1ſtanding at equal Diſtances from each other,
took up the other ſive ſevenths of the whole
Length of the Circus. One Goal was joined to
the other by a Kind of Breaſt-wall which was
never leſs than ſix Foot high, to keep the
Horſes that were running from croſſing out of
one Courſe into the other. On each Side of
the Circus were Seats raiſed to the Height of
never more than the fifth, nor leſs than the
ſixth of the whole Breadth of the middle Area;
and theſe Seats began from a Baſement, as in
Amphitheatres, that the Spectators might not
be within reach of any Hurt from the Beaſts.
Among publick Works we may reckon thoſe
publick Walks, in which the Youth exerciſe
themſelves at Tennis, Leaping, or the Uſe of
Arms, and where the old Men walk to take
the Air, or if they are infirm, are carried about
for the Recovery of their Health. Celſus, the
Phyſician, ſays, that Exerciſe is much better
in the open Air, than under Cover; but that
they might exerciſe themſelves more commo
diouſly even in the Shade, they added Porti
coes which encloſed the whole Square. The
Square itſelf was ſometimes paved with Marble
and Moſaick Work, and ſometimes turfed with
Graſs, and planted with Myrtles, Juniper,
Cypreſs and Cedar Trees. The Porticoes on
three Sides were ſingle, and ſo large, that their
Proportion was two ninth Parts greater than
that of the Forum before treated of in this
Book; but on the fourth Side, which fronted
the South, the Portico was yet more ſpacious,
and double. In Froat it had Doric Columns,
whoſe Height was equal to the Breadth of the
Portico; the Columns behind, which divided
the inner Portico from the outward, were
higher than the former one fifth Part, for ſup
porting the Cover, and giving a Slope to the
Roof; and for this Reaſon they made them of
the Ionic Order, Ionic Columns being in their
very Nature taller than the Doric: Though I
cannot ſee why the Cieling of theſe Porticoes
ſhould not have been exactly level, which cer
tainly muſt have been more beautiſul to the
Eye. In both theſe Colonades, the Diameters
of the Columns were as follows: In the Do
ric, the lower Diameter of the Shaft was two
fifteenths of the whole Height, including the
Baſe and Capital; but in the Ionic and Corin
thian, the lower Diameter of the Shaft was
three ſixteenths of the Length of only the Shaft
of the Column. In other Reſpects they were
the ſame as thoſe uſed in Temples. To the
back Walls of theſe Porticoes, they added hand
ſome Walls or Rooms, where Philoſophers and
Men of Knowledge might converſe and diſ
pute upon the nobleſt Subjects; and of theſe
Rooms, ſome were proper for Winter, and
others for Summer. Thoſe which lay any
thing to the North, were for Summer, as
thoſe to the South, and which were not ex
poſed to any ſharp Winds, were for Winter;
beſides that thoſe for Winter were ſhut in with
entire Walls, whereas thoſe for Summer were
full of Windows, or rather were ſeparated only
by a Colonade, and had an open View to
wards the North, with Proſpects of Sea, Hills,
Lakes, or ſome other agreeable Landskip, and
admitted as much Light as poſſible. The Por
ticoes on the Right and Left of theſe Squares,
had the ſame Sort of back Rooms, ſhut in
from Winds, but open to the Morning and to
the Evening Sun, which ſhone in upon them
from the middle Area. The Plan of theſe
retiring Rooms was various, ſometimes they
were ſemicircular, ſometimes rectangular, but
always in a due Proportion to the Square itſelf,
and to the Porticoes which encompaſſed it
it. The Breadth of the whole Square with its
Porticoes, was half its Length, and this Breadth
was divided into eight Parts, ſix whereof were
given to the open Square, and one to each
Portico. When the back retiring Rooms were
ſemicircular, their Diameter was two fifths of
the open Area. In the back Wall of the Por
ticoes, were the Apertures for Entrance, and
for Light into thoſe Rooms. The Height of
the ſemicircular Retirements, in the greateſt
Proportion, was only equal to their Breadth;
but in ſmaller Works, it was one fifth Part
more. Over the Top of the Roof of the Por
tico, Openings were broke for the Admiſſion
of a ſtronger and more chearful Light into the
Room. If theſe Withdrawing-rooms were ſquare,
then their Breadth was twice the Breadth of the
Porticoes, and their Length twice their own
Breadth. That I call Length which runs along
with the Portico, ſo that upon entering into thoſe
Rooms from the Right, their Length lies to the
Left, and entering them from the Left, to the
Right. Among publick Works, we are alſo to in
clude the Portico for the inferior Judges, which
the Ancients uſed to build after the following
Manner: Their Bigneſs was according to the
Dignity of the City, but rather too large than
too ſmall, and along them was a Row of
Chamters, contiguous to each other, where
petty Conteſts were heard and determined.
Thoſe Works which I have hitherto deſcribed
took up the other ſive ſevenths of the whole
Length of the Circus. One Goal was joined to
the other by a Kind of Breaſt-wall which was
never leſs than ſix Foot high, to keep the
Horſes that were running from croſſing out of
one Courſe into the other. On each Side of
the Circus were Seats raiſed to the Height of
never more than the fifth, nor leſs than the
ſixth of the whole Breadth of the middle Area;
and theſe Seats began from a Baſement, as in
Amphitheatres, that the Spectators might not
be within reach of any Hurt from the Beaſts.
Among publick Works we may reckon thoſe
publick Walks, in which the Youth exerciſe
themſelves at Tennis, Leaping, or the Uſe of
Arms, and where the old Men walk to take
the Air, or if they are infirm, are carried about
for the Recovery of their Health. Celſus, the
Phyſician, ſays, that Exerciſe is much better
in the open Air, than under Cover; but that
they might exerciſe themſelves more commo
diouſly even in the Shade, they added Porti
coes which encloſed the whole Square. The
Square itſelf was ſometimes paved with Marble
and Moſaick Work, and ſometimes turfed with
Graſs, and planted with Myrtles, Juniper,
Cypreſs and Cedar Trees. The Porticoes on
three Sides were ſingle, and ſo large, that their
Proportion was two ninth Parts greater than
that of the Forum before treated of in this
Book; but on the fourth Side, which fronted
the South, the Portico was yet more ſpacious,
and double. In Froat it had Doric Columns,
whoſe Height was equal to the Breadth of the
Portico; the Columns behind, which divided
the inner Portico from the outward, were
higher than the former one fifth Part, for ſup
porting the Cover, and giving a Slope to the
Roof; and for this Reaſon they made them of
the Ionic Order, Ionic Columns being in their
very Nature taller than the Doric: Though I
cannot ſee why the Cieling of theſe Porticoes
ſhould not have been exactly level, which cer
tainly muſt have been more beautiſul to the
Eye. In both theſe Colonades, the Diameters
of the Columns were as follows: In the Do
ric, the lower Diameter of the Shaft was two
fifteenths of the whole Height, including the
Baſe and Capital; but in the Ionic and Corin
thian, the lower Diameter of the Shaft was
three ſixteenths of the Length of only the Shaft
of the Column. In other Reſpects they were
the ſame as thoſe uſed in Temples. To the
back Walls of theſe Porticoes, they added hand
ſome Walls or Rooms, where Philoſophers and
Men of Knowledge might converſe and diſ
pute upon the nobleſt Subjects; and of theſe
Rooms, ſome were proper for Winter, and
others for Summer. Thoſe which lay any
thing to the North, were for Summer, as
thoſe to the South, and which were not ex
poſed to any ſharp Winds, were for Winter;
beſides that thoſe for Winter were ſhut in with
entire Walls, whereas thoſe for Summer were
full of Windows, or rather were ſeparated only
by a Colonade, and had an open View to
wards the North, with Proſpects of Sea, Hills,
Lakes, or ſome other agreeable Landskip, and
admitted as much Light as poſſible. The Por
ticoes on the Right and Left of theſe Squares,
had the ſame Sort of back Rooms, ſhut in
from Winds, but open to the Morning and to
the Evening Sun, which ſhone in upon them
from the middle Area. The Plan of theſe
retiring Rooms was various, ſometimes they
were ſemicircular, ſometimes rectangular, but
always in a due Proportion to the Square itſelf,
and to the Porticoes which encompaſſed it
it. The Breadth of the whole Square with its
Porticoes, was half its Length, and this Breadth
was divided into eight Parts, ſix whereof were
given to the open Square, and one to each
Portico. When the back retiring Rooms were
ſemicircular, their Diameter was two fifths of
the open Area. In the back Wall of the Por
ticoes, were the Apertures for Entrance, and
for Light into thoſe Rooms. The Height of
the ſemicircular Retirements, in the greateſt
Proportion, was only equal to their Breadth;
but in ſmaller Works, it was one fifth Part
more. Over the Top of the Roof of the Por
tico, Openings were broke for the Admiſſion
of a ſtronger and more chearful Light into the
Room. If theſe Withdrawing-rooms were ſquare,
then their Breadth was twice the Breadth of the
Porticoes, and their Length twice their own
Breadth. That I call Length which runs along
with the Portico, ſo that upon entering into thoſe
Rooms from the Right, their Length lies to the
Left, and entering them from the Left, to the
Right. Among publick Works, we are alſo to in
clude the Portico for the inferior Judges, which
the Ancients uſed to build after the following
Manner: Their Bigneſs was according to the
Dignity of the City, but rather too large than
too ſmall, and along them was a Row of
Chamters, contiguous to each other, where
petty Conteſts were heard and determined.
Thoſe Works which I have hitherto deſcribed