The Portico of Pompey

IT is sayd, that this building was called, Porticus, of Pompeo: others say, that it was the house of Mario: but it is called by the Common people, Cacabario: which building, as farre as I can learne, was onely made for men to ease themselues in: for there is no dwelling in it at all: and although this building at this day is almost decayed, yet it was very great, and contayned many places, as you sée by many houses of this building which are found in the earth. Where the Line standeth, is now the way to goe from Campo Floro, to the Iewes place: and where the Crosse is now, the houses of Sancta Crose stand: where G. stāds, is the Iewes place: where the M. standeth, bee the Marcellarii: where the C. standeth, is the Church•yard of S. Saluatorie: and where the E. ie cut through, is the Fore-front of the houses of Celsis: so that thereby you may see the great compas thereof. The thrée round things were Stayres to goe vp to the two emptie Roundles. And for that there is no shew of Stayres to be séene in those two, it is to bee conceaued, that they were open places to make water in, (for such things are necessary.) The ground of this worke is measured by the same Ell that the Theater of Marcellus was measured withall: which measure you you shall finde here, after the Obiliscen, and (halfe an Ell shalbe thirty minutes.) And first, the thicknesse of the Pilasters is thrée Elles and a halfe: the thicknesse of the Columnes is two Elles: the Intercolumnes, are on all sides, nine Elles and a halfe: the Pilasters of the foure Corners, are so much more thē the outermost Corners stand ouer them: which Corners were made with good iudgement, for they vphold the Corner by strength, and with beauty of worke. Hereby workemen may learne how to make Corners with Columnes, and with Pilasters bound together, that the Corner may also be foure square, as the Columne is, which giueth the Corner more fastnesse, then if the same Corner were drawne along the Pilaster: and for the Corners which are drawne in, if you see them ouer the side in Diagonall maner, where the two round Columnes couer the Corner, then they will séeme vnperfit Corners, and specially, because they are séene on all sides.

TOuching the Ichnographie, I haue sayd inough; now I must speake something of the forme aboue the ground, although there is not much thereof to be séene: neuerthelesse, there is yet so much standing vpright (although it be hidden) that thereby the backe part therof without, is to be conceaued, which, in trueth. is an ingenious inuention, for a fast worke, and especially in the first order, which you call Dorica, although it hath neyther Architraue, Trigliph, nor Cornice: But yet there is the forme, and that very subtilly made, with great strength and fayre Building (as well of hard stone as of Bricks) as you may sée in the Figure following. The thickenesse and bredth are shewed before: the height of the Columnes with Bases and Capitals, seuentéene Elles: and the height of the Arches, fiftéene Elles. The height of the Cunco that is, the shutting stone aboue the Arch, is 2. Elles: the height of the binding, which is in stead of an Architraue, is 2. Elles, and so much is the Facie aboue it. The second order séemeth vnsupportable, for that there is a waight of Pilasters standing aboue an open hole: a thing which in trueth is false & erronious to speake in reason. Neuerthelesse, for that the first Order is so fast and strong, by meanes of the shutting stone aboue in the Arch; as also with the crosse stone vpon it, with the fast Facie vpon that, and by reason of the good shoulders of the Arch, which altogether shew to be such a strength (as in effect it is) that the Pilasters that rest vpon it, séeme not to oppresse the worke, as they would, if it were a simple Arch, with an Architraue, Fréese and Cornice: for which cause I blame not this inuention therein. The widenesse of this Arch is 4. Elles: the height is nine Elles: the bredth of the Pilasters, is two Elles and an halfe: the thicknesse of the Columnes, is an Ell and a sixt part in Diameter: the height of the Columnes is eleuen Elles and an eyght part with Bases and Capitals, and are made after the Corinthia manner. The height of the Architraue, Fréese and Cornice, is two Elles and thrée quarters. Although I can giue no particular measures of this Cornice, Fréese and Architraue, because such things are not to be séene, yet there is onely so much wall, that thereby a man may conceaue the Freeses, Cornices and Architraue.