Book Two

The table has the following arrangement: Let it be of seven squares both in length and in breadth, each line the same, and let the squares be formed by rather thick lines drawn with ink on a piece of paper, so that, when another paper designed for the writing is placed above, the lines may show through distinctly. This done, the letters are to be distributed thus: The first letter of each word must be put in the fourth square, the second in the sixth, the third in the eighth, the fourth in the second, the fifth in the tenth, the sixth in the twelfth, the seventh in the fourteenth, the eighth in the first, the ninth in the ninth, the tenth in the third, the eleventh in the eleventh, the twelfth in the fifth, the thirteenth in the thirteenth, the fourteenth in the seventh. If the fourth square is not large enough to hold the first letters of the following words, put the remaining words, according to the same arrangement, in the fourteen squares immediately following.  So, again, the fourteen squares immediately following these twenty-eight, will later come into use, in case the eighteenth square becomes filled with letters. For always, until the fourth square is filled, the squares between two cross lines are found ready to receive successively the transposed letters of the secret. If, on the other hand, owing to the shortness of the words, it happens that some squares are left empty, these may be filled with Non-significant letters, which, however, must, on account of their different character, be distinguished by some sign. The confident need put his attention but to this, that, in placing the table underneath the paper, he be careful to have the top and the sides of the table exactly in place. If, then, the scattered letters of this table be brought together in accordance with these directions, you may read the following: Verba hominum duas habent ansas: Alteram, qua in bonam; alteram, qua in malam partem rapiuntur: Epictetus. And, Deus cum differt auxilium, exercet rogantem, non repellit pulsantem. If you write the letters of the secret over the heavy perpendicular lines, and the Non-significant letters in the squares and over the cross lines, there will then be no need of notes or signs to distinguish the Non-significant from the Significant letters.