- Pronouns
- He/Him
Slimy_Froggy
Patron
This is a poem written by Alexander Pope in the 17th century. A translation of Lockean psychology, Virgilian poetry and Claudian painting into landscape design. I really enjoyed reading it, so I hope you do too. Again: This is not my own writing. It is about the act of 'Landscaping'. Since I study Landscape Architecture, I thought it was interesting to see how Landscape Architecture can be translated not only in images, but also in poetic texts.
To build, to plant, whatever you intend,
To rear the column, or the arch to bend,
To swell the terrace, or to sink the grot;
In all, let Nature never be forgot.
But treat the goddess like a modest fair,
Not over-dress, not leave her wholly bare;
Let not each beauty every where be spied,
Where half the skill is decently to hide.
He gains all points, who pleasingly confounds,
Surprises, varies, and conceals the bounds.
Consult the genius of the place in all,
That tells the waters or to rise, or fall,
Or helps the ambitious hill the heavens to scale,
Or scoops in circling theatres the vale;
Calls in the country, catches opening glades,
Joins willing woods, and varies shades from shades,
Now breaks, or now directs, the intending lines;
Paints as you plant, and as you work, designs.
Still follow sense, of every art the soul,
Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole,
Spontaneous beauties all around advance,
start ev'n from difficulty, strike from chance;
Nature shall join you; Time shall make it grow
A work to wonder at -- perhaps a Stowe
Stowe refers to the park called Stowe, a landscape style design, designed by Lancelot 'capability' Brown, William Kent and Charles Bridgeman.To rear the column, or the arch to bend,
To swell the terrace, or to sink the grot;
In all, let Nature never be forgot.
But treat the goddess like a modest fair,
Not over-dress, not leave her wholly bare;
Let not each beauty every where be spied,
Where half the skill is decently to hide.
He gains all points, who pleasingly confounds,
Surprises, varies, and conceals the bounds.
Consult the genius of the place in all,
That tells the waters or to rise, or fall,
Or helps the ambitious hill the heavens to scale,
Or scoops in circling theatres the vale;
Calls in the country, catches opening glades,
Joins willing woods, and varies shades from shades,
Now breaks, or now directs, the intending lines;
Paints as you plant, and as you work, designs.
Still follow sense, of every art the soul,
Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole,
Spontaneous beauties all around advance,
start ev'n from difficulty, strike from chance;
Nature shall join you; Time shall make it grow
A work to wonder at -- perhaps a Stowe