# Jasper Petulengro — Lavengro character guide > Jasper Petulengro in Lavengro by George Borrow. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mr. Petulengro, Petulengro, wise Jasper **First appearance:** 0004-i ## Snapshot A Romany horseman and card-player whose bruised face and philosophic recovery mark him as Lavengro's most magnetic and unreliable friend. ## Who they are Jasper Petulengro moves between fairs, fights, and fortune-telling, teaching Lavengro the Romany tongue while losing seven pounds to cheating jockeys. He quarrels, is beaten, wins anyway, and by nightfall apologizes with the calm of a man who has made peace with his own temper. His friendship gives the book its richest portrait of gypsy life, and his absences leave Lavengro brooding in the dingle. ## Relationships ### [Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters/brother) _social_ The Brother and Jasper Petulengro interact frequently, likely as mutual acquaintances through Lavengro. ### [Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters/brother) _social_ The Brother and Jasper Petulengro interact frequently, likely as mutual acquaintances through Lavengro. ### [Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters/brother) _social_ The Brother and Jasper Petulengro interact frequently, likely as mutual acquaintances through Lavengro. ## In the story ### [Part I: Lavengro; The Scholar, the Gypsy, the Priest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/part-i-lavengro-the-scholar-the-gypsy-the-priest) The gypsy king who gives the narrator the name Lavengro. ### [Preface to the First Edition (1851)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/preface-to-the-first-edition-1851) One of the three principal characters, the Gypsy, described as the most entertaining. ### [Preface to the Second Edition (1872)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/preface-to-the-second-edition-1872) Mentioned implicitly as a representative of the English Gypsies and the Romany Chals. ### [The Sap-engro and the Gypsy Encounter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/v) The son of the Romani man, a lad of twelve or thirteen, who initially questions the narrator's boxing ability but later calls him 'brother' and bids farewell. ### [The Horse Fair and the Gypsy Encounter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xvi) The gypsy who recognizes the narrator at the fair and leads him to the encampment. ### [The Gypsy Tent and the King's Discourse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xvii) Revealed as a Gypsy king (Pharaoh), offers to teach Lavengro Romany. ### [Chapter XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xviii) Departed to London with the gypsies; the narrator recalls learning broken songs from such wanderers at a horse fair. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxv) Encountered on the heath; discusses death and the sweetness of life, offering a contrasting perspective to the narrator's despair. ### [The Days of Pugilism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxvi) Appears during the thunderstorm, asks about belief in dukkeripens, and interprets a blood-red cloud as a sign of a bloody fortune. ### [The Painter of the Heroic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xxxviii) Mentioned as a possible model for Pharaoh, but deemed too short by the narrator's brother. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xlvii) Mentioned by narrator as a dark, mysterious figure whose language may solve a philological problem. ### [The Fulfillment of the Armenian's Wish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/l) Referenced as a teacher in the school of fighting. ### [The Rommany Rye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/liv) Carousing with comrades; boasts of fifty pounds earned by fighting; offers to lend Lavengro money and invites him to stay with the Gypsies. ### [Chapter LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lv) Mentioned as having suggested the life of Jemmy Abershaw as a profitable subject for a book. ### [The Sabbath Day with Peter and Winifred](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lxxiii) Mentioned by the narrator as the 'king of Egypt' and master of the horseshoe, though not present. ### [The Border Crossing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lxxx) Appears at the ford on horseback; Lavengro turns back to accompany him. ### [LXXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lxxxi) Narrates the death and funeral of Mrs. Hearne, and the story of the Bow Street runner and the Romany chal. ### [LXXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lxxxii) Challenges the narrator to a fight over Mrs. Hearne, then invites him to the Romani camp and later advises him to the dingle. ### [The Forge in the Dingle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/lxxxiii) Referenced as the 'lord of the horseshoe' and source of the gypsy language used in the forge. ### [The Editor’s Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/the-editor-s-postscript) The Norfolk Gypsy (Ambrose Smith) who coined the names Lavengro and Romany Rye for George Borrow. ### [Part II: The Romany Rye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/part-ii-the-romany-rye) The Gypsy king, who engages in philosophical talk and shares a feast with the narrator. ### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/v) Arrives with his band to pitch camp; accepts Lavengro's breakfast invitation. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/vi) Jasper visits with his wife, shares news of religious movements and a disturbing story about iron roads and fiery vehicles, and compliments Belle's appearance. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/vii) Tells the story of a Scotchman's insults, defends Romani language and music, and explains the practice of 'drabbing baulor' as a necessity. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/viii) Leads the group to church, advises Lavengro to behave, and sits in the grand pew. ### [The Cuckoo and the Romany Chal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/ix) Defends the gypsy people by comparing them to the cuckoo, discusses belief in dukkerin, and suggests Lavengro speak with Ursula. ### [Ursula's Virtue and the Gypsy's Temptations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/x) Hosts tea with the narrator and Ursula; mentioned as having told Ursula about the narrator's desire to speak with her. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xi) Mentioned as Ursula's brother-in-law and a skilled mare-breaker who backs Sylvester in a fight. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xii) Recalled in Lavengro's thoughts; Jasper doubted the existence of the soul and hinted at male gypsy infidelity. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xiv) Found at the gypsy encampment preparing horses for a fair; invites the narrator to join the party. ### [The Fair and the Departure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xv) Calls Lavengro to the fair, urges him to buy a horse, loses money to cheating jockeys at cards. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xvi) Returns from the fair with a bruised face after a fight with jockeys; later apologizes to Lavengro for his earlier behavior. ### [The Landlord's Reversal of Fortune](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xvii) Not directly present, but the narrator visits the gypsy encampment where Jasper is likely among the Romanies. ### [The Purchase of the Horse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xviii) Jasper tricks the narrator into accepting fifty pounds to buy a horse, using a bet and a hidden purse to overcome his objections. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xix) Arranges the horse purchase, advises the narrator on using the whip, and encourages Tawno to leap the horse. ### [XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xx) Invites the narrator to breakfast with the Romany company. ### [XLVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/xlvii) Mentioned in the narrator's thoughts as a possible descendant of Indians, due to the shared Romany words 'kauloes' and 'lolloes'. ### [A Word for Lavengro](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/i-a-word-for-lavengro) The Gypsy king, associated with the Romany chal and the hero's gypsy connections. ### [Complete List of English Gypsy Words Scattered Through Lavengro and Romany Rye](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/chapters/complete-list-of-english-gypsy-words-scattered-through-lavengro-and-romany-rye) A Gypsy king whose name and clan (Petulengro, meaning 'horseshoe') appear in the glossary. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters/jasper_petulengro - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/lavengro_se/characters