Landor's Cottage by Edgar Allan Poe
Section [1 | 2]
were carefully buried in_the soil, so as to_give the plants the appearance of being indigenous . besides all this, the lawn's velvet was exquisitely spotted with sheep -- a considerable flock of_which roamed about_the vale, in company with three tamed deer, and a vast number of brilliantly -- plumed ducks .a very large mastiff seemed to_be in vigilant attendance upon these animals, each and all .

along the eastern and western cliffs -- where, toward the upper portion of_the amphitheatre, the boundaries were more or less precipitous -- grew ivy in great profusion -- so_that only here and there could even a glimpse of_the naked rock be obtained . the northern precipice, in like manner, was almost entirely clothed by grape-vines of rare luxuriance; some springing from_the soil at_the base of_the cliff, and others from ledges on its face .

the slight elevation which formed the lower boundary of_this little domain, was crowned by a neat stone wall, of sufficient height to_prevent the escape of_the deer . nothing of_the fence kind was observable elsewhere; for nowhere else was an artificial enclosure needed: -- any stray sheep, for example, which should attempt to_make its way out_of_the vale by_means of_the ravine, would find its progress arrested, after a few yards' advance, by_the precipitous ledge of rock over which tumbled the cascade that had arrested my attention as I first drew near the domain . in short, the only ingress or egress was through a gate occupying a rocky pass in_the road, a few paces below the point at which I stopped to reconnoitre the scene .

I_have described the brook as meandering very irregularly through_the whole of_its course . its two general directions, as I_have said, were first from west to east, and then from north to south . at_the turn, the stream, sweeping backward, made an almost circular loop, so as to_form a peninsula which_was very nearly an island, and which included about_the sixteenth of an acre . on_this peninsula stood adwelling- house -- and when I_say that_this house, like the infernal terrace seen by Vathek, "etait d'une architecture inconnue dans les annales de la terre," I mean, merely, that its tout ensemble struck me with_the keenest sense of combined novelty and propriety -- in a word, of poetry -- ( for, than in_the words just employed, I_could scarcely give, of poetry in_the abstract, a more rigorous definition) -- and I_do_not mean that merely outre was perceptible in any respect .

in_fact nothing could well be more simple -- more utterly unpretending than this cottage . its marvellous effect lay altogether in its artistic arrangement as a picture . I_could_have fancied, while I looked at it, that some eminent landscape- painter had built it with_his brush .

the point of view from_which I first saw the valley, was not altogether, although it_was nearly, the best point from_which to survey the house . i_will therefore describe it as I afterwards saw it -- from a position on_the stone wall at_the southern extreme of_the amphitheatre .

the main building was about twenty-four feet long and sixteen broad -- certainly not more . its total height, from_the ground to_the apex of_the roof, could_not have exceeded eighteen feet . to_the west end of_this structure was attached one about a third smaller in all its proportions: -- the line of_its front standing back about two yards from_that of_the larger house, and_the line of_its roof, of_course, being considerably depressed below that of_the roof adjoining . at right angles to_these buildings, and from_the rear of_the main one -- not exactly in_the middle -- extended a third compartment, very_small -- being, in general, one- third less_than_the western wing . the roofs of_the two larger were very steep -- sweeping down from_the ridge- beam with a long concave curve, and extending at_least four feet beyond the walls in front, so as to_form the roofs of two piazzas . these latter roofs, of_course, needed no support; but as_they had the air of needing it, slight and perfectly plain pillars were inserted at_the corners alone . the roof of_the northern wing was merely an extension of a portion of_the main roof . between_the chief building and western wing arose a very tall and rather slender square chimney of hard Dutch bricks, alternately black and red: -- a slight cornice of projecting bricks at_the top . over the gables the roofs also projected very_much: -- in_the main building about four feet to_the east and two to_the west . the principal door was not exactly in_the main division, being a little to_the east -- while the two windows were to_the west . these latter did_not extend to_the floor, but were much longer and narrower than usual -- they had single shutters like doors -- the panes were of lozenge form, but quite large . the door itself had its upper half of glass, also in lozenge panes -- a movable shutter secured it at night . the door to_the west wing was in its gable, and quite simple -- a single window looked out to_the south . there_was no external door to_the north wing, and it also had only_one window to_the east .

the blank wall of_the eastern gable was relieved by stairs ( with a balustrade) running diagonally across it -- the ascent being from_the south . under cover of_the widely projecting eave these steps gave access to a door leading to_the garret, or rather loft -- for it_was lighted only by a single window to_the north, and seemed to_have_been intended as a store- room .

the piazzas of_the main building and western wing had no floors, as is usual; but at_the doors and at each window, large, flat irregular slabs of granite lay imbedded in_the delicious turf, affording comfortable footing in all weather . excellent paths of_the same material -- not nicely adapted, but with_the velvety sod filling frequent intervals between_the stones, led hither and thither from_the house, to a crystal spring about five paces off, to_the road, or to one_or_two out -- houses that lay to_the north, beyond the brook, and were thoroughly concealed by a few locusts and catalpas .

not more than six steps from_the main door of_the cottage stood the dead trunk of a fantastic pear- tree, so clothed from head to foot in_the gorgeous bignonia blossoms that one required no little scrutiny to determine what manner of sweet thing it could_be . from various arms of_this tree hung cages of different kinds . in one, a large wicker cylinder with a ring at top, revelled amocking bird; in another an oriole; in a third the impudent bobolink -- while three or four more delicate prisons were loudly vocal with canaries .

the pillars of_the piazza were enwreathed in jasmine and sweet honeysuckle; while from_the angle formed by_the main structure and its west wing, in front, sprang a grape- vine of unexampled luxuriance .Scorning all restraint, it had clambered first to_the lower roof -- then to_the higher; and along the ridge of_this latter it continued to writhe on, throwing out tendrils to_the right and left, until at_length it fairly attained the east gable, and fell trailing over the stairs .

the whole house, with its wings, was constructed of_the old- fashioned Dutch shingles -- broad, and with unrounded corners . it_is a peculiarity of_this material to_give houses built of it the appearance of being wider at bottom than at top -- after_the manner of Egyptian architecture; and in_the present instance, this exceedingly picturesque effect was aided by numerous pots of gorgeous flowers that almost encompassed the base of_the buildings .

the shingles were painted a dull gray; and_the happiness with_which this neutral tint melted into_the vivid green of_the tulip tree leaves that partially overshadowed the cottage, can readily be conceived by an artist .

from_the position near the stone wall, as described, the buildings were seen at great advantage -- for_the southeastern angle was thrown forward -- so that_the eye took in at once the whole of_the two fronts, with_the picturesque eastern gable, and at_the same time obtained just a sufficient glimpse of_the northern wing, with parts of a pretty roof to_the spring- house, and nearly half of a light bridge that spanned the brook in_the near vicinity of_the main buildings .

I_did_not remain very long on_the brow of_the hill, although long enough to_make a thorough survey of_the scene at my feet . it_was clear that I had wandered from_the road to_the village, and I had thus good traveller's excuse to open the gate before me, and inquire my way, at all events; so, without more ado, I proceeded .

the road, after passing the gate, seemed to lie upon a natural ledge, sloping gradually down along the face of_the north- eastern cliffs . it led me on to_the foot of_the northern precipice, and thence over the bridge, round by_the eastern gable to_the front door . in_this progress, i_took notice that no sight of_the out-houses could_be obtained .

as I turned the corner of_the gable, the mastiff bounded towards me in stern silence, but with_the eye and_the whole air of a tiger .I held him out my hand, however, in token of amity -- and I never yet knew the dog who was proof against such an appeal to_his courtesy . he not_only shut his mouth and wagged his tail, but absolutely offered me his paw-afterward extending his civilities to Ponto .

as no bell was discernible, I rapped with my stick against the door, which stood half open . instantly a figure advanced to_the threshold -- that of a young woman about twenty-eight years_of_age -- slender, or rather slight, and somewhat above the medium height . as she approached, with a certain modest decision of step altogether indescribable . I_said to myself, " surely here I_have found the perfection of natural, in contradistinction from artificial grace ." the second impression which she made on me, but by far the more vivid of_the two, was_that of enthusiasm . so intense an expression of romance, perhaps i_should call it, or of unworldliness, as_that which gleamed from her deep- set eyes, had never so sunk into my heart of hearts before . I_know not how it_is, but this peculiar expression of_the eye, wreathing itself occasionally into_the lips, is_the most powerful, if_not absolutely the sole spell, which rivets my interest in woman ." romance, provided my readers fully comprehended what i_would here imply by_the word -- " romance" and " womanliness" seem to_me convertible terms: and, after all, what man truly loves in woman, is simply her womanhood . the eyes of Annie (I heard some one from_the interior call her "Annie, darling ! ") were " spiritual grey;" her hair, a light chestnut: this_is all I had time to observe of her .

at her most courteous of invitations, I entered -- passing first into a tolerably wide vestibule .Having come mainly to observe, i_took notice that to my right as I stepped in, was a window, such as_those in front of_the house; to_the left, a door leading into_the principal room; while, opposite me, an open door enabled me to_see a small apartment, just the size of_the vestibule, arranged as a study, and having a large bow window looking out to_the north .

Passing into_the parlor, I_found myself with Mr Landor -- for_this, I afterwards found, was his name . he_was civil, even cordial in_his manner, but just then, i_was more intent on observing the arrangements of_the dwelling which had so_much interested me, than_the personal appearance of_the tenant .

the north wing, I now saw, was a bed- chamber, its door opened into_the parlor . west of_this door was a single window, looking toward the brook . at_the west end of_the parlor, were a fireplace, and a door leading into_the west wing -- probably a kitchen .

nothing could_be more rigorously simple than_the furniture of_the parlor . on_the floor was an ingrain carpet, of excellent texture -- a white ground, spotted with small circular green figures . at_the windows were curtains of snowy white jaconet muslin: they were tolerably full, and hung decisively, perhaps rather formally in sharp, parallel plaits to_the floor -- just to_the floor . the walls were prepared with a French paper of great delicacy, a silver ground, with a faint green cord running zig-zag throughout . its expanse was relieved merely by three of Julien's exquisite lithographs atrois crayons, fastened to_the wall without frames . one_of_these drawings was ascene of oriental luxury, or rather voluptuousness; another was a" carnival piece," spirited beyond compare; the third was a Greek female head -- a face so divinely beautiful, and yet of an expression so provokingly indeterminate, never before arrested my attention .

the more substantial furniture consisted of a round table, a few chairs (including a large rocking- chair), and a sofa, or rather " settee;" its material was plain maple painted a creamy white, slightly interstriped with green; the seat of cane . the chairs and table were " to match," but the forms of all had evidently been designed by_the same brain which planned " the grounds;" it_is impossible to conceive anything more graceful .

on_the table were a few books, a large, square, crystal bottle of some novel perfume, a plain ground -- glass astral ( not solar) lamp with an Italian shade, and a large vase of resplendently-blooming flowers .Flowers, indeed, of gorgeous colours and delicate odour formed the sole mere decoration of_the apartment . the fire- place was nearly filled with a vase of brilliant geranium . on a triangular shelf in each angle of_the room stood also a similar vase, varied only as_to its lovely contents . one_or_two smaller bouquets adorned the mantel, and late violets clustered about_the open windows .

it_is_not the purpose of_this work to_do more than give in detail, a picture of Mr Landor's residence -- as I_found it . how he_made it what it_was -- and why -- with some particulars of Mr Landor himself -- may, possibly form the subject of another article .

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