The Eureka
Machine for generating Latin verses
The Eureka
The Eureka, also known as the Latin Verse Machine, is a 19th century invention that mechanically generated Latin hexameter. It was built from 1830 to 1845 by a grocer and printing shop worker named John Clark, who then exhibited his invention in the Egyptian Hall in London. For an admission price of one shilling, visitors could watch the "small bureau bookcase" produce a new verse of English hexameter in about a minute. The Eureka played God Save the King while running, and went silent when the verse was complete. Output from the machine included horrida sponsa reis promittunt tempora densa ("horrible brides promise tough times") and sontia tela bonis causabunt agmina crebra ("good weapons will cause frequent raids").
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