The letters which are usually called "text," or quadrate, it was
formerly customary so to write, although they are now imitated by the
new art, as presently I shall show below. Although the alphabet begins
with the writing of A, yet shall I (not needlessly) in the first place
undertake to draw an I; because almost all the other letters are formed
after this letter, although always something has to be added to it or
taken away.
First make your I of equal squares, of which three are properly set one
over the other; and the top of the top one, and the bottom of the bottom
one, divide in two points, that is to say, into three equal parts: then
set a square equal to the others in an oblique manner, so that its
diagonal be vertical, and its angle on the first point of the top
square. In this way, this oblique square shall extend with its angles
more to the left than the right. Then produce upwards on either side,
after the width of the superposed squares, right lines to meet the sides
of the oblique set square. Next do below precisely as you did above,
except that you must set the angle of the oblique square on the second
point, that is, the one farthest to the right in the bottom of the
lowest square; and let fall your lines on either side upon the
transposed square: so will I be perfect; only above it draw with a fine
pen a tiny in-crescent.
So shall you make N from two standards of this same I, set so that their
angles at top and bottom touch; and in this manner the space between the
two shall be narrower than the breadth of either: also, you shall no
longer put little crescents above them; you must make of the same length
all the short letters throughout the alphabet.
In like manner make M of three standards, just as you made N of two.
R make as I, except only that at top you must set an equal square
diagonally, to the right, so that angle touch angle. R you may make also
in this fashion: below leave its foot as before, but above add two
diagonal squares, which shall touch each other with their angles in the
middle point of the vertical limb, and then produce upwards both sides
of the latter to meet the diagonal square.
V is made in three ways. First let it be made simply, as N; only that in
the farther limb, you shall omit at the top the diagonal square; and
instead shall draw an oblique line, so that it may make two angles in
this limb (produced) of which the farther shall be of the same height as
that of the topmost angle of the diagonal square, & the higher angle of
the same height as the angle nearest to it in the said square.
The second V, which we use at the beginning of a sentence, make thus:
Draw the first limb as before for I; only, at the bottom, push the
diagonal square a little further to the right, so that its hither angle
does not project beyond the side of the vertical limb, but falls in the
line of its descent. Then set the second limb to the right of this, and
cut it off below by an oblique line, drawn from the lowest angle upwards
to the right, as far as the middle point of the lowest of the three
superposed squares.
Next make W (i. e., double V) just as you made V-simplex; only you shall
set before it the standard limb of I.
B make as the second V-simplex; but in the first upright omit the
diagonal square at the top, and set upon the three original squares
three others similar, but the seventh one you shall cut off diagonally
from its lower hither angle.
Likewise when your B so made is turned upside down, then it will be a Q.
X you shall construct from I. Append from top angle to the right a
diagonally set square, as you did before in R; and at the bottom draw an
acute tail to the left from the diagonal, and at the middle of the
vertical limb describe a transverse, in such way that the former is cut
before and aft by the latter's diagonal; let the hither and lower angle
be terminated as far in front of the upright as would measure one-half
of the cutting diagonal, which at top shall just touch the upright; but
to the right let the transverse at top project to a point just below the
angle of the oblique square; from thence downwards let it be cut off by
an oblique line parallel to the anterior diagonal.
C you shall construct from I after this fashion: Remove the top diagonal
square, & let lines be produced on either side to the proper height of
the letter, and cut off the hither angle by a diagonal; then draw at top
a broad transverse, projecting beyond the vertical to the right the
width of the latter, and cut this off by a diagonal in such a way that
it project below only half as far as above.
The vertical standard of E you shall make as for C; but from above let
there descend to the right a broad limb from the diagonal bisecting the
right angles of one square, and one-third again as long as broad; and
let there be drawn from its lower angle a small diagonal line to the
vertical limb.
T shall be made like C, except that at top something is added to its
diagonal, so that its tip converges to a fine point, and the like to the
left on the hither side of the broad standard, just as at the top: and
because of this is T at top more elegant than C, and has not the same
incurved appearance.
L you are to make below like I; only six squares are to be set on end;
then cut off the hither side of the seventh by a diagonal, and so the
apex of the letter shall remain to the right.
The letter S you shall make as L; except that at top to the right must
be drawn a broad limb of the length of the diagonal, which afterwards
you are to cut off by a line parallel to the diagonal.
F you shall make as S, just adding to it a transverse limb at the height
of the shorter letters and double as long as broad, so that the point on
the hither side & below shall project as far as half the limb's breadth,
so that the two diagonal abscissions may be equidistant from one
another.
The near limb of the letter H make like L, and to it join by its top, in
the proper place, the farther made like I; but below, for the diagonal
square, substitute a fourth square in line with the others, and the
fifth and lowest cut off on the far side by its diagonal.
Of K make the near limb like L; and to the right of it append a diagonal
square, from the lowest angle of which let a line be obliquely produced
to meet the said vertical limb; and next from this line let a broad limb
be obliquely drawn, and this, at the bottom, you are to cut off by a
diagonal, in such fashion that the space below, between the two tips
shall not be more than the diagonal of a single square.
D in its lower half make like B; but at top let the anterior limb ascend
upwards to the maximum height of the letters, and then cut off the
hither angle by its diagonal; next superpose to the same height half a
square upon the other three squares of the farther limb, & once more do
here as you did below, and let this broken limb rest on the angle of the
near limb, and let it extend beyond it as far as the end of the upright
near limb; and so will it all but contain three conjunct squares; for
when it meets the near vertical limb, that fraction is to be cut off at
right angles.
O you are to make below as D, and also the same at the top as the
bottom, only, as it were, turning it upside down.
The anterior limb of P make like L inverted; but the posterior like the
standard of I: at bottom, however, you are not to add an oblique square,
but amputate the limb diagonally, & draw at the bottom a broad
transverse limb, which likewise is to be cut off diagonally, so that the
lower point shall project to the left, a distance of half the breadth of
the limb.
Likewise A in the lower half you are to make like N; but of its anterior
vertical limb, you are to cut off the hither angle of the middle square
by its diagonal; of the posterior, however, allow three squares to
remain superposed, and incline the top part (the fourth square) rather
to the left, so that if at this side is joined to it the half of a
square, then it shall attain the height of the letter; and cut off the
square obliquely, yet so that the lower point shall project farther than
the upper; then describe to the left a circle, sweeping downwards, so
that its contents shall embrace the farthest limit of the anterior limb.
Z is made in threefold fashion. First set a diagonal square which shall
touch the height of the letter; then add another like it, on the right,
joining their sides, & let these form a quadrangle sloping downwards on
the right: next set a diagonal square in straight line under the top
square, and distant from the lower one the length of its diameter: then
draw a diagonal line between the near angles of these two squares, or
make a rounded limb to reach the lower square; but from the said lowest
square of all you shall draw downwards and to the right, by the aid of
divers circles, a round extension, whose bottom shall mark the length of
the letter; and let its tip, sharp and tenuous, verge to the left. Or
construct Z of three oblique limbs, one above the other, & to connect
them draw the diagonal, which shall slope upwards to the right.
Another Z you may make in this way: Let three diagonal squares be set
atop of one another; and let the lowest have a rounded extension, as in
the first Z.
The first limb of G make below like I, and add at the bottom another
diagonal square, joining the two by their angles; but at top produce the
farther tip of this limb upwards to the height of the letter, & from
this point draw a diagonal downward to the left, as far as the hither
angle of the first right square of the three set one on other. Next draw
the farther vertical standard entire, of the same length as the hither
standard, and at the bottom draw a diagonal from the angle of the lowest
oblique square to touch the tip of the angle of the farther limb, & on
the inner side produce downwards the side of the limb, to meet the tip
of the said diagonal; to this also, by one line, join the lowest of the
hither squares. Now draw at top a transverse limb of the customary
breadth, from the back of the nearer vertical limb, passing through the
farther one, and reaching as far beyond this as its breadth; & this
limb, finally, you shall cut off by an oblique line parallel to that of
the near limb.
Y you shall make as N, only at bottom must be omitted the farther
diagonal square, & in its place is to be set a right square under the
other three superposed squares; then split the fifth square by a
diagonal, so that the tip shall be in front; from which let there be
produced a diagonal line, equal in length to a single side of the
square.
Curved, or short S, you shall make on this wise. At the middle height of
the letter, let there be set, close to one another, their angles
touching, two oblique squares; from the near square draw a broad
vertical limb to the height of the letter; and in the same fashion, from
the farther square let one fall downwards--just as you constructed I top
& bottom. Next cut off both these limbs, one at top and one at bottom,
by diagonals, in such fashion that the sharp tips of both may be on the
side near the middle. Then let there be drawn two broad limbs--namely,
from the upper, to the right, and downwards; and in like manner, from
the lower, upwards, and to the left; of the breadth of the limb, above
and below, but let them be produced no further than the breadth of the
distance between the limbs: then draw a diagonal downwards, from right
to left, which shall cut off both oblique limbs. To it also you must
produce the sides of the squares set in the midst.
So, accordingly, have I set them down--in skeleton in rotation, and in
proper order in black. This (as I said above) is the antique form of the
letters; but in these days there is used a more elegant text, and a
diagonal square is substituted in the middle place for a right square,
so that the lines of the letters are not so much curved; and there are
made certain limbs adjoined and cleft; and there are set one on another
three squares & a half; and spaces are left between two limbs as great
as their width. Letters of this sort also have I set forth on the third
page following; as also capital letters, which are called "versals,"
because they are customarily set at the beginning of a verse; and these
ought to be made one-third higher than the remaining shorter letters in
writing.
[Illustration:
i n m r r u v
w b q x c e t l
s f h k d o p
a z z z g y s]
[Illustration:
a b c d e f g h
i k l m n o p
q r r s s t u v
w x y z z z]
[Illustration:
A B C D E F G H
I K L M N O P R
S T V X Y Z Q *
a b c d e f g h
i k l m n o p q
r s s t u v w x
y z]
Here ends this little Book.