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Of foure maner of Simmetries.
THe Workenan is to haue a great iudgement, because of the diuersitie of composition in Ornaments of buildings, for that there are some places in Architecture, of the which there may, almost, certayne rules be giuen, for they are no accidents that happen contrary to our opinions, for euery day we sée some Columnes, that with their different positions, shew different measures in themselues, according to the places where they stand. These alterations are so made in buildings in 4. wayes, that is, setting the Columnes almost in an Insule, without any companion to helpe it eyther on the sides or behind. These certaynely beare a great waight, and in their height they goe not aboue the aforesayd rule: the example hereof is in the first Columne marked A. but if you place them against the wall (though they bee round) by the which being vnderholden and holpen, a man may make another thicknesse higher aboue the same: the ex∣ample thereof is in the Columne B. Or also drawing alone two third parts from the wall, there may yet a thicknesse or wall go higher then the other, for that you sée the like in some buildings, that rise to nine thicker & a halfe, and most in the Coliseo of Rome, in the Order of Dorica, as it is shewed in the 3. Columne C. but they are more holpen when they haue Pilasters on the sides, which bearing all the waight, giue the workeman meanes to make the Columnes more séemely, and so slender, that they may be sayd rather to be placed there to fill a roome for beautifying, then for strength. You may al∣so draw a Columne two third parts out of the wall, and on each side set halfe a Pillar, which will helpe the Columnes so well, that you may make another thicknesse aboue: and in this case, the Architraue, Fréese and Cornice may beare out vpon the round Columne, yea although it were flat, because the halfe Pillars would hold the Architrane, &c. on the sides: but vpon one Columne alone, it is vicious to make such worke bearing out, for the other parts besides should be abando∣ned without any helpe. This example you sée in the Columne D. But when the Columnes haue any waight to beare vp, without the helpe of another, and shall haue fit Intercolumnes, it shall not be thought méete to excéede order, yea, although they haue Story vpon Story to beare vp: it is reason that they should be made b••tter, that the worke may be more durable: and although the Pedestall be a great helpe to rayse vp Columnes, neuerthelesse, if the Columnes be high inough, I would thinke it better if the Columnes had them not, specially in the lowest Story, but in the third and fourth Story with reason. Podiums and Pedestals also serue to rayse vp Columnes, which the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Romanes obserued in Theaters and Amphitheaters.
But touching the setting of Columne vpon Columne, there are diuers reasons: The first is, that the Proiecture of the Pedestals of the Columnes placed aboue, should go no further out, then the thicknesse of the vndermost Columne; and this should be a most certayne reason: but for that the second Story should lessen much from the first, and would serue no more for any other Story, considering the great lessening ensuing, another reason, and more to the purpose, is this: That the flat of the Pedestall ought, at least, to be in Perpendicular with the Columne below, and to set the Co∣lumne aboue this Pedestall, lessened a fourth part from that which standeth vnder, as well in thicknesse as in height: so this rule agréeth with that of Vitruuius in Theatrum: which figure is aboue the Columne A. and if you will not les∣sen the Columne so much, then you must make the vppermost Columne as thicke as the nethermost is in the vppermost part: but in this case, the flat or massy part of the Pedestall would be broader then the nethermost Columne is thicke be∣low: neuerthelesse, those of the Theater of Marcellus worke that effect. The example hereof is in the Columne B. and these thrée reasons are probable inough. But the ancient Romanes, in the great Edifice of the Coliseo, made the Columne Ionica, Corinthia and Composita all of one thicknesse; and the Dorica, vnder all the other, they made thicker, about the twentieth part. And this (in my opinion) they did by good aduice: for if they had lessened all the Columnes the fourth part, one aboue the other, the last, in so great a building, by reason of the great distance, would haue shewed very small, which we now sée to be of good correspondence, by reason of the height. The shewing of this is in the Columne C. And as the Columne aboue the Columne D. is lesse then that which standeth lowest one fourth part: for that, if a man hath a reasonable house to make of 3. Stories, so I would not thinke it amisse, that a man should lessen euery Sto∣rie the fourth part, according to Vitruuius aduice: but if the building be high, then you were better obserue the Order of the Coliseo, that the Stories Dorica, Ionica and Corinthia, may each bee about one height, but the Story aboue in∣creaseth in height about the fift part: and this is so (as I haue sayd) because of the great distances which part, by meanes of the great distance, séemes to be of the height that the rest are: and although that the shewing of these Columnes is Doricall, yet it is so in all sorts of Columnes.