Next you shall make the letter C in its own square thus: Bisect the
square a. b. c. d. by the horizontal line e. f. and in it let i. be the
middle point. From this point as the centre, & i. f. or i. e. as the
radius, describe a circle touching interiorly all four sides of the
square. Now move the leg of the compass, but without varying its span,
to a point k. a little to the right of i. in the line e. f., letting the
space i. k. denote the greatest breadth of the letter you desire; & from
the centre k. describe another circle which shall cut twice the line
b. d., and whose circumference to the left will mark the required
breadth of the letter. Next, draw the vertical line g. h., parallel to
b. d., distant from b. a tenth part of the line a. b. This will cut off
for you at top and bottom the letter C as the ancients were accustomed
to use it. But I would have you cut off the lower limb in the middle
point between g. h. and b. d.: then make the limbs somewhat finer and
rounder on the inside towards top and bottom from the point where the
circles intersect; and for its greater perfection round out the letter,
above and below, to touch the sides of the square a. b. and c. d. Next,
low down, where the letter with one foot crosses the line g. h., there,
under the circular line make the form a little more incurved, yet so
that with the tip of its end it shall again touch the circular line.
Similarly, but higher up, make the foot more hollow on the inside than
the circle left it: and thus two circular lines will give you very
nearly the whole form of the letter.
Another method.
Or, secondly, you may make the letter C thus: Draw in the square a
diagonal c. b.; set the leg of your compass on its middle point i. and
with the other leg describe the exterior circle as before, terminating
it above at the diagonal c. b.; but below, make your circle pass a
little beyond the former sweep. Then set the leg of your compass, but
without changing its gauge, as far above i. in the diagonal as the
letter's greatest width, and describe your inner circle; and, as though
made with a pen, let the descending stroke be heavier than the
ascending. The rest you may elaborate with your hand; & let the trimming
of the ends of the letter, above, slope upwards, & below, downwards,
exactly as I have here drawn the shapes.
[Illustration: C]