The Theatre of Marcellus

THis Theater Augustus made in the name of Marcellus his Nephew, and therefore it was called Marcellus Theater, it standeth within Rome, you may at this day see part of it standing vpright, that is part of the Galleries without: it is onely of two rules, that is, Dorica and Ionica, a worke, in truth, that is much commended, although the Doricall Columnes haue no Bases, nor any Cinete or Proiecture vnder them, but stand playnely without any thing vnder, vpon the slat ground of the Gallery. Touching the ground of this Theater, men could not well conceaue it: but not long since, the great Patrician of Rome, going to make a house, the scituation whereof was to be set vpon part of the Theater (this house was made by one Balthasar of Sienna, an excellent workman) and as he caused the foundation to be digged, there were found many reliques of diuers Cornices of this Theater, and a great part of the same Theater was discouered, whereby Balthasar concerted the whole forme thereof, and measured it with great circumspection, placing it in the forme following: my selfe being at that time in Rome, saw many of the Cornices, and found friendship to measure them, and in truth, there I found as excellent formes as euer I saw in any old Ruins, and most in the Capitals of Dorica, and also in the imposts of the Arches, which, me thinks, agrée well with the doctrine of Vitruuius. Likewise the Freese, Trigliphen, and Methopen, agrée well inough: but the Dorica Cornice, although it be very full of members, and well wrought, yet I found it to differ much from Vitruuius instructions: for being licencious inough of members, was of such a height, that the two third parts of such height should haue béene inough to the Architraue and the Fréese. But I am of opinion therefore, (by the licence of these, or other Antiquities) that a workeman in these dayes should not erre, (which error, I meane, is to doe contrary to Vitruuius precepts) nor to bee peremptory that hee will make a Cornice, or other thing iust of the same proportion as hee hath séene and measured, and then set it in worke; because it is not sufficient for him to say, I may doe it: for ancient workemen haue done it, without consideration whether it be proportioned according to the rest of the building. Besides, although an old workeman was so bold, yet we must therefore not bee so, (but as reason teacheth vs) wee should obserue Vitruuius rules as our guide, and most certayne and insallible directions: for that from that time of great Antiquity, till now, there is no man found to haue written better, nor more learnedly of Architecture then he: and as in euery Arte there is one more learned then another, to whom such authority is giuen, that his words are fully, & without doubt beléeued. Who then will deny (if he be not ignorant) that Vitruuius, for Architecture, is worthy of the highest degrée? and that his writings where no other notable reason or cause is to mooue vs) ou•ht for the worthinesse thereof to be inuiolably obserued, and to bee better credited, then any works of the Romanes? which Romanes, although they learned the vpright maner of building of the Greciens, neuerthelesse, afterward when they became Rulers ouer the Grecians, it may be that some of them thereby became licencious: but certaynely, if a man might sée the wonderfull works which the Grecians then did make, (which are now almost all spoyled and cast downe in time of warre) hee would assuredly iudge the Grecians worke to surpasse that of the Latines farre.

Therefore all those workemen that shall condemne Vitruuius writing, & specially in such cases as are clearely vnderstood, as in the order of Dorica, whereof I spake, should erre much in the Art of Architecture, to gainesay such an Author, as for so many yéeres hath béene, and yet is approoued by wise men, learned. Now hauing made this digression, which was necessary for the good of those that would not haue considered so much, turning againe to the purpose, I say, that this ground was measured by the old Romane foote; and first, the place in the middle, marked A. which is called Orchestra, is in the Diameter 194. foot, and is halfe a Circle from one corner to the other: of the stages or seates, marked H. it is 417. foote: the place marked B. called Proscenium, is very spacious; and where C. standeth, is the Gallery, which they call Porticus of the Scene, in the middle whereof stood the Pulpit: that part marked with D. was a Portall, with Stayres on both sides, which went vp to the places marked E. called Hospitalia: the two Galleries on the sides marked G. they vsed to walke in: Of which things men can sée no more aboue the ground, for that they are couered with other houses. Touching the seuerall measures, as well of the Scene as of the Theatre, and of the degrees, I will say no more: for that in the Amphitheatre called Coliseo, I will declare it more at large, whereby a man may conceaue how this stood: but that part without, which went about the Theatre, I will shew in the second Figure, which was measured (before this) with a common Ell, which is deuided into twelue parts, which parts are called ounces: and euery ounce hath fiue minutes; of which Ell, this is a third part.

THis Figure following representeth that part without, of the foresayd Theater, and is measured with the Ell aforesayd: and first, the thickenesse of the Columnes beneath in the nether part of the first order, is an Ell and 43. minutes in Diameter: and the thicknesse of the Diameter aboue vnder the Capitall, is an Ell and 16. minutes: the height of the Capitall, is halfe the thickenesse of the Columnes beneath, the which Capitall is more perfecter marked in the fourth Booke, in the order of Dorica, in Folio E. 3. And the same Capitall is marked with B. Likewise also the impost, whereon the Arch r•steth, is as high also as the Capitall, and standeth also in the same leafe E. 3. The Pilasters, beside the Columnes, are 19. minutes: the widenesse of one Arch, is 7. Elles and 9. minutes: and the height is eleuen Elles and sixetéene minutes; the height of the Architraue, is 49. minutes: the height of the Fréese is one Ell and eyght minutes. The height of the whole Cornice, is an Ell, and fourtie minutes: the widenesse of the second Arch of the second order, is as wide as that below; but the height is ten Elles and fourtie and eyght minutes: the height of the Pedestall vnder the Columnes of this second order, is an Ell and fourtie and eyght minutes: the thickenesse of the Columnes, is an Ell and twenty & foure minutes: the height of the said Columnes without Bases or Capitals, is 11. Elles, 27. minutes: the height of the Bases is 44. minutes: the height of the Capitall, that is within the Volutes, from the list of the Columnes, to aboue the Capital, is 36. minutes: but the Volute hangs ouer the Astragall or Bozell 20. minutes and a halfe, which in all, from beneath the Volutes, to aboue the Abacus, is 47. minutes and a halfe: the breadth of the Abacus of the sayd Capitall is one Ell and a halfe: but the breadth of the Volutes is two elles: the height of the Architraue is 59. minutes: the height of the Fréese is 58. minutes: the height of the Cornice is an Ell, & 48. minutes: which Cornice, in truth, is halfe so much more as it should be (if we will credit Vitruuius precepts.) But I pray you, gentle Reader, estéeme me not presumptuous, neither yet account me for a corrector of the works of Antiquitie, from whence men learne so much: for my meaning is onely, willingly to let you vnderstand and know that which is well made from that which is ill made: and that I will not doe after my owne conceite, as if you were taught by me, but by the authority of Vitruuius: and also of good Antiquities, which are those which best agrée with the doctrine of that Author. The Base of this second order, and the Pedestall vnder it, the Impost of the Arches, and withall, the Architraue, Fréese and Cornice, you shall altogether find in the fourth Booke of the order of Ionica in Folio K. the second, and are all marked with T. Likewise you shall find the Capitall in the same fourth booke, behind in the leafe I. the 4. marked with M.