\\\E UNIVERS/A 1 < S 2 I I ^ i 1 | 3 <-^Kg I 3 s s8 o ? -x, ^MINIVERS/ s I s a O Qc S > i I 1 $ ^ \\\EUN!VER% And idly yawn'd the liftlefs hours away ! 20 But chief when fabbath comes with tirefome reft To vulgar fouls, by weekly toils oppreft ; When cruel cuftom fhuts amufement's door, And dancers fkip, and fingers fqueak no more ; What languor then had all our nerves unftrung, 25 And o'er each modifh houfe what vapours hung ! . * Ahri ken, pethah Ayub ath pieu, vikillal ath Jumu. JOB, ch. iii. I. 7 But CANTO II. 19 But now the world is quite another thing, Thanks to the madnefs of the GallicJdng ; Which, tho' the caufe of temporary ftrife, Produc'd the brighteft charm of modern life. ' 30 Some courtly fage, in that aufpicious hour, Infpir'd by wifdorn's philanthropic pow'r, To cheer the darknefs of his monarch's mind, Some new, unbroach'd delight eflay'd to find ; * And then to light that fair quaternion fprung, 35"% O'er which both high and low, both old and young, > Have fince, thro' ev'ry age, in rapture hung ; 3 Thofe pow'rful Clubs, which, ev'n when us'd in town, Can ftrike, at times, a rural manfion down ; Thofe fatal Spades, which, wielded by a knave, 40 Have dug for fome poor fools an early grave ; * Elements, the eldeft birth Of nature's womb, that in quaternion run, Perpetwal circle, multiform. MIXTON'S PAR. LOST, v. 180. B 2 Diamonds, zo WHIST: i Diamonds, which fcarce with lefs attraction fhine Than thofe that glitter in Golconda's mine ; And flaming Hearts, which glow with am'rous fire, And love unfeign'd in ev'ry breaft infpire. 45 Then firft thofe wondrous forms arofe to view, The fame for ever, yet for ever new ; Thofe Kings in party-colour'd pomp array'd, Who now fo long have Europe's fceptre fway'd ; Thofe Queens, whofe charms, fuperior to decline, 50 Four ages .paft, with equal glory mine ; Thofe who, in fraud's acknowledg'd liv'ry dreft, Like other Knaves, are not the lefs carefl : And, each in order due th' inferior train, Which paint with red and blaek the verdant plain ; 55 That fpotted train, whofe amicable ftrife With brilliant hues diverfifies our life. But men had long thefe noblefl books perus'd, And long with various games their hours amus'd, Ere Whirl appear'd, the charm of ev'ry heart, 60 The lafl beft effort of inventive art. Let C A N T O II. ai * Let India vaunt her children's vaft addrefs, Who firft contriv'd the warlike f fport of Chefs j Let nice Picquette the boaft of France remain, And ftudious Ombre be the pride of Spain ; 6- Invention's praife (hall England yield to none, While me can call delightful Whift her own. But to what name we this diftinclion owe, Is not fo eafy for us now to know : The Britifh annals all are filent here, 70 Nor deign one friendly hint our doubts to clear : Ev'n Hume himfelf, whofe philofophic mind Could not but love a paftime fo refin'd j Telle fut la maniere d'ecrire des Indiens. Leur efprit paralt encore davantage dans lesjeuKde leur invention. Le jeu que nous appellons lesEchecs, par corruption, futinvente par eux ; et nous n'avons rien qui en approche ; il eft allego- rique comme leurs fables ; c'eft Timage de la guerre. VOLTAIRE, ESSAI SUR L'Hisr. GEN. ch. iii. J- Ludimus effigiem belli, fimulataque verls Prglia VID^B SCACCHXA, I. B ^ Ungrateful 2Z WHIST: Ungrateful Hume, who till his dying day- Continued ftill his fav'rite game to play* ; 75 Tho' many a curious fat his page fupplies, To this important point a place denies. Here might fome bards unlock their claffic (lore, And deck their verfe with mythologic lore ; To wifdom's Queen th' invention might affign, 80 Or Jove himfelf, or ev'n the tuneful Nine. But I fhould fcorn my readers to deceive, Or tell them aught but what they could believe : And now, alas ! the whole Olympian ftate Has loft its credit, and is out of date ; 85 Our wits, to whom their names are quite a bore, Would only fkip fuch pretty ftories o'er : Upon his return to Edinburgh, though he found himfelf weaker, yet his checrfulnefs never abated j and he continued to dirert himfelf, as ufual, with correfting his own works for a new edition, with reading books ; f amufement, with the con- verfation of his friem's ; and fometimes, in the evening, with a party at his favourite game of whift. LITTER FROM DR. SMITH TO WILL. STRAHAN. For CANTO II. 13 For which good caufe no borrow'd light divine Shall gild this round unvarnffh'd talc of mine ; In which the doubtful voice of vague renown 90 The likely Sire of Whift has handed down ; Which o'er its birth a glimm'ring luftre throws, Nor tells, but rather guefles how it rofe. A Yorklhire dame invok'd the midwife's care, And bleft her hufband with a fon and heir. 9^ His infant frame appear'd robuft enough, But fcarcely made of penetrable fluff : Nor bitter fquall, nor whimper deep and low, Announc'd his entrance on the ftage of woe. When on his face the facred fluid fell, loo No cry efcap'd, his fad furprife to tell. With rattling toys he ftill refus'd to play, * And from his coral tore die bells away. * I threw away my rattle before I was two months old ; and would not make ufe of my coral, till they had taken away the belle from it. SPECTATOR, No. i. B 4 "When 24 WHIST: When loud or piercing founds aflail'd his ear, Each look betray' d his horror and his fear : 105 But chief he feem'd to dread the ftrife of tongues ; For then alone he ftrain ? d his little lungs, And with a rueful face incefTant roar'd, Till the dorm ceas'd, and filence was reflor'd. Hard was the talk and wearifome, to teach 1 1 o His backward tongue the mimic art of fpeech ; Nor, when at laft your patience won the day, Did he, like other babes, your care repay. Ne'er did his prattle charm a parent's ear ; He fcarcely utter'd twenty words a year. 115 Oft would he s fly to fome fequefter'd nook, To pore in quiet o'er a piftur'd book j Or fit whole hours immers'd in thought profound, With eyes that fondly lov'd the fenfelefs ground $ Till nature's wants, from which no frame is free, 1 20 Rous'd the young Stoic from his reverie. , f To fchool for once he went 5 but threat nor pray'r ould force his feet again to venture there ; Not CANTO II. 25 Not that, like fome, his tafk had wrought him woe (His wit was quick, altho' his tongue was flow) ; lit Nor that he fear'd the mafter's awful nod (Th' attentive fcholar feldom dreads the rod) : His fear was only from the boift'rous noife Rais'd by fo many wild unruly boys ; Their favage tumult tore his tender ear, 130 Diftreft him more than what his frame could bear j And, had his parents forc'd him ftill to go, Might foon have fent him to the fhades below. A grave and fober tutor next was found, To lead him foftly thro' the claflic ground". 135 One charge there was he never would obey A tafk of any length aloud to fay : The yielding tutor took it written down j But then he feldom read it with a frown. His parents thus, of temper foft and mild, 140 jn all his freaks indulg'd their wayward child j Not without hope that gravity fo young, uchlove of filence, fuch command of tongue, When 26 WHIST; When the wild feafon of caprice was part, Would furely rife tofomething great at laft 145 A judge perhaps, of ftern fevere renown ; T Perhaps a bifhop, dreft in hallow'd gown ; Or at the worft a mayor in fome adjacent town. J When twice nine years had thus at home been fpent, The grave young Moody was to Cambridge fent ; 150 Where, led by no temptation's pow'r aftray, He pafs'd the time in his accuftom'd way ; Seldom abroad, or in the common hall, Read much, heard little, and fpoke none at all. But noW flern fate his father call'd away, 155 And fent him home, impatient to allay Maternal anguifh for a lofs fo great, And take pofiefiion of his own eftate ; In which he hop'd, remote from noife and ftrife, To pafs in peace profound his future life 160 Peace, the dear idol of his floic mind, Which ev'n in Cam's retreats he could not find ; For CANTO II. 27 For there fome youths, who felt a barb'rous joy Their graver neighbour's comfort to deftroy, Each art employ'd that to their fancies rofe, 165 His ears to wound, and murder his repofe. At home arriv'd, his father's widow'd mate With tranfport fprung, to meet him at the gate j But not alone with her two virgins came, "Who long had kept that venerable name ; 1 70 For fluent tongues o'er all the country fam'd. They both to him an aunt's relation claim'd. But who can tell with what unruly joy They welcom'd home the long-departed boy ; From ev'ry mouth what floods of kindnefs broke ; 1 75 How all at once with eager fury fpoke ; How each by turns" to raife their voices tried ; How much was aflt'd j how little was replied ! The youth, in chains of mute amazement bound, And almoft deafen'd by the mighty found, 180 With patience yet the roufing larum bore, In hopes its violence would foon be o'er ; And *S WHIST: And that the dames, before the clofe of day, Would kindly take their eloquence away. Impatient oft he call'd the friendly night, 1 85 * And oft with pleafure view'd the failing light : But, oh, how killing was his fad furprife, How much of horror fill'd his gloomy eyes j What looks of dumb defpair to heav'n were caft, When, after waiting long, he found atlaft 190 That both were doom'd, by fate's perverfe decree, Perpetual inmates of the houfe to be ; Call'd by their fitter, when me loft her mate, To foothe her forrows with their charming prate ! With fuch fair profpects op'ning to his view, 195 What now, alas, could lucklefs Moody do ? How dire the thought, that each fucceeding day In fuch a whirlwind muft be pafs'd away ! Ev'n from his inmoft foul the mourner figh'd ; Low funk his heart, and all his courage died. 200 * Polla pros Mellon kephalen trepe pamphaneenta, Dunai epeigomenos. HOMER'S ODYSSEY, xiii. 49. But CANTO II. Z ) But dill refoiv'd to fnatch from vocal ftrife Whate'er his wayward fate allow' d of life, A mind he feign'd on ftudious thoughts intent, "\ Each morning duly to his chamber went, > And there the precioushours with filence fpent. 205 J But no excufe could fave the clofing day From always pafling in a focial way : His own politenefs could not this refufe, Nor yet fo ill his mother's fitters ufe. Then rofe the ftorm ; but ere its rage was o'er, 2 1 o*> And left thy bark on midnight's quiet fhor, > How much, ill-fated youth, thy patience bore ! ) And oft aflail'd at once by all the three, * Thy deareft foe might fure have pitied thee. One had a fcheme to better his eftate, 215 And one advis'd him how to chufe a mate ; The third, determin'd not to be outdone, Would kindly teach him how to rear his fon. J* Would I had met my deareft foe in heav'n. SHAKESt-BAR's HAMLET, Aft I, Sc. 4. Then 3 o WHIST: Then enter'd fell Debate, with angry face ; Each eager tongue aflum'd a quicker pace, 22o And Peace affrighted rofe, and fled the dang'rous place. A fhort-liv'd calm had now the flrife compos'd ; He feiz'd the moment, and Quadrille propos'd ; In hopes, when fairly once engag'd in play, They could not leifure find fo much to fay. 225 But foon the youth thefe hopes abortive found ; Ten cards to each were fcarcely dealt around, When one, topafs by poverty conftrain'd, Againft her luck in accents loud complain'd. The next, who oft enquir'd, with anxious care, 233 XDf red and black how many trumps there were, Remain'd awhile on doubt's uncertain ground, And fought advice from all the table round : If leave me ajtfd, the game was too fecure ; Nor would her cards permit her to obfcure. 235 Refolv'd at lafl to win or hazard all, She boldly ventur'd for a king to call. But CANTO II. 31 But now the third, who long had fllent fate, And heard with wicked joy the deep debate, At oncefanjprendre's pow'r refifllefs claim'd, 249 And with exalted voice her trumps proclaim'd. Thus fairly ftarted ev'ry nimble tongue, And all the houfe with terms of fcience rung; While now the vole was loft, and now codille, ' And hearts, and matadores, and forced fpadille* 24$ * The author having here adopted the French mode of playing quadrille, as admitting of the greateft variety of de- fcription, it will be proper to explain fomeof the terms, which may not be familiar to the Englim reader. Obfcuring (v. 235) is that mode of playing in partnership, by which, when you have three good fuits in your "hand, you leave the choice of trumps from amcngft them to the perfon who happens to hold the king of thefouith. Calling t or rather taking a king, (v. 237) is a cautious me- thod of playing alone, by the afliftance of a king of any fuit but trumps, borrowed, or rather bought from another hand. See ACADEMIE DES JHWX. WHIST. CANTO III. ARGUMENT. Continuation of the ftory of Moody and his Aunts, including the invention of the game of Whift. Not any boaft of (kill, but extreme fluft. MILTON. Quis potis eft dignum pollenti pe&ore carmen Condere, pro rerum majeftate, hifque repertis ? Quifve valet verbis tantum, qui fundere laudes Pro meritis ejus pofiit, qui talia nobis Peftore parta fuo, quaefitaque prremia liquit ? LUCRXTIUS. r OR three long winter months in chat or play The focial ev'nings thus had pafs'd away ; Till, once of life and all its comforts tir'd, The youth indignant to his couch retir'd t There to his fick'ning foul whilft all below $ Seem'd but a weary length of hopelefs woe, * In this black channel did his mufings flow. " How have I this deferv'd, ye pow'rs divine ? ** f For what offence, what grievous fin of mine, * In this black channel would my ravings run. YoyNG's NIGHT THOUGHTS, vii. 652. f Oh> what is my fin ? what is my fm ? B. JONSON'S SILENT WOMAN, Act 2, Sc. 2. C 2 "Am 3 6 WHIST: " Am I condemn'd, in this terreftrial hell, I o " This den of ftrife, this windmill dome* to dwell ? '* Nor wealth nor fame hava e'er engrofs'd my care ; " For peace alone I breath'd my fervent pray'r : " And yet ftern fate the humble fuit denies, " And ftill beyond my reach theblefling flies. 15 " Thrice happy fire, within thy dark retreat, " Of facred reft the bleft eternal feat ; " Where no rude found invades thy filence deep, " Alarms thine ear, or breaks thy quiet fleep : " While here thy wretched fon muft wafte hi* life 20 " In the dire, whirlpool of perpetual ftrife ; " And fees, alas ! no profpecl: of repofe, " Till death at laft his weary eyes fhalf clofe." While thus he lay, refign'd to grief's controul, A ray of fudden light illum'd his foul ; 25 * I dwell in a windmill. B. JONSON'S SILENT WOMAN, Aft 5, Sc. 3. Invention's CANTO ITT. 37 nvention's godlike pow'r his breaft infpir'd, And eager hope his bright'ning fpirit fir'd. f< Had I the happy fkill fome game to find, (f Whofe charms fo ftrongly might attach the mind t( And for fuch ftricl, fevere attention call, 30 " As could not fail to flop the tongues of all. " Suppofe impartial chance two pairs to bind, " In leagues offenfive and defenfive join'd ; " Nor fide by fide allow the friends to fit, " But each in front of each at diftance fit : 35 " There while each card retain'd its native place, " Unlefs the lord of all, th' imperial ace, " None mould, as in Quadrille, be ufelefs found, " But, one by one, the pack be dealt around ; " Thirteen to each, until the laft of all, 40 " Which turning up, the dealer Trump mould call* As elfe th' unlawful deal will never ftand. J II. If in the pack a card difplay its face, * He muft begin again in fuch a cafe : 60 And mould he one in dealing chance to turn, The foes, if fo inclin'd, that deal may fpurn. III. But if he gives not each his number due, To one too many, or to one too few, * Vide Hoyle, chap, xviii. laws xi. and ix. He >pofe L - J CANTO IV. * He then muft be content the deal to lofe, Unlefs his luck fupplies the fole excuse, That, while he dealt, by either of the foes The cards were touch'd ; for then we fA*y fuppofe From them, and not from him, the fault arofe. IV. Still on the board, the whole commencing round, f Let his trump card expos'd to view be found : 7 1 Nor, after that, tho' you may trumps enquire, Can you of it another fight defire. V. Let each, before he play, his hand review, And mark if he poflefs the number due ; 75 | For fliould he not, and yet proceed to play, -\ Till he perceives at laft a card away, I He muft for each revoke the forfeit pay. J * Vide Hoyle, chap. xxii. law xiii. |* Id. chap, xviii. law xviii. J Id. ibid, law xii. D 2 VI. Le $2 WHIST: VI. Let each with conftant eye the board furvey, } * Nor afk another what he chanc'd to play, 80 > Tho* he may bid him draw his card away, J VII. Nor here, as In your former game, Quadrille, May one examine all the tricks at will : The lateft can alone return to fight j The reft muft ne'er again behold the light. 8 5 VIII. The card which once has fairly touch'd the board, Muft never more be to the hand reftor'd. IX. When, from miftake, as it at times proceeds, The one rafh partner for the other leads ; f Then may the foes ajuft occafion feize, 90 To make his brother play what fuit they pleafe ; * Hbyle, chap. xxii. law viii. \ Id, chap, xviii. law K Antl CANTO IV, And for that card, which was fo keen to fall, / . , They have a right at any time to call. X. For each revoke your foe may chance to make, From his colle&ed tricks you three can take ; 9$ Or from his fcore (if tricks he yet has none) * Take down three points, or add them to your own ; But this to do you ne'er can urge the right, Until the trick is turn'd, and out of fight ; Tho' then its influence boafts a fairer claim 100 Than any other fcore in all the game. XI. The tricks, fair children of fuperior (kill, Before the cafual honours reckon ftill. XII. Remember always, when the hand is o'er, f At once your honours and your tricks to fcore ; r o : Hoyle, chap, xviii. laws Hi. and ii. f Id. ibid, law vi. D for 54 WHIST: For mould you wait till trumps be turn'd again, Your right you then may claim, but claim in vain. XIII. But if beyond the truth you chance to go, Your fcore diminifti'd muft enrich the foe. XIV. The proper feafon on your friend to call y Ho * Is jufl before your hand a card lets fall ; A moment later, and you lofe the claim, And ev'n a moment fooner is the fame. XV. f But when the trump has once appear'd in fight, Let none remind his friend of calling's right. 115 XVI. Altho' of tricks one fide mould make them all, That rareft triumph which zjlam we call, * Hoyle, chap, xviii. law xxii. J- Id. ibid, law v. Yet CANTO IV. 55 Yet they from this no profit e'er muft claim, Which would not fuit the fpirit of the game. Such were the Laws, which now to all appear 120 So juft, fo ufeful, fo concife, and clear, That one confenting voice, without delay, Engag'd their future influence to obey : And (hould he doubt their word, for fanc"lion's > fake, They proffer'd too, that very hour, to take 125 I Whatever oath he might be pleas'd to make. The youth delighted made a penfive paufe, And rifing to their fight difplay'd the laws : Then the three fitters held their hands on high, While each upon the ceiling fixt her eye ; 130 And, all in decent order thus difpos'd, He then in folemn tone his oath propos'd. " By Tea and Scandal's ever dear delights , " By Liberty of fpeech, that firft of rights ; D 4 " That 56 WHIST: " That right which virgins, wives, and widows claim, *' To ufe all freedom with their neighbour's fame j te By all the Joys that penfive mem'ry knows, " When to that glorious time flie backward goes, *' When o'er your days the pow'r of courtfhip threw " The magic luflre of his brilliant hue ; 140 " Whofe muflcy breath perfum'd each precious hour ** With the fweet fcent of pleafure's myrtle bow'r : " By thofe Regrets which now your bofoms feel, " That virgin pride had arm'd your hearts with fteel, And made you deaf to ev'ry lover's pray'r, 14 < Till they at laft refign'd the fruitlefs care, ' And left you to repentance and defpair : And by thofe Hopes which yet your fancies fill, " That, aided by your own alluring (kill, 11 Propitious fortune will permit you ilill n With CANTO IV. 57 " With feftlve pomp to deck the bridal day, " And pafs the night in nuptial joys away." Such was thatOath,of ftrength unknown before;- By whofe emphatic words the fifters fwore : Nor need I furely add, that they tranfgrefs'd no jnore. 155. WHIST. CANTO V. ARGUMENT. Whift long of coming into repute.- Comparative eflimate of its beauties. Firft excellence, its promotion of filence. Digreffive excurfion to the play-houfe ; and fcheme for the improvement of theatrical entertain* jnents. Ma, d'un parlar ne 1'altro, ove fon ita Si lungi dal cammin ch'io facev' ora ? Kon lo credo pero fi aver fmarrito, Ch'io non lo fappia ritrovare aacora. ARIOSTO. HOW flow, at firft, is ftill the growth of fame, And what obftruclions wait each vifing name ! The brightefl efforts of invention's brain, Can ne'er at once extenfivo notice gain. Our ftupid fathers thus neglected long 5 The glorious boaft of Milton's epic fong ; While Waller's weak, and Cowley's rugged line Were read with rapture, and pronounc'd divine. And thus, when this our century was young, (If we may truft what comic bards have fung*) 10 Vide Congrevc, Vanbrugh, Cibbcr, Farquhar, Centlivrc, &c. paiF.m- V Whilft 62 WHIST * Whilft Ombre and Quadrille at court were us'd, f And Baflet's pow'r the city dames amus'd, Imperial Whift was yet but light efleem'd, And paftime fit for none but nifties deem'd. J When Sullen's wife bewails her wretched ftate, 15 Condemned for life to fuch a furly mate, * Ombre (fays Sir Francis Wronghead) is a geam at cards, that the better fort of people play three together at. PROVOKED HUSBAND, Aft a, Sc. 7. To Ipoilthe nation's laft great trade, Quadrille. POPE'S MORAL ESSAYS, iiK 76. t Vide Centlivre's Baflet-Table, and Vanbrugh's City Wives' Confederacy. J DORINDA. You fliare in all the pleafures that the country affords. MRS. SULLEN. Country pleafures ! racks and torments ! Doftrthink, child, that my limbs are made for leaping of ditches, and clambering over ftyles ? or that my parents, wifely forefeeing my future happinefs in country pleafures, had early inftrufted me in the rural accomplifhments of drinking fat ale, playing at Whiik, and fmoaking tobacco with my hufband. EAUX STRATAGEM, Aft 2,Sc. i. She CANTO V. 6$ She hints, that, had her parents wifer been, And all the rigour of her fate forefeen, They ihould have taught her, with an early care, In all the country's vulgar joys to (hare ; 2o Acrofs a five-barr'd gate her neck to rifque, To drink fat ale, to fmoak, and play at Whi/k. But Milton's mufe at laft a critic* found, Who fpread his praife o'er all the world around ; And Hoyle at length for Whift perform'd the fame, And prov'd its right to univerfal fame. 26 What game indeed, of all the num'rous lift, In point of beauty, can compare to Whift ? Or which, of all where gold was ever loft, So rich a catalogue of charms can boaft ? 30 And firft, how great its pow'r, in chains of gold, Without conftraint, the willing tongue to hold ! That nimble, wicked, wild, rebellious thing, Which reafon feldom can to order bring, Vide AdJilbn's Critique on the Paradife Loft. When 64 WHIST: When ladies fair convene, their tea to fip, 3$ And fcandal's fpirit fits on ev'ry lip, Impatient fits, until its turn arrive, Then burfls like bees impetuous from their hive, (Alas ! that words which bear a mortal fling * From fuch a charming honied houfe mould fpring !) How fatal then the vile malicious rage, 41 Which fpares nor rank nor merit, fex nor age 5 That rage, whofe direful havock to reftrain, Virtue is weak, and friendfhip pleads in vain ! But now let Whift appear, in regal tone, 45 Commanding filence from his verdant throne j And, lo ! at once the vocal florm fubfides ; Each accent now in gentle whifpers glides j The harm difcordant notes of rancour ceafe, And all is love, and unity, and peace. 50 When frefh from college, in the crowded pit, I us'd at firft with panting heart to fit j Javabi telkhi mizcibed lebi lali flickerkhara ? HAFEZ. Whilft C A N T V. 65 Whilfl all the charms theatric pleafures boaft Had not as yet their virgin graces loft j And ev'ry word I from the ft age could hear 5 5 Was boundlefs rapture to my youthful ear ; How often have I curs'd the buzzing found, "Which flow'd continual from the boxes round ! And wifh'd our fine folks would adopt the mode, Which travellers report prevails abroad* j 60 Where * The Opera at Florence is a place where the people of qua- lity pay and receive vifits, and converfe as freely as at the Cafino above-mentioned. This occafions a continual paffing and re- paffing to and from the boxes, except in thofe where there is a party of cards formed ; it is then looked on as a piece of ill manners to difturb the players. I never was more furprifed, than when it was propofed to me to make one of a whift party, in a box which feemed to have been made for the purpofe, with a little table in the middle. I hinted that it would be full as con- venient to have the party fomewhere elfe : but I was told, good mufic added greatly to the pleafure of a whift party ; that it in- creafed the joy of good fortune, and foothed the affliftion of bad. As I thought the people of this country better acquainted than myfelf with the power of mufic, I conteftcd the point no longer ; E but 66 WHIST: Where "\VTiift thro' all the night in filence reigns, And ev'ry box a gaming fet contains ; Who, while more ferious fcenes their thoughts en- gage, Have feldom leifure to regard the flage. But now (for time increafe of wifdom brings) 65 How widely diff'rent is my fenfe of things ! Since knowledge of the world enlarg'd my mind, And knowledge of the town my tafte refin'd : Yet ftill I curfe but not the charming found Which flows continual from the boxes round ; 70 I curfe thofe rants of wild unmeaning rage, Which rife inceflant from the noify flage ; Which o'er the found of modilh tongues prevail, Deprive me oft of many a curious tale, And drown the fmooth addrefs of many a peer, 75 Before its meaning reach my anxious ear. but have generally played two or three rubbers at whift in the ftage-box every opera night. Dr. MOORE, Lett. Ixxiii. Here CANTO V. 67 Here let me paufe, a project to explain, "Which more than once has ftruck my fertile brain j And which, to publifh, my impatient mind May ne'er perhaps a fitter feafon find. 8e That dome, whofe managers inceflant flrive To keep the public appetite alive, And feed their guefts, on each returning night, With varied treats of ever new delight ; Where yet delight is often fought in vain, 8^ And languor and difguft too often reign ; One fimple change might to a temple turn, Where pleafure's lamp could never fail to burn. How rich a feaft would ev'ry play become, If, like a pantomime, the fcenes were dumb j 90 And liberty of fpeech to none allow'd, But thofe diftinguifh'd from the vulgar crowd ; Who, thron'd betwixt the galleries and pit, In vaulted cabinets of fplendor fit ! We mould not then frequent the Jioufe to know 95 What Hamlet faid a thoufand years ago : E 2 But 68 WHIST: But flock to catch, in the politeft way t The news and fcandal of the prefent day. What perfect blifs from fuch a fcheme appears * To all our faculties of eyes and ears ! 100 The one delighted with the charms that flow From graceful a&ion, and the pomp of fhow ; The other ravim'd with the full difplay Of all that wit and elegance could fay. A plan which promis'd thus their toils to eafe, 105 The flothful players could not fail to pleafe ; Nor would it coft them one triumphant hour, Or circumfcribe their fafcinating pow'r. For fure the SIDDONS, whofe expreffive eye Each paufe of language can fo well fupply, 1 1 o Requires no fuccour from poetic art To roufe, to foften, or to tear the heart ; Which, were it made of penetrable ftuff, Would find her geftures and her looks enough. * The very faculty of eyes and ears. SHAKSPEAR'S HAMLET, Act 2, Sc. 8. Nor CANTO V. 69 Nor lefs applaufe would crown the graces wild 115 Of fportive JORDAN, Nature's charming child ; Whofe romps*, tho' mute, would be refiftlefs Hill, f And all the houfe with endlefs laughter fill. But much as thofe would love the change who fit Or in the boxes, or the crowded pit ; 1 20 I fear thofe vulgar fouls, who perch'd on high } Behold improvement with a jealous eye, > Would loudly all againft the motion cry. J But managers would from their duty ftray, Did they to fuch a voice attention pay ; 125 Or rifque offending the politer few, To pleafe the tafte of fuch a taftelefs crew. Befides at times, or even once a week, A play for them might be allow'd to fpeak. Vide Prifcilla Tomboy, Mifs Hoyden, Mifs Prue, Peggy, the Virgin Unmafk'd, &c. t Afbeftos d'ar enorto Gel6s, makareffi Theoifin. HOMER'S ILIAD, i. 599. E 3 Tfc* 7 o WHIST : * The Orphan then, or fome fuch vulgar thing, 1 30 Might 'prentice girls and country boobies bring ; f Who there might all in maudlin concert whine, And wet their handkerchiefs at ev'ry line ; '* The tender poet of domeftic woe, Whofe Orphan, wedded in a lucklefs hour, Oft as her ftory on the fcene appears, In all the native eloquence of grief, Spite of that monfter Fafliion's impious rage, Calls from the gen'ral eye a vulgar tear. This unfafhionable rant is taken from a late poem, entitled,The Choice (c. iii. 114) ; which is full of affectation, bombaft, and romauticity j which abounds with antediluvian notions about love and friendfliip, virtue and tafte; and in which there is not the fmalleft knowledge of the world, nor the leaft attempt at wit or hu- mour. But what makes the paflage above quoted ftillmore ridi* culous than it would otherwife have been, is its being put into the mouth of Avarice ; a perfonage, who, though none of the votaries of fafhion, was never remarkable, fo far as I have heard, for being fond of dropping the tears of fenfibility : a ftriking proof into what grofs blunders thqfe authors are apt to fall, who give them- felves up to the guidance of enthufiafm, and allow their fancy t run away with their judgment. f No crowds may be let in, no maudlin gazers, To wet their handkerchiefs, and make report, How like a faint flie ended. RowE'sL. JANE GRAY, Aft 5 , Sc. i. And CANTO V. 71 And (filly fouls !) to mew their forrow, ftrive That flie fhould die who never was alive : 135 While we devoted the remaining nights To thofe refin'd and elegant delights, Which none can relifh but the chofen band, The flow'r and cream of each admiring land ; Who down the fmooth expanfe of faftiion's tide In pleafure's painted barge fecurely glide, 141 And o'er the glitt'ring wave in fplendid triumph ride. Perhaps the furly critic here will fay, That I have grofsly wander'd from my way ; And aflc me what connection can fubfift 145 Betwixt my project and the game of Whift ? But moft of thofe who may the fong perufe, That public fpirit will, I truft, excufe, Which led me thus the rules of art to fpurn, And leave my theme to which I now return 5 150 But in another Canto, if you pleafe, Both for my own, and for the reader's eafe : E 4 For 72 WHIST. For this, tho' fhort, too much of fenfe contains, Not to be kept apart from lighter flrains j And having from the point fo far digrefs'd, 155 * My wearied mufe requires a little reft. * Non piu, Signer, non piu di qucfto canto, Ch'io Con gia rauco, e vo' pofarmi alquanto. ARIOSTO, ORLANDO FURIOSO, xiv* 134. WHIST. CANTO VI. ARGUMENT. Comparative eftimate of Whiil refumed. Second excel- lence, its fuperiority of intereft. Third, its inde- pendence on the principle of avarice j and, in confe- quence of this, its connection with economy. Story of Cardelia and Sir John Gormaw. No hay que dudar, lino que efta arte y exercicio excede a todas aquellat y aquellos que los hombrcs inventaron. CERVANTES. LET all the games that afk but little (kill, Loo, Commerce, Comet, Baffet, and Quadrille, Like twinkling ftars that dimly gild the night, Shrink from the blaze of Whift's refulgent light : Nay more, let thofe that higher rank may claim, 5 Let nice Fiquette, and Ombre's ftudious game, (Tho' each has charms) the fruitlefs conteft yield, And to the filent fport refign the field. For which of thefe can boaft the pow'r to bind In chains of equal ftrength the captive mind ? 10 Can each, or all, fuch anxious thought infpire, Or with fuch ardour keen the fpirit fire ? Can they fo much the lofer's peace deftroy, Or fill the winner's breaft with equal joy ? 4 Can 76 W H I S T : Can, at Piquette, the huitieme and qtiatorzc ; 15 Quadrille's triumvirate of mat adores j Fifteens at Cribbidge, or thepam at Loo ; With fuch ecftatic rapture blefs the view, As when at Whift the firm quadruple band Of honour'd chiefs enrich a fmgle hand ? 20 Or, what is oft of more importance found, When .ftrength of cards with ftrength of trumps i* crown'd ? But fome will here object, that fuch applaufe, So far from helping, rather hurts the caufe ; Since all will grant that paftimes were defign'd, 25 * Not to employ, but to relieve the mind ; And therefore thofe that leave it moft at eafe Have furely far the faireft claim to pleafe. But they tl\at argue thus from fenfe depart, And know but little of the human heart ; 3 o * Cards were at firft for benefits defign'd ; Sent to amufe, and not enflave the mind. EPILOGUE TO THE GAMESTER, 30. Which CANTO VI. 77 Which not in pleafure's felf can pleafure find, Unlefs it comes with agitation join'd ; Which bafldng warm in fortune's fun-mine clear, Sighs for the fhifting clouds of hope and fear ; And tir'd with looking on the liftlefs deep, 35 When lull'd by fummer gales to filver fleep, Would rather far the tempeft's fury brave, When danger rides on ev'ry foaming wave. Let Ombre then amufe the fons of Spain, And {till Piquette the Frenchman's game remain ; Let Brag be left to Newgate's brazen crew, 41 To children Commerce, and to footmen Loo , While ev'ry Briton, who to manly fenfe, To tafte, or breeding has the leaft pretence, His fportive hours to Whift alone confines, 45 And other paftimes all for this refigns. How oft with indignation have I feen The tables fet two taftelefs fools between ; Who, tho' in all the rational delight Of peaceful Whift they could have pafs'd the night j 50 Yet ?8 WHIST: Yet (ftrange to tell !) preferr'd Backgammon's noife, Its artlefs efforts, and its (lender joys ; And fate them down, their flupid fkill to try, * Regardlefs of the pair that waited by, Left to the fport of betting who fhould win, 55 And lift'ning to the dice's rattling din ; Or, fhould that paftime not amufe them long, To yawn, to barter fnuff, or hum a fong. * A fimilar pifture of negligent impolitenefs, and a fimilar inftance of depravity of tafte (fubftituting only Piquette for Backgammon), occurs at the end of the firft chapter of Mrs. Smith's new novel, the Reclufe of the Lake : " Mifs Newenden and Davenant then fat down to Piquette ; and Sir Edward and Ethclinde were left tc entertain each other with a book, or fuch converfation as the occurrences or remarks of the day alTorclccl them.'' But I would not advife any future Bifhop, who may think proper to write upon the Marks of Imitation,- to produce as an example this acknowledged refemblunce ; as the author of this poem is ready to make oath, before any critical court in Chrif- tcndom, that the lines upon Backgammon are entirely original ; and that it was nearly four months after they were written, be- fore he knew that Ethelinde had a being. Long CANTO VI. 79 Long has the mufe eflay'd her voice to raife, And reach the height of Whift's tranfcendent praife ; And yet the fubjecl. muft not be refign'd, 6 1 While much its proudeft boail remains behind A boafl furpafling far each rival dow'r, The boafl of pleafure's independent pow'r i Whilft all the games that for precedence ftrive 65 From avarice alone their charms derive. For who is he, without an ample (lake, To play Piquette could e'er the trouble take, Tho' fure, each other deal y repiqtie to find, Or with a humbler pique, capot conjoin'd ? 70 And at Quadrille, how carelefs and how cool, Without the profpeft of a tempting pool t Would ev'n the man remain, whofe brilliant hand Could ft\\\ faufprendre, or the vole command! But he whom Whift's bewitching fpirit fires, 75 From mercenary hopes no aid requires ; But fits with patience, night fucceeding night, And deals the cards with ever new delight ; (Tho' WHIST: 80 (Tho* barren conqueft no reward can claim, And only differs from defeat in name) 80 Bleft in the pow'r his victories to tell, And in the confcious pride of playing well. Seems it not clear, from what has juft been faid, That all profeflbrs of the rhyming trade, Whofe pockets now (whatever elfe they hold) 85 , Are feldom loaded with a weight of gold, And who for paftime rarely much can pay, At independent Whifl fhould learn to play ; And grateful flill each fair occafion feize, To celebrate with zeal its pow'r to pleafe ? 93 And yet that bard, whofe fweet defcriptive tongue "With fuch applaufe the varying feafons fung, Has dar'd with Scottifh rancour to defame, * And tax as dull, this animated game. * To cheat the thirfty moments, Whift awhile Walks his dull round, beneath a cloud of fmoke, Wreath'd, fragrant from the pipe. THOMSON'S AUTUMN, 524. This CANTO VI. _ 81 This One rafh word has all his fame defac'd, 95 And robb'd his mufe of ey'ry claim to tafte. And thus can Whift, with pleafure's richeft dow'r> Conjoin the boaft of economic pow'r No fingle boaft ; but one whofe fkilful ufe, At times, in various ways, can thrift produce. 100 And now let all who hold their money dear, Lend to my frugal tale a ferious ear. Cardelia at the age of forty-one Was left a widow by her honeft man ; Who long, in fondnefs, had indulg'd his dear i< * In drums, and routs, and fuch expenfive gear, Beyond the rate his income well could bear. But when th' uxorious fool his life refign'd, The cruel income would not ftay behind. So faithful to the hufband all his life, 1 1 o 'Twas furely fhabby to defert the wife, * But mice, and rats, and fuch fmall gear. SHAKES PEAR'S LEAR, Aft 3, Sc. 7. F At 82 WHIST: At fuch a time, when all was dark around, And hope or comfort nowhere to be found ; And well it knew, the vile malicious thing, That it alone could folid comfort bring. 1 1 5 Misfortunes here come always in a train : Two fuch at once what mortal could fuftain ? " Alas !" (he cried, in hopelefs forrow loft, " Was ever woman thus by Fortune crofs'd ? " To wed a hufband who could pleafe his wife, 120 " And make her happy only all his life ! " How bleft is flic, to whom her wealthy mate, (s Whenever fummon'd by the call of fate, " The pangs of feparation to relieve, " Some folid tokens of his love can leave ! 125 *' To her perhaps devolves, in full command, u Some livelong property of jointure land j " Where thro' the gloom of many a fhady grove They might at laft the fruitlefs call refufe. ) But thofe whom cards with genuine paflion fire Can ftill with eafe fupprefs each low defirc j And ev'n fubmit (to be indulg'd in play) To faft, or, what were harder ftill, to pray : 1 85 And thus, regardlefs of her fober cheer, True to the hour, Cardelia's guefts appear. For many a night the felf-fame farce was play'd } Some crofs event the banquet ftill delay'd j F 3 And 86 WHIST: And ftill the lazy cook, tho' warn'd before, i $a The blame of all, with little juftice, bore ; Who would indeed have mighty wonders done, Could (he have finiih'd what was ne'er begun. But all was manag'd with fo much addrefs, That none appear'd the humbling truth toguefs; 195 Or, if they did, would not the fraud proclaim, As fupper was not that for which they came. Long might fhe thus have fhewn fuperior fenfe, By keeping company without expence, Had not a member of her gaming band 200 Yielded to give a baronet her hand j And eager to difplay her fov'reign pow'r, Brought her new hufband in an evil hour For poor Cardelia. Well the widow knew Sir John Gormaw had come with grofler view 205 Than did the reft : and, tho' he thought that play Did well enough to pafs the night away, Was not the man to run fo great a rifque, As lofe a fupper for a game at Wbijk, But CANTO VL 87 But flill flie hop'd, whatever he might feel, 210 He would at leaft his difcontent conceal j Nor fingly dare, in fuch a public way, His vile difgraceful paffion to difplay ; Or, finding nothing could be got to eat, He would at worft his vifit ne'er repeat. 815 They came us ufual at the hour of feven, And all went fmoothly on till near eleven ; When at the table where Cardelia fate, Againft the bridal pair in keen debate, The well-fought rubber happen'd to be done, 22Q And flraight another was of courfe begun A flep not greatly to Sir John's content, Whofe mind was now on other objects bent ; Who thought, whate'er the friends of Whift might fay, That knife and fork was much fuperior play ; 225 And would at fuch an / hour have rather feen One feoard in white, than fix array' d in green : F 4 And 88 WHIST: .. And yet, tho' fuch ideas fill'd his mind, He ftill could keep them to himfelf confin'd. But when at laft he faw the rubber o'er, 230 And matters {landing as they ftood before, He thought it could not be a mighty crime, Were he to hint that it was fupper time. To this was ftraight a ready anfwer made, That one more rubber might with eafe be play'd : 235 And poor Gormaw, tho' fore againfl his will, Was forc'd, inftead of rifmg, to fit ftill.- But that he did it with an aukward grace, Appear'd too.plainly from his troubled face ; Where difcontent in ev'ry feature frown 'd, 240 And hungry fury lour'd on all around. -But time on ev'ry grief an end beftows, And brought at length this rubber to a clofe 5 And then indeed he deem'd relief was near, And vow'd in fecret that the lady's cheer 245 Thro' each fucceflive difli fijould richly p For fuch abfurd, fuch barbarous delay. Yet CANTO VI. 89 Yet vain the hope j for, to his fad furprife, The thoughtlefs widow ftill forgot to rife. But when {he took the cards again to deal, 256 The knight no longer could his foul conceal : The fierce impatience of his craving maw Forgot politenefs, decency, and awe ; And, darting from his feat, he roundly fwore He could not fupper want one moment more ; 255 Refolv'd that inflant to defcend, and know What curfed reafon made the cook fo flow ; And rather than the thing mould longer ftand, That he himfelf would lend a helping hand. Cardelia then, with vifage pale as death, 260 While gafping terror almoft ftopt her breath : " Dear fir you muft not, cannot think to go ; " Be feated, fir the maid will let us know." Nor did his lady fail her aid to join, And caught his fleeve to flop his flrange defign : 26*5 * ( Oh fie ! Sir John ; could you fo vulgar be ? f( Demean your dignity to that degree ?" But $o WHIST: But all unmov'd Sir John their efforts bore, Broke from them both, and hurried to the door. As down the fleps with eager hafte he goes, 270 No fav'ry fcent regales his gaping nofe ; No merry jack, ftill whirling round and round, Salutes his ear with banquet-boding found. But when at laft the kitchen door he gains, Surprife and horror thrill his fhiv'ring veins : 275 Nought there one fign of preparation gave> But all was dark, and quiet as the grave -, Save what the glimm'ring moon reveal'd to view, Which thro' the panes a faintifh luftre threw, And fhew'd the drowfy, long-expec~ling maid, 280 Half naked, nodding by the fire decay'd ; Where fcatter'd embers feelingly declare That one poor egg could fcarce be roafted there. As when fome youth of firm and conftant mind, Who long in climes remote had abfent pin'd j 285 And, after many a year of toil and care, Returns impatient to review the fair, Whom CANTO VI. 91 Whom ftill he fondly hopes to find the fame Frefh blooming objet of his youthful flame ; But fees, alas' ! that time's relentlefs pow'r 290 Has chang'd the bloflbm to a faded flower } For radiant locks, that wav'd in ringlets gay, Sees rugged trefles verging faft to gray ; For eyes, whofe glance illumin'd all around, Dull lifelefs lamps, in wat'ry dimnefs drown'd ; 295 For cheeks, which glow'd with beauty's rofy pride, A wan complexion, and a fhrivell'd hide One tender word he fcarce has pow'r to fay, But turns with horror from the fight away. His back Gormaw with equal horror turn'd ; 300} With equal grief his difappointment mourn'd, V And mutt'ring curfes to the room return'd. J Cardelia there had funk into a chair, In fpeechlefs agony, and blank defpair ; On whom, the moment that me ftruck his view, 30$ A Hern, indignant, furious glance he threw ; Nor 92 WHIST. Nor deign'd to fpeak, but with his angry eyes, . While thus impatient to his wife he cries : " Come, come, my lady, let us hafte away, * Nor longer in this houfe of famine ftay j 310 " In fome cold vault, with duft and darknefs lin'd, " We might as well a fupper hope to find. ** 'Tis all a curfed, vile, infernal plan j " But henceforth let her cheat us if fhe can." Thus all came out ; and with a gen'ral fneer 3 1 5 They thank'd their hoftefs for her princely cheer ; 111. u hurried off, and left the dame behind, Not in the moft contented frame of mind. She curs'd Gormaw ; fhe fainted, rag'd, and cried ; Nay, fome will go fo far to fay fhe died 320 (It hurt her vanity to that degree) : And if fhe did why fo fhe might for rne. W H I S T. CANTO VIL ARGUMENT. Apparent facility, and real difficulty of Whift. Memory, Judgment, and Temper the three principal requifites. Memory divided into four degrees : I. Memory of the fuits ; 2. of the honours ; 3. of the fmall trumps j and 4. of the fmall cards. Reafons for rejecting artifi- cial memory. Wonderful memory of an old man. Memoria excolendo- tugetun QUINT i LI A*. iHIS curious game when firft a novice tries, He wonders where its difficulty lies : The cards are all arrang'd in order due, And its peculiar phrafes are but few : Not like thofe terms which might a volume fill, 5 The jargon of Piquette, or cramp Quadrille j Where />0// andjeqttetice, tierces and qnatofze t Spadille, manillio, bafto, matadores, And twenty more exotic words combin'J Perplex the ear, and ftupify the mini 13 But honeft Whift, with native graces crown*d, Difdains the foppery of foreign found ; And for a thoufand rules prefcribes but one, To make ofev'ry card the mo/l you can. Bat 9 6 f WHIST: But let fuch poor, fuch {hallow reas'ners know, ! 5 What feems the eafieft is not always fo : Whene'er the trial conies, they foon (hall find "% That their ideas muft be much refin'd, s. And many a maxim fink into their mind, ) Ere from their gr-ofleft errors they be cur'd, 20 And play fo well as ev'n to be endur'd. *Tis thus with Xenophon's and Tully's ftyle, As fweet as honey, and as fmooth as oil ; Tis thus with Addifon, our moral guide, And gay Voltaire, the Gallic profe's pride : 25 Their art without furprife the reader fees, And toil and ftudy takes for carelefs eafe ; * Perfection's arduous fteep he deems a plain, And fondly fancies his unpraUs'd brain, -Ut fibi qui Speret idem : fudet multum, fruftraque laboret Aufus idem. . HORACE, IN ARTE POETICA, 240. Cicero quodam loco fcribit, id efle optimum, quod cum te fa- cile credideris confequi imitatjone, uon poflis. QuiNTILIAN,l.xi. c. i. Without CANTO VII. 97 Without refearch (were he inclin'd to try) 30 Could equal happinefs of phrafe fupply. The man who wifhes well at Whift to play, To three propitious pow'rs muft homage pay : To Mem'ry firft, whofe faithful mirror clear Before our fight bids all the paft appear ; 35 To Judgment next, whofe lamp's unerring ray Guides thro' the mazes of the doubtful way j To Temper laft, whofe cool and wholefome breeze From noxious mifts the mind's horizon frees. Queen of the fhadowy paft, to thee belong 40 The firft exertions of didactic fong. Thine is the magic wand, whofe potent fway Recalls its faded forms in juft array. Each art from thee, divine, hiftoric maid, And ev'ry fcience, borrows pow'rful aid ; 45 Nor could that fcience robb'd of thee fubfift, ^ Which yields to none of all the num'rous lift, > The fplendid fcience of delightful Whift. ) G The 98 WHIST: The queen of cities, whofe immortal name Yet fills the mouth of univerfal fame, 50 Imperial Rome (as antiquarians fay) Was not begun and finifh'd in a day. And well we know that there was once a time, When he who now on learning's height fublime Commands Parnaffus with defpotic fway, 55 Could fcarcely Hammer out the letter A. Let no one then henceforth prefume to fay That he {hall never learn at Whift to play ; Or think, becaufe his memory is bad, That one much better is not to be had. <5o What floth muft dictate fuch a poor pretence ! What fhameful want of courage and of fenfe ! The fons of hope are heaven's peculiar care ; Whilft life remains 'tis impious to defpair. For he who now, with all his pow'rs combin'd, 65 Can fcarce one moment keep the trumps in mind, May climb at length perfection's lofty tree, And play the game as well as Hoyle, or me. The CANTO VII. 99 The taflc at firft appears not mighty hard, To keep in mind the fate of ev'ry card ; 70 Since ev'ry card, when play'd with quicknefs due, In two fliort minutes pafles in review ; And one mould think, that ev'n the weakeft brain So long with eafe might ev'ry trace retain. * And yet how few, how very few we fee, 75 That reach in this perfection's laft degree ! Ev'n I, who play fo oft the ftudious game, And like it better than I care to name ; Ev'n I, bewilder'd in a maze of doubt, At times foi-get how many trumps are out ; 80 When wayward fancy leads my thoughts aftray, To love, or verfe, or fome fuch idle way. Is it not then from this example clear, That ftricl attention is the virtue here ? 1 Pauci, quos aequus amavit Jupiter, aut ardens evexit ad aethera virtus, Dis geniti, potuere. VIRGIL, JNEII>, vi. 149, G 2 O ioo WHIST: On which alone (whatever floth pretends) 85 The whole great art of memory depends : From which disjoin'd, the mod retentive brain That ever nature gave, is giv'n in vain ; But which poflefling, in a length of days The moft forgetful may afpire to praife. 90 Let all who fit them down at Whirl to play, From foreign objects turn their eyes away ; And to the verdant board's illumin'd round Their fears, their profpe&s, and their wifhes bound. Let vulgar cares that inftant be refign'd, 95 And vulgar pailions banifh'd from the mind : There let the cit his golden views forget, And the poor bankrupt drop his load of debt : There let the bard his rage for rhyming lofe, And meditate no more the thanklefs mufe : ico Let Flavia there her artful plans forfake, Nor count the conquefts fhe intends to make : Let Harpax there forget th' approaching treat, K JTC unt the difhes he intends to eat: There CANTO VU. tor There let the recklefs youth, who weds to-morrow, And buys his pleafures with an age of forrow, 1 06 From eager thoughts abftraft his mental fight, And pant no longer for the bridal night : There let the haplefs youth, who hangs* to-morrow, Drop for a while his penitence and forrow j I lo From anxious feelings turn his eyes away, And fhrink no longer from the public day. But left in fancy's maze we rr3ve too long, To drifter method let us call the fong ; And fince we thus fo evidently find 1 15^ That conftant practice, with attention join'd, > Will ftrengthen by degrees the weakeft mind, .;'. :Jr Proceed we now to fhew by what degrees The progrefs may be made with greated eafe. : It goth by deftenye To hange or wed ; both hath one houre ; And whether it be, I am well Cure Hangynge is better of the twayne ; Sooner done, and fliorter payne. SCOLE HOVVSB, 1542. G 3 Let 102 WHIST: Let each new votary at mem'ry's fhrine 1 20 His firft attention to thefuits confine, In quick fucceffion as they rife to view, And paint the board with red or fable hue. Let him obferve from whom they firft proceed, And mark the fate of each peculiar lead ; 125 If royal cards by vulgar trumps be won, And by what hand the daring deed was done : So (hall he ftill thofe adverfe fuits avoid, Which give advantage to the hoftile fide ; So fhall he ftill difcernhis partner's mind, 130 And feldom fail his ftrength at home to find ; So {hall he ne'er, at fome oblivious time, Be charg'd with that unpardonable crime, Which Paflion's eye with darkeft fury views, And Patience ev'n herfelf can fcarce excufe 135 The crime of fending to the hoftile fhore The fame unlucky bark that fplit before ; Or, when he fees his friend a fuit refufe, Of failing to affift his cruel views. So CANTO VII. 103 So much for lefibn firft ; whofe height to gain Is fcarce too arduous for an infant brain ; 141 And yet infallible in which to be Confers in mem'ry's fchool no mean degree ; But one with which full many reft content, Who half their ftupid lives at Whift have fpent. 145 But let not this with pride inflame your mind : Think only what a tafk remains behind ; See from the pack how each peculiar card Impatient ftarts, and claims your next regard ; In number equal to the weeks, that here 1 50 In rings of Jewifh work divide the year. When firft a ftudent (whether old or young) Sees in a Lexicon* fome foreign tongue, So many words to ev'ry letter fall, He thinks no mem'ry can contain them all. 155 But when that regular and rigid maid, Pedantic Grammar, lends her pow'rful aid, :F Lexicon , a poetical phrafe for a didtionaiy. G 4 And i4 WHIST: And from the mafs of words afligns to each Its proper rank among the parts of fpeech ; With eager joy he then his error fees, 160 And learning's lofty ladder mounts with eafe. And thus at Whift the party-colour'd crew, Which ftrikes with fuch defpair the hafty view, In mem'ry's eye will lefs terrific be, By fkill divided into fquadrons three ; 165 Where honours firft, then vulgar trumps appear, And bafe plebeian cards bring up the rear. And firft, the band of honour' d chiefs appears, In number equal to the Scottifh peers ; Who not, like ours, from an illuflrious race 179 In Britain's fenate take their deftin'd place j But, like the meaneil of the burgher train, By vile dependent votes their feats obtain, O'er cards like thefe to fix her firm command, Will not from mem'ry much of toil demand ; 175 So much their gaudy forms attral the view, And fuch effects their pow'rful fteps purfue. This CANTO VII. 105 This point obtain'd, you need no 'farther go, Of ev'ry fuit the reigning pow'rs to know ; And whether thofe yourfelf have kept in ftore 180 Are Hill as feeble as they were before j Or if they now can march, in bold array, Triumphant forth, and fweep the tricks away. Ne'er (hall you then a guarded monarch fend, From fome fell ace to meet his fruitlefs end ; 1 85 Nor, when in rank of play you fecond ftand, Permit a guarded queen to quit your hand, Till fummon'd by the third, concluding round, Or till both ace and king their fates have found. Now to the vulgar trumps, in number nine, ipo Our whole attention let us next confine ; That fo with certainty we flill may know How far in ftrength we overmatch the foe ; And ne'er permit him, when our hand is in, With an inferior trump a trick to win. 195 But mould we find, when we have drawn the reft, That our poor trump is but the fecond-beft, So io6 WHIST: So mall we ftill the firft occafion take Of fuch a trembling card a trick to make. But fome, who think of Whift they fomething know, ' 200 Will here refufe another ftep to go ; And now to mem'ry's voice attend no more, Since here her ufeful leflbns all are o'er ; And that uncommon reach of ample mind, Where all the vulgar cards a flation find, 205 Down from the ten inclufive to the deuce, But very feldom will be found of ufe. But thofe that entertain fuch narrow views, Muft here the freedom of my fpeech excufe, If I aflert (whatever fkill they claim) 2io They are as yet but pupils in the game ; For no good player deems the fmalleft card That meets the board unworthy his regard ; Since well he knows that ev'n the paltry deuce, Ey art and judgment, may be turn'd to ufe. 2 1 5 Nor CANTO VII. i7 Nor is there in the whole extent of play A brighter gleam of rapture's golden ray, Than his, whom Whift with genuine fpirjt fires, Whene'er in this he gains his full defires ; When in the harmlefs houfe no trumps remain, 22O Or none at leaft that will his courfe reflrain ; And forth he pours, with exultation mute, The weakeft children of his darling fuit ; And from the foes, who fcarce their temper keep, Continues ftill the carelefs tricks to fweep ; 225 Till ev'ry card be fpent ; and, laft of all, In vain referv'd, their ufelefs honours fall. One trick, when feiz'd in this triumphant ilyle, Rewards with more delight the player's toil, And is by him with far more joy furvey'd, 230 Than half a fcore by kings and aces made. When thefe plebeian cards together join, They make three times the facred number nine } But think not therefore their extent to gain, A tafk too arduous for a common brain. 235 5 Divifion io WHIST. Divifion here again his aid will lend, } And make your fteps with gradual eafe defcend, > Or (if you better like the phrafe) afcend. ) Three {lately tens the long proceflion lead ; Nines, eights, and fev'ns, and fixes next fucceed ; 240 Then fives, and fours, and trays ; till frequent ufe At laft acquaint you with the humble deuce ; Which, tho' the meanefl of the painted train, Is here the pinnacle of mem'ry's fane. But ere from mem'ry's fchool we fet you free, 245 Two more important points muft mention'd be ; Which fome, who are in fkill furpafs'd by few, At times will fuffer to efcape their view : The point of knowing, when the hand is o'er, How many honours either fide can fcore ; 250 And that which gives to mem'ry's full command The royal cards turn'd up on either hand : 'Twere lofs of time the former's ufe to tell, . Nor on the latter need we lorg to dwell j Since CANTO VH. 109 Since all will grant, in ev*ry common cafe, 255 To play were madnefs,in an honour's face ; And that to lead thro' trumps of high degree, The firft of duties muft for ever be. But fome will wonder, that, tho* here the mufe On mem'ry's chapter has been thus diffufe, 260 She has not yet the flighteft mention made Of that contrivance to afford her aid, Her load to lighten, and abridge her toil, Found by the genius of immortal Hoyle* ; By which arrangement's artful methods try 265 The want of recollection to fupply j And each event that pafles on the board Engage by diff'rent fymbols to record. But I muft venture here to quit my guide, And, urg'd by reafon, for myfelf decide, 270 ' See Hoyle, chap. xxi. intitled, An Artificial Memory, or *r Ea To each politer fcene muft bid at once farewell. J WHIST.- As there are many people who are fonder of Truth when fhe appears in the humble fimplicity of profe, than when {he is decked out in the trappings of poetry, the author thought it might not be amifs, at the end of this and the two following cantos (which are the only didactic parts of the work), to fubjoin the principal maxims they contain, in the fober ha- biliment of profaic plainnefs. The Appendix to the eighth and ninth cantos will naturally fall into the form of a commentary : but the prefent, being but half didactic, will only fupply a few practical I. Never return the adverfaries' lead. v. 128. An exception to this rule you will find in Canto IX. 66. II. Always return your partner's lead. v. 130. III. Never lead to the adverfaries' ruff. v. 1 36. IV. Always return your partner's ruff, when you fee that he plays for it. v. 138. See Canto IX. v. 52. V. When you know that you hold the beft of two trumps, never fail to draw the other, v. 194. VI. But when you know that yours is the worft, never lofe an opportunity of trumping with it. v. 196. VII. Never play in the face of an honour, v. 256. VIII. Always play through an honour* v. 257. WHIST. CANTO VIII. ARGUMENT. Judgment, the fecond requifite at Whift. Rules under this head almoft innumerable. Firft, of the duties of the leading hand. Do&rine of trumps, and of the ftrong fuit. Mt atrevo a dar Presttos. LOJE DX VCA, BUT much as Whift on mem'ry's pow'r depends, You muft not think that there the labour ends; For were it thus, the man who knew it moil Could but the merit of a fchool-boy boaft,. A far fuperior pow'r his aid muft join, 5 And make the charming fcience quite divine ; Unerring Judgment, whofe fupreme command In ev'ry nicer cafe dire&s the hand. But here fo wide a profpec"l meets the fight, That ev'n my daring mufe recoils with fright : 10 So many p*oints for her attention call, She knows {he never can difpatch them all. As well might me attempt to reckon o'er Each grain of fand on Ocean's founding fhore, H 2 Each u6 WHIST: Each flow'r whofe beauty paints the vernal ground, Each ftar that glitters in the azure round ; 16 Or, dyed in glofiy jet, each filken thread, Whofe rich profufion decks my charmer's head. For this good caufe it is her fage defign To fome few rules her leflbns to confine ; 20 Whofe great importance is by all confels'd, And then to time and practice leave the reft. The various duties of each difFrent hand, Arrang'd in order as at firft they (land, Or as they fhift about in courfe of play, 25 The fkilful verfe mall now at large difplay. On him, who, feated by the Dealer's fide, Enjoys his privilege with confcious pride, Firft from the barrier's bound to ftart away, And open to the reft the lifts of play 30 On him all eyes with fixt attention wait, And trembling hope to fee the birth of fate. A youth juft ent'ring on the ftage of life, And keen to ftruggle in preferment's ftrife, By CANTO VIII. 117 By one ram ftep may hurt his fortune more 35 Than all his future prudence can reftore. Thus will it fare with him whofe want of heed Sets off at firft with fome imprudent lead ; His influence loft he never may regain, But oft his overfight lament in vain ; 40 Whofe dire effecT: may give the foe command, And fpoil the profpels of the faireft hand. Stop then, my fon, and, ere thy card defcend, Reflect how much may on its fate depend ; Nor venture thus, by ram and wanton play, 45 The hopes of two at once to caft away. Firft then, with careful eye your force review, And range the various yw/fr in order due j Confider next, amid die painted throng, If your appointed band of trumps be ftrong ; 50 Since to begin with them, whene'er you can, Is (tho' the boldeft) ftill the fafeft plan ; For nought can here fuch want of fkill betray, Or give fuch evidence of wretched play, H 3 As u8 WHIST: As when of trumps you hold a decent {hare, 55 To keep them prifon'd up with cow'rdly care, . Till they at laft their forc'd appearance make, At times conftrain'd your partner's tricks to take. Some aflc why women here fo oft go wrong, And like to keep them in their hands fo long ? 6$ To me the caufe of this was always plain ; They love to keep th' authority they gain. When firft in queft of trumps you fearch your hand, Should five, or more than five, in waiting (land, Oh, do not then one precious moment lofe, 65 To draw the reft their envied pow'r to ufe. What tho' your other cards are all fo poor That they one fingle trick can fcarce enfure ; Remember {till (nor keep, with felfifh mind, Your whole attention to yourfelf confin'd) 70 How much your fending thus the trumps away May chance to benefit your partner's play ; Remember CANTO VIII. 119 Remember too, the weaker you may be, For ftrength of cards the greater chance has he. But if, turn'd up, a trump of high command 75 In threat'ning attitude againft you ftand, You then had better change your mode of play, And (for a time at leaft) the trumps delay. Until your partner chance the lead to gain, With patience wait-^-nor {hall you wait in vain 5 8$ For he who trumps can lead with greater eafe, Will fure for that the firft occafion feize, "VJThile you behind the foe fecure remain, And thus your point with lefs of danger gain. But now perhaps of trumps you hold but four, And yet of cards can boaft a decent (lore ; 86 If with thefe cards you tricks intend to win, Prevent renounces, and with trumps begin. And yet from lefs than four you muft not lead, Unlefs your hand of cards be great indeed. 90 But here obferve,that mould your trumps be three, And each of thefe an honour chance to be ; H 4 Knave, 120 \^HIST: Knave, queen, and king ; or king, with queen and ace; It will be then a very different cafe ; For cards like thefe, of fuch fupreme command, 95 You ne'er fhould keep one moment in your hand ; But fend them forth the meaner troops to draw, To fweep the board, and keep the world in awe. But knave and queen, when with an ace conjoin'd, Will thrive much better when at home confin'd, 100 For reafons good ; which if you wim to know, Attempt to guefs, or feek them out below*. But when your hand for its appointed mare ~\ Of powerful trumps receives a royal pair, ' > Your play will then demand peculiar care : 105) Since this, when all the diff'rent pairs you take, No lefs than fix varieties will make ; From three of which you ne'er mould fail to lead, Tho' fome than others better will fucceed ; v See below, at verfe 231. Ace, CAN TO ill. 121 Ace, king the bed ; then king with queen conjoin'd, While queen and knave muft follow far behind. 1 1 1 And yet this pair a better chance will have, Than knave with king, or ev'n than ace and knave. But (far the worft of all the royal band) Allow not ace and queen to quit your hand. 1 1 5 On this, however, at another time * We mean to lavim greater length of rhyme. Whene'er of honour'd chiefs you hold but one, To fend him forth is ftill the fafeft plan. Let then your ace, of trumps difpatch a round ; 1 20 For him no better ufe could e'er be found. And ev'n the other chiefs, of lefs degree, Will thus by far of more advantage be ; While from the foe they force fupreme command, And ferve to ftrengthen too your partner's hand. 1 25 But fhould your lucklefs hand ftill weaker be, And hold but one poor trump of low degree, * See below, at verfe 231. With |2i WHIST: With which you mark but little chance to rttff, To play it out may oft do well enough ; For then your partner will the lead return, i j " The next bed lead is from a king and ace. ) But t26 WHIST: But if my counfel you will here obey, I would not have you both at once to play ; Make but one ftep no farther then proceed, But try your partner on another lead : 210 So mall you keep the fuit's command ; and fo Your friend inftrutled fhall hereafter know In what good quarter fits your faireft wind, And ilill be fure your ftrength at home to find. Next to the fuit, where ace and king are join'd, The fuits of each apart you beft will find j 216 For if you here with fome fmall card begin, Your partner's queen may chance a trick to win j But if one card alone your king defend, Be ne'er induc'd that card abroad to fend ; 22O For very feldom will the ace be found To leave his palace the commencing round. From king and queen is but a forry lead, And will be found but feldom to fucceed j For both conjoin'd, if either firft advance, 2*5 To make two tricks have but a {lender chance j . And, CANTO VIII. 127 And, if you fport a card of low degree, The knave will probably the gainer be. To lead from knave and ace, or king and knave, 1 hope you feldom (hall occafion have. 130 But when a queen attends an ace's fide, That worft of all the fuits with care avoid j At leaft till fate a better lead refufe, And of two evils force the leaft to choofe. i And thus to wait you muft not reckon hard, 235; Since patience here will be its own reward ; For if upon the left that fuit begin, Then both your ace and queen are fure to win : But fhould your friend, or on the right your foe, Attempt that fuit, then on your queen muft go ; 240 Ev'n then you have the chance of two to one, To make them both by this advent'rous plan. I told you once, as you remember may, * Of trumps a fmgle honour ftill to play ; * See above, at verfe 118. 2 Let 128 WHIST: Let it be knave, or queen, or king, or ace ; 245 But other fuits make quite a diff'rent cafe : To keep them up is here the better plan *, A fmgle ace v/ill Hill command the clan ; And ev'n the reft, if they in hand remain, Have ftill fome flender chance their tricks to gain. But now the fuit is fix'd what fingle card 251 Of each to play demands your next regard j An eafy point, on which my hafty fong Conceives it needlefs to detain you long ; For that the lowed ftill fhould firft appear, 255 Admits but only one exception here. Qifequence, upwards from the number three, Be fure to lead the higheft in degree ; Which to your partner, if he bear a brain*, *\ "Will ftill the nature of your hand explain, 260 > And fave his better cards from being fpent in vain. ) * Nay, I do bear a brain. SHAKESPEAR'S ROMEO AND JULIET, Aft i, Sc. 4. How CANTO VIII. 129 How bleft is he, who can, when elder hand, With reafon hope to gain the game's command ; Who ftrength of trumps with joyful eye beholds, And of each other fuit the ten ace holds ! 365 He fearlefs ftill can with his. trumps begin, Nor cares he much what hand the trick may win j Secure of this, where'er the lead remain, That he his former pow'r (hall foon regain. COMMEN- WHIST: COMMENTARY ON CANTO VIII. DUTIES OF THE LEADING HAND. Query i. What fuit to lead ? Anfwer. Lead always trumps when you can. v. 51. DOCTRINE OF TRUMPS. 63 to 145. Lead always from five or more trumps, however weak your hand of cards may be, unlefs an honour be turned up againft you. 631084. HoYLE,chap.i. rule 2. Lead from four trumps with a tolerable hand. 85 to 88. You muft not lead trumps from lefs than four, unlefs in the two following cafes : I. If your hand of cards be very great. 90. II. If your trumps be honours. Of three honours, lead always from ace, king, and queen ; or king, queen, and knave : but not from ace, queen, and knave, r. 91 to 102. Of two honours, lead always with ace and king, king an queen, and even queen and knave ; but feldom with ace and knave, or king and knave ; and never with ace-queen, v. 103 to 117. Lead always with a fingle honour, whatever it be ; which ferves to ftrengthen your partner's hand. v. 118 to 125. Leading with a fingle fmall trump, with which you have no chance of ruffing, will not unfrequently be found eligible ; as it has CANTO vm. is has the effect, when returned, of drawing two for one. The chief obje&ion is, that it expofes rather too foon the'weaknefs of your hand. 12$ to 137. There is (till another reafon for leading trumps ; when yo'i have no other good fuit 5 tiumps being always the leaft danger- ous lead. 13810 145 . DOCTRINE OF THE STRONG SUIT. 150 to 204. The next eligible lead to trumps, is your ftrongeft fuit; net that of which you have the belt, but that of which you have the moft cards. Bad players are anxious to make their great cards at firft, as if they would not be good at any time. Gcod ones, on the contrary, wilh to keep the command of a fuit as long as they poffibly can. By playing from your ftrongeft fuit, you have always the chance of making a trick or two on it at the end of the hand ; and you difcover, at the fame time, how your partner ftands with regard to it, and whether it will be worth while to play trumps on its account, v. 150 to 173. But if playing from the ftrongeft fuit be thus eligible, how foolifh and abfurd muft be the conduft of thofe who always chufc to play from the weakeft, and who never are happy but when fiftiing for a ruff! Befides the danger of expofir.g their weaknefs, they thus wafte thofe precious trumps, which were intended for a very different purpofe. Even if your hand be fo low that a ruff is almoft your only hope, you ihould at leaft wait with patience till it come. 1 74 to 203 . Next to a ftrong fuit is one with ace and king ; but you fhould ftop after playing one of them, and try your partner with another ' I z lead ; 133 WHIST. lead ; who will thus know afterwards where to find you at home. 204 to 214. Next to the fuit of ace and king together, is that in which they are each apart. By leading a fhiall card from either, your partner has a chance of making the queen if he has her. But if your king be but once guarded, avoid that as a very dangerous lead. 215 to 222. King and queen is but a bad lead j for if you begin with either of them, you may chance to make but one trick of the fuit; and if you lead a fmall one, you will moft probably give one to the knave. 22310228. King and knave is alfoabad lead. 229-30. But of all the leads ace and queen is the worft ; which there- fore mould be avoided as long as you can : for if it is led to you from the left hand, you cannot fail to make them both ; and even ihould the fuit be begun by either of the other two players, by venturing your queen the firft round, your chance for two tricks is not inconfiderable. 23 i to 242. Never lead with a fingle honour of any fuit except tramps ; for even a guardlefs king, queen, or knave, when kept up, have ibme chance of making a trick. 243 to 250. Query IT. What particular card of the fuit to lead ? Anfwer. In general the loweft ; but where you hare fe. quence of three or more, then always begin with the higheft- 25 1 to 24 1. See HOY IE, chap. xiv. i:c>xr.>r:K WHIST. CANTO IX. ARGUMENT. Judgment continued. Duties of him who recovers the lead. Duties of the fecond in hand. Of the third, in- cluding the do&rine of fineffing. Duties of the laft in hand. Do&rine of calling, and of playing by the ftages of the game. Immcr welter kommich, auf meinem furchtbaren Wege. KLOPJTOCK. BUT tho', when once a hand is well begun, Half of the player's taflc, and more, is done ; Yet muft he never think of paufmg there, But watch its progrefs with unceafing care ; And when his luck obtains the lead anew, 5 His former plans with vigour dill purfue. If trumps to'play be firft expedient found, Then let him now difpatch another round ; And ftill more keenly urge the daring plan, When he has hopes of taking two for one. 10 But fhould in trumps a difPrent fate prevail, And not his partner, but his foe fhould fail, 'Twere better then to change his mode of play, And (for a time at leaft) his fcheme delay. I 4 But ij6 WHIST j But if his hand of cards be great indeed, 15 At all adventures let him then proceed ; And, rather than his fuits were kept in awe, Rifque from his friend the laft of trumps to dfaw. But when two trumps alone remain behind, Should he the higheft ftill againft him find, 20 From his ftrong fuit fome potent card to play, May chance to force it from the field away. And here the fame deliv'rance to produce, A thirteenth card will oft be found of ufe, The lead of trumps was not at firft your view, 25 But fome ftrong fuit- then ftill that fuit purfue ; By which, when doubt and danger's hour is paft, You oft a trick or two may catch at laft. But fhould you fail in ev*ry darling plan, And fhould your wretched hand afford not one, 3* Be then content a fecond part to play, And yield entirely to your partner's fwaj j To him alone your whole attention turn, And ftill, whene'er you can, his leads return. But CANTO IX. 137 Bfct if he twice has led, nor both the fame, 35 Still let the firft* your firft obfervance claim ; Left from the next you ftiould receive a bite, And find it was involuntary quite. But more than all, that worft of faults avoid, "Which ev'n to wrath might move 1 a ftoic's pride ; 43 When your friend's eyes with keen impatience, burn, From all the houfe the hoftile trumps to turn, Inftead of trumps, his weaknefsf to return. For the poor torch, that burns at either end, To ruin's dreary gulph muft foon defcend j 45 And ev'n the ftrongeft hand will foon decay, When both conftrain'd to trump, and trumps to play. And yet you muft not think at ev'ry time, To lead your partner's 'rttjfy a mortal crime ; * You are to make a wide difference between a lead of choice and a forced lead of your partner's. HOYLE, chap. xii. art. 3. f Hii -u>Afcf Above the vulgar crew can raife the human mind.) CANTO IX. i 149 COMMENTARY ON CANTO IX. DUTIES OF HIM WHO RECOVERS THE LEAD. V. I 80. He fhould pufli the trumps which he has already begun ; efpe- cially if he thinks he (hall take two for one. The contrary fuf- picion is the only reafon for making him difcontinue trumps : but if he has a very great hand of cards, it will then be proper to run all rilques ; even that of drawing the laft trump from his partner. But when there are only two trumps in the houfe, and he finds that the beft is againft him, let him force it out with a card of his ftrong fuit ; even a thirteenth card is often ufcful upon fuch an occafion. v. 7 24. Next to the duty of pufhing trumps, is that of continuing your ftrong fuit ; by which you will probably make a trick or 'two at laft. v. 4528, But if you find that you cannot accomplish your plan, or if your hand be fopoor that you have none toaccomplifh, you muft then be entirely fubfervient to your partner, and lofe no opportunity of returning his leads ; but if he has led to you from two fuits, be fure to give always the preference to the firft, as the other may probably have only been forced. Above all, never lead to his ruff, when you hav^ reafon to imagine that he wifties for trumps: but more efpecially if he has played for them. There are indeed only four cafes in which you fhould lead to your partner's re- nounce : i. When you fee that he exprefsly defires it. a. When K 3 you 3 5 o WHIST: you are very ftrong in trumps, and wifh, before you begin to draw them from the enemy, to give him an opportunity of making one of his. 3. When you think that he has a chance of an over- run . And 4. When you can eftablifh between you a fee-faw, which is fo advantageous, that every other plan fhould be re- nounced to embrace it. v. 29 65. When the right-hand adverfary is unable to raife his partner's lead, it will be very proper for you to return it, as it will give your partner an opportunity of making a trick cheaply, or force from your left-hand adverfary the command of the fuit* This, how. ever, fliould never be preferred to a good lead, either of your own or your partner's, efpecially as there is frequently a rifque of th c right-hand adverfary trumping that fuit. v. 66 80. DUTIES OF THE SECOND HAND. v. 81 ut. Thefe at firft are a very eafy matter, being only playing always the worft of the fuit j except, i . When he has ace and king ; in which cafe one of them muft be played, z. When he has ace and queen ; where the queen fhould be put on. 3. When his king is but once guarded, where he ought always to put him on; as the chance is, that the fuit was led from an ace. 4. When either his queen or knave happens to be but oace guarded ; in which cafe, putting them up is almoft their onlj^hance for a trick. v. 81 too. When a fuit is led, of which he has none, and he is doubtful whether to trump it or not 5 if he has a lofing card to throw away, C A N T O IX. 151 it willgenerally be the better play to pafs it, efpecially as there i a chance of its being taken by your partner, v. 105 nz. Themoft important of all maxims at Whift, is to fet a proper value upon the trumps. 113 118. DUTIES OF THE THIRD HAND. v. 119 145. The general rule is here the reverie of that of the fecond hand; being to put on the beftof the fuit. An exception to this is in. the cafe of fineffing , when you hold ace-queen, king-knave, queen-ten, knave- nine, or the like j and put on the loweftof the two cards, in hopes that the intermediate one lies not behind you. The temptation to fineffing is very great, and yet it is fuch a dan- gerous practice, that it ought but rarely to be ventured, unlefs when you are very ftrong in trumps, and have a chance, by gain- ing the fineffcd trick, of faving your lurch, or of getting the game. Still, however, you may venture more in trumpsthanin any of the other fuits. DUTIES OF THE LAST HAND. v. 146 178. Thefe are in general theeafieft of all, being only to take the trick if he can. And yet he fhould never, for the fake of a trick, part with the beft ljump in the houfe, or leave an honour guard- lefsinhis hand. But, above all, he fhould never trump with an ace, unlefs when it happens to be the laft trump, v. 146 1 7 1. It may fometimes be proper to take his partner's trick, when K 4 he 15* WHIST. he is very defirous o getting the lead, to execute any particular project, which he fufpefts that his partner either cannot, or will not humour, v. 171 178. DOCTRINE OF CALLING. This is rather a dangerous expedient j as it runs a rifque, if un- fuccefsful, of expofing the hand j and ought therefore never to be attempted, unlefs when the adverfaries are at nine, or upon the ve of faving their lurch, v, 179 *?$. DOCTRINE or PLAYING BY THE STAGES OF THE GAME. v. so6 zzi. At the beginning of the game you, fhould play with boldnefs j but when it comes near a clofe, with caution and forbearance. WHIST. CANTO X. ARGUMENT. Temper, the third requifite at Whift. Three caufes of lofs of temper, i. Bad luck. 2. Crofs play. And 3. A bad partner. Cards, a terrible trial for the tem- per. Story of Smilinda and her lover Pufillo. What do you think it was all about ? -It was all about a game of cards. MURPHY. THUS far the mufe has urg'd her daring toil, Beneath the guidance of immortal Hoyle : But here, alas ! his guardian pow'r is o'er, His voice {hall animate the ftrain no more ; Whofe efforts now muft his protection lofe, 5 And for themfelves another mailer choofe. Come, then, thou fpirit, whofe delightful pow'r Infpir'd fo late, in fancy's faireft hour, Serena's bard ; and taught 'his liquid lays To reach the fplendid heights of Temper's praife ; Come, then, and pour on me propitious too 1 1 Some precious drops of infpiration's dew j * Hayley, the author of the Triumphs of Temper. 6 For 156 WHIST: For I can juftly now thy favour claim, Since now my fubje& is with his the fame : That fo the mufe, by thy affiftance ftrong, 15 May lead with eafe the tuneful ftream along, And with redoubled vigour clofe the fong. * , In vain has Mem'ry's ftrength enlarg'd your- mind, In vain has Judgment's force your flcill refin'd, Unlefs a third propitious pow'r be join'd. 20. For mould you not with cooleft Temper play, You muft be always in a lofing way i Since paffion ruffles and difturbs the mind, And makes the keeneft judgment weak and blind \ Ev'n mem'ry's mirror too, however fair, 25 It clouds, and fcatters all the traces there. * The ftorms which ruffle Temper's placid lak And now Pufillo thought the time was nigh, 205 The utmoft fufPrance of her foul to try ; For then each heart with greater zeal proceeds, And each occurrence more emotion breeds j L 3 Nor 1 66 WHIST: Nor did he grudge (to gain his curious views) The rubber's praife and profit both to lofe. 210 Smilinda now divides the cards with grace, And Scotia's curfe difplays his nine-ey'd face ; " Diamonds again !" cried all that form'd the ring ; " I think we feldom have another thing." The 'fquire leads clubs, and aunt Rebecca's queen 2 1 5 Retires in triumph from the level green : But when Ihe tried the fuit another round, Fate was not then fo favourable found ; For fcarce had Booby's king difplay'd his face, Ere feiz'd and butcher'd by Pufillo's ace. 220 And now Pufillo's Pam, the prince of Loo, In broad and brazen beauty meets the view : To him on either hand fmall clubs are play'd, While his renouncing partner drops a fpade : Than try the ten he could not now do lefs, 225 And fortune crown'd his hopes with full fuccefs ; And from the trumps drew forth Rebecca's eight, But from Smiiinda's nine to meet its fate. She CANTO X. 167 She now with careful eye her hand furveys, And from the knave a heart unwilling plays ; 230 A vile, unlucky lead in ev'ry view (And yet what better could the virgin do ? Her king of fpades but once defended lay, And could not to the ace be left a prey : Her trumps, the laft refort, were now too few, 235 Since one from four her former triumph drew) A vile, unlucky lead ; for full command' Lay couch'd in ambufh in Rebecca's hand. Pufillo's king now mows his honeft face, A haplefs victim to her cruel ace : 240 And now Rebecca's queen a trick to gain Had fanguine hopes ; nor did me hope in vain. The lead mould ne'er be chang'd without a caufe * , So from her hand another heart me draws. * There is nothing mere pernicious at the game of Whift, thin tn change fuits often, bccaufe in every new fuit you run tht riik of giving your'adverfary the tenace. HoYLE, chap. xii. L 4 " Th: s 168 WHIST: This trick from fair Smilinda's lucklefs knave 245 Young Booby's deuce of trumps fuffic'd to favc. And now another fuit, the fpades, he tries, And views his partner's ace with joyful eyes : The lead's return Smilinda's monarch drew 'Twas both his int'reft, and his duty too. 250 But now the nymph no longer would delay, Tho' rather weak, her fuit of trumps to play : But here her partner lent her pow'rful aid, By whofe good king the doubtful trick was made , And fo next round (he thought it no difgrace, 255 That her own queen (hould fall to Booby's ace. The fov'reign pow'r (he now at length had gain'd, For tho' the queen was loft, the knave remain'd : And now a lady rais'd to full command, The queen of fpades, appear'd from Booby's hand. 260 With but two fpades Pufiilo's hand begun, And fix of trumps might now the trick have won ; (Three trumps were yet furvivors after all, For poor Rebecca flinch'd the fecond call) And, CANTO X. 169 And, had he fo inclin'd, his chance was fure 265 This trick to conquer, and the game fecure ; Since Booby's ten, the lafl concluding round, Would from Smilinda's knave its fate have found. But thoughts of diff'rent hue his mind engrofs ; His am'rous heart contemns the rubber's lofs ; 27* With wilful error flips the trump to play, And throws at one ram ftroke their all away. But when the falling cards the veil withdrew, Which hid the groflhefs of his fault from view, The gentle creature could endure no more, 275 She ftarted up, (he ftamp'd, me rag'd, fhe fwore ; Proclaim'd her wrongs, and threw the cards away, Nor longer in his prefence deign'd to flay. A work, alone by length of ages done, Is oft by ruin in an hour undone ; 280 And thus that flame, which had for years endur'd, In one Ihort minute was entirely cur'd : No longer now the youth attentive paid His daily vifits to the charming maid, Who found, too late, me had herfelf betray'd And r'd;28 5 ) 17> WHIST: And ev'ry female art eflay'd in vain, Her former empire o'er his heart to gain. At laft, with hopes refulting from defpair, She fate her down, to vent her cruel care ; While anxious fear fuppreft her virgin pride, 290 And all the eloquence of love fupplied. She firfl befought him for fweet pity's fake No longer to refent the rude miftake, Which pafiion's pow'r had forc'd her once to make; And next in blufhing words me let him know 295 How much his abfence fill'd her breaft with woe ; With what affection and efteem combined S~he view'd his perfon, and beheld his mind ;* And mould his bofom feel an equal care, ~\ Siie hinted, that he might his foul declare, 300 % And need not of a juft return defpair. J Such was the fcope on which her fyren tongue Full many a note of foft allurement fung ; Concluding thus : that tho' they both were young, It CANTO X. It was not right in ufelefs, vain delay To wafte the prime of life's uncertain day. With trembling hope fhe fent the billet ftrait, Whofe doubtful iflue was to fix her fate ; Nor for an anfwer had fhe long to wait : Th' important note a yellow wafer feal'd, 3 ic 'Twas brief, but yet his mind enough reveal'd : " When cards and dice are banifh'd from the land, " Pufillo then will afk Smilinda's hand." WHIST: IN order that the defcription of a hand at Whift, which has been attempted in this Canto, may be the more eafily compre- fe-iBikdby the reader, I fhall fubjoin both a view of the different hands, and a fcheme of the cards in the order they were played. BOOBY'S, THE ELtiER HAND. Ace, ten, tray, and deuce of trumps king and three fmall dubs queen and two finall fpades t\\o fmall hearts. PlISlLLo's, THE SECOND HAND. King, fix, and fca.tr of trumps ace, knave, ten, and a frnal! club king and three fmall hearts t\vo fmall fpades. REBECCA'S, THE THIRD HAND. Eight and five of trumps ace, knave, and three fmall fpadts ace, queen, and a fmall heart queen and two fmall rfabs. SsilLIN'DA's, THE LAST HAND. Q^crcn,. knave, nine, and fcven of trumps knave and three fccnll hearts king and two fmall fpades two fmall clubs. S ARE TRUMPS AND THE NINE TURNED UP BY SM.H.INDA. Round I. Booby's deuce of clubs Pulillo's tray Rebecca's queen di'i fjur. Pvund CANTO X. 173 -Round II. Rebecca's five of clubs Smilinda's fix Booby's king and Puiillo's ace. Round III. Pufillo's knave of clubs Rebecca's fevcn Smilinda's dcuct of fpades and Booby's eight of clubs. Round IV. Pufillo's ten of clubs Rebecca's eight of trumps Smiliuda'* nine and Booby's nine of clubs. Round V Smilinda's deuce of hearts Booby's tray Pufillo's king and Rebecca's ace. Round VI. Rebecca's queen of hearts Smilinda's four Booby's five and Pufillo's fix. Round VII. Rebecca's feven of hearts Smilinda's knave Booby's deuce f trumps and Pufillo's eight of hearts. Round VIII. Booby's tray of fpades Pufillo's four Rebecca's ace and Snulinda's five. Round IX. Rebecca's fix of fpades bmilinda's king Booby's fevcn and Pufillo's eight. Round X. Smilinda's feven of trumps Booby's tray Pufillo's king and Rebecca's five. 174 WHIST. Round XI. Pufillo's four of trumps Rebecca's nine of fpades Smi- linda's queen of trumps and Booby's ace. Round XII. Booby's queen of fpades Pufillo's nine of hearts Rebecca's ten of fpades and Smilinda's knave of trumps. Round XIII. Smilinda's ten of hearts Booby's ten of trumps Pufillo's fix and Rebecca's knave of fpades. Smilinda three tricks, and Pufillo three Booby three tricks, but Rebecca four. WHIST. CANTO XL ARGUMENT. The Author's complaint againft his Father; who oblige* him to clap to the end of his work, a Ledure againft Gaming, of hi dilating. We think our fathers fools, fo wife we grow. fort. Difficilis, querulus, laudator temporis afti Se puero, cenfor, caftigatonjue vinorum. Ho RACE. GOOD Lord ! what arrant fools fome people are, With all their ftuffof prudence, fenfe, and care ! In vain old father Time his influence tries ; He makes them proud, but never makes them wife. They fondly think that they fhould all things know, Becaufe they liv'd fome fifty years ago ; Nor once reflect, this age has other rules, And other maxims than thefe formal fools. Were it not grofsly to abufe my pow'r, I could rail on, and curfe them by the hour : ut For pure vexation I could almoft cry ; But liften, reader, and I'll tell you why. A fire I have (fo much the worfe for me), As great a pedant as you'd wiih to fee j M Morofc 1 178 WHIST: Mcrfofe, ill-natur'd, rigid, and fevere \ Sententious, dull, old-faftiion'd, ftiff, and queer : In fhort, a foul that hates each cuftom new, And cenfures all that youngfters like to do. Thofe fchemes of mine which have to him been fhewn, He feldom praifes but in fneering tone, 20 And likes no wit or wifdom but his own. Without his knowledge then I Whilt began, And ftill from him conceal'd the darling plan ; For, ev'n without a proof, I could have guefs'd That fuch a proj eel: would not hit his tafte. Now when thus far I had the drain put fuect, I paus'd, and what was done with joy review'd ; And thought it (if I here the truth may tell) Hit off upon the whole exceeding well, And only wanting for a fmart farewell. 30 . But whilft I thus indulg'd a poet's pride, And fondly fail'd on fancy's golden tide, I little thought Papa was at my fide. For J } CANTO XL 179 For his ftern eyes I was but ill prepar'd, And could have gladly then his vifit fpar'd : 35 But vile, malignant chance would have it fo, And I with patience now muft bear the blow. At once, with looks which dark fufpicion wore,-\ > He from my trembling hand the papers tore, And ran, with fullen glance, the fprightly pages f o'er* 40 J .. Ev'n thofe I thought, while I purfued the toil, That none could e'er perufe without a fmile, Had not die pow'r his anger to beguile. Unalter'd ftill his awful face remain'd, And all its native rigour ftill retain'd : - 4 - Nay worfe ; a darker hue his front embrown'd, Or (not to fpeak in poetry) he frown'd. Thus thro' the work with hafty glance he ran, And thus his ftern, defpotic fpeech began : " So fo, young gracelefs ; now your fluff is done, ** You think, no doubt, you have a triumph won 5 5 1 " You think, no doubt, that all is mighty fine, " "Wit, fenfe, and elegance in ev'ry line j M 2 " And i8o WHIST: " And with a brazen front may mean to try " In this fool's coat to meet the public eye. 55 " Audacious boy ! and could you then fuppofe " That I would fee you thus yourfelf expofe ? " That I would e'er permit a fon of mine " To future times fuch lefibns to confign ? " So widely thus from moral truth to dray, 69 " And poifon thus in gilded pills convey ? 'f But if, in reafon's fpite, you dill perfiil " To claim diftinaion as the Bard of Whift, " I am refolv'd that this infeled fong " Shall bear at leaft its antidote along , 65 " And thofe who gaming's charms have heard from . y u > " From me at leaft fhall hear its horrors too." With, this laft hint I was not quite difpleas'd, And quick as thought the fair occafion feiz'd ; And promis'd ftrait, with fome inveftive ftrong, Againft the love of play to clofe the fong. 7 1 But here, alas ! the old fufpicious Don Was far too cunning for his fprightly fon. " No CANTO XL 181 " No no," he cried, " that plan could never do ; " It is not by the help of fuch as you, 75 " That reafon's voice muft folly's powV fubdue." " To me, young fir, refign that arduous care, " And for the talk of fcribe yourfelf prepare ; " While I retire, thofe fcatter'd thoughts to find, " With which the fubjecl: oft has fill'd my mind 5 80 " To which at times I have attention paid, " And oft with grief its rapid growth furvey'd. " And when my hints are rang'd in juft array, " I then will dictate what you ought to fay :" So fpake the angry fire, and ftately ftalk'd away. Fain would I, while he yet remain' d in fight, 86 Have boldly urg'd my juft, exclufive right To manage as I chofe, and thought it fit Th' unborrow'd offspring of my native wit : But terror aw'd, and what I meant to fay 90 Stuck in my throat, and could not find a way. Thus muft this tongue, by fancy's pow'r refin'd, Be made the organ of another's mind ; M 3 iS* WHIST. And thus, by cruelty before unknown, Be forc'd to utter feelings not my own , 95 And thus my pretty work be fairly fpoil'd, Becaufe I chance to be my father's child. But hufh ! he comes again ; I hear the found Of thofe grave fteps that fcatter fear around. Now, reader, now, prepare your patient ear i oo A lecture dull of formal length to hear ; But which, I truft, will never reach your brain, But from your other ear come out again. But hold ; and, ere I write a fentence more, Let me for that another leaf turn o'er. 10$ You underfland mefor it would not do, That he mould Men* all I fpeak to you. * As they had fecn me, with thefe hangman's hands, JL/ift'ning their fear. SHAKES PEAR'S MACBETH, Aft 2,Sc. 3. WHIST. JCANTO XII. ARGUMENT. Serious leflure againftgaming.-Hiftory of a fkilful ad fortunate gamefter Poflfcript by the Author in the humorous ftle. Arm'd at all poinU, to fight that hydra, Gaming. Mo R*. -Contra o veneno urgente, He tido per antidoto ezcellente. C A MO INS. OF all the plagues that from the birth of time Have rang'd by turns this fublunary "clime, And in their various forms the nations curs'd, The boundlefs love of play is fure the worft. Not that difeafe, whofe once refiftlefs pow'r . 5 With envious malice blafted beauty's flow'r ; Which from the eaft with thofe weak fools re* turn'd, Whofe frantic breafts with bigot fury burn'd : Jor that commiflion'd by the pow'rs above, With tortures juft to puniih lawlefs love : 10 That 386 W H I S T s That cruel fcourge*, which from the weftern more To Europe's coaft the Spanifh robbers bore, Such havock fpreads, as on his baleful wings The univerfal pow'r of gaming brings ; That pow'r which now pervades each tainted foul, And fcatters death from Indus to the Pole ; 16 From where remote, on Tonquin's golden m,o.re, The tawny crew the pow'rs of chance adore ; And, when refources fail, no fcruple make Thejr weeping children or their wives to flake ; 30 To where at home, in this degen'rate land, In ev'ry ftreet the fanes of ruin ftand j Where fraud's pernicious band, unwearied flill, Invoke the demons of unlawful {kill : That felfifh pow'r, the foe of ufeful art, 25 .Which moft can harden and contract the heart ; ; Itcft certain, que ce Venin qui empoifor.ne Ics fources de la v ie,etait propre de i'Amerique -et aujourd'hui, apres un mo- ment pafle et oublie dtpuis de? annets, la plus chafte union peut etre fuivie tlu plus cruel et duplus honteux des fleaux, dont le ^enre humain foit affligc. VOLTAIRE, EssAisvuTHi ST. GEN. t.iii, ch. 37. Which CANTO XII. 167 Which keeps in floth* the outward frame connn'd, And but to vicious action fpurs the mind ; That pow*r whofe growth I can with grief forefee Some future day will Europe's ruin be. 30 But words that feek our paflions to reftrafn, In this light age of folly's boundlefs reign, But fmall attention can expect to gain ; And it perhaps were better now to try What ftronger aids example can fupply. 35 A man there was (if public fame fay true), , The firfl and luckieft of the gaming crew ; . A fplendid fortune who refolv'd to gain, ^ Without corporeal labour's tirefome pain, I. Or mental efforts of the iludious brain. 40 J '~* Surely that vice deferves the keeneft invective, which, more than any other, has a natural and invincible tendency to narrow and to harden the heart, by impreffing and keeping up habits of ffelfifhnefs. " I forefee" (faid Montefquieu to a friend vifiting him atLaBrede) " that gaming will one day be the ruin of Eu- " rope. During play, the body is in a Hate of indolence, ar4 <4 the mind in aftate of vicious activity." WARTON'S ESSAY ON POPE, Sett. x. 18. For iSS WHIST: For this, to gaming's art he kept confin'd The whole attention of his anxious mind j For this, in trying various modes of play, He fpent for years the folitary d ay ; For this, on flighteft food he chofe to dine, 45 Nor e'er would tafte intoxicating wine ; That nought might thus obfcure his mental fight, Or blaft the hopes of each triumphant night. And thus at length a height of (kill he gain'd, Which (carte one mortal had before attain'd ; 50 And thus at length amafs'd an ampler (lore Than ever had been thus amafs'd before. What tho', perhaps, fome widow'd mother's tongue Might curfe the fource from which her forrow fprung ; Might curfe that fkill which drove, with cruel hand, Her ruin'd fon to quit his native land : 56 What tho', perhaps, fome orphan weak and pale, With hunger faint, and fhiv'ring in the gale, Might CANTO XII. 189 Might on that chariot fix his weeping eye, In guilty fplendor as it glitter'd by, 60 Which bore the wretch, who from his father tore Without remorfe his patrimonial ftore ; Who charg'd his foul with {name's defpairing weight, And drove him headlong from the brink of fate : Yet would that chariot all obftruc~lion fpurn, 6$ And not lefs rapid to the dome return, Which, rear'd in Scotia's land, may ftill be found, And cumbers with its weight the groaning ground . Which, as it there in hateful fplendor (lands, With daring hopes the gamefter's heart expands; 7* While reafon's fober eye beholds it ftill, The fhameful monument of guilty {kin. Oh that, when firft he view'd the finifh'd toil, And gaz'd with triumph on t^e fplendid pile, Some demon then, or fome avenging god, 75 Had touch'd the ftrutlure with his pow'rful rod, And $ WHIST: And made it fink before his ftartled eyes, Like card-built fabrics, never more to rife. How would the wretch have fhriink with fuddeu awe, And quak'd with -terror, when amaz'd he faw, So' Inftead of arches, gates, and colonnades, A heap of clubs and diamonds, hearts and fpades ! Tis true indeed, that few or none complain'd, That what they loft had been unfairly gain'd : But how can this his character excufe, 85 Or make his life its guilty colour lofe ? As well might he, who lurks befide the way, To make th' unwary traveller his prey ; With piftols arm'd, and conftant practice bold, Who ftops th' unarm'd, the timid, and the old ; 90 Proclaims kis wants, and afks a quick fupply, Which if they give not, they are fure to die As well this wretch, when talking with his friend, Might fair and open dealing recommend j For CANTO XII. iQt For meaner rogues a juft abhorrence feel, 95 And blefs his Maker that he did not fteal. But in its juft revenge tho' Heav'n be flow, It will not always let the fmner go ; For now, to clofe the fcene, his word of foes, Confcience herfelf, in awful fury rofe, loo Refum'd at lafl her long-negleted pow'r, And flung with painful thought each tort'ring noun She brought reflection's band in dark array, To cloud the light of ev'ry cheerlefs day j And fill'd with ghaftly phantoms of affright 105 The weary length of ev'ry trembling night. Nor did fhe once remit her cruel rage, Until fhe drove him from the mortal fl-age, To thofe abodes, where he perhaps fhall find A That man for diff'rent duties was defign'd, no L And form'd for fcience of another kind, J Than in the vain purfuits of worthlefs play To wafle the precious hours of life away : Perhaps I 9 z WHIST: Perhaps to dwell in that appointed place Of pain and grief, of horror and difgrace, . 1 i Where,-He refides, whofe books (to fraud fo dear) With fuch unwearied pains he ftudied here. POSTSCRIPT. , bleft be Heav'n, the tedious lecture's o'er, And old Square-toes will trouble us no more ; And yet I cannot leave you thus behind, 12* With fuch abfurd impreflions on your mind, Nor wholly thus to his advice refign, Until you hear a little more of mine. Can there then be whofe tempers are fo rough, Whofe hearts are made of fuch unfeeling fluff, 1 25 /That they could wifh from our imperfect life To cut the brilliant hours of painted ftrife, And POSTSCRIPT. 193 And from the worthlefs world to drive away The hopes, the pleafures, and the pains of play ? Let thofe who harbour fucha flrange defire, 130 To fome obfcure, fequefter'd nook retire j Where thro' the tedious year no Spades are found, But thofe that ferve to penetrate the ground ; No Clubs, but thofe, with which fome angry clown Knocks, at a time, his fellow ruftic down j 135 No Hearts, but thofe, with which in paflion's hour The wanton boy difplays his fovereign pow'r : And as for Diamonds, you in vain may call, For there they never can be found at all. There let all fuch their lives in languor wafte, 140 And rail at pleafures which they cannot tafle. But ye that live in fafhion's polifh'd climes, In this great art inftrul your fons betimes ; Let this be ftill the firft of your regards, Before their letters let them learn their cards. 145 Nor do I yet defpair to fee the day, T When hoflile armies rang'd in neat array, Inftead of fighting, mall engage in play ; J N Whea 194 POSTSCRIPT. When peaceful Whift the quarrel (hall decide, And Chriftian blood be fpilt on neither fide. 150 Then duels too, or any other fray, Might all be fought in this good harmlefs way ; - Then pleas no more (hould wait the tardy laws, But one odd trick at once conclude the caufe. Tho' feme will fay that this is nothing new, 155 For here there have been long odd tricks enow. Thus Britain ftill, to all the world's furprife, In this great fcience fhall progreffive rife, Till ages hence, when all of each degree Shall play the game as well as Hoyle or me. 160 THE END. As an antidote to the poifonous do&rine delivered with regard to matrimony in the feventh Canto*, the Au- thor begs leave to fubjoin here a Sonnet written upon the fame fubjedt, which will mew how very different are his real fentiments from thofe of the character he has chofen to aflume. SONNET. HO V W bleft is he, however low his ftate, To whom the bounty of indulgent Heav'n A tender, conftant, kind congenial mate, To fhare his pleafures and his pains, has giv'n ! To her fecure he opens all his heart, Nor knows one thought he wifhes to conceal ; Fearlefs to her can ev'ry care impart, And all the forrows of his foul reveal. Tho' all abroad refufe his fpirit reft, Tho' fortune frowns, and friends may prov unkind ; At home, he knows, remains one faithful bread, Where ftill his weary head repofe (hall find. Ah ! why to me does fate fuch blifs deny, And doom me ftill to live " a folitary fly ?" UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 35m-8,'71 (P6347s4)-C-120 ^l-LIBRARY -O/: ' g ? A 000000206 3 \\tfUNIVERj7A B < I 5 1 | i 1 1 5 85 i 1 I I I I