CHAPTER II.

OF THE TEEASUEY, PEISON, AND CUEIA.

The treasury, prison, and curia are to adjoin tlie forum,to which their dimensions are to he proportionate. Firstof the curia, which must be suitable to the importance ofthe community or state. If square, its height is to heonce and a half its width ; but if oblong, the length andwidth must be added together, and one-half of their sumassigned for the height up to the lacunaria. The walls,moreover, at half their height, are to have cornices runround them of wood or plaster. For if such be not pro-vided, the voices of the disputants meeting with no checkin their ascent, will not be intelligible to the audience.But w T hen the walls are encircled round with cornices,the voice, being thereby impeded, will reach the ear be-fore its ascent and dissipation in the air.

CHAPTER III.

OF THE THEATEE, AND OF ITS HEALTHY SITUATION.

When the forum is placed, a spot as healthy as possibleis to be chosen for the theatre, for the exhibition ofgames on the festival days of the immortal gods, ac-cording to the instructions given in the first book re-specting the healthy disposition of the walls of a city.For the spectators, with their wives and children, de-lighted with the entertainment, sit out the whole of thegames, and the pores of their bodies being opened bythe pleasure they enjoy, are easily affected by the air,which, if it blows from marshy or other noisome places,