letters-第53章

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es　　his　Maker　to　select　him　as　an　instrument；　and　that　moreover　if　it　　be　not　written　that　a　man　is　to　perish　by　wild　beast　or　reptiles；　　he　is　as　safe　in　the　den　even　of　the　cockatrice　as　in　the　most　　retired　chamber　of　the　king's　palace；　and　that　if　on　the　contrary　　he　be　doomed　to　perish　by　them；　his　destiny　will　overtake　him　　notwithstanding　all　the　precautions　which　he；　like　a　blind　worm；　　may　essay　for　his　security。

In　conclusion　the　writer　begs　leave　to　remind　the　Committee　that　a　　society　of　liberal　Spanish　ecclesiastics　is　being　formed　for　　printing　and　circulating　the　Scripture　without　note　or　comment。　　He　　does　not　advise　the　entering　into　an　intimate　alliance　and　co…　operation　with　this　society；　but　he　ventures　to　hope　that　if　it　　continue　to　progress；　there　will　be　found　Christian　hearts　in　　England　to　wish　it　success　and　Christian　hands　to　afford　it　some　　occasional　assistance。　　If　the　work　of　the　Lord　be　done；　it　matters　　little　whether　Apollos　or　Paul　be　the　labourers。

GEORGE　BORROW。


LETTER：　12th　January；　1839



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　Feb。　4；　1839）　SEVILLE；　JANY。　12；　1839。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　I　reached　Cadiz　in　safety；　after　crossing　the　　Bay　of　Biscay　in　rather　boisterous　weather。　　I　have　been　in　Seville　　about　a　week；　part　of　which　time　I　have　been　rather　indisposed　with　　an　old　complaint；　this　night　at　ten　o'clock　I　leave；　with　the　　letter…courier；　for　Madrid；　whither　I　hope　to　arrive　in　something　　less　than　four　days。　　I　should　have　started　before　now；　had　an　　opportunity　presented　itself。　　I　have　been　much　occupied　since　　coming　here　in　writing　to　my　friends　in　Spain　apprising　them　of　my　　arrival；　amongst　others　to　Sir　George　Villiers。　　I　have　of　course　　visited　the　Sevillian　bookseller；　my　correspondent　here。　　He　　informed　me　that　seventy…six　copies　of　the　hundred　Testaments　　entrusted　to　his　care　were　placed　in　embargo　by　the　Government　last　　summer。　　They　are　at　present　in　the　possession　of　the　　Ecclesiastical　Governor。　　I　visited　him　also　the　other　day；　to　make　　enquiries　concerning　our　property。　　He　lives　in　a　large　house　in　　the　PAJARIA；　or　straw…market。　　He　is　a　very　old　man；　between　　seventy　and　eighty；　and　like　almost　all　those　who　wear　the　　sacerdotal　habit　in　this　city　is　a　fierce　persecuting　Papist。　　I　　believe　he　scarcely　believed　his　ears　when　his　two　grand…nephews；　　beautiful　black…haired　boys；　who　were　playing　in　the　courtyard；　ran　　to　inform　him　that　an　Englishman　was　waiting　to　speak　with　him；　as　　it　is　probable　that　I　was　the　first　heretic　who　ever　ventured　into　　his　habitation。　　I　found　him　in　a　vaulted　room　seated　on　a　lofty　　chair；　with　two　sinister…looking　secretaries；　also　in　sacerdotal　　habits；　employed　in　writing　at　a　table　before　him。　　He　brought　　powerfully　to　my　recollection　the　grim　old　inquisitor　who　persuaded　　Philip　the　Second　to　slay　his　own　son　as　an　enemy　to　the　Church。　　　He　arose　as　I　entered；　and　gazed　upon　me　with　a　countenance　dark　　with　suspicion　and　dissatisfaction。　　He　at　last　condescended　to　　point　me　to　a　sofa；　and　I　proceeded　to　state　to　him　my　business。　　　He　became　much　agitated　when　I　mentioned　the　Testaments　to　him；　but　　I　no　sooner　spoke　of　the　Bible　Society　and　told　him　who　I　was；　than　　he　could　contain　himself　no　longer；　and　with　a　stammering　tongue　　and　with　eyes　flashing　fire　like　hot　coals；　he　proceeded　to　rail　　against　the　Society　and　myself；　saying　that　the　aims　of　the　first　　were　atrocious　and　that　as　to　myself；　he　was　surprised　that　being　　once　lodged　in　the　prison　of　Madrid　I　had　ever　been　permitted　to　　quit　it；　adding　that　it　was　disgraceful　in　the　Government　to　allow　　a　person　of　my　character　to　roam　about　an　innocent　and　peaceful　　country；　corrupting　the　minds　of　the　ignorant　and　unsuspicious。　　　Far　from　allowing　myself　to　be　disconcerted　by　his　rude　behaviour；　　I　replied　to　him　with　all　possible　politeness；　and　assured　him　that　　in　this　instance　he　had　no　reason　to　alarm　himself；　as　that　my　sole　　motive　in　claiming　the　books　in　question　was　to　avail　myself　of　an　　opportunity；　which　at　present　presented　itself　of　sending　them　out　　of　the　country；　which　indeed　I　had　been　commanded　to　do　by　an　　official　notice。　　But　nothing　would　soothe　him；　and　he　informed　me　　that　he　should　not　deliver　up　the　books　on　any　condition；　save　by　a　　positive　order　of　the　Government。　　As　the　matter　was　by　no　means　an　　affair　of　consequence　I　thought　it　wise　not　to　persist；　and　also　　prudent　to　take　my　leave　before　he　requested　me。　　I　was　followed　　even　down　into　the　street　by　his　niece　and　grand…nephews；　who　　during　the　whole　of　the　conversation　had　listened　at　the　door　of　　the　apartment　and　heard　every　word。

I　have　at　present　little　more　to　say；　having　detailed　everything　　worth　mentioning　which　has　occurred　since　＇my＇　landing　in　the　　Peninsula　for　the　third　time。　　As　soon　as　I　reach　Madrid　I　shall　　proceed　to　make　preparations　for　a　fresh　expedition；　but　in　what　　direction　I　have　scarcely　determined。　　Please　therefore　to　pray　　that　I　may　be　enlightened；　and　that　the　angel　of　the　Lord　may　　smooth　my　path　before　me。　　Greet　all　my　friends　in　my　name；　I　hope　　speedily　to　be　able　to　write　to　each；　and　in　the　meantime　remain；　　Revd。　and　dear　Sir；　yours　ever；

G。　B。



LETTER：　25th　January；　1839



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　Feb。　4；　1839）　MADRID；　No。　16　CALLE　SANTIAGO；　25　JANUARY；　1839。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　My　last　letter　was　from　Seville；　in　which　I　　gave　you　an　account　of　my　proceedings　in　that　place；　at　the　same　　time　stating　that　I　was　about　to　repair　to　Madrid　with　the　courier。　　　After　travelling　four　days　and　nights　we　arrived；　without　having　　experienced　the　slightest　accident；　though　it　is　but　just　to　　observe；　and　always　with　gratitude　to　the　Almighty；　that　the　next　　courier　was　stopped。

A　singular　accident　befell　me　immediately　after　my　arrival。　　On　　entering　the　arch　of　the　POSADA；　called　La　Reyna；　where　I　intended　　to　put　up；　I　found　myself　encircled　in　a　person's　arms；　and　on　　turning　round　in　amazement　beheld　my　Greek　servant　Antonio；　he　was　　haggard　and　ill…dressed；　and　his　eyes　seemed　starting　from　their　　sockets。　　As　soon　as　we　were　alone　he　informed　me　that　since　my　　departure　he　had　undergone　great　misery　and　destitution；　having　　during　the　whole　period　been　unable　to　obtain　a　master　in　need　of　　his　services；　so　that　he　was　brought　nearly　to　the　verge　of　　desperation；　but　that　on　the　night　immediately　preceding　my　arrival　　he　had　a　dream　in　which　he　saw　me；　mounted　on　a　black　horse；　ride　　up　to　the　gate　of　the　POSADA；　and　that　on　that　account　he　had　been　　waiting　there　during　the　greatest　part　of　the　day。　　I　do　not　　pretend　to　offer　any　opinion　concerning　this　narrative；　which　is　　beyond　the　reach　of　my　philosophy；　and　shall　content　myself　with　　observing　that　only　two　individuals　in　Madrid；　one　of　them　Lord　　Clarendon　（late　Sir　George　Villiers）；　were　aware　of　my　arrival　in　　Spain。　　I　was　very　glad　to　receive　him　again　into　my　service；　as　　notwithstanding　his　faults；　and　he　has　many；　he　has　in　many　　instances　proved　of　no　slight　assistance　to　me　in　my　wanderings　and　　Biblical　labours；　as　indeed　I　have　informed　you　on　previous　　occasions。

I　was　soon　settled　in　my　former　lodgings；　when　one　of　my　first　　cares　was　to　pay　a　visit　to　Lord　Clarendon。　　I　need　not　dilate　on　　the　particulars　of　our　interview；　suffice　it　to　say；　that　he　　received　me　with　more　than　usual　kindness；　and　assured　me　that　I　　might　invariably　rely　upon　him；　if　I　should　ever　chance　to　be　in　　need　of　his　assistance　and　protection。　　I　told　him　that　it　was　not　　our　intention　to　take　any　steps　towards　preventing　the　civil　or　　ecclesiastical　authorities　of　Toledo　from　destroying　the　Testaments　　seized　at　Ocana；　and　he　smiled　when　I　added　that　the　only　wish　we　　ventured　to　express　concerning　the　matter　was　that；　in　the　event　of　　these　books；　which　contain　the　Word　of　God；　being　committed　to　the　　flames；　the　said　authorities；　civil　or　ecclesiastic；　would　commit　　the　act　with　all　the　publicity　possible。

My　preparations　for　taking　the　field　are　now　nearly　completed；　and　　within　forty　hours　I　hope　to　commence　operations。　　My　first　attempt　　will　be　made　in　a　large　village　＇at＇　about　a　league's　distance；　and　　if　it　please　the　Lord　to　permit　me　to　succeed　there；　it　is　my　　intention　to　proceed　to　all　those　villages　or　hamlets　in　the　　vicinity　of　Madrid　hitherto　not　supplied。　　I　then　wend　towards　the　　east；　to　a　distance　of　about　thirty　leagues。　　I　have　been　very　　passionate　in　prayer　during　the　last　two　or　three　days；　and　I　　entertain　some　hope　that　the　Lord　has　condescended　to　answer　me；　as　　I　appear　to　see　my　way　with　considerable　clearness。　　It　may；　of　　course；　prove　a　delusion；　and　the　prospects　which　seem　to　present　　themselves　may　be　mere　palaces　of　clouds　which　a　breath　of　wind　is　　sufficient　to　tumble　into　ruin；　therefore　bearing　this　possibility　　in　mind　it　behoves　me　to　beg　that　I　may　be　always　enabled　to　bow　　meekly　to　the　dispensations　of　the　Almighty；　whether　they　be　of　　favour　or　severity。

Two　days　ago　I　received　my　largest　and　most　useful　horse　from　the　　Sagra　of　Toledo　and　likewise　a　note　from　Lopez；　he　is　unable　to　　come　himself　at　present　to　assist　me；　but　he　sent　a　countryman　who；　　he　is　of　opinion；　will　be　of　equal　utility；　at　least　for　a　time。　　I　　yesterday　despatched　him　to　the　low　parts　of　Madrid；　or　as　they　are　　styled；　LOS　BARRIOS　BAJOS；　he　succeeded　in　disposing　of　twelve　　Testaments；　amongst　the　very　poor　people；　in　a　few　hours。　　My　other　　horse　is　at　Salamanca；　in　Old　Castile；　but　he　suffered　so　much　　during　my　late　expeditions；　that　it　will　hardly　answer　my　purpose　　to　send　for　him。

In　passing　through　La　Mancha　we　stayed　for　four　hours　at　　Manzanares；　a　large　village　which　I　hope　to　visit　again　shortly。　　I　　was　standing　in　the　market…place　conversing　with　a　curate；　when　a　　frightful　ragged　object　presented　itself；　it　was　a　girl　about　　eighteen　or　nineteen；　perfectly　blind；　a　white　film　being　spread　　over　her　huge　staring　eyes；　her　countenance　was　as　yellow　as　that　　of　a　mulatto。　　I　thought　at　first　that　she　was　a　Gypsy；　and　　addressing　myself　to　her；　enquired　in　Gitano　if　she　were　of　that　　race。　　She　understood　me；　but　shaking　her　head　replied；　that　she　　was　something　better　than　a　Gitana；　and　could　speak　something　　better　than　that　jargon　of　witches；　whereupon　she　commenced　asking　　me　several　questions　in　exceeding　good　Latin。　　I　was　of　course　very　　much　surprised；　but　summoning　all　my　Latinity；　I　called　her　　Manchegan　prophetess；　and　expressing　my　admiration　at　her　learning　　begged　to　be　informed　by　what　means　she　became　possessed　of　it。　　I　　must　here　observe　that　a　crowd　instantly　gathered　around　us　who；　　though　they　understood　not　one　word　of　our　discourse；　at　every　　sentence　of　the　girl　shouted　applause；　proud　in　possession　of　a　　prophetess　who　could　answer　the　Englishman。　　She　informed　me　that　　she　was　born　blind；　and　that　a　Jesuit　priest　had　taken　compassion　　on　her　when　she　was　a　child；　and　had　taught　her　the　'holy　　language；'　in　order　that　the　attention　and　hearts　of　Christians　　might　be　more　easily　turned　towards　her。　　I　soon　discovered　that　he　　had　taught　her　something　more　than　Latin；　for　upon　telling　her　that　　I　was　an　Englishman；　she　said　that　she　had　always　loved　Britain　　which　was　once　the　nurse