Nic. But I had rather spare my Corps than my Money.

Jer. And I value my Corps more than my Money:  We must play for something, or we shall never play our best.

Nic. You say true.

Jer. Which Hand soever shall get the first three Games, shall pay the sixth Part of a Groat to the other; but upon Condition that what’s won shall be spent among all the Company alike.

Nic. Well, I like the Proposal; come done, let’s chuse Hands; but we are all so equally match’d, that it’s no great Matter who and who’s together.

Jer. You play a great Deal better than I.

Nic. But for all that, you have the better Luck.

Jer. Has Fortune anything to do at this Play?

Nic. She has to do everywhere.

Jer. Well, come let’s toss up.  O Boys, very well indeed.  I have got the Partners I would have.

Nic. And we like our Partners very well.

Jer. Come on, now for’t, he that will win, must look to his Game.  Let every one stand to his Place bravely.  Do you stand behind me ready to catch the Ball, if it goes beyond me; do you mind there, and beat it back when it comes from our Adversaries.

Nic. I’ll warrant ye, I’ll hit it if it comes near me.

Jer. Go on and prosper, throw up the Ball upon the House.  He that throws and do’s not speak first shall lose his Cast.

Nic. Well, take it then.

Jer. Do you toss it; if you throw it beyond the Bounds, or short, or over the House, it shall go for nothing, and we won’t be cheated:  And truly you throw nastily.  As you toss it, I’ll give it you again; I’ll give you a Rowland for an Oliver; but it is better to play fairly and honestly.

Nic. It is best at Diversion, to beat by fair Play.

Jer. It is so, and in War too; these Arts have each their respective Laws:  There are some Arts that are very unfair ones.

Nic. I believe so too, and more than seven too.  Mark the Bounds with a Shell, or Brick-bat, or with your Hat if you will.

Jer. I’d rather do it with yours.

Nic. Take the Ball again.

Jer. Throw it; score it up.

Nic. We have two good wide Goals.

Jer. Pretty wide, but they are not out of Reach.

Nic. They may be reach’d if no Body hinders it.

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

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

Jer. What, Sesterces?

Nic. No.

Jer. What then?

Nic. Numbers.

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