[Sidenote: _Lib. 2. Praes._]
One of the Principal Things the Architect ought to consider, is the
Convenience of the place where he would Build the Fabrick. This is the
reason that _Dinocrates_ was blamed by _Alexander_, for having propos'd
him an Excellent Design for Building a City in a Barren place, and
incapable of Nourishing those who were to Inhabit it.
We must then choose a place that is fertile, and hath abundance of every
thing; and which hath likewise Rivers and Ports capable of furnishing
it with all the Product and Commodities of the adjacent Countries.
The Third thing to be considered is, whether the Air be wholesome; and
for this End, we must choose a high situated place, that it may be less
Subject to Fogs and Mists; it must be likewise far from all Morasses,
because the Corruption that may be caused by the infectious Breath of
Venomous Beasts which commonly are ingendred there, makes the place very
unwholsom, unless these Morasses be near the Sea, and situated high,
that the Water may fall easily from them into the Sea, and that the Sea
may likewise sometimes overflow them, and by its Saltness kill all the
Venomous Beasts.
It is likewise to be remark'd, That a City situated upon the Sea, must
needs have an unwholsom Air, if it be towards the South or the West; for
generally the Heat weakens Bodies, and the Cold strengthens them; and so
we see by Experience, that those who go out of a Cold Country into an
Hot, have great difficulty to keep themselves in Health; whereas on the
contrary, the Inhabitants of Hot Countries who go into Colder, have
generally good Health.
The Ancients were accustomed to judge of the Quality of the Air, Water
and Fruits, which might render a place wholsome by the Constitution of
the Bodies of those Beasts which were nourished there, and to this End
they consulted their Entrails; for if the Liver was Corrupted, they
conjectured that the same thing must happen to Men that should Inhabit
in that place.