Architettura con il suo commento et figure Vetruvio in volgar lingua raportato

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M. VITRUVIUS ON ARCHITECTURE, A MIRACULOUS WORK: TRANSLATED FROM LATIN INTO THE VERNACULAR BY THE MOST INGENIOUS AND SKILLFUL M. GIANBATTISTA CAPORALI OF PERUGIA, WITH COMMENTARY AND FIGURES EXPLAINED, AND AMENDED WITH SUM DILIGENCE.

FIRST BOOK AND PROEM TO THE DIVINE CAESAR AUGUSTUS.

A decorative initial 'V' containing a small scene of a figure in a landscape.

Wishing to acquire the friendship and familiarity of Julius Caesar, the first Emperor and most learned man, Vitruvius thought maturely to dedicate these ten books of Architecture to him, composed not only with perfect science of all the good arts, but also reasons of Rhetoric, with great propriety and copy of words and elegance, even though it was difficult to write such matter. But those who will know well how to consider the written ten parts will know that one alone they will appear, divided into ten parts, making each one contain a diversified book, in which all the reasons and rules of Architecture are treated. But after the impious fate snatched the famous life of the said Julius Caesar, dictator, who according to the opinion of those times was placed among the stars, and not only in the Elysian fields in the company (as they believed) of the other heroes, Vitruvius approached with no less hope the benign and most pleasant second Emperor Octavian, surnamed Caesar Augustus, to whom he consecrates this present work. This was, as Suetonius Tranquillus writes, the natural son of Octavian and of Accia, who was born of Accius Balbus and Julia, sister of Julius Caesar; Augustus was legitimately adopted as a son, and for this, he took the name of Caesar, his great-uncle or adoptive father. Afterwards, he was surnamed Augustus, according to the sentence of Numatius Plancus; and although others judged he ought to be called Romulus, as one who had newly restored Rome, yet the surname of Augustus prevailed, as it was more magnificent and happy. For the Religious places consecrated with auguries they called "Augusti," from the increase or from the birds by which they used to divine. But Ennius the poet said Rome was made with an "August" augury, from which the famous and Illustrious City of PERUGIA was also called Augusta, because it was the head of Tuscany, built by the Tyrrhenians, for from there was born the art of Augury, although others want it to be called Augusta from Augustus Caesar, by whom it was restored after the fire. And it is also read in the most ancient walls of our City in cubital letters AVGVSTA PERVSIA, just as IBIA COLONIA. Therefore, for the great victories and happiness, he was so called, having increased the Roman Empire and pacified the world, closing the Temple of Janus Quirinus which was a sign of universal peace, as Numa Pompilius, the second King of Rome, ordered. He made this temple in a low place, which was called the Argiletum, and so when it was open it was a sign of war. The first time Numa closed it; the second time it was closed after the end of the first African war; the third time by the said Caesar Augustus, in which time Jesus Christ, our true ETERNAL GOD and Savior, wished to come into this world. It is written that this Caesar Augustus, having overcome M. Antony in that most clear Actian victory, by reason of the most beautiful Cleopatra, daughter of Aulete, Ptolemy, Queen of Egypt, of whom M. Antony, in love, had repudiated Octavia, sister of said Octavian. But from the happy surname of Augustus, it also pleased to name the month that was previously called Sextilis, for being the sixth, according to the order of the year of Romulus ordained of ten months starting from March, just as Quintilis was called Julius by Julius Caesar, as also in the present. And this pleased the Roman People because in the month of August Caesar Augustus had the consulship and triumphed three times, and subjugated Egypt, and, as we have said, put an end to the wars. From these, then, all the succeeding Emperors, either by virtue or by some by adulation, were called Caesars Augusti, and even up to today, like the most just Charles, who is by merit most Christian Caesar and always Augustus. But if you wish more abundantly the gestures and immortal praises of Caesar Augustus and of Octavian, read Suetonius, Plutarch, besides the poets Virgil, Horace, and the others of that golden and most happy shield. To this, therefore, as to a terrestrial God, directing his most excellent work, Vitruvius maturely begins, saying: It is manifest in the precepts of Rhetoric and especially near M. Tullius, parent and source of eloquence, in the first of the Orator and elsewhere, that in the exordia we must prepare the auditor or the reader, so that we have him benevolent, docile, and attentive throughout the work. For this end these prefaces are ordered. And therefore Vitruvius, most ornamented of every science, according to the norm of the Rhetoricians, serves throughout this proem the aforementioned properties. And primarily he draws benevolence from the person of Caesar Augustus, demonstrating his divine nature and honoring him as God on earth, which those did...