Page:The whole familiar colloquies of Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam.djvu/343

THE GAME OF COCKAL. 339 invented among themselves, as one that was fit for persons of age, not puzzling their minds by a careful thoughtfulness, as a great many of our modern games do, so that it is much less fatigue to the mind to study hard than to play. Qu. Prithee, pull out the rest of the tali, that we may try an experiment with them. Ch, But we have no turret nor box to throw them in. Qu. Why, this table will do well enough to try any experiment with them ; or this cup, or cap, will supply the place of a turret. Ch. Nay, hustling them in the palm of one's hand may do well enough. A throw oftener turns up the supine face than the prone face, and the prone face oftener than a size or an ace. Qu. So it seems.

Ch. Now, if there be an ace turned up in the four tali, you shall lay down one piece of money ; if there are two, two pieces ; if three, three pieces ; if four, four pieces : and as often as you throw a size you shall take up one piece. Qu. But what if I should throw size ace 1 Ch. Why, if you will, both of us shall lay down, and neither of us take up ; and he that throws four different spots shall take up all. Qu. What if we throw upper, or under, blank 1 Ch. That throw shall go for nothing, and either you shall throw again or I will take it. Qu. I had rather the other should take the cast. Ch. Now down with your money. Qu. Let us play for nothing. Ch. Would you learn such an art as this for nothing 1 Qu. But it is an unequal match for one that knows nothing of the game to play with a gamester. Ch. Well, but the hope of winning and the fear of losing will make you mind your game the better. Qu. How much shall we play for ? Ch. If you have a mind to get an estate quickly let us play for 100 crowns. Qu. I wish I had them to lay down. But it is the safer way to grow rich gradually. See here is a whole halfpenny. Ch. Well, come on, we will add a little to a little, as Hesiod advises, and this will in time make a large heap. Shake them and throw away. A good beginning : yo.u have thrown an ace ; lay down your money, and acknowledge you are on the losing side. Give me the tali. Qu. That is a better beginning, there is three aces ; lay down. Ch. Fortune is laying a trap for you ; throw away, but hustle them first. Oh, good man ! you have got nothing at all, there is an upper blank and an under one. It is my throw, give me the tali. Qu. Well done again, I see three aces. Ch. Well, do not reckon your chickens before they be hatched. Well, fortune has a mind to make a gamester of you ; but mind, this is my way of learning. But I am of the opinion that Octavius played after a different manner. Qu. How was it 1 Ch. He that threw an ace laid down a penny, as we said ; he that threw a size took up nothing, but the other laid down. Qu. But what if he threw doublets 1 Ch. Then the other laid down so many pieces : and when there was a good heap of money down, he that threw venus took up all ; and you may add this, if you will, that he that throws neither size nor ace shall only lose his throw. Qu. I agree to it.

Ch. But I look upon this to be better, that he that holds the dice shall throw thrice, and then give the throw to the other. Qu. I like that well enough. But how many venus's will you make up ? Ch, Why, three, if you will ; and after that you may make a new bargain, or play who shall take all; for a size conies up bxt seldom, and but