Alberti, Leone Battista, Architecture, 1755

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1nor diſhonoured by any Filth that may offend
the
Stomachs of the Gueſts.
From the Par­
lour
the next Step is to the Bed-chamber; and
for
a Man of Figure and Elegance, there ſhould
be
different ones of theſe latter, as well as of
the
former, for Summer and for Winter.
This
puts
me in Mind of Lucullus's Saying, that it
is
not fit a great Man ſhould be worſe lodged
than
a Swallow or a Crane.
However I ſhall
only
ſet down ſuch Rules, with Relation to
theſe
Apartments, as are compatible with the
greateſt
Modeſty and Moderation.
I remem­
ber
to have read in Æmilius Probus the Hiſto­
rian
, that among the Greeks it was never uſual
for
the Wife to appear at Table, if any body
was
there beſides Relations; and that the
partments
for the Women, were Parts of the
Houſe
where no Men ever ſet his Foot except
the
neareſt Kindred.
And indeed I muſt own
I
think the Apartments for the Ladies, ought
to
be ſacred like Places dedicated to Religion
and
Chaſtity.
I am beſides for having the
Rooms
particularly deſigned for Virgins and
young
Ladies, fitted up in the neateſt and moſt
delicate
Manner, that their tender Minds may
paſs
their Time in them with leſs Regret and
be
as little weary of themſelves as poſſible.
The
Miſtreſs
of the Family ſhould have an Apart­
ment
, in which ſhe may eaſily hear every
Thing
that is done in the Houſe.
However,
in
theſe Particulars, the Cuſtoms of every
Country
are always to be principally obſerved.
The Husband and the Wife ſhould each have
a
ſeparate Chamber, not only that the Wife,
either
when ſhe lies in, or in Caſe of any other
Indiſpoſition
, may not be troubleſome to her
Husband
; but alſo that in Summer Time,
either
of them may lie alone whenever they
think
fit.
Each of theſe Chambers ſhould have
its
ſeparate Door, beſides which there ſhould
be
a common Paſſage between them both, that
one
may go to the other without being obſerv­
ed
by any body.
The Wife's Chamber ſhould
go
into the Wardrobe; the Husband's into the
Library
.
Their ancient Mother, who requires
Tranquility
and Repoſe, ſhould have a warm
Chamber
, well ſecured againſt the Cold, and
out
of the Way of all Noiſes either from with­
in
or without.
Be ſure particularly to let it
have
a good Fire-place, and all other Conve­
niencies
neceſſary for an infirm Perſon, to com­
fort
and cheer both the Body and Mind.
Out
of
this Chamber let there be a Paſſage to the
Place
where you keep your Treaſure.
Here
place
the Boys; and by the Wardrobe the
Girls
, and near them the Lodgings for the
Nurſes
.
Strangers and Gueſts ſhould be lodged
in
Chambers near the Veſtibule or Fore-gate;
that
they may have full Freedom both in their
own
Actions, and in receiving Viſits from their
Friends
, without diſturbing the Reſt of the Fa­
mily
.
The Sons of fixteen or ſeventeen Years
old
, ſhould have Apartments oppoſite to the
Gueſts
, or at leaſt not far from them, that
they
may have an Opportunity to converſe and
grow
familiar with them.
The Strangers too
ſhould
have ſome Place to themſelves, where
they
may lock up any Thing private or valu­
able
, and take it out again whenever they
think
fit.
Next to the Lodgings of the young
Gentlemen
, ſhould be the Place where the
Arms
are kept.
Stewards, Officers and Ser­
vants
ſhould be ſo lodged aſunder from the
Gentlemen
, that each may have a convenient
Place
, ſuitable to his reſpective Buſineſs.
The
Maid-ſervants
and Valets ſhould always be
within
eaſy Call, to be ready upon any Occa­
ſion
that they are wanted for.
The Butler's
Lodging
ſhould be near both to the Vault and
Pantry
.
The Grooms ſhould lie near the Stable.
The Saddle-horſes ought not to be kept in the
ſame
Place with thoſe of Draught or Burthen;
and
they ſhould be placed where they cannot
offend
the Houſe with any Smells, nor pre­
judice
it by their Kicking, and out of all Danger
of
Fire.
Corn and all Manner of Grain is ſpoilt
by
Moiſture, tarniſhed and turned pale by
Heat
, ſhrunk by Wind, and rotted by the
Touch
of Lime.
Where-ever therefore you in­
tend
to lay it, whether in a Cave, Pit, Vault,
or
on an open Area, be ſure that the Place be
thoroughly
dry and perfectly clean and new
made
. Joſephus affirms, that there was Corn
dug
up near Siboli perfectly good and ſound,
though
it had lain hid above an hundred
Years
.
Some ſay, that Barley laid in a warm
Place
, will not ſpoil; but it will keep very
little
above a Year.
The Philoſophers tell us,
that
Bodies are prepared ſor Corruption by
Moiſture
, but are aſterwards actually corrupt­
ed
by Heat.
If you make a Floor in your
Granary
of Lees of Oil mixed with Potter's
Clay
and Spart or Straw chopt ſmall, and beat
well
together, your Grain will keep ſound up­
on
it a great While, and be neither ſpoilt by
Weevil
nor ſtolen by the Ant.
Granaries de­
ſigned
only for Seeds are beſt built of unbaked
Bricks
.
The North-wind is leſs prejudicial
than
the South to all Stores of Seeds and Fruits;
but
any Wind whatſoever blowing from damp

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