Proper use of a Lettrine when the paragraph begins with a roman numeral

lettrineoctavoparagraphsroman numeralstypography

A typography consideration:

In a current project, I am encountering the situation where I would like to make use of a lettrine, but the paragraph in which it is to be used begins with a Roman numeral. When this happens, I am never quite certain of how to handle it: Should the numeral be placed atop the Lettrine in ordinary (or special) font; Should the numeral be placed to the left of the lettrine outside (or within) of the page margin; Should the numeral somehow be used in the (or some other) lettrine; etc.?

So, I ask to consider the code:

\documentclass[foolscap]{octavo}
\usepackage{lettrine,xcolor}
\usepackage[tracking=true]{microtype}

\input GoudyIn.fd
\renewcommand{\LettrineFontHook}{\usefont{U}{GoudyIn}{xl}{n}}

\fboxsep=0pt % padding thickness
\fboxrule=0pt % border thickness

\begin{document}
\thispagestyle{empty}

\noindent Paragraph in which a lettrine is to be incorporated:\\[10pt]

\noindent I. This is a paragraph which makes use of a lettrine; however, it is preceded by a Roman Numeral. \textbf{What is the proper way to handle a situation like this?}\\[10pt]

\lettrine[lines=3,loversize=.30,findent=.21em,nindent=2.5pt]{\fcolorbox{black}{red!70}{T\kern-.04em}}{his} is a paragraph which makes use of a lettrine; however, it is preceded by a Roman Numeral. \textbf{What is the proper way to handle a situation like this?}
\end{document}

which produces the output

enter image description here

QUESTION: How should a paragraph beginning with a Roman Numeral be handled when one wants to begin that paragraph with a lettrine?

Best Answer

I can't say I like any layout here but at least TeX doesn't scream about underfull boxes.

enter image description here

\documentclass[foolscap]{octavo}
\usepackage{lettrine,xcolor,parskip,lmodern}
\usepackage[tracking=true]{microtype}
\DeclareFontFamily{U}{GoudyIn}{}

\DeclareFontShape{U}{GoudyIn}{xl}{n}{
   <-> GoudyIn
}{}

\NewDocumentCommand\PP{}{%
\refstepcounter{enumi}%
\raisebox{20pt}[0pt]{%
\makebox[0pt]{\normalfont\large\textbf{\Roman{enumi}.}\hspace{25pt}}}}

\renewcommand{\LettrineFontHook}{\usefont{U}{GoudyIn}{xl}{n}}

\fboxsep=0pt % padding thickness
\fboxrule=0pt % border thickness

\begin{document}
\thispagestyle{empty}

Paragraph in which a lettrine is to be incorporated:

I. This is a paragraph which makes use of a lettrine; however, it is preceded by a Roman Numeral.
\textbf{What is the proper way to handle a situation like this?}

\lettrine[lines=3,loversize=.30,findent=.21em,nindent=2.5pt]{\fcolorbox{black}{red!70}{T\kern-.04em}}{his}
is a paragraph which makes use of a lettrine; however, it is preceded
by a Roman Numeral. \textbf{What is the proper way to handle a
  situation like this?}




\lettrine[lines=3,loversize=.30,findent=.21em,nindent=2.5pt]{\PP\fcolorbox{black}{red!70}{T\kern-.04em}}{his}
  is a paragraph which makes use of a lettrine; however, it is
  preceded by a Roman Numeral. \textbf{What is the proper way to
    handle a situation like this?}


\lettrine[lines=3,loversize=.30,findent=.21em,nindent=2.5pt]{\PP\fcolorbox{black}{red!70}{S\kern-.04em}}{econd}
  paragraph which makes use of a lettrine; however, it is
  preceded by a Roman Numeral. \textbf{What is the proper way to
    handle a situation like this?}

\end{document}
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