Archimedes Texts

Treating of the Materials. That no Man ought to begin a Building hastily
but should first take a good deal of Time to consider, and revolve in his Mind
all the Qualities and Requisites of such a Work: And that he should carefull
review and examine, with the Advice of proper Judges, the whole Structuly
in itself, and the Proportions and Measures of every distinct Part, not o re
in Draughts or Paintings, but in actual Models of Wood or some othe Sunly
stance, that when he has finish'd his Building, he may not repent of his Labour.

I do not think the Labour and
Expence of a Building to be en
ter'd upon in a hurry; as well
for several other Reasons, as
also because a Man's Honour and
Reputation suffers by it. For as a Design
well and compleatly finish'd brings Praise to
him that has employ'd his Pains and Study in
the Work; so if in any particular the Author
seems to have been wanting, either of Art or
Prudence, it detracts very much from that
Praise, and from his Reputation. And indeed
the Beauties or Faults of Edifices, especially
publick ones, are in a Manner clear and mani
fest to every body; and (I know not how it
happens) any Thing amiss sooner draws Con
tempt, than any Thing handsome or well
finish'd does Commendation. It is really won
derful, how, by a Kind of natural Instinct, all
of us knowing or ignorant, immediately hit upon
what is right or wrong in the Contrivance or
Execution of Things, and what a shrewd Judg
ment the Eye has in Works of this Nature
above all the other Senses. Whence it happens,
that if any Thing offers itself to us that is
lame or too little, or unnecessary, or un
graceful, we presently find ourselves moved
and desirous to have it handsomer. The Rea
sons of those Faults perhaps we may not all of
us be acquainted with, and yet if we were to