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GROTESQUE ARCHITECTURE;

OR,

THE WHOLE CONTAINING TWENTY-EIGHT NEW DESIGNS, WITH SCALES TO EACH.

A NEW EDITION.

GROTESQUE ARCHITECTURE.

Plan and elevation of a hut, to be built with trunks of trees and irregular timber. The inside walls may be lined with moss, and covered on the top with thatch. It is intended to represent the primitive state of the Doric Order, and is proper to be placed at the entrance of a wood, or on the top of a small eminence. The dimensions are figured on the plan.

Plan and elevation of an hermetic retreat, to be composed of roots and irregular branches of trees, cemented together with a strong binding clay, and may be thatched or covered with branches of trees twined round with ivy. The dimensions are figured on the plan.

Elevation of an hermit's cell, with rustic seats attached, eight feet square in the inside, which should be situated in a rising wood near some running water, to be built partly of large stones and trunks of trees, set round with ivy, and lined with rushes, &c. The roof should be covered with thatch, and the floor paved with small pebble stones or cockle shells. The seats attached are intended to be composed of large irregular stones, roots of trees, &c.

Plan and elevation for an hermitage, in the eastern style, supposed to be built round a tree which supports its roof; over the door is a tablet, with an Arabic inscription; the roof is covered with thatch, in the Chinese taste; the inside to be lined with billet wood and moss. It is lighted from the lanterns above. A. should be a couch; B. C. are seats of retirement. The dimensions are figured in the plan. The rustic seats on the side are intended to be composed of large rough stones and roots of pollard trees cemented together.

Plan and elevation of a winter hermitage, intended as a retirement from hunting, fowling, or any other winter amusement; the walls to be built of flints or rough stones, and lined with wood or other warm substance intermixed with moss, and should be situated on a rising ground planted with evergreens.

Plan and elevation of a summer hermitage, designed to be in a wilderness or thick wood; the walls to be composed of large stones, and the ends faced with flints; the roof covered with thatch, and an owl carved on the top; the floor should be paved with sheeps marrow-bones placed upright, or any other pretty devices intermixed with them. A. is for a couch; B. C. are seats of retirement.

Plan and elevation of an hermitage in the Augustine style; the front is ornamented with a portico of palm trees; in the pediment is a scull, and a tablet with an inscription. A. A. are passages of evergreens leading to the two circular retreats, one of which is intended as a library, and the other a bath; the tops of them are intended to be thatched; b b b. are niches for seats cut in the evergreens. This design is calculated to be built on a small verdant amphitheatre, near a murmuring stream, and as a proper retreat from the fatigues of a sultry day.

A plan, half an elevation, and half a section, of a rural circular hermitage, designed for an open situation near some rivulet, planted with weeping willows, &c. The inside is lighted by a gazebo, supported by eight trunks of trees twined about with ivy. The dimensions are figured on the plan.

Plan, elevation, and section, of a grotto in a modern architectonic style, ornamented with jet d'eaux, sea weeds, looking-glass, fountains, and other grotesque decorations. The dimensions may be known by the scale and the figures on the plan.

Plan and elevation of a Gothic grotto, with four closets five feet square; the outside to be composed of flints and irregular stones, and studded with small pebbles; the inside to be ornamented with shells, ores, &c. and if built upon an eminence, it would have a very pleasing appearance.

Plan and elevation of an open Chinese grotto, to be placed at the head of a grand canal, with a bath , and a Chinese temple , attached; the arcades to be ice or frosted work; the outside of the bath and temple to be ornamented with beautiful shells in the Mosaic taste; the inside to be groined over, as on the plan, and ornamented with shell-work and other beautiful incrustations. The whole extent is 75 feet.

Plan and measures to plate xiii. and xiv.

Elevation of a Gothic grotto, with cascades and wings attached The entrance is a saloon of 20 feet square; the angles are couped with off niches, where grotesque statues or vases should be placed. It is intended to have a fountain in the centre, with antique figures spouting out water; the walls should be lined with flints, decorated with ice-work; the whole is lighted from a gazebo on the top. A. B. are the plans of the two wings or repositories, which are each descended to by a flight of four steps. A. is intended to be ornamented with curious shells, gems, coral, &c. with statues in the niches. B. is to be groined over in the Gothic manner, with a pier in the centre to be lined with flints, intermixed with shells, looking-glass, &c. The groins should be incrusted with frosted work, in the manner of dropping icicles. Both these wings are lighted from the rose arches, as appears in the elevation; the outside to be composed of rough stones incrusted and studded with pebbles, shells, &c. There are placed in the recesses Gothic figures. The situation should be in some retired copse, shaded by an adjacent hill, near some murmuring rivulet, where the cascades, or rather fountains, as in the design, may be easily effected. The measures are marked on the plan.

Elevation of a rural grotto which should be built of large rough stones rudely put together, so that the building may as near as possible imitate the beautiful appearance of nature. If the dome was to be richly ornamented with pendentive shell and frosted work, it would look very elegant. In the middle niche is Neptune on a rock, pouring out water, which descends under the pavement through an arch, and forms a running stream. The side niches are ornamented with satyrs and other grotesque figures. The situation should be in a morass, near some water.

A design for a cascade or cataract of a great fall of water, decorated with rock-work, sea lions pouring out fountains of water; and a triton by way of embellishment, in the centre.

A design for a triumphal cascade of four falls of water. If care is taken to erect this arch with rude and irregular flints, &c. at the same time paying a due observance to nature, it will have a very magnificent appearance, and look extremely elegant; and would be a superb ornament in a nobleman's park where there is a great supply of water.

A romantic bridge, or a cascade of three sheets of water, descending through arches of artificial rock-work, incrusted with shells, corals, sea-weed, moss, &c. and two sea gods lying on their oozy couch, pouring out water.

Plan and elevation of a rustic seat for a garden or park, intended to terminate a view. It would look very pretty if it was built with flints, or irregular rude branches and roots of trees.

Plan and elevation for a grotesque or rural bath, very proper to be built in gardens, &c. for the benefit of bathing. It is intended to have three seats within, by way of closets, for the convenience of dressing and undressing. If the water in the plan be left out, it will look very pleasing as a rural hut.

Plan and elevation of a circular mosque twenty feet diameter, with four cabinets attached, eight feet square; two of which may serve for entrances, having each a small fountain, five feet diameter; the other two may be for the purposes of study or use. The four minarets at the angles bring the plan upon the square of forty feet. The cabinets, as well as the mosque, are crowned with domes, which should be gilt on the outside. The great dome is supported by eight columns, over which are groined arches; an iron balustrade runs round the outside, which may be painted blue, and gilt; on the top of the great dome is a light cupola, supported by eight small columns, from whence hangs a chandelier to light the inside when required. The other decorations may be seen in the section, plate xxiv.

Plan and elevation for another mosque, with two minarets attached to the body of the building, which may be executed in brick of 14 inches thickness. The front is a portico of four columns, in the oriental style, in the centre of which is a fountain for sabateons; which may be seen in the section, plate xxiv. The niches in the front should have Arabic inscriptions in gold letters. The portico is covered with three little domes, in the Turkish manner, ornamented with crescents, &c. The inside is lighted from the circular windows and little arches above, which support the dome. For the interior decoration, see the section, plate xxiv. It would look very beautiful if built on an open lawn, planted round with a few cypress or other exotic trees. The dimensions are figured on the plan.

Sections and scales to plates xxii. and xxiii.

Two plans of moresque temples to plates xxvi. and xxvii.y, Revealing perilous falls, his steps confined Within the pathways to the noblest end. Now following this dimmed glory, tired, his soul Haunts ever the mysterious gates of Death; And waits in patient reverence till his doom Unfolding them fulfils immortal Love.

As from some height, on a wild day of cloud, A wanderer, chilled and worn, perchance beholds Move toward him through the landscape soaked in gloom A golden beam of light; creating lakes, And verdant pasture, farms, and villages; And touching spires atop to flickering flame; Disclosing herds of sober feeding kine; And brightening on its way the woods to song; As he, that wanderer, brightens when the shaft Suddenly falls on him. A moment warmed, He scarcely feels its loveliness before The light departing leaves his saddened soul More cold than ere it came. Thus love once shone And blessed my life: so vanished into gloom.

I love My Lady; she is very fair; Her brow is wan, and bound by simple hair: Her spirit sits aloof, and high, But glances from her tender eye In sweetness droopingly.

As a young forest while the wind drives through, My life is stirred when she breaks on my view; Her beauty grants my will no choice But silent awe, till she rejoice My longing with her voice.

Her warbling voice, though ever low and mild, Oft makes me feel as strong wine would a child: And though her hand be airy light Of touch, it moves me with its might, As would a sudden fright.

A hawk high poised in air, whose nerved wing-tips Tremble with might suppressed, before he dips, In vigilance, hangs less intense Than I, when her voice holds my sense Contented in suspense.

Her mention of a thing, august or poor, Makes it far nobler than it was before: As where the sun strikes life will gush, And what is pale receive a flush, Rich hues, a richer blush.

My Lady's name, when I hear strangers use, Not meaning her, sounds to me lax misuse; I love none but My Lady's name; Maud, Grace, Rose, Marian, all the same, Are harsh, or blank and tame.

Fresh beauties, howsoe'er she moves, are stirred: As the sunned bosom of a humming bird At each pant lifts some fiery hue, Fierce gold, bewildering green or blue; The same, yet ever new.

What time she walks beneath the flowering May, Quite sure am I the scented blossoms say, "O Lady with the sunlit hair! Stay and drink our odorous air, The incense that we bear:

"Thy beauty, Lady, we would ever shade; For near to thee, our sweetness might not fade." And could the trees be broken-hearted, The green sap surely must have smarted, When my Lady parted.

How beautiful she is! A glorious gem She shines above the summer diadem Of flowers! And when her light is seen Among them, all in reverence lean To her, their tending Queen.

A man so poor that want assaults his health, Blessed with relief one morn in boundless wealth, Breathes no such joy as mine, when she Stands statelier, expecting me, Than tall white lilies be:

And the white flutter of her robe to trace, Where clematis and jasmine interlace, Expands my gaze triumphantly: Even such his gaze, who sees on high His flag, for victory.

We wander forth unconsciously, because The azure beauty of the evening draws; When sober hues pervade the ground, And universal life is drowned Into hushed depths of sound.

We thread a copse where frequent bramble spray With loose obtrusion from the side roots stray, And force sweet pauses on our walk; I lift one with my foot, and talk About its leaves and stalk.

Or maybe that some thorn or prickly stem Will take a prisoner her long garments' hem; To disentangle it I kneel, Oft wounding more than I can heal; It makes her laugh, my zeal.

Or on before a thin-legged robin hops, And leaping on a twig, he pertly stops, Speaking a few clear notes, till nigh We draw, when briskly he will fly Into a bush close by.

A flock of goldfinches arrest their flight, And wheeling round a birchen tree alight Deep in its glittering leaves; and stay Till scared at our approach, when they Strike with vexed trills away.

I recollect My Lady in the wood, Keeping her breath, while peering as she stood There, balanced lightly on tiptoe, To mark a nest built snug below, Leaves shadowing her brow.

I recollect her puzzled, asking me, What that strange tapping in the wood might be? I told of gourmand thrushes, which, To feast on morsels oosy rich, Cracked poor snails' curling niche.

And then, as knight led captive, in romance, Through postern and dark passage, past grim glance Of arms; where from throned state the dame He loved, in sumptuous blushes came To him held dumb for shame:

Even so my spirit passed, and won, through fears That trembled nigh despair; through foolish tears, And hope fallen weak in breathless flight, Where beamed in pure entrancing light Love's beauty on my sight.

"Make not my pathway dull so soon," I cried; "See how yon clouds of rosy eventide Roll out their splendour: while the breeze Shifts gold from leaf to leaf, as these Lithe saplings move at ease!"

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