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‘When the king would have interfered； she only replied with a
smile of contempt〃Surely you must be a great loser； to be so
much out of temper for giving up a decrepit old slave； when I；
who lost a thousand good _darics_； and paid them down on the
spot； do not say a word； and am satisfied。〃 '
Thus early were dice made subservient to the purposes of
cruelty and murder。 The modern Persians； being Mohammedans； are
restrained from the open practice of gambling。 Yet evasions are
contrived in favour of games in the tables； which； as they are
only liable to chance on the ‘throw of the dice；' but totally
dependent on the ‘skill' in ‘the management of the game；' cannot
（they argue） be meant to be prohibited by their prophet any more
than chess； which is universally allowed to his followers； and；
moreover； to evade the difficulty of being forbidden to play for
money； they make an alms of their winnings； distributing them to
the poor。 This may be done by the more scrupulous； but no doubt
there are numbers whose consciences do not prevent the disposal
of their gambling profits nearer home。 All excess of gaming；
however； is absolutely prohibited in Persia； and any place
wherein it is much exercised is called ‘a habitation of corrupted
carcases or carrion house。'＇20＇
＇20＇ Hyde； _De Ludis Oriental_。
In ancient Greece gambling prevailed to a vast extent。 Of this
there can be no doubt whatever； and it is equally certain that it
had an influence； together with other modes of dissipation and
corruption； towards subjugating its civil liberties to the
power of Macedon。
So shamelessly were the Athenians addicted to this vice； that
they forgot all public spirit in their continued habits of
gaming； and entered into convivial associations； or formed
‘clubs；' for the purposes of dicing； at the very time when Philip
of Macedon was making one grand ‘throw' for their liberties at
the Battle of Chaeronea。
This politic monarch well knew the power of depravity in
enervating and enslaving the human mind； he therefore encouraged
profusion； dissipation； and gambling； as being sure of meeting
with little opposition from those who possessed such characters；
in his projects of ambitionas Demosthenes declared in one of
his orations。＇21＇ Indeed； gambling had arrived at such a height
in Greece； that Aristotle scruples not to rank gamblers ‘with
thieves and plunderers； who for the sake of gain do not scruple
to despoil their best friends；'＇22＇ and his pupil Alexander set a
fine upon some of his courtiers because he did not perceive they
made a sport or pastime of dice； but seemed to be employed as
in a most serious business。＇23＇
＇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 et heri et hodie。
When he had no regular players near him； he would play with
children at dice； at nuts； or bones。 It has been suggested that
this emperor gave in to the indulgence of gambling in order to
stifle his remorse。 If his object in encouraging this vice was
to make people forget his proscriptions and to create a diversion
in his favour； the artifice may be considered equal to any of the
political ruses of this astute ruler； whose false virtues were
for a long time vaunted only through ignorance； or in order to
flatter his imitators。
The passion of gambling was transmitted； with the empire； to the
family of the Caesars。 At the gaming table Caligula stooped
even to falsehood and perjury。 It was whilst gambling that
he conceived his most diabolical projects； when the game was
against him he would quit the table abruptly； and then； monster
as he was； satiated with rapine； would roam about his palace
venting his displeasure。
One day； in such a humour； he caught a glimpse of two Roman
knights； he had them arrested and confiscated their property。
Then returning to the gaming table； he exultingly exclaimed that
he had never made a better