On the Cryptographic Books
of Gustavus Selenus.

As Daedalus, pitying the lot of the love-sick queen,

had guided by a thread the uncertain steps of the leader

departing from the murder of the double-formed monster,

so SELENUS, in laborious and learned pages,

opens for anxious mortals the DARK COVERINGS of man’s thoughts, generously and much more clearly than the shining torch of might. 

No longer is he SELENUS, not so.  He is Phoebus.

On the Same: Defender of Johannes Trithemius,
who was accused of Magic by reason of his Steganographia.

Trithemius, a man of polished parts,

seemed destined to be carried to Acheron

whole by many secret symbols and voices horrid. 

SELENUS, with great care and subtle strength of mind,

uncovered his arts, which were not bad, but, rather,

useful, and from dishonor rescued the name of an upright man. 

Anyone, perhaps, can assist the living;

but to help the dead is not the work of each and every.

A Play on the Praenomen of the Same.

AUGUST is your mind; Augustus is your name; and

AUGUST line of ancestors is a glory to your name. 

An AUGUST reputation is a companion of great virtue. 

AUGUST remain your fates, whereof you worthy are.

Done, to testify to his reverence and gratitude,

by Thomas Seghet, who was kindly received by

the Author and generously treated and dismissed.