[ *33 ] 
There are two principal gates to the theatre, with 
infcriptions on the architraves, which are taken out, 
and placed in the king’s palace, among the other cu- 
riofities. Thofe, who have the care of all, will not 
iuder one to copy any thing : however I lagged a lit- 
tle behind the red: of the company, and copied, 
from the perfected of the two architraves, the fol- 
lowing infcription ; 
LANNIVS.MAMMIANVS. 
R VF VS.II. VIR.QVINQ^ 
THEATR. OP.NVMISIVS. 
P.F.ARCH.EC.... 
The antiquarians will have it, that Mammianus 
R.ufus, who was one of the duumvirs, built the the- 
atre at his own expence. There are numbers of other 
infcriptions, fome perfedt, others imperfect ; which 
latter is owing, I fuppofe, to the little care taken in 
digging them out. 
It is a great pity, that they did not, at the fird difco- 
very, open the ground at the top, and clear it away 
as they worked, in order to have feen thofe fine 
things in open day-light. But I have been told, it 
was impofiible, feeing the vad depth of earth and 
done they mud have been obliged to have made way 
thro’. That reafon does not all fatisfy me ; they 
having flaves enough, of the rafcally and villainous 
fort, to complete fuch a work. What a fine thing 
would it have been to have come diredtly down to 
the roof of the building, indead of digging round, 
and to have found all things in their fird lituation ! 
I come 
