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tion of the lesser tympanum, the tongue enters Aqua-
rius, all the holes fall perpendicular, and the flow of
the water being thus lessened, it runs off more slowly;
whence the vase receiving the water with less velocity,
the length of the hours is increased. Thus, going
gradually through the points of Aquarius and Pisces,
as soon as the hole of the small tympanum touches the
eighth part of Aries, the water flows more gently, and
produces the equinoctial hours. From Aries, through
the spaces of Taurus and Gemini, advancing to the
upper points where the Crab is placed, the hole or tym
panum touching it at its eighth division, and arriving at
the summit, the power is lessened; and hence running
more slowly, its stay is lengthened, and the solstitial
hours are thereby formed. When it descends from
Cancer, and passes through Leo and Virgo, returning
to the point of the eighth part of Libra, its stay is
shortened by degrees, and the hours diminished, till,
arriving at the same point of Libra, it again indicates
the equinoctial hours. The hole being lowered through
the space of Scorpio and Sagittarius, in its revolution
it returns to the eighth division of Capricornus, and,
by the velocity of the water, the winter hours are pro-
duced. To the best of my ability I have explained the
construction and proportions of dials, so that they may
be easily set up. It now remains for me to speak of
machines, and the principles which govern them. These
will be found in the following book, and will complete
this Treatise on Architecture.