ry
significant one, of Borrow's calculating selfishness. No man could prove
a more interesting companion than he; but one cannot help feeling that he
was a sorry kind of friend.

It may seem strange at first sight, finding this wanderer of the road in
the pay of the Bible Society, and a zealous servant in the cause of
militant Protestantism. But the violent "anti-Popery" side of Borrow is
only another instance of his love of independence. The brooding egotism
that chafed at the least control was not likely to show any sympathy with
sacerdotalism.

There was no trace of philosophy in Borrow's frankly expressed views on
religious subjects. They were honest and straightforward enough, with
all the vigorous unreflective narrowness of ultra-Protestantism.

It says much for the amazing charm of Borrow's writing that _The Bible in
Spain_ is very much better than a glorified tract. It must have come as
a surprise to many a grave, pious reader of the Bible Society's
publications.

And the Bible Society made the Vagabond from the literary point of view.
Borrow's book--_The Zincali_--or an account of the gypsies of Spain,
published in 1841, had brought his name before the public. But _The
Bible in Spain_ (1843) made him famous--doubtless to the relief of
"glorious John Murray," the publisher, who was doubtful about the book's
reception.

It is a fascinating book, and if lacking the unique flavour of the
romantic autobiographies, _Lavengro_ and _The Romany Rye_, has none the
less many of the characteristics that give all his writings their
distinctive attraction.

II

Can we analyse the charm that Borrow's books and Borrow's personality
exercise over us, despite the presence of unpleasing traits which repel?

In the first place he had the faculty for seizing upon the picturesque
and picaresque elements in the world about him. He had the ready
instinct of the discursive writer for what was dramatically telling.
Present his characters in dramatic form he could not; one and all pass
through the crucible of his temperament before we see them. We feel that
they are genuinely observed, but they are Borrovized. They speak the
language of Borrow. While this is quite true, it is equally true that he
knows exactly how to impress and interest the reader with the personages.

Take this effective little introduction to one of the characters in _The
Bible in Spain_:--

"At length the moon shone out faintly, when