donkey-shoes

Updated: July 13, 2025

‘Oh,’ said the postilion, ‘if you wish to be thought such, I am far too civil a person to contradict you, especially after your kindness to me, but—’ ‘But!’ said I; ‘what do you mean by but? I would have you to know that I am proud of being a travelling blacksmith; look at these donkey-shoes, I finished them this day.’

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro: The Scholar, The Gypsy, The Priest

'The donkey-shoes you mean, answered the postilion; 'why, I suppose you persuaded the blacksmith who married you to give you, before you left, a few lessons in his trade. 'And we intend to stay here till we have arranged matters at home?

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro; the Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

"Oh," said the postillion, "if you wish to be thought such, I am far too civil a person to contradict you, especially after your kindness to me, but " "But!" said I; "what do you mean by but? I would have you to know that I am proud of being a travelling blacksmith: look at these donkey-shoes, I finished them this day." The postillion took the shoes and examined them.

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

A real blacksmith would have flung off three or four sets of donkey-shoes in one morning, but you, I will be sworn, have been hammering at these for days, and they do you credit—but why?—because you are no blacksmith; no, friend, your shoes may do for this young gentlewoman’s animal, but I shouldn’t like to have my horses shod by you, unless at a great pinch indeed.’

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro: The Scholar, The Gypsy, The Priest

"The donkey-shoes, you mean," answered the postillion; "why, I suppose you persuaded the blacksmith who married you to give you, before you left, a few lessons in his trade." "And we intend to stay here till we have arranged matters at home?"

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro: The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

A real blacksmith would have flung off three or four sets of donkey-shoes in one morning, but you, I will be sworn, have been hammering at these for days, and they do you credit but why? because you are no blacksmith; no, friend, your shoes may do for this young gentlewoman's animal, but I shouldn't like to have my horses shod by you, unless at a great pinch indeed.

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro; the Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

'Oh, said the postilion, 'if you wish to be thought such, I am far too civil a person to contradict you, especially after your kindness to me, but 'But! said I; 'what do you mean by but? I would have you to know that I am proud of being a travelling blacksmith; look at these donkey-shoes, I finished them this day. The postilion took the shoes and examined them.

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro; the Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest

‘The donkey-shoes you mean,’ answered the postilion; ‘why, I suppose you persuaded the blacksmith who married you to give you, before you left, a few lessons in his trade.’ ‘And we intend to stay here till we have arranged matters at home?’

George Henry Borrow - Lavengro: The Scholar, The Gypsy, The Priest