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.
_Gas._ Indeed I am better acquainted with the Ground, than I am with my
Books; but that's but a small Commendation.
_Er._ You that are so good a Gamester ought to give me Odds.
_Gas._ Nay, you should rather give me Odds; but there's no great Honour
in getting a Victory, when Odds is taken: He only can properly be said
to get the Game, that gets it by his own Art; we are as well match'd as
can be.
_Er._ Yours is a better Ball than mine.
_Gas._ And yours is beyond me.
_Er._ Play fair, without cheating and cozening.
_Gas._ You shall say you have had to do with a fair Gamester.
_Er._ But I would first know the Orders of the Bowling-alley.
_Gas._ We make 4 up; whoever bowls beyond this Line it goes for nothing;
if you can go beyond those other Bounds, do it fairly and welcome:
Whoever hits a Bowl out of his Place loses his Cast.
_Er._ I understand these Things.
_Gas._ I have shut you out.
_Er._ But I'll give you a Remove.
_Gas._ If you do that I'll give you the Game.
_Er._ Will you upon your Word?
_Gas._ Yes, upon my Word: You have no other Way for it but to bank your
Bowl so as to make it rebound on mine.
_Er._ I'll try: Well, what say you now Friend? Are not you beaten away?
(Have I not struck you away?)
_Gas._ I am, I confess it; I wish you were but as wise as you are lucky;
you can scarce do so once in a hundred Times.
_Er._ I'll lay you, if you will, that I do it once in three Times. But
come pay me what I have won.
_Gas._ What's that?
_Er._ Why, a Distich.
_Gas._ Well, I'll pay it now.
_Er._ And an extempore one too. Why do you bite your Nails?
_Gas._ I have it.
_Er._ Recite it out.
_Gas._ As loud as you will.
_Young Standers-by, dap ye the Conqueror brave,
Who me has beat, is the more learned Knave_.
Han't you a Distich now?
_Er._ I have, and I'll give you as good as you bring.
* * * * *