(21) First Olynthia. See also Athenaeus, lib. vi. 260. (22) Ethic. Ad Nicomachum, lib. iv. (23) Plutarch, _in Reg. et Imp. Apothegm_ The Greeks gambled not only with dice, and at their equivalent for _Cross and Pile_, but also at cock-fighting, as will appear in the sequel. From a remark made by the Athenian orator Callistratus, it is evident that desperate gambling was in vogue; he says that the games in which the losers go on doubling their stakes resemble ever-recurring wars, which terminate only with the extinction of the combatants.(24) (24) Xenophon, _Hist. Graec_. lib. VI. c. iii. CHAPTER IV. GAMING AMONG THE ANCIENT ROMAN EMPERORS. In spite of the laws enacted against gaming, the court of the Emperor Augustus was greatly addicted to that vice, and gave it additional stimulus among the nation. Although, however, he was passionately fond of gambling, and made light of the imputation on his character,(25) it appears that in frequenting the gambling table he had other motives besides mere cupidity. Writing to his daughter he said, 'I send you a sum with which I should have gratified my companions, if they had wished to play at dice or _odds and evens_.' On another occasion he wrote to Tiberius:--'If I had exacted my winnings during the festival of Minerva; if I had not lavished my money on all sides; instead of losing twenty thousand sestercii (about L1000), I should have gained one hundred and fifty thousand (L7500). I prefer it thus, however; for my bounty should win me immense glory.'(26) (25) Aleae rumorem nullo modo expavit. Suet. in Vita Augusti. (26) Sed hoc malo: benignitas enim mea me ad coelestem gloriam efferet. _Ubi supra_. This gambling propensity subjected Augustus to the lash of popular epigrams; among the rest, the following: Postquam bis classe victus naves perdidit, Aliquando ut vincat, ludit assidud aleam. 'He lost at sea; was beaten twice, And tries to win at least with dice.' But although a satirist by profession, the sleek courtier Horace spared the emperor's vice, contenting himself with only declaring that play was forbidden.(27) The two following verses of his, usually applied to the effects of gaming, really refer only to _RAILLERY._ (27) Carm. lib. III. Od. xxiv. Ludus enim genuit trepidum certamen et iram; Ira truces inimicitias et funebre bellum.(28) (28) Epist. lib. I. xix. He, however, has recorded the curious fact of an old Roman gambler, who was always attended by a slave, to pick up his dice for him and put them in the box.(29) Doubtless, Horace would have lashed the vice of gambling had it not been the 'habitual sin' of his courtly patrons. (29) Lib. II. Sat. vii. v. 15. It seems that Augustus not only gambled to excess, but that he gloried in the character of a gamester. Of himself he says, 'Between meals we played like old crones both yesterday and today.'(30) (30) Inter coenam lusimus (gr gerontikws) et heri et hodie.