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

like Myron or Polycletus, but not ignorant of the plastic sculptural reason; nor again a physician like Hippocrates, but not aniatrologetos untaught in medicine; nor uniquely excellent in other doctrines, but not unskilled in them. For in such varieties of things, no one can pursue unique elegances, as the reasoning of them can barely fall into one's power to know and grasp. Nor, however, is it only that architects cannot have the highest effect in all things, but even those who hold the properties of the arts privately do not bring it about that they all have the highest rank of praise. Therefore, if in individual doctrines individual artists, and not all, but a few in the perpetual age have barely achieved nobility, how can an architect, who must be skilled in many arts, not do the same surprising and great thing, not lacking in any of these, but even exceeding all the artists who have excelled in individual doctrines with assiduity and great industry? Therefore, in this matter, Pythius seems to have erred, because he did not notice that individual arts are composed of two things: from the work, and from its reasoning. Of these, one thing is proper to those who are exercised in individual things, that is, the effect of the work; the other is common with all the learned, that is, reasoning: as with physicians and musicians regarding rhythm and the movement of the feet. But if it is necessary to heal a wound or snatch a sick person from danger, the musician will not approach, but that work will be proper to the physician. Likewise, in an organ, the physician will not play, but the musician will modulate, so that the ears may receive pleasure from his songs. Similarly, there is a common discussion with astrologers and musicians about the sympathy of stars and symphonies, in squares, and triangles, the fourth, and the fifth; with geometers about vision, which is called logos reason and optikos optical in Greek; and with other doctrines, many things, or all, are common only for the sake of arguing.

A hand pointing to the text.

But the beginnings of the works, which lead to elegance through hands and handling, are of those who were properly instituted in one art for doing. Therefore, it seems to have done enough abundantly, that one has the reason and parts of individual doctrines known moderately, and those which are necessary for architecture: so that if it is necessary to judge and approve something regarding these things and arts, one does not fail. Those to whom nature has attributed so much skill, sharpness, and memory that they can have geometry, astrology, music, and other disciplines thoroughly known, pass beyond the offices of architects, and they become mathematicians. Therefore, they can easily argue against those disciplines because they are armed with many weapons of discipline. But these are found rarely, as once there were Aristarchus of Samos, Philolaus and Archytas of Tarentum, Apollonius of Perga, Eratosthenes of Cyrene, Archimedes and Scopinas of Syracuse, who left many organic and gnomonic things, found and explained by number and natural reasons, to posterity. When, therefore, such talents are not granted by natural skill everywhere to all nations, but to few men, and the office of the architect ought to be exercised in all eruditions, and the reason permits, because of the amplitude of the matter, not to have the highest, but even moderate sciences of the disciplines, I ask, Caesar, both from you, and from those who are to read my volumes, that if something is little...