M. Vitruvius per Iocundum solito castigatior factus cum figuris et tabula ut iam legi et intelligi possit

M. VITRUVIUS ON ARCHITECTURE. BOOK ONE.

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When your divine mind and spirit, Emperor Caesar, were gaining control of the empire of the world, and all enemies had been laid low by your unconquered valor, and the citizens were rejoicing in your triumph and victory, and all conquered nations were watching your nod, and the Roman people and Senate had been freed from fear and were being governed by your most extensive thoughts and counsels, I did not dare to publish writings on architecture, explained with great thoughts, amidst such occupations: fearing that by interrupting at an inappropriate time, I might incur the offense of your spirit. But when I observed that you have a concern not only for the common life of all and the constitution of the Republic, but also for the necessity of public buildings, so that the state might be increased by you not only in provinces, but also that the majesty of the empire might have the outstanding authority of public buildings, I did not think that I should pass over the opportunity to publish these things to you at the first possible time. For this reason, I was first known to your parent Julius Caesar and was a student of his virtue. When, however, the council of the celestials had dedicated him in the seats of immortality and had transferred the empire of the parent into your power, my same zeal, remaining in his memory, conferred favor upon you. Therefore, I was present with M. Aurelius, P. Minidius, and Cn. Cornelius for the preparation of ballistae, scorpions, and the repair of other artillery, and I received benefits with them: which, when you granted to me at first, you preserved my recognition through the recommendation of your sister. Since, therefore, I was bound by that benefit so that I would not have a fear of poverty until the end of my life, I began to write these things to you: because I observed that you had built many things and are now building: and that you will have a concern for the time to come also, for both public and private buildings, in accordance with the scale of your accomplishments, so that they might be handed down to memory for posterity. I have written the descriptions as finalized, so that by attending to them, you might be able to have known through yourself what the works already done are, and what the future ones will be: for in these volumes I have opened up all the principles of the discipline.

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What architecture is, and about educating architects. Chapter I.
Architecture is a science adorned with many disciplines and various studies, by whose judgment all works performed by other arts are approved. It is born from practice and reasoning. Practice is the continuous and repeated exercise of use, which is performed by the hands upon material of any kind for the purpose of the intended design. Reasoning...