AN UNWELCOME VISITOR

The Margrave is having a bad day as he has just heard that Trompenburg's neighbour, The Prince Bishopric of Arnheim has despatched a new ambassador to Trompenburg. None other than the infamous Comte de Chocé-Topin, a man whose name is a byword for cruelty and depravity.

Feigning illness to allow time to compose himself, he sends his faithful councillor Topfglanz to meet the count at the newly erected Gothic Temple.

Comte de CT (in lavender coat) - "I am sorry to hear of your master's ...indisposition Topfglanz, I trust he will be fully recovered by this evening?"

Topfglanz (in green) - "His excellency the Margrave sends his apologies for not receiving you in person Comte, and begs you amuse yourself in his garden until it is time to dine at the palace."

Comte de CT - "Garden? I see no order or geometry about me. All is wild and uneven and in disarray as if nature has run riot. Do you have no canals or parterres such as we value in Arnheim? Where are your pleached avenues and patte d'oie. ? "

Topfglanz - " We do have such conceits my lord, but it is the Margrave's intention to grub them all up, sell his topiary and follow the English into a new Arcadia."

Comte de CT - " Tcha! Arcadia? That will result in many of your gardeners being dismissed will it not, with no miles of box and privet to trim or gravel paths to rake?"

Topfglanz - " I trust not my lord, and the odour of the box hedges disagrees with the Margravina, she keeps blaming her cat Nibbins for the smell."

Comte de CT - "Nevertheless, should your gardeners hear of these plans, there might be unpleasantness as there are many of them."

Topfglanz - "I pray not. Now Comte, what think you of the Margrave's new edifice in the Gothic style?. His new English designer Percival Longprong has been hard at work."

Comte de CT - " It is true that I find the Gothic style agreeable, reminding me as it does of sepulchres and tombs, but this building sets me in mind of another English architect, Sanderson Miller who has recently escaped from an English madhouse. Come Topfglanz, show me the prospect the temple commands."

As the pair walk to the temple, Old Hodge the gardener hobbles as fast as he is able towards the gardeners bothy.

Figures- Topfglanz by Eureka, Comte de CT and Hodge by Front Rank.

A LITTLE LIGHT MUSIC FOR THE MARGRAVE

I have had these fellows on the workbench for a long while, but finally finished them off. Currently I am leaving my 54mm figures matt (apart from the military types) and gloss varnishing the 28mm. Any preferences from readers as I am unsure if that is the best thing to do?

Figures from Phoenix

The Margrave's favourite piece

Vivaldi concerto in D major for 2 violins and 2 cellos

THE GENIUS OF THE PLACE

The two English Garden designers, Galahad Green and Percival Longprong have arrived in Trompenburg as Guests of the Margrave and Margravina. They are met in the park by their hosts and Nibbins, the palace cat.

Margrave- "My Dear Sirs, it is so good of you to travel to Trompenburg to help me in my design"

Green-"It was good of your Excellencies to invite us"

Margravina- "I trust and pray Master Longprong that you have brought some designs of temples to grace our garden?"

Longprong- "Indeed, I have drawn several designs of temples and grottoes which await your approval."

Margrave-"Splendid, I know you are ingenious in such designs, which is why I asked you here. I am determined that Trompenburg will follow the English and lead the rest of Europe away from such conceits as they still fancy over the border in Arnheim. There the trees still rise in cones , globes and pyramids and we see the mark of the scissors upon every plant and bush. I do not know whether I am singular in my opinion, but for my own part I would rather look upon a tree in all it's luxuriancy and diffusion of boughs and branches, than when it is cut and trimmed into a mathematical figure. (Joseph Addison)

Longprong- "I agree your excellency, there is nothing more shocking than a stiff regular garden." (Batty Langley)

Margravina- "I for one would prefer the loose tresses of a tree or plant that is easily fanned by every gentle breeze or air." (Stephen Switzer)

Green- "Madam, in your garden when we come to copy or imitate nature, we shall trace her steps with the greatest accuracy." (Batty Langley)

Margrave- "Come gentlemen, let us to the park and consult the Genius of the Place." (Alexander Pope)

Nibbins the cat- "Miaow." (Nibbins)

Figures- Green (in green) Phoenix, Longprong (in blue) Dolp, Margrave and Margravina are by Mokarex, Nibbins the cat Rose miniatures I think. Statue of Pan from Green Man and Gatekeeper.

Bracketed names after a speech are of the gardeners of the time who spouted the words originally.

DAM HARD WORK

Work has commenced on the building of the dams needed to form a lake in the Margrave's garden. The gardeners have been issued their orders and commence digging, as they toil the conversation goes thus...

Laxton- "'Tis beyond me why anyone would want to flood this 'ere valley"

Old Hodge- "Arrr"

Ellison- "Oye reckon this 'ere dam will upset the miller down the way if it mucks up the flow of the brooks"

Old Hodge- "Arrr"

Grieve- "'Bain't be no use saying anything. What if this dam should fail when the lake is full? The village will be washed away"

Old Hodge- "Arrr"

Clod- "Best we build it decent then, lest we all be drownded in our beds"

Old Hodge- "Arrr"

Meanwhile Herr Knecht the head-gardener looks on and sups his ale.