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CHAPTER II.
OF THE TREASURY, PRISON, AND CURIA.
THE treasury, prison, and curia are to adjoin the forum,
to which their dimensions are to be proportionate. First
of the curia, which must be suitable to the importance of
the community or state. If square, its height is to be
once and a half its width ; but if oblong, the length and
width must be added together, and one-half of their sum
assigned for the height up to the lacunaria. The walls,
moreover, at half their height, are to have cornices run
round them of wood or plaster. For if such be not pro-
vided, the voices of the disputants meeting with no check
in their ascent, will not be intelligible to the audience.
But when 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 THEATRE, AND OF ITS HEALTHY SITUATION.
WHEN the forum is placed, a spot as healthy as possible
is to be chosen for the theatre, for the exhibition of
games 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 the
games, and the pores of their bodies being opened by
the pleasure they enjoy, are easily affected by the air,
which, if it blows from marshy or other noisome places,