We have before observed, that the city and all the country should communicate as much as possible with the continent and the sea. But it is necessary to look to four things in the position of the city with respect to itself. The first thing, indeed, which should be attended to as necessary, is health. But cities which are situated towards the east, and towards the winds which blow from the east, are more healthful than others. The next situation to this, is when a city has a northern aspect; for this is better in winter. But with respect to the remaining particulars, the situation of the city should be well adapted to political and warlike actions; that for the purposes of war, the citizens may have easy access to it; but that it may be difficult of access to its enemies, and may not easily be captured by them. It should, likewise, be especially supplied with a proper quantity of water, and rivers; but if these cannot be found, very large cisterns must be prepared to save rain-water, so that there may be no want of water in time of war, if the city should be besieged. Since, however, it is necessary that attention should be paid to the health of the inhabitants, this is in the first place accomplished by its having an excellent situation; and in the second place by having salubrious water, and in not negligently taking care to be supplied with it. For those things which for the most part and frequently are used by us, for the support of the body, these principally contribute to the health of it. But water and air have this power naturally. Hence, in cities which are wisely governed, the waters ought to be appropriated to different purposes, if they are not all of them of a similar quality; and if there is not an abundance of necessary water, that which is to drink should be separated from that which is for other uses. With respect also to fortified places, they are not similarly advantageous to all polities. Thus, for instance, an acropolis, or lofty citadel, is oligarchical and monarchical; a level ground is democratical; and that is aristocratical which is neither of these, but which rather abounds with strong places. As to the manner in which private houses are disposed, those are thought to be best, and most useful for other purposes, which are well divided, after the more modern manner of Hippodamus; but for security in time of war, on the contrary, they should be built as they were formerly; for the egress out of them was difficult to strangers, and it was almost impossible for the entrance into them to be discovered by those who attacked their inhabitants. Hence, it is necessary that the city should have both these kinds of houses. But this may be accomplished, if any one will so regulate them as husbandmen do, what some persons call sustades of vines, [or vines planted without order]. Not that the whole city, indeed, should be well divided, but parts of it and places. For thus it will be in a good condition both with respect to security and order. As to the walls, those who say that virtuous cities ought not to have any, think in a very antiquated manner, as we may see that those who glory in this opinion are confuted by facts. It is, indeed, not decorous for those to endeavour to be saved by the defence of walls, who are equal or nearly so to the enemy in number. But since it may happen, and is possible, that those who make the attack far exceed the few who oppose them in courage, if it be necessary that the city should be saved, and neither suffer the calamities of war, nor the insolence of the enemy, it is requisite to think that the protection of walls is a most warlike security; especially since now missile weapons and machines for the purpose of besieging cities have been accurately invented. For not to think it proper to surround cities with walls, would be similar to searching for a country which may be easily invaded, and levelling the elevated places in it. Or it would be just as if houses were not to be surrounded with walls, lest those that inhabit them should be considered as cowards. Moreover, neither should this be forgotten, that those who have a city surrounded with walls, may use the city in both ways, viz. as having, and as not having, walls; but this cannot be done where the city has no walls. If, therefore, this be the case, a city ought not only to be surrounded with walls, but care should be taken that they may be a proper ornament to the city, and that they may be subservient to other warlike purposes, and to those which are invented at present. For as the concern of aggressors is the manner in which they may gain advantage over their adversaries, so those who defend themselves should employ those means which are already invented, and explore and philosophize about others. For those who are well prepared are not first attacked.
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