"Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem, quia voluptas sit, aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos, qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt, neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum, quia dolor sit, amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt, ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem." Printers used it (and still do) as a block of dummy text, which could be repeated ad libitum to fill up any piece of space for which the actual text was not yet written or finalized. Being obviously scrambled, there was little chance that it would accidentally be left in place when the publication reached its final form.

Linda Gardiner, Sherborn, MA USA


The significance of the text has been underestimated for centuries. Widespread use has been traced as far back as the 1500s. It appears to have been one of the very first things ever printed on the printing press when it was invented. Before that it is impossible to trace, but fragments survive from various points in time going back another 800 years. It is true that Cicero appears to be a source, since some of the text is found in Cicero. However, much of the text is actually pre-latin, originating from Kandarian and Sumarian. Parts of the text match passages in the Necronomicon Mortis and some of the language is also found in Alister Crowley's works. No reasonable explanation has yet been put forth to explain how, or why, this text has appeared in widespread use for 500 years at least, and yet has remained almost perfectly intact. What is perhaps most disturbing is that the words "Magna Aliquam" occasionally accompany the text as a title.

I hope it will be apparent that Mr Versci ex suo ano parabolat.


John Bennett, Glasgow Scotlan