_NICHOLAS_ and _JEROME._
_Nic._ No Play is better to exercise all Parts of the Body than
Stool-ball; but that's fitter for Winter than Summer.
_Jer._ There is no Time of the Year with us, but what's fit to play in.
_Nic._ We shall sweat less, if we play at Tennis.
_Jer._ Let's let Nets alone to Fishermen; it's prettier to catch it in
our Hands.
_Nic._ Well, come on, I don't much Matter; but how much shall we play
for?
_Nic._ But I had rather spare my Corps than my Money.
_Jer._ And I value my Corps more than my Money: We must play for
something, or we shall never play our best.
_Nic._ You say true.
_Jer._ Which Hand soever shall get the first three Games, shall pay the
sixth Part of a Groat to the other; but upon Condition that what's won
shall be spent among all the Company alike.
_Nic._ Well, I like the Proposal; come done, let's chuse Hands; but we
are all so equally match'd, that it's no great Matter who and who's
together.
_Jer._ You play a great Deal better than I.
_Nic._ But for all that, you have the better Luck.
_Jer._ Has Fortune anything to do at this Play?
_Nic._ She has to do everywhere.
_Jer._ Well, come let's toss up. O Boys, very well indeed. I have got
the Partners I would have.
_Nic._ And we like our Partners very well.
_Jer._ Come on, now for't, he that will win, must look to his Game. Let
every one stand to his Place bravely. Do you stand behind me ready to
catch the Ball, if it goes beyond me; do you mind there, and beat it
back when it comes from our Adversaries.
_Nic._ I'll warrant ye, I'll hit it if it comes near me.
_Jer._ Go on and prosper, throw up the Ball upon the House. He that
throws and do's not speak first shall lose his Cast.
_Nic._ Well, take it then.
_Jer._ Do you toss it; if you throw it beyond the Bounds, or short, or
over the House, it shall go for nothing, and we won't be cheated: And
truly you throw nastily. As you toss it, I'll give it you again; I'll
give you _a Rowland for an Oliver_; but it is better to play fairly and
honestly.
_Nic._ It is best at Diversion, to beat by fair Play.
_Jer._ It is so, and in War too; these Arts have each their respective
Laws: There are some Arts that are very unfair ones.
_Nic._ I believe so too, and more than seven too. Mark the Bounds with a
Shell, or Brick-bat, or with your Hat if you will.
_Jer._ I'd rather do it with yours.
_Nic._ Take the Ball again.
_Jer._ Throw it; score it up.
_Nic._ We have two good wide Goals.
_Jer._ Pretty wide, but they are not out of Reach.
_Nic._ They may be reach'd if no Body hinders it.
_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.