The Arch of Benevento

IN the kingdome of Naples, viz. betwéene Rome and Naples there are many Antiquities; for that the Romanes had great pleasure in those places: among the which, this Tryumphant Arch is séene, being yet all whole and fayre to sight: and therefore I thought it good to set it among the number of the rest of the Arches (which were made by the Romanes.) This Arch is at Beneuente, on this side of Naples, and was measured with a moderne Ell, whereof the third part is hereunder set downe. The Figure here below, is the Ichnographie of the same Arch; and to shew by whom this Arch was made, is néedlesse, because it may be vnderstood by the writing that standeth thereon. The widenesse of the Arch, is ryght Elles: the thicknesse of the Columnes is an Ell: the Pilaster vnder the Arch, is also as broad: the inter-columne holds thrée Elles: the height of the Arch, is almost as much againe as the bredth: the height of the Base of the Pedestall, with the vnder-Base, is one Ell, ten ounces and sixe minutes: the flat of the Pedestall, is two Elles, ten ounces and sixe minutes: the height of his Cornice, is nine ounces: the height of the Bases of the Columnes, is seuen ounces: the height of the Columnes, without Bases or Capitals, is nine Elles and foure ounces. The thicknesse of the Columnes beneath, is an Ell in Diameter, and aboue is lessened a sixt part: the height of the Capitall, is an Ell, fiue ounces and an halfe: the height of the Architraue, is 15. ounces: the Fréese is seuentéene ounces high: the height of the Cornice, is oue Ell, thrée ounces and an halfe: the Plinthus, which standeth as counter-Base aboue the Cornice, is 19. ounces and a quarter high: the Base standing vpon it, is 11. ounces high: the height of the Epitaph, is foure Elles and two ounces: the height of the outtermost Cornice, is one Ell and thrée minutes: the height of the impost of the Arch, is halfe an Ell.

This Ell wherewith the •ch • •ed, is deuided into 12. ounces, and each ounce into 5. minutes, which comes from 1• • to 60. minutes: and this is the third part of the sayd Ell.

IMP. CAESARI. DIVI NERVAE FILIO, NERVAE TRAIANO OPTIMO AVG GERMANICO PONT. II. MAX. TRIB. I. POTEST. XVIII. IMP. VII. COS. VII. PP. FORTISSIMO PRINCIPI. S. P. Q. R.

THe Ornaments of the Arch of Beneuenten, which I haue shewne in the leafe before, are here, according to the measure set downe, with the Originall. The Base of the Pedestall, and the Cornice thereof, marked F. are, in truth, two péeces of goed proportion, and fayre péeces for Cornicements. The Base of the Pedestall, together with the Counterbase vnder it, is one Ell, 10. Ounces and 6. minutes high: the Cornice of the sayd Pede•tall is 9. Ounces high: the Base of the Columne is 7. Ounces high, and is of Corinthia worke, very well proportioned according to the Columne, and standeth heere marked with F. I haue not set the Capitall here: for that men (as I sayd before) shall find such a one in the beginning of the Compesita, in my fourth Booke, because this Arch is Composita worke. The Arch, Fréese, and Cornice, which stand aboue this Columne, are here marked with C. which péeces are also well proportioned on the remnant of this building: and although that the Cornice is somewhat higher then Vitruuius would haue it, neuerthelesse it is well proportioned of members, and the same flat is not in it that is found in other Cornices, which haue the Mutiles and the Dentiles standing together: but this workeman, being circumspect therein, would not cut the téth in the Dentiles, although he hath set the torme thereof in the Cornice, to stanne such a slaunder. The same consideration the workeman that made the Panth•on had, in the first Cornice aboue the Chappels, round about the Temple within: and therefore I counsell a workeman, to auoyde such a scandall, and not to repose himselfe vpon the doing of licencions and wilfull workemen, and excuse themselues, saying, Ancient workemen made it, and therefore I may make it as well as they. And although some will argue and say, Why, so many workemen, and in so many places of the world, (not onely in Italy) but also in diuers other places, haue made Cornices, with Mutiles, and ingrauen Dentiles, and that such a custome is now turned into a Law, yet I would not obserue the same in my workes nor counsell others thereunto. The Countr• base, vnder the Epitaph, aboue the Cornice, marked B. is 19. Ounces and a halfe high: the height of the Base thereupon is 11. Ounce•: the height of the Epitaph is 4. Elles 4. Ounces: the height of the Cornice is one Ell and 3. Ounces. I much commend the Base of this Epitaph. I commend the Base of this Epitaph, with so little proiecture, for the séeing vp vnder it, but the Cornice whereof I will speake, is much too high, according to the proportien of the Epitaph: but were it of lesse height, and the Crowne more, and of more proiecture, I iudge, it would stand better, and I should commend it more: also, if there were not so much caruing or grauing in it: for the members ought so to be deuided, that the one were playne, and the other grauen. But there are many workemen, and most at this day, that, to make men take pleasure in their had workemanship, make so many cuttings in it, that thereby they confound workemanship, and take away the beauty of forme from it: and if euer, in times past, that fast and single things, vncut, were by skilfull workemen commended, at this time they are not so. This Figure, marked D. is the Impost of the Arch, and is well knowne for such a member; the same Cornice changeth it selfe in a Facie, which goeth round, as you sée, and is halfe an Ell high: and although this Impost of the Arch sheweth no Sculpture, yet is it grauen where it standeth; but I forgot to draw it is.