depending thereon for its progress to maturity, so a city 
depends on the fertility of the country surrounding it for 
its riches, its strength in population, and not less for its 
defence against an enemy. Though your plan might be 
carried into execution, yet I think it impolitic. I never¬ 
theless request your attendance on me, that I may other¬ 
wise avail myself of your ingenuity." From that time 
Dinocrates was in constant attendance on the king, and 
followed him into Egypt; where Alexander having per- 
ceived a spot, at the same time naturally strong, the centre 
of the commerce of the country, a land abounding with 
corn, and having those facilities of transport which the Nile 
afforded, ordered Dinocrates to build a city whose name 
should be Alexandria. Dinocrates obtained this honour 
through his comely person and dignified deportment. But 
to me, Emperor, nature hath denied an ample stature; my 
face is wrinkled with age, and sickness has impaired my 
constitution. Deprived of these natural accomplish¬ 
ments, I hope, however, to gain some commendation 
through the aid of my scientific acquirements, and the 
precepts I shall deliver. In the first book I have treated 
of architecture, and the parts into which it is divided; 
of the walls of a city, and the division of the space within 
the walls. The directions for the construction of sacred 
buildings, their proportions and symmetry, will follow 
and be explained : but I think they will be out of place, 
unless I previously give an account of the materials and 
workmanship used in their erection, together with an in¬ 
vestigation of their several properties and application in 
different cases. Even this I must preface with an in- 
quiry into the origin and various species of the earliest