Most Serene, Most Powerful King and Prince-Elector,

Most Gracious Lord,

When Vitruvius—who was highly experienced in the mathematical arts, but especially in the art of building Bau-Kunst: The "art of construction," which in the 18th century encompassed both architecture and civil engineering.—presented his books on this very science to the great and most powerful Roman Emperor AUGUSTUS original: "AUGUSTO", he justified his undertaking in the following way: Namely, that because Your Imperial Majesty is possessed of high understanding and wisdom, it would be easy for You to judge the quality and utility of this book; and since it serves the advancement of the land, particularly the construction of many excellent buildings, both in Your residence-city of Rome