ABSTRACT
Page 460 Another calculation whereby a man is able to know beforehand which of two men who are striving together (or, fighting against each other) will die. It was made by Aristotle for King Alexander, his royal disciple, when he was waging war against Darius the Mede, and Alexander conquered Darius. This calculation is sure, and hath been well tried. It is useful to every one who wageth war against his neighbour, and striveth in respect of matters of business, and to kings, and to all men, both little and great. Observe when thou wishest to know when [two] men are waging war against each other, which will conquer. Take the numerical values of the letters of the name of each by itself, and take from the sum of each as many nines as there are in each, and see how many remain to thee in each case, and bear them [in thy mind]. Then come to the following letters (or, numbers), and from them thou wilt learn which will conquer. One conquereth three, five, seven, and nine. Two conquereth one, four, six, and eight. Three conquereth two, five, seven, and nine. Four conquereth one, three, six, and eight. Five conquereth two, four, seven, and nine. Six conquereth one, three, five, and eight. Seven conquereth two, four, six, and nine. Eight conquereth one, three, five, and seven. Nine conquereth two, four, six, and eight. And if there be two in one name, or the numbers in the two names
