_The song and dance can drive_, _they say_,
_The spleen away_, _and humour's grave_;
_Why hast thou not devised_, _O France_!
_Some tune and dance_, _from Death to save_?

As was invariably the case with Borrow, his revision was a vast improvement upon the original version.

3. The Heavy Heart. [_Heavy's the heart with wandering 124 below_]

The Manuscript of _The Sleeping Bard_ was formerly in the possession of Dr. Knapp. It is now the property of the Hispanic Society, of New York. It extends to 74 pages 4to.

There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Sleeping Bard_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 12355. c. 17.

(14) [WILD WALES: 1862]

Wild Wales: / Its People, Language, and Scenery. / By George Borrow, / Author of "The Bible in Spain," etc. / "_Their Lord they shall praise_, / _Their language they shall keep_, / _Their land they shall lose_, / _Except Wild Wales_." / Taliesin: Destiny of the Britons. / In Three Volumes.--Vol. I. [_Vol. II_, _&c._] / London: / John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1862. / The right of Translation is reserved.

Vol. I.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. xii + 410; consisting of: Half-title (with advertisements of five of Borrow's _Works_ upon the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with imprint "_London_: / _Printed by Woodfall and Kinder_, / _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. iii-iv; Notice regarding the previous appearance of a portion of the work in _The Quarterly Review_ (with blank reverse) pp. v-vi; _Contents of Vol. I_ pp. vii-xi; p. xii is blank; and Text pp. 1-410. There are head-lines throughout, each verso being headed _Wild Wales_, whilst each recto is headed with the title of the particular subject occupying it. At the foot of p. 410 the imprint is repeated thus: "_Woodfall and Kinder_, _Printers_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_." The signatures are A (a half-sheet of 6 leaves), B to S (17 sheets, each 12 leaves), plus T (2 leaves). The second leaf of Sig. T is a blank.

Vol. II.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. viii + 413; consisting of: Title-page, as above (with imprint "_London_: / _Printed by Woodfall and Kinder_, / _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; _Contents of Vol. II_ pp. v-vii; p. viii is blank; and Text pp. 1-413. The reverse of p. 413 is blank. There are head-lines throughout, as in the first volume. At the foot of p. 413 the imprint is repeated thus, "_Woodfall and Kinder_, _Printers_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_." The signatures are A (4 leaves), B to S (17 sheets, each 12 leaves), plus T (4 leaves). The last leaf of Sig. T is a blank. The volume was issued without any Half-title.

Vol. III.

Collation:--Large duodecimo, pp. viii + 474; consisting of: Title-page, as above (with imprint "_London_: / _Printed by Woodfall and Kinder_, / _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; _Contents of Vol. III_ pp. iii-viii; and Text pp. 1-474. There are head-lines throughout, as in the first volume. At the foot of p. 474 the imprint is repeated thus, "_Woodfall and Kinder_, _Printers_, _Angel Court_, _Skinner Street_, _London_." The signatures are A (8 leaves), B to U (18 sheets, each 12 leaves), plus X (10 leaves). The last leaf of Sig. H is a blank. The volume was issued without any Half-title.

Issued (in _December_, 1862) in dark green cloth boards, with white paper back-label, lettered "_Wild Wales_. / _By_ / _George Borrow_. / _Vol. I_ [Vol. ii, &c.]." The leaves measure 7.625 x 4.875 inches. The published price was 30_s._; 1,000 copies were printed.

A Second Edition of _Wild Wales_ was issued in 1865, a Third Edition in 1888, and a Fourth Edition in 1896. The book has since been included in divers series of non-copyright works.

The following Poems made their first appearance in the pages of _Wild Wales_:

VOL. I

PAGE

CHESTER ALE. [_Chester ale_, _Chester ale_! _I could 18 ne'er get it down_]

Another, widely different, version of these lines exist in manuscript. It reads as follows:

_On the Ale of Chester_.

_Of Chester the ale has but sorry renown_,
'_Tis made of ground-ivy_, _of dust_, _and of
bran_;
'_Tis as thick as a river belough a hugh town_,
'_Tis not lap for a dog_, _far less drink for a
man_.

SAXONS AND BRITONS. [_A serpent which coils_] 48

Previously printed in _The Quarterly Review_, _January_ 1861, p. 42.

TRANSLATION OF A WELSH ENGLYN UPON DINAS BRAN. [_Gone_, 61 _gone are thy gates_, _Dinas Bran on the height_!]

LINES FOUND ON THE TOMB OF MADOC. [_Here after sailing 105 far I Madoc lie_]

THE LASSIES OF COUNTY MERION. [_Full fair the gleisiad 153 in the flood_]

This was one stanza only, the fifth, of the complete poem _The Cookoo's Song in Merion_, which Borrow translated some years later, and which was first printed in _Ermeline_, 1913, pp. 21-23. The text of the two versions of this stanza differ considerably.

STANZA ON THE STONE OF JANE WILLIAMS. [_Though thou art 161 gone to dwelling cold_]

THE MIST. [_O ho_! _thou villain mist_, _O ho_!] 173

Although Borrow translated the whole poem, he omitted 24 lines (the 14 opening and 10 closing lines) when printing it in _Wild Wales_. Here are the missing lines, which I give from the original Manuscript:

_A tryste with Morfydd true I made_,
'_Twas not the first_,_ in greenwood glade_,
_In hope to make her flee with me_;
_But useless all_, _as you will see_.

_I went betimes_, _lest she should grieve_,
_Then came a mist at close of eve_;
_Wide o'er the path by which I passed_,
_Its mantle dim and murk it cast_.
_That mist ascending met the sky_,
_Forcing the daylight from my eye_.
_I scarce had strayed a furlong's space_
_When of all things I lost the trace_.
_Where was the grove and waving grain_?
_Where was the mountain hill and main_?

* * * * *

_Before me all affright and fear_,
_Above me darkness dense and drear_,
_My way at length I weary found_,
_Into a swaggy willow ground_,
_Where staring in each nook there stood_
_Of wry mouthed elves a wrathful brood_.

_Full oft I sank in that false soil_,
_My legs were lamed with length of toil_.
_However hard the case may be_
_No meetings more in mist for me_.

Two of the above lines, somewhat differently worded, were given in _Wild Wales_, Vol. i, p. 184.

LINES DESCRIPTIVE OF THE EAGERNESS OF A SOUL TO REACH 251 PARADISE. [_Now to my rest I hurry away_]

FILICAIA'S SONNET ON ITALY. [_O Italy_! _on whom dark 290 Destiny_]

TRANSLATION OF AN ENGLYN FORETELLING TRAVELLING BY STEAM. 341 [_I got up in Mona_, _as soon as_ '_twas light_]

TRANSLATION OF A WELSH STANZA ABOUT SNOWDON. [_Easy to 360 say_ '_Behold Eryri_']

STANZAS ON THE SNOW OF SNOWDON. [_Cold is the snow on 365 Snowdon's brow_]

VOL. II

LINES FROM BLACK ROBIN'S ODE IN PRAISE OF ANGLESEY. 33 [_Twelve sober men the muses woo_]

LINES ON A SPRING. [_The wild wine of Nature_] 112

THINGS WRITTEN IN A GARDEN. [_In a garden the first of 158 our race was deceived_]

EL PUNTO DE LA VANA. [_Never trust the sample when you 215 go your cloth to buy_]

LLANGOLLEN'S ALE. [_Llangollen's brown ale is with malt 275 and hop rife_]

POVERTY AND RICHES. AN INTERLUDE. [_O Riches_, _thy 328 figure is charming and bright_]

A reduced facsimile of the first page of the Manuscript of this _Interlude_ is given herewith, facing page 99.

AN ODE TO SYCHARK. BY IOLO GOCH. [_Twice have I pledged 392 my word to thee_]

VOL. III

TRANSLATION OF A WELSH ENGLYN ON THE RHYADR. [_Foaming 12 and frothing from mountainous height_]

ODE TO OWEN GLENDOWER. [_Here's the life I've sigh'd for 98 long_]

ODE TO A YEW TREE. [_Thou noble tree_; _who shelt'rest 203 kind_]

LINES. [_From high Plynlimmon's shaggy side_] 219

ODE TO A YEW TREE. [_O tree of yew_, _which here I spy_] 247

This is another, and extended, version of the _Ode_ printed on p. 203 of _Wild Wales_. Yet another version, differing from both, is printed in _Alf the Freebooter and Other Ballads_, 1913, p. 27.

LINES FROM ODE TO THE PLOUGHMAN, BY IOLO GOCH. [_The 292 mighty Hu who lives for ever_]

Previously printed, with some verbal differences, in _The Quarterly Review_, _January_ 1861, p. 40.

LINES ON A TOMB-STONE. [_Thou earth from earth reflect 301 with anxious mind_]

ODE TO GRIFFITH AP NICHOLAS. [_Griffith ap Nicholas_, 327 _who like thee_]

The first six lines of this Ode had previously appeared in _The Quarterly Review_, _January_ 1861, p. 50.

GOD'S BETTER THAN ALL. [_God's better than heaven or 335 aught therein_]

A reduced facsimile of the first page of the Manuscript of _God's Better than All_ will be found facing the present page.

AB GWILYM'S ODE TO THE SUN AND GLAMORGAN. [_Each morn_, 377 _benign of countenance_]

There is a copy of the First Edition of _Wild Wales_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 10369. e. 12.

[Picture: Manuscript of Poverty and Riches]

[Picture: Manuscript of God's Better than all]

(15) [ROMANO LAVO-LIL: 1874]

Romano Lavo-Lil: / Word-Book of the Romany; / or, / English Gypsy Language. / With many pieces in Gypsy, illustrative of the way of / Speaking and Thinking of the English Gypsies; / with Specimens of their Poetry, and an account of certain Gypsyries / or Places Inhabited by them, and of various things / relating to Gypsy Life in England. / By George Borrow, / Author of "Lavengro," "The Romany Rye," "The Gypsies of Spain," / "The Bible in Spain," etc. / "_Can you rokra Romany_? / _Can you play the bosh_? / _Can you jal adrey the staripen_? / _Can you chin the cost_?" / "_Can you speak the Roman tongue_? / _Can you play the fiddle_? / _Can you eat the prison-loaf_? / _Can you cut and whittle_? / London: / John Murray, Albemarle Street. / 1874.

Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. viii + 331; consisting of: Half-title (with blank reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with imprint "_London_: / _Printed by William Clowes and Sons_, / _Stamford Street and Charing Cross_" upon the centre of the reverse) pp. iii-iv; Prefatory Note regarding the _Vocabulary_ p. v; Advertisements of five _Works of George Borrow_ p. vi; Table of _Contents_ pp. vii-viii; and Text pp. 1-331, including Fly-titles (each with blank reverse) to each section of the book. The reverse of p. 331 is blank. At the foot of p. 331 the imprint is repeated thus, "_London_: _Printed by Wm. Clowes and Sons_, _Stamford Street_ / _and Charing Cross_." There are head-lines throughout, each page being headed with the title of the particular subject occupying it. The signatures, are A (a half-sheet of 4 leaves), B to X (20 sheets, each 8 leaves), Y (a half-sheet of 4 leaves), and Z (a quarter-sheet of 2 leaves).

Issued in dark blue cloth boards, with white paper back-label, lettered "_Romano Lavo-Lil_; / _Word-Book_ / _of_ / _The Romany_. / _By_ / _George Borrow_." The leaves measure 7.75 x 4.875 inches. The published price was 10_s._ 6_d._

One Thousand Copies were printed.

The book was set up in type towards the end of 1873, and published early in 1874. Proof-sheets still exist bearing the earlier date upon the title-page.

A considerable amount of Verse by Borrow made its first appearance in the pages of _Romano Lavo-Lil_, as detailed in the following list:

_Contents_

PAGE

LITTLE SAYINGS:

1. [ _Whatever ignorance men may show_] 109

2. [_What must I do_, _mother_, _to make you well_?] 111

3. [_I would rather hear him speak than hear Lally 115 sing_]

ENGLISH GYPSY SONGS:

1. The Gypsy Meeting. [_Who's your mother_, _who's your 175 father_?]

2. Making a Fortune (1). [_Come along_, _my little 177 gypsy girl_]

3. Making a Fortune (2). [_Come along_, _my little 179 gypsy girl_]

THE TWO GYPSIES. [_Two gypsy lads were transported_] 181

MY ROMAN LASS. [_As I to the town was going one day_] 183

This is the first stanza only of _The English Gypsy_. The complete Song will be found in _Marsk Stig's Daughters and Other_ _Songs and Ballads_, 1913, pp. 14-15. Here is the concluding stanza, omitted in _Romano Lavo-Lil_:

_As I to the town was going one day_,
_I met a young Roman upon the way_.
_Said he_, "_Young maid will you share my lot_?"
_Said I_, "_Another wife you've got_."
"_No_, _no_!" _the handsome young Roman cried_,
"_No wife have I in the world so wide_;
_And you my wedded wife shall be_,
_If you will share my lot with me_."

YES, MY GIRL. [_If to me you prove untrue_] 185

THE YOUTHFUL EARL. [_Said the youthful earl to the Gypsy 185 girl_]

LOVE SONG. [_I'd choose as pillows for my head_] 187

WOE IS ME. [_I'm sailing across the water_] 189

THE SQUIRE AND LADY. [_The squire he roams the good 191 greenwood_]

GYPSY LULLABY. [_Sleep thee_, _little tawny boy_!] 193

OUR BLESSED QUEEN. [_Coaches fine in London_] 195

RUN FOR IT. [_Up_, _up_, _brothers_!] 195

This is the first stanza only of the _Gypsy Song_, printed complete in _Marsk Stig's Daughters and other Songs and Ballads_, 1913, p. 16.

THE ROMANY SONGSTRESS. [_Her temples they are aching_] 199

THE FRIAR. [_A Friar Was preaching once with zeal and 201 with fire_]

The Manuscript of these amusing verses, which were translated by Borrow from the dialect of the Spanish Gypsies, affords some curious variants from the published text. Here are the lines as they stand in the MS.:

_A Friar_
_Was preaching once with zeal and with fire_;
_And a butcher of the plain_
_Had lost a bonny swine_;
_And the friar did opine_
_That the Gypsies it had ta'en_.
_So_, _breaking off_, _he shouted_, "_Gypsy ho_!
_Hie home_, _and from the pot_
_Take the butcher's porker out_,
_The porker good and fat_,
_And in its place throw_
_A clout_, _a dingy clout_
_Of thy brat_, _of thy brat_;
_A clout_, _a dingy clout_,
_of thy brat_."

MALBROUK. FROM THE SPANISH GYPSY VERSION. [_Malbrouk is 205 gone to the wars_]

SORROWFUL YEARS. [_The wit and the skill_] 211

FORTUNE-TELLING. [_Late rather one morning_] 240

THE FORTUNE-TELLER'S SONG. [_Britannia is my name_] 243

GYPSY STANZA. [_Can you speak the Roman tongue_?] 254

CHARLOTTE COOPER. [_Old Charlotte I am called_] 259

EPIGRAM. [_A beautiful face and a black wicked mind_] 262

LINES. [_Mickie_, _Huwie and Larry bold_] 272

LINES. [_What care we_, _though we be so small_?] 280

RYLEY BOSVIL. [_The Gorgios seek to hang me_] 296

RYLEY AND THE GYPSY. [_Methinks I see a brother_] 298

TO YOCKY SHURI. [_Beneath the bright sun_, _there is 301 none_, _there is none_]

LINES. [_Roman lads Before the door_] 325

Upon page 122 of _Romano Lavo-Lil_, is printed a version of _The Lord's Prayer_ cast into Romany by Borrow. The original Manuscript of this translation has survived, and its text presents some curious variations from the published version. A reduced facsimile of this Manuscript serves as Frontispiece to the present Bibliography.

Accompanying the Manuscript of _The Lord's Prayer_ in Romany, is the Manuscript of a translation made by Borrow into the dialect of the English Gypsies. This translation has never, so far as I am aware, appeared in print. It is an interesting document, and well worthy of preservation. A reduced facsimile of it will be found facing the present page.

[Picture: Manuscript of The Lord's Prayer]

A Second Edition of _Romano Lavo-Lil_ was issued by the same publisher, John Murray, in 1888, and a Third in 1905.

There is a copy of the First Edition of _Romano Lavo-Lil_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 2278. c. 15.

(16) [THE TURKISH JESTER: 1884]

The Turkish Jester; / Or, / The Pleasantries / of / Cogia Nasr Eddin Effendi. / Translated from the Turkish / By / George Borrow. / Ipswich: / W. Webber, Dial Lane. / 1884.

Collation:--Crown octavo, printed in half-sheets, pp. ii + 52; consisting of: Title-page, as above (with Certificate of Issue upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; and Text pp. 1-52. There are no head-lines, the pages being numbered centrally. The book is made up in a somewhat unusual manner, each half-sheet having a separately printed quarter-sheet of two leaves imposed within it. The register is therefore B to E (four sections, each 6 leaves), plus F (2 leaves), the whole preceded by two leaves, one of which is blank, whilst the other carries the Title-page. There is no printer's imprint. The book was issued without any Half-title. The title is enclosed within a single rectangular ruled frame.

Issued in cream-coloured paper wrappers, with the title-page reproduced upon the front, but reset in types of different character, and without the ruled frame, and with the imprint reading _High Street_ in place of _Dial Lane_. Inside the front cover the Certificate of Issue is repeated. The leaves measure 7.75 x 5 inches. The edition consisted of One Hundred and Fifty Copies. The published price was 7_s._ 6_d._

The Manuscript of _The Turkish Jester_ was formerly owned by Dr. Knapp, and is now the property of the Hispanic Society, of New York. It extends to 71 pages 4to. The translation was probably made about 1854, at the time when Borrow was at work upon his _Songs of Europe_. In 1857, the book was included among the Advertisements appended to the second volume of _The Romany Rye_.

There is a copy of the First Edition of _The Turkish Jester_ in the Library of the British Museum. The Press-mark is 758. b. 16.

(17) [THE DEATH OF BALDER: 1889]

The / Death of Balder / From the Danish / of / Johannes Ewald / (1773) / Translated by / George Borrow / Author of "Bible in Spain," "Lavengro," "Wild Wales," etc. / London / Jarrold & Sons, 3 Paternoster Buildings, E.C. / 1889 / All Rights Reserved.

Collation:--Crown octavo, pp. viii + 77; consisting of: Half-title (with Certificate of Issue upon the centre of the reverse) pp. i-ii; Title-page, as above (with blank reverse) pp. iii-iv; _Preface_ and List of _The Persons_ (each with blank reverse) pp. v-viii; and Text pp. 1-77. The reverse of p. 77 is blank. The head-line is _Death of Balder_ throughout, upon both sides of the page. At the foot of p. 77 is the following imprint, "_Printed by Ballantyne_, _Hanson & Co._ / _London and Edinburgh_." The signatures are A (4 leaves), and B to F (5 sheets, each 8 leaves). Sig. F 8 is a blank.

Issued in dark brown 'diced' cloth boards, with white paper back-label. The leaves measure 7.75 x 5 inches. Two Hundred and Fifty Copies were printed. The published price was 7_s._ 6_d._

_The Death of Balder_ was written in 1829, the year during which Borrow produced so many of his ballad translations, the year in which he made his fruitless effort to obtain subscribers for his _Songs of Scandinavia_. On _December_ 6_th_ of that year he wrote to Dr. [afterwards Sir] John Bowring:

"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."

Evidently no publisher was forthcoming, for the work remained in manuscript until 1889, when, eight years after Borrow's death, Messrs. Jarrold & Sons gave it to the world. In 1857 Borrow included the Tragedy among the series of Works advertised as "ready for the Press" at the end of the second volume of _The Romany Rye_. It was there described as "_A Heroic Play_."

Although published only in 1889, _The Death of Balder_ was actually set up in type three years earlier. It had been intended that the book should have been issued in London by Messrs. Reeves & Turner, and proof-sheets exist carrying upon the title-page the name of that firm as publishers, and bearing the date 1886. It would appear that Mr. W. Webber, a bookseller of Ipswich, who then owned the Manuscript, had at first contemplated issuing the book through Messrs. Reeves & Turner. But at this juncture he entered into the employment of Messrs. Jarrold & Sons, and consequently the books was finally brought out by that firm. The types were not reset, but were kept standing during the interval.