r in forming schemes, yet the moment it comes to
displaying valour, they succumb because all manliness of spirit is
sucked out of them by the sun. On the other hand, men born in cold
countries are indeed readier to meet the shock of arms with great
courage and without timidity, but their wits are so slow that they will
rush to the charge inconsiderately and inexpertly, thus defeating their
own devices. Such being nature's arrangement of the universe, and all
these nations being allotted temperaments which are lacking in due
moderation, the truly perfect territory, situated under the middle of
the heaven, and having on each side the entire extent of the world and
its countries, is that which is occupied by the Roman people.

11. In fact, the races of Italy are the most perfectly constituted in
both respects--in bodily form and in mental activity to correspond to
their valour. Exactly as the planet Jupiter is itself temperate, its
course lying midway between Mars, which is very hot, and Saturn, which
is very cold, so Italy, lying between the north and the south, is a
combination of what is found on each side, and her preeminence is well
regulated and indisputable. And so by her wisdom she breaks the
courageous onsets of the barbarians, and by her strength of hand
thwarts the devices of the southerners. Hence, it was the divine
intelligence that set the city of the Roman people in a peerless and
temperate country, in order that it might acquire the right to command
the whole world.

12. Now if it is a fact that countries differ from one another, and are
of various classes according to climate, so that the very nations born
therein naturally differ in mental and physical conformation and
qualities, we cannot hesitate to make our houses suitable in plan to the
peculiarities of nations and races, since we have the expert guidance of
nature herself ready to our hand.

I have now set forth the peculiar characteristics of localities, so far
as I could note them, in the most summary way, and have stated how we
ought to make our houses conform to the physical qualities of nations,
with due regard to the course of the sun and to climate. Next I shall
treat the symmetrical proportions of the different styles of houses,
both as wholes and in their separate parts.

CHAPTER II

SYMMETRY, AND MODIFICATIONS IN IT TO SUIT THE SITE

1. There is nothing to which an architect should devote more thought
than to the exact propor