Answer by Ulrike Fischer for Parbox as an initial

\RequirePackage{fix-cm}\documentclass[11pt]{scrartcl}\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}\usepackage{lettrine}\begin{document}\newbox\initial\sbox\initial{\parbox[b]{3cm}{\centering abc\\blub}}\lettrine[lines=3, lraise=0.1, nindent=0em]%{\usebox\initial}{ello}, here is some text without a meaning. This textshould show, how a printed text will look like at this place. If you readthis text, you will get no information. Really? Is there noinformation?Hello, here is some text without a meaning. This text shouldshow, how a printed text will look like at this place. If you read this text,you will get no information. Really? Is there no information?\end{document}