Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius

as in Italy: those who, barely knowing how to perform a small bit of calculation for the matter of buildings or the earth's surface, have themselves written into the public works office through the grace of some false and unknown recommendation, with the aid of gifts or tributes. If these people were examined by the wise according to this Vitruvian institution, they would certainly be seen to speak in the shadow of the proposed matter: and to acquire that, and not the true thing. Therefore, this happens because they do not have the foundations of this established science. Thus, it is not to be marveled at, but the case is to be laughed at if, due to the given inconvenience, grave errors follow in the buildings with damage of heavy expense due to the bad placement and calculated reasoning of the buildings and other opportunities of the art. Not observing the law that Vitruvius says in the tenth prologue, which not only causes damage, but disfigures the ornaments that would delight our soul seeing the egregious beauties and decorations of the Cities: then follow the other evil consequences that this Vitruvius has described in that same prologue, therefore this happens because of the pseudo or idiotic ignorant/unskilled profession. Therefore, our temporal and ecclesiastical Lords, since this science is imitated from the divine operation which has created, and formed, and adorned with various figurations all things of the universe as one can see, beyond what all the wisest writers have labored to want to understand and know the infinity of the causes for health, and it has not yet appeared clear who has been most capable. Since this is so, these pseudo false/fake ones should be deposed of the title and nicknamed only building masons or laborers, and not Architects. Because it is given by the public laws not to confer and decorate unworthily: so that the true students of such science can more magnanimously punish with the highest doctrine the truthful and excellent doctorate or epinome summary/supplementary teaching Architectonic.

And thus, assuming these institutions and consequently, the ages would not be so long-lived in producing the diligent and true Architects, although they are the constructors of the works and are denominated from archos ruler/leader or archynos leader/chief in Greek: which to us Latins signifies auctor author/founder, princeps leader/first, and rector guide/governor: tekton craftsman/builder truly in Latin means faber smith/craftsman, almost prince or master of craftsmen and principal of architecture, or of preservation. It is said from teucho to construct/fabricate which in Latin signifies I fabricate. Tectonicos means craft-like. Tekton however is called a carpenter. Under which art are supposed almost all the artificers and craftsmen for the use of our human life: which these excellent ones deserve as Aristotle says in the first of the Politics treatise on governance: "Men flourishing in reason and intellect are naturally masters and guides of others," since it is that to rule naturally is more worthy than to be ruled, because to rule is divine. And therefore this seems to me a thing to be chosen, because virtue is better than art. But because that is optimum which not only uses virtue for oneself but also for others: and vice versa, as we have in the 8th of the Physics treatise on natural philosophy: "The learned man sins when he uses his science perversely." And therefore, since man is a rational and political animal, and endowed by nature with many intelligences and doctrines and arts: it is necessary that everyone naturally inclines to some operation in this world for some effect of his, avoiding idleness: and as a supplement to natural deficiency, using life by life to observe: not only for us present but for our successors as it has always been from eternity. "Nam. II. methaphific. Actio intellectus est uita." original: "For in the 2nd book of the Metaphysics: The action of the intellect is life."

Therefore Vitruvius, in speculating with every excogitation that the science of Architecture is opportune for the use of common life, especially for men and for all living beings and things pleasing to us: this, with great reason, he has faithfully wished to write. And with what disciplines and erudition it is adorned: here he has diligently treated: And therefore you, not only mechanics, but every professor of the good sciences and especially you Lords of the military art, do not be unmindful nor slow to understand this science: so that you do not remain unlearned in the ingenuity which certainly surpasses strength (if indeed you wish to achieve many effects and wondrous operations) and also if you want to subject other peoples to you. And thus if you will be diligent in problems you will achieve true reasoning: that is, disputative parlance with reason or with good countable calculation and compartition: although reasoning may also be held for dialectic: Because thus says Aristotle on the movement of animals De Motibus Animalium: "Whatever we do not perform reasoning, we perform quickly," that is, imprudently and without verified cognition. Therefore, if you work with reasoning and are speculators of the bodily clarity of reason, and not in the Idea of the shadow, knowing how to prove with true arguments: your works will be able to give you fame and authority and you will be loved: and estimated by egregious and most learned men: And you will appear as if true soldiers or athletes to be adorned with all the weapons: which will be the occurring terms of the art to you, to be the true reason of the things doable: which are to the purpose of the formation of the thing that you will understand without doubt how to make by cause of practice and science. And therefore you will accept with good reasons the sermons pertaining to operations, but you will avoid the discordant ones.

For why, and in all things: and especially in Architecture there are these two things: that which is signified: and that which signifies: the proposed thing of which one speaks: is signified: but the explained demonstration with the reason of the doctrines signifies this thing. For which thing it appears that he who wishes to profit must be exercised in the one and the other: to be an architect. And thus it is necessary for him to be ingenious and docile to the discipline: Because neither genius without discipline: nor discipline without genius can effect a perfect artificer: And how he must be lettered, expert in the graphida drawing/draftsmanship.

¶ Because in all things in architecture etc. Vitruvius here briefly explains this proposed reason: which for certain is pertinent to architecture. But we can still extend it more grandly: and since that which is said must be signified in effect as is used in the proposition of architecture. But considering also that all things of the universe seem even themselves to signify through these two things: that is, by natural figure their Idea: so that with the graphito schema drawn diagram or with other modes just as it happens to the patient from the agent. As we have also from Vitruvius at the end of the sixth book where he says: "Nam quum omnis homines non solum architecti quod est bonum possunt probare etc." original: "For when all men, not only architects, can prove what is good, etc."

Also by other modes as one sees the terrestrial and maritime sites: or the aspects of the animals of the whole world which are held to the sky: and these thus operated and signified by nature we seek to understand and signify them to others. ¶ Therefore Vitruvius has said especially in architecture there are these two things: that is, that which is signified: that is, demonstrated with express manifestation as it is to design an Icnographia ground plan and ortographia elevation/vertical design of some thing to be made. Or to signify explicitly by archetypal demonstration which has more force of signifying than the things designated in the plane. And therefore the agent Architect is he who signifies, because Aristotle in the first of the Poetics thus speaks: "We use examples by inducing so that it is more easily understood what is said." But the patient is the thing that is demonstrated or that must be demonstrated. Similarly, the doctrine is signified from one man to the other according to the operations which the disciple has from the preceptor: And therefore from the proposed thing, when his thought is collected with reason, then it can be signified and demonstrated.

¶ For which thing it appears that he must be exercised in the one and the other: that is, the Architect must have the thought of science and the experience with the practice of building or operating to his opportunities. And thus it is necessary to be ingenious and docile to discipline: that is, to be like Daedalus, Architect and most acute operator and prompt in knowing how to vary the things of the artifices and knowing how to demonstrate: this is properly the true index of those perfect and expert in whatever science and discipline there may be in the world. As Aristotle says: "The sign of the learned is to be able to teach": and he said "the artificer is wiser than the expert." Architect manual artificer: because he knows the causes of the subjects, etc. He also said: "It pertains to the wise to know all things for use and to know difficult things and to have science more certain than others and to know how to render the causes of those things which are and to have science which is of itself only and is not the cause of another. And to have science which orders others subservient to it, etc."

¶ Therefore it is to be considered that those who do not know how to demonstrate ingeniously go like blind men opining and like the unscientific remain without effects, ridiculously. See then, my candid reader, that knowledge is demonstrated by those who truly understand, and thus science seems to be in those who know how to make the demonstration: of which demonstrations of the sciences see Strabo in the first book where he speaks of the deeds of poets. Thus Valerius Maximus and Pliny and other most clear writers. ¶ And how he must be lettered: in this institution Vitruvius intends to demonstrate the doctrines which pertain to adorning and arming with many sciences opportune to those who want to be true architects: And first he says how he must be lettered: then successively proceeding orderly to the other disciplinable sciences as from him we will have beyond this our exposition which at present we will put: so that the poets