Discourse on Mechanics.

Above all, he must possess a dexterity of intellect to conceive of something ingenious, to visualize things perfectly, and to grasp them in his mind without wavering or alteration. No less should his undertakings be carried out with caution and diligence. In particular, he must possess the level of understanding and learning that Vitruvius requires of an architect referring to the Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius Pollio, and such as the mechanics themselves—such as Philo of Athens and the two Herons—possessed. That is, a Mechanicus Logicus logical mechanic must be capable of wisely, cautiously, and diligently overseeing everything that requires understanding, art, and skill. Mechanical art, however, brings about both utility and pleasure, and advances human undertakings.

And this is as much as I have wished to observe regarding mechanics in general. For machines themselves differ greatly from one another, both in their manufacture and their utility, although they all agree in this and have this intention: that by means of their assistance, one may, contrary to natural habit, lift weights and heavy bodies with little force and raise them to a height; prepare machines to reach these heights; produce all kinds of sounds through pipes; imitate the singing of birds; provide trombones, trumpets, and similar instruments with their sound or tone; pour out various liquores liquids from the same pipe; prepare war machines, by which peace may be maintained as well as enemy attacks repelled by resistance; and finally, manufacture all manner of other necessary machines.

Since mechanics therefore carries out so many, great, and varied works, it also encompasses different arts and sciences. Among these, one receives the name of mechanics itself, and comprises all lifting, driving, and pulling works, which are altogether of great power to move loads either by pulling, pushing, or lifting. For this reason, the machines themselves receive their various names, such as: ropes and pulleys, pulley blocks, which—depending on the number of rollers located side-by-side or one above the other—are called three-fold or five-fold, and can excellently serve to lift a load. Likewise, there are certain machines used for pulling, the use of which is also varied and diverse, depending on how they are to be applied. For the load is either to be moved forward upon a surface or truly lifted into the air. These machines also have two types of movement, which occur, as mentioned above, along both straight and curved lines. Beyond these types of movement, we must also take note in mechanics of the load itself, the machine or instrument of movement, its capacity, and the force. Whoever has a good insight into this and similar matters will quite easily understand this entire part of mechanics. It depends mostly on wheels and rollers with their ropes, because great power lies within these, through which an almost incredible power can be generated.

The other is called by the Greeks Ὀργανοποιητική organopoietike/instrument-making, that is, a science of preparing weapons and armament, which teaches how to provide all kinds of war equipment and similar necessary instruments, with which we drive forward or throw—partly by means of throwing-weapons or arrows, partly stones, iron, and the like—over a long distance. It also instructs how to invent other machines useful in war. Such things as were done by Archimedes during the siege of Syracuse are known. For this was invented to the end that one might escape impending danger, or ward it off and advance one’s own welfare. It designs and manufactures artillery to besiege and conquer cities; it constructs artificial bridges by means of which entire armies can be conveniently transported over rivers and ditches; it shows artificial ladders upon which