M. Vitruvii Pollonis de architectura libri decem ad Caesarem Augustum omnibus omnium editionibus longe emendatiores collatis veteribus exemplis

A large ornamental drop cap 'A' features intricate floral and foliate scrollwork.ARCHITECTURE is a science adorned with many disciplines and varied erudition, by whose judgment all works performed by other arts are approved. It is born of fabrica workmanship/practice and ratiocinatio reasoned argument/theory. Fabrica is the continuous and practiced meditation of use, which is performed by the hands from material of any kind, according to the purpose of the design. Ratiocinatio, however, is that which can demonstrate and explain the things that have been built with skill and by the reason of proportion. Therefore, architects who have contended without letters formal education/literature, so that they might be exercised in their hands, could not achieve the authority they sought for their labors. Those, however, who relied solely on reasonings and letters seem to have pursued a shadow, not the substance. But those who have learned both thoroughly (as if armed with all weapons) have more quickly attained with authority what was proposed. For in all things, but especially in Architecture, these two things are present: that which is signified, and that which signifies. The thing proposed, of which one speaks, is what is signified. This is signified by the demonstration explained by the reasons of the doctrines. Therefore, it seems that he who professes himself an architect should be exercised in both parts. Thus, it is necessary that he be ingenious, and teachable for discipline (for neither genius without discipline, nor discipline without genius can make a perfect artist), and that he be literate, skilled in drawing, learned in Geometry, not ignorant of optics, instructed in Arithmetic, know many histories, have listened diligently to Philosophers, known Music, not be ignorant of Medicine, know the responses of jurists, and have knowledge of Astrology and the motions of the heavens. The reasons why this is so are these: It is necessary for an architect to know letters so that he can make his memory firmer through commentaries. Next, to have the skill of drawing, so that he can more easily shape the appearance of the work he wants through painted models. Geometry, however, provides many aids to Architecture; first, it teaches the use of straight lines and the compass, from which, most of all, the layouts of buildings in areas are carried out more easily, as well as the directions of squares, levels, and lines. Likewise, through optics, light is correctly drawn into buildings from certain regions of the sky. Through arithmetic, the costs of buildings are calculated, the reasons for measurements are explained, and difficult questions of symmetry are found through geometric reasons and methods. And it is necessary to know many histories, because many...