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

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WHEN your divine mind and spirit, Emperor Caesar, were in possession of the empire of the world, and all enemies were laid low by your invincible valor, and the citizens and nations were rejoicing in your triumph and victory, and all the conquered peoples looked to your nod, and the Roman people and Senate were governed by your most ample thoughts and counsels, I did not dare to publish writings on architecture, explained with great cogitation, in such times, fearing that by interrupting at an unsuitable time, I might incur the displeasure of your mind. But when I perceived that you held concern not only for the common life of all and the constitution of the Republic, but also for the suitability of public buildings, so that through you the city might not only be enlarged by provinces, but also that the majesty of the empire might have the excellent authority of public buildings, I did not think it should be delayed to edit these matters for you at the first opportunity. Therefore, I was first known to your father regarding this matter, and a student of his virtue. When, however, the council of the celestial beings had dedicated him to the seats of immortality, and transferred the empire of the parent into your power, my same study remaining in his memory, he conferred favor upon you. Therefore, when I was with Marcus Aurelius, Publius Minidius, and Gnaeus Cornelius, I was ready for the preparation of ballistae, scorpions, and the repair of other tormenta siege engines, and with them I received benefits; which, when you granted them to me first, you preserved through the recommendation of your sister. Therefore, since I was obligated by that benefit so that I would not have fear of poverty to the end of my life, I began to write these things for you, because I noticed that you had built many things, and are building now, and in the remaining time, for the sake of the memory of posterity, you would have concern for both public and private buildings in proportion to the greatness of your deeds. I have written prescribed limits, so that by attending to them, you might be able to know through yourself what the works done and those to be done are; for in these volumes I have opened all the methods of the discipline.

What architecture is, and on the training of architects. Chapter I.

from the praise of the exordium

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Architecture is a science adorned with many disciplines and various eruditions, by whose judgment all works that are finished by other arts are approved. It is born from fabrica the practice or craft and ratiocinatio reasoning/theory. Practice is the continuous and exercised meditation of use, which is finished by the hands from material of any kind according to the purpose of the design. Reasoning...