The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth PartHead, Richard
General
The English Rogue: Continued in the Life of Meriton Latroon, and Other Extravagants: The Fourth Part
Head, Richard
Rogues and vagabonds -- England -- Fiction
A Gentleman I took notice of one day, who loosing (what moneys he had
about him) sate very pensively, in steps a young blade in this interval
and briskly took up the box, but it came not to his hands above thrice,
before he had lost all he had brought in with him, which so inraged the
Noddy that he behaved himself like a meer frantick Fellow, swearing
Damme was not I a villain in less than an hour to loose four pounds,
this melancholly person hearing him swear and fret for a sum so
inconsiderable to what he had lost, Damm you (said he) Damme that have
lost fourscore pounds in half an hour, it seems the greater looser
thought it a piece of injustice the lesser should be damn’d before him.
Frequent are the quarrels in this place occasioned by the heat of Wine
before they came in or by loss made chollerick afterwards; Swords
commonly drawn, or boxes and Candlesticks thrown at one anothers heads;
sometimes the Rooks will raise a seeming feud (especially when their
stocks are low) when they see a Table covered with money, which may give
them an occasion to scramble; such are the usual garboyls in this place
that they form a perfect type of Hell.
I cannot forbear smiling when I think of a certain passage one time at
an Ordinary. A Gentleman who was well stored with Gold played high, and
in a little time had not one penny left he first splits the Box, & then
Box the Box-keeper, having so done, takes off his own hat from his head
which was black, dame, said he, who dares say this hat is not white, he
is a son of a whor that will not say so, the standers by seeing his loss
had made him mad, replyed not a word; he perceiving on the other side
that none would quarrel with him, seats himself, and fell fast asleep;
another Gentleman who had lost as much or more than the former came to
him who slept, and awakeing him, what is that you said Sir, is your
black hat white, it’s a damn’d lye, I say it’s blew, deny it if you
dare. The Gentleman was well pleased to see one madder then himself, and
therefore without passion desired him to go and sleep as he had done,
and on his awaking they should not differ about the colour, into what
frenzies do these damn’d Dice put men into?
When late at night and the Company grows thin and your eyes dim with
watching, then is the time for false Dice to be put on the ignorant,
then also is there a security in, Palming, Topping, Slurring, _&c._
There are a certain sort of gentle and subtle Rooks whose outside speaks
as much a Gentleman as most of the first magnitude. This Cunningham
seldom plays in an Ordinary, yet will sit there a whole evening to the
intent he may observe who winns, if considerable, and the winner seem
Plyable, generous, and Bubbable, he will some way or other insinuate
into his acquaintance by applauding his happy hand, congratulating his
success _&c._ and then familiarly, yet civily prompt him to a glass of
Wine that they may drink to the continuance of that good fortune.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account