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

through which cords made of twisted sinew are stretched by windlasses and levers, which do not close or fasten unless they have made the sounds certain and equal to the ears of the artist. For the arms which are included in those tensions, when they are extended, must emit both blows equally and alike. And if they are not of the same tone original: "homotonia", they will impede the straight mission of the projectiles. Likewise in theaters, the bronze vessels which are placed in cells under the steps by mathematical reasoning, and the distinctions of sounds which the Greeks call echeia echoing vessels, compose themselves to musical symphonies or concerts, divided in the circle into the fourth, the fifth, and the octave, so that when the voice of the scenic sound strikes them in the arrangements, it arrives at the spectator's ears, increased with increment, clearer and sweeter. Furthermore, no one will be able to make hydraulic machines and other things that are similar to these organs without musical reasonings. It is necessary to know the discipline of medicine because of the inclinations of the sky, which the Greeks call klimata climates, and the airs of places, which are healthy or pestilent, and the uses of waters. Without these reasonings, no healthy habitation can be made. It is also necessary to have known laws that are necessary for buildings, regarding the commonality of walls, the boundary of drip-lines, sewers, and lights. Likewise, water conduits and other things of this kind must be known to architects, so that they may take precautions before they establish buildings, lest controversies be left to the heads of families once the works are done, and so that prudence may be provided for in writing the laws of both the locator contractor/lessor and the conductor tenant/lessee. For if a law is skillfully written, it will be such that both are freed from the other without trickery. From astrology, one knows the rising, setting, south, north, and the reason of the sky: the equinox, the solstice, and the course of the stars; of which, if someone has no knowledge, he will not be able to know the reason of clocks at all. When, therefore, this discipline is so decorated, and abounding with various and many eruditions, I do not think that architects can justly profess themselves to be such suddenly, unless they have reached the high temple of architecture, nourished by the science of many letters and arts by climbing these steps of disciplines from a boyish age. But perhaps it will seem wonderful to unskilled men that the nature of such a number of doctrines can be learned and held in memory. But when they notice that all disciplines have a connection and communication of things among themselves, it will be believed that it can be done easily. For encyclical general/liberal discipline is composed as one body from these limbs. Therefore, those who from tender ages are instructed in various eruditions recognize the same signs in all letters, and the communication of all disciplines, and for that reason, they know everything more easily. And therefore, Pythius, the ancient architect who nobly architected the temple of Minerva at Priene, says in his commentaries that an architect ought to be able to do more in all arts and doctrines than those who have brought individual things to the highest clarity by their own industries and exercises. But that is not feasible in reality. For an architect ought not and cannot be a grammarian as Aristarchus was, but not ungrammatical; nor a musician as Aristoxenus, but not unmusical; nor a painter as Apelles, but not unskilled in drawing; nor a sculptor...