as Painting; and all sorts of Colours,
as well Natural as Artificial, that the Ancients made use of.

In the Eighth he speaks of Waters, and Rivers, and Fountains; _viz._ of
their Springs, of their Nature, and Properties; how they are to be
sought; and of the Conduits that are to bring them to Cities and
Villages.

The Ninth is wholly Gnomonical, and teaches the manner of making
Sun-Dials, and gives an account of the Rules of Geometry, how to measure
solid Bodies. He discourses at large of the Course of the Stars, and the
particular Description of those that are called Fixed Stars.

The Last is taken up wholly in the Description of making Machines to
lift up great Weights, and others for several uses; _viz._ for the
Elevation of Water for Corn-Mills, Water-Organs and Measuring the Way as
well by Sea as by Land; but it chiefly treats of Machines fit for the
use of Building and War.

AN
ABRIDGMENT
OF THE
TEN BOOKS
OF
ARCHITECTURE
Written by VITRUVIUS.

PART I.

_Of Architecture that is common to us with the Ancients._

CHAP. I.

_Of Architecture in General._

ARTICLE I.

_Of the Original of Architecture._

[Sidenote: _Lib. 2. Chap. 1._]

It's related by Historians, That Men, who in former times inhabited
Woods and Caverns like wild Beasts, first assembled themselves to make
Houses and Cities, which was occasioned by a Forest that was set on
fire, which drew all the Inhabitants together by its novelty and
surprizing effects; so that many Men meeting together in the same place,
they found out means, by helping one another, to harbour themselves more
conveniently, than in Caves and under Trees; so that it is pretended,
that Architecture was the Beginning and Original of all other Arts. For
Men seeing that they had success in Building, which necessity made them
invent, they had the Thoughts and Courage of seeking out other Arts, and
applying themselves to them.

[Sidenote: _Lib. 4. Chap. 2._]

Now even as they took Trees, Rocks and other Things that Nature her self
furnished Beasts to harbour themselves under, which were made use of as
Models for the first Houses, which at first were only made of green Turf
and broken Branches of Trees, they made use of them afterwards, in the