Er. Yours is a better Ball than mine.

Gas. And yours is beyond me.

Er. Play fair, without cheating and cozening.

Gas. You shall say you have had to do with a fair Gamester.

Er. But I would first know the Orders of the Bowling-alley.

Gas. We make 4 up; whoever bowls beyond this Line it goes for nothing; if you can go beyond those other Bounds, do it fairly and welcome:  Whoever hits a Bowl out of his Place loses his Cast.

Er. I understand these Things.

Gas. I have shut you out.

Er. But I’ll give you a Remove.

Gas. If you do that I’ll give you the Game.

Er. Will you upon your Word?

Gas. Yes, upon my Word:  You have no other Way for it but to bank your Bowl so as to make it rebound on mine.

Er. I’ll try:  Well, what say you now Friend?  Are not you beaten away?  (Have I not struck you away?)

Gas. I am, I confess it; I wish you were but as wise as you are lucky; you can scarce do so once in a hundred Times.

Er. I’ll lay you, if you will, that I do it once in three Times.  But come pay me what I have won.

Gas. What’s that?

Er. Why, a Distich.

Gas. Well, I’ll pay it now.

Er. And an extempore one too.  Why do you bite your Nails?

Gas. I have it.

Er. Recite it out.

Gas. As loud as you will.

      Young Standers-by, dap ye the Conqueror brave,
      Who me has beat, is the more learned Knave.

Han’t you a Distich now?

Er. I have, and I’ll give you as good as you bring.

* * * * *

4. Leaping.

VINCENT, LAURENCE.

Vi. Have you a Mind to jump with me?

Lau. That Play is not good presently after Dinner.

Vi. Why so?

Lau. Because that a Fulness of Belly makes the Body heavy.

Vi. Not very much to those that live upon Scholars Commons, for these oftentimes are ready for a Supper before they have done Dinner.

Lau. What Sort of leaping is it that you like best?

Vi. Let us first begin with that which is the plainest, as that of Grasshoppers; or Leap-frog, if you like that better, both Feet at once, and close to one another; and when we have play’d enough at this, then we’ll try other Sorts.

Lau. I’ll play at any Sort, where there is no Danger of breaking ones Legs; I have no Mind to make Work for the Surgeon.

Vi. What if we should play at hopping?

Lau. That the Ghosts play, I am not for that.

Vi. It’s the cleverest Way to leap with a Pole.