The Reasons of Motive Forces

Greek Automata original: "Automatij." Hero of Alexandria’s work on self-moving devices., and the third, on the Stationary Machine original: "machine stable." Another work by Hero, likely referring to his treatise on lifting heavy weights.. After these came Vitruvius Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, the Roman architect whose ten books are the foundation of classical architecture., whose writings are well enough known. Some time later, the city of Rome was destroyed by the Goths, who ruined the most beautiful works of Italy; from then on, the peoples of Europe took no further account of the arts until the arrival of three great Princes, who all lived at the same time: namely, the Emperor Charles V, King Francis I [of France], and King Henry VIII of England. They were all curious to reestablish the arts that had been buried for so many years. A little after them came Pope Sixtus V, who oversaw the restoration in Rome of several ruins that had been made by the Goths, and furthermore commissioned various rare works, the numbering of which a large volume would not suffice.

As for the rare men of art who lived in the time of the Emperor Charles V, there were several in Germany, among whom Albrecht Dürer was recognized as one of the most excellent of his time. Also at that same time in Italy were Michelangelo and Raphael of Urbino, who are well enough known by their works. A little later there came to France Pierre Ramus, Oronce Finé, and several other great personages for Mathematics, painting, and Architecture.

But to return to those who had knowledge of moving machines and Hydraulics, few have written of them in our time. It is true that Jacques Besson, Agostino Ramelli, and some others have brought to light certain machines of their own invention on paper, but few of these can have any effect. They believed that by a multiplication of cogwheels, the said machines would have the effect they imagined, and they did not consider that the said multiplication is tied to time A fundamental principle of mechanics: what is gained in force is lost in speed/time., as will be shown in its proper place.

As for the utility that one may draw from this art, it is certain that it is great; to count the quantity and diversity of machines made for the service of man would be almost impossible. As for those in this book, some are made for common utility, and others for the pleasure and ornament of Palaces and Gardens, most of which I have personally tested. Regarding the discourse I have written for each figure, some might find it a little too long-winded, inasmuch as I sometimes recite the same thing twice; I preferred to do this rather than leave anything not perfectly understood, for if the Reader does not understand the thing when proposed in one way, he will perhaps understand it by the other proposition.