E cuyim quxekr fesgiqic quamc,
Cimvukb ugv uvs xz cimeosqismi.
Iebg Jomf sgiqi gec riqtemsr sim,
Mil erku iqiv ligs du imum gfaugs
Sgi kuvirs riqtems rulisolir lofgs,
Sgfod qoed mo fmoj igs seidic
E vienum rsuas emc e nqobikirr hivik,
Kuus r’qilqed e cme idok du seiz igs.

What does this poem describe?

The hard way, or what do you do if you haven't a uberMENSA brain with an IQ of 417 (In simple english: You are a shrimp).

The letter frequencies in the cipher text are:14 I; 9 S; 8 E; 7 U and 7 N (in %)

In english the most used letters are ETAOINSHDRLU

Here already something remarkable can be noticed: out of the four letters that are most used in the cipher text, three are vowels. If a standard shift is applied to all letters, then there should be 1 or 2 vowels only, reason to suspect that vowels and consonants are following a different scheme.

There are 14% letters I, so that must be the E, that's pretty certain, E in english is normally 13 %, so this is close enough.
Next: the S (9%) may very well be T (9%)
E is probably A or maybe O or N
U is maybe A or N, or probably O
M is probably N, or maybe A or O

A *O*EN *O*A** *AT*E*E* *O*N*
*EN*O** O** O*T ** *ENA*T*ETNE
EA** **N* T*E*E *A* *E**ANT* TEN
NE* A**O E*E* *E*T *O ENON ***O*T
T*E *O*E*T *E**ANT *O*ET**E* ****T
T**** **A* N* *N** E*T TAE*E*
A *EA*ON *TO*T AN* A ****E*E** *E*E*
*OOT * *E**A* A *NA E*** *O TAE* E*T

One thing is affirmed: the E is a lot of times a single letter and is indeed an A.  Let's continue, look at the first word fifth sentence: T*E and third word third sentence T*E*E.   Could that be the and there? Yes, it can, it is even likely: the H is in the cipher text a G, the R a Q.  Remember that Etaoinshdrlu sentence: H and R are popular letters in english and also in our ciphertext: 5 % each, the highest scores after AOENT. We can do one more letter: look at the first word, third sentence EA*H, the B of the cipher text is a C. Where are we now:

A *O*EN RO*A** *ATHERE* RO*N*
*EN*O*C OH* O*T ** *ENA*TRETNE
EACH **N* THERE HA* *ER*ANT* TEN
NE* A**O ERE* *EHT *O ENON H**OHT
THE *O*E*T *ER*ANT *O*ET**E* ***HT
TH*** R*A* N* *N** EHT TAE*E*
A *EA*ON *TO*T AN* A *R*CE*E** *E*E*
*OOT *RE*RA* A *NA E*** *O TAE* EHT

At first sight, we are in trouble: look at the last word of the second sentence and of the last one. There are no english words ending on TRETNE and EHT??? EHT must be THE, same for 5th word in 6th sentence. Each second sentence is to be read backwards. 
From here on some guessing is involved: Sixth sentence, third word: *N can't be an or on, must be in, so O is I. Second word second sentence. (backwards) must be who, V = W

A *O*EN RO*A** *ATHERE* RO*N*
*ENWO*C OHW OWT ** *ENAITRETNE
EACH *IN* THERE HA* *ER*ANT* TEN
NE* A**O EREW *EHT *O ENON H**OHT
THE *OWE*T *ER*ANT *O*ETI*E* *I*HT
TH*I* RIA* NI *NI* EHT TAE*E*
A WEA*ON *TO*T AN* A *RICE*E** *EWE*
*OOT *RE*RA* A *NA E*I* *O TAE* EHT

Now they are coming faster:
Word 4 sentence 4, theM L = M
Word 2 sentence 7, weaPon N = P
If you now look at we already have it is clear: 1 shift for consonants and an opposite shift for vowels. And this is the result:

A DOZEN ROYALS GATHERED ROUND
DENWOLC OHW OWT YB DENAITRETNE
EACH KING THERE HAD SERVANTS TEN
NEM ASLO EREW MEHT FO ENON HGUOHT
THE LOWEST SERVANT SOMETIMES MIGHT
THGIF RIAF NI GNIK EHT TAEFED
A WEAPON STOUT AND A PRICELESS JEWEL
LOOT SREMRAF A DNA EFIL FO TAEB EHT

Edited for formatting.

Edited on February 14, 2006, 11:57 am

Posted by Hugo on 2006-02-14 11:31:07