Theater of Machines, Part 1

...but to view them one after another and to read about their principles and propertiesoriginal: "rationes vnd eigenschafften", I believe will bring any intelligent person more pleasure than frustration. Therefore, the favorable reader may rightly be considered the most fortunate among the three types of people mentioned above, because he can view these inventions for his own benefit and use without any effort or worry, and can choose whatever seems best to him.

So that the favorable and art-loving reader does not encounter anything strange or unknown in this Theater The author uses "Theater" (Theatrum) in the Renaissance sense: a comprehensive display or "spectacle" of a particular subject—in this case, mechanical engineering. that might hinder his correct understanding of mechanicsoriginal: "Machination." In this context, it refers to the art of building and using machines, not a "scheme" or "plot.", there has been placed at the very front of this Theater, as if in a vestibuleoriginal: "Vestibulo," the entrance hall of a Roman house., the little book on the true foundation and understanding of the balance and weight. This work was previously published in the German language by the highly learned and famous mathematician and physician, Dr. Walther Hermann Ryfforiginal: "D. Gvvalthero Herminio Rivio." Ryff (c. 1500–1548) was a prolific author and translator of scientific and architectural works, including the first German translation of Vitruvius.. Within it, the art-loving reader may first inform himself and learn to truly understand the proper foundation of mechanics. Following that, at the beginning of the Theater, the definition, names, distinctions, and origins of mechanics are first displayed. Furthermore, its first inventors and famous proponents are recounted, along with the glorious deeds they put into action through the power of mechanics. Subsequently, the most basicoriginal: "schlechtesten." In 17th-century German, this meant "simple" or "plain," not "bad." and simple machines and instruments are placed first in this Theater, such as the balance, lever, windlass, winch, and the like, so that the favorable...