A rectangular woodcut illustration depicting a coastal view of a fortified city with ships in the harbor. Above the image, a banner reads: View of the City of Valletta and the Great Harbor of Malta.

HYDRAULIC ARCHITECTURE,

Which encompasses the art of directing the waters of the sea and rivers for the benefit of the defense of strongholds, commerce, and agriculture.

BOOK THREE.

Wherein is taught the construction of all works pertaining to maritime strongholds.

CHAPTER ONE.

Dissertation on the ebb and flow of the sea, serving as an introduction to the works performed in maritime strongholds.

The necessity of thoroughly understanding the effects of the sea in order to solidly establish works of significance therein.

§ 81. This third book, having as its object the construction of works carried out in the sea to improve and defend harbors, shall begin with a dissertation on the ebb and flow original: "flux & reflux," the standard 18th-century term for the tides of this fierce element, the knowledge of whose principal movements is indispensable to those charged The text continues on the following page, likely regarding the responsibilities of engineers or architects.