The Colloquies of Erasmus, Volume I. Erasmus Desiderius

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      Jer. O brave, I have gone beyond the first Goal. We are fifteen. Play stoutly, we had got this too, if you had stood in your Place. Well, now we are equal.

      Nic. But you shan't be so long. Well, we are thirty; we are forty five.

      Jer. What, Sesterces?

      Nic. No.

      Jer. What then?

      Nic. Numbers.

      Jer. What signifies Numbers, if you have nothing to pay?

      Nic. We have gotten this Game.

      Jer. You are a little too hasty; you reckon your Chickens before they are hatch'd. I have seen those lose the Game that have had so many for Love. War and Play is a meer Lottery. We have got thirty, now we are equal again.

      Nic. This is the Game Stroke. O brave! we have got the better of you.

      Jer. Well, but you shan't have it long; did I not say so? We are equally fortunate.

      Nic. Fortune inclines first to one side, and then to t'other, as if she could not tell which to give the Victory to. Fortune, be but on our Side, and we'll help thee to a Husband. O rare! She has answer'd her Desire, we have got this Game, set it up, that we mayn't forget.

      Jer. It is almost Night, and we have play'd enough, we had better leave off, too much of one Thing is good for nothing, let us reckon our Winnings.

      Nic. We have won three Groats, and you have won two; then there is one to be spent. But who must pay for the Balls?

      Jer. All alike, every one his Part. For there is so little won, we can't take any Thing from that.

* * * * *

      2. BOWL PLAYING.

       ADOLPHUS, BERNARDUS, the Arbitrators.

      Adol. You have been often bragging what a mighty Gamester you were at Bowls. Come now, I have a Mind to try what a one you are.

      Ber. I'll answer you, if you have a Mind to that Sport. Now you'll find according to the Proverb; You have met with your Match.

      Adol. Well, and you shall find I am a Match for you too.

      Ber. Shall we play single Hands or double Hands?

      Adol. I had rather play single, that another may not come in with me for a Share of the Victory.

      Ber. And I had rather have it so too, that the Victory may be entirely my own.

      Adol. They shall look on, and be Judges.

      Ber. I take you up; But what shall he that beats get, or he that is beaten lose?

      Adol. What if he that beats shall have a Piece of his Ear cut off.

      Ber. Nay, rather let one of his Stones be cut out. It is a mean Thing to play for Money; you are a Frenchman, and I a German, we'll both play for the Honour of his Country.

      Adol. If I shall beat you, you shall cry out thrice, let France flourish; If I shall be beat (which I hope I shan't) I'll in the same Words celebrate your Germany.

      Ber. Well, a Match. Now for good Luck; since two great Nations are at Stake in this Game, let the Bowls be both alike.

      Adol. Do you see that Stone that lies by the Port there.

      Ber. Yes I do.

      Adol. That shall be the Jack.

      Ber. Very well, let it be so; but I say let the Bowls be alike.

      Adol. They are as like as two Peas. Take which you please, it's all one to me.

      Ber. Bowl away.

      Adol. Hey-day, you whirl your Bowl as if your Arm was a Sling.

      Ber. You have bit your Lip, and whirled your Bowl long enough: Come bowl away. A strong Bowl indeed, but I am best.

      Adol. If it had not been for that mischievous Bit of a Brick-bat there, that lay in my Way, I had beat you off.

      Ber. Stand fair.

      Adol. I won't cheat: I intend to beat you, by Art, and not to cheat ye, since we contend for the Prize of Honour: Rub, rub.

      Ber. A great Cast in Troth.

      Adol. Nay, don't laugh before you've won. We are equal yet.

      Ber. This is who shall: He that first hits the Jack is up. I have beat you, sing.

      Adol. Stay, you should have said how many you'd make up, for my Hand is not come in yet.

      Ber. Judgment, Gentlemen.

      Arbitr. 3.

      Adol. Very well.

      Ber. Well, what do you say now? Are you beat or no?

      Adol. You have had better Luck than I, but yet I won't vail to you, as to Strength and Art; I'll stand to what the Company says.

      Arb. The German has beat, and the Victory is the more glorious, that he has beat so good a Gamester.

      Ber. Now Cock, crow.

      Adol. I am hoarse.

      Ber. That's no new Thing to Cocks; but if you can't crow like an old Cock, crow like a Cockeril.

      Adol. Let Germany flourish thrice.

      Ber. You ought to have said so thrice. I am a-dry; let us drink somewhere, I'll make an end of the Song there.

      Adol. I won't stand upon that, if the Company likes it.

      Arb. That will be the best, the Cock will crow clearer when his Throat is gargled.

* * * * *

      _3. The Play of striking a Ball through an Iron Ring.

      GASPAR, ERASMUS.

      Gas._ Come, let's begin, Marcolphus shall come in, in the Losers Place.

      Er. But what shall we play for?

      Gas. He that is beat shall make and repeat extempore a Distich, in Praise of him that beat him.

      Er. With all my Heart.

      Gas. Shall we toss up who shall go first?

      Er. Do you go first if you will, I had rather go last.

      Gas. You have the better of me, because you know the Ground.

      Er. You're upon your own Ground.

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