was the theatre.

What part of this narrative is _Dichtung _and what is _Wahrheit _has been
a debated question. In his chapter on pseudo-critics in the appendix to
the present book, Borrow denies that he ever called 'Lavengro' an
autobiography, or authorized any other person to call it so. But it had
been advertised for some months as, 'Lavengro: an Autobiography'; while
as early as 1843 Borrow writes to Murray that he is engaged upon his
life; and as late as 1862, in an account of himself written for Mr. John
Longe of Norwich, Borrow says that 'in 1851 he published "Lavengro," a
work in which he gives an account of his early life.' There is indeed no
doubt that the earlier part of 'Lavengro' is, in the main, a true history
of the life and adventures of George Borrow, however embellished here or
there with Borrovian touches; it is only of the truth of the occurrences
just before and after leaving London that scepticism has been expressed.
Borrow's story, however, is so circumstantial that we should at least be
able to discover whether this part of his history is credible and
consistent.

Plainly, the year when Borrow leaves London is 1825. 'Somewhat more than
a year before,' in March (or rather April) {0a} of the year of Byron's
funeral, {0b} he had entered the 'Big City,' a youth verging on manhood.
In his preface to 'Lavengro' he speaks of the time as embracing 'nearly
the first quarter of the present century,' and in 'The Romany Rye' refers
to having edited the _Newgate Chronicle _some months ago. {0c} We know
also that his youthful contributions to literature ceased with his
translation of Klinger's 'Faustus,' published on April 18, 1825. About
this time, then, when Borrow was literally reduced to his last shilling,
he describes himself as visiting a fair in the neighbourhood of London.
He refuses a loan of 50 pounds from Jasper Petulengro, and, returning
homewards, notices in a publisher's window a request for a tale or novel.
Subsisting on bread and water, he writes in a week the 'Life of Joseph
Sell,' for which he receives 20 pounds, and twelve days after attending
the fair leaves London. Passing through Salisbury, he travels northward
and encamps in a dingle, where he is poisoned by his old enemy Mrs.
Herne. Saved by the timely intervention of a methodist preacher and his
wife, he recovers on the following day (Sunday), and nine days later
accompanies his friends to the Welsh border. Here he again meet