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

regulated by the rules of grammar, I ask for forgiveness. For I have not set out to write this as a supreme philosopher, nor as an eloquent rhetorician, nor as a grammarian practiced in the reasoning of his art, but as an architect initiated into these letters. Regarding the power of the art and the reasonings contained within it, I promise (as I hope) to demonstrate with the greatest authority in these volumes, without a doubt, for those who build and for all wise men as well.

Concerning the elements of which architecture consists. Chapter II.

Architecture, however, consists of ordinatio ordering/arrangement, which the Greeks call taxis order, and of dispositio design/composition, which the Greeks call diathesis arrangement, and eurythmia graceful proportion, and symmetria symmetry, and decor propriety/adornment, and distributio distribution/economy, which in Greek is called oikonomia management of a household. Ordinatio is the moderate convenience of the members of a work, considered separately, and the comparison of the proportion of the whole to symmetria. This is composed of quantity, which in Greek is called posotes quantity. Quantity is the result of taking modules from the work itself, and the convenient effect of the individual parts of the members of the entire work. Dispositio is the fitting placement of things and the elegant effect of the work in compositions with quality. The species of dispositio, which are called ideai ideas/concepts in Greek, are these: ichnographia ground plan, orthographia elevation, scenographia perspective. Ichnographia is the skillful use of the compass and ruler, by which the forms of the designs of the area on the ground are captured.

A square floor plan (ichnographia) shows a peristyle or courtyard surrounded by columns, with a larger rectangular structure at the top.

Orthographia is the upright image of the front, and a drawing of the future work moderately painted according to its reasonings.