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Then returning to the gaming table； he exultingly exclaimed that
he had never made a better throw！＇31＇ On another occasion； after
having condemned to death several Gauls of great opulence； he
immediately went back to his gambling companions and said：‘I
pity you when I see you lose a few sestertii； whilst； with a
stroke of the pen； I have just won six hundred millions。'＇32＇
＇31＇ Exultans rediit； gloriansque se nunquam prosperiore
alea usum。 Suet。 in _Vita Calig_。
＇32＇ Thirty millions of pounds sterling。 The sestertius
was worth 1_s_。 3 3/4_d_。
The Emperor Claudius played like an imbecile； and Nero like a
madman。 The former would send for the persons whom he had
executed the day before； to play with him； and the latter；
lavishing the treasures of the public exchequer； would stake four
hundred thousand sestertii （L20；000） on a single throw of the
dice。
Claudius played at dice on his journeys； having the interior
of his carriage so arranged as to prevent the motion from
interfering with the game。
From that period the title of courtier and gambler became
synonymous。 Gaming was the means of securing preferment； it was
by gambling that Vitellius opened to himself so grand a career；
gaming made him indispensable to Claudius。＇33＇
＇33＇ Claudio per aleae studium familiaris。 Suet。in Vita Vitelli。
Seneca； in his Play on the death of Claudius； represents him as
in the lower regions condemned to pick up dice for ever； putting
them into a box without a bottom！＇34＇
＇34＇ Nam quotiens missurus erat resonante fritillo；
Utraque subducto fugiebat tessera fundo。
_Lusus de Morte Claud。 Caesar_。
Caligula was reproached for having played at dice on the day of
his sister's funeral； and Domitian was blamed for gaming from
morning to night； and without excepting the festivals of the
Roman calendar； but it seems ridiculous to note such
improprieties in comparison with their habitual and atrocious
crimes。
The terrible and inexorable satirist Juvenal was the contemporary
of Domitian and ten other emperors； and the following is his
description of the vice in the gaming days of Rome：
‘When was the madness of games of chance more furious？ Now…a…
days； not content with carrying his purse to the gaming table；
the gamester conveys his iron chest to the play…room。 It is
there that； as soon as the gaming instruments are distributed；
you witness the most terrible contests。 Is it not mere madness
to lose one hundred thousand sestertii and refuse a garment to a
slave perishing with cold？'＇35＇
＇35＇ Sat。 I。 87。
It seems that the Romans played for ready money； and had not
invented that multitude of signs by the aid of which； without
being retarded by the weight of gold and silver； modern gamblers
can ruin themselves secretly and without display。
The rage for gambling spread over the Roman provinces； and among
barbarous nations who had never been so much addicted to the vice
as after they had the misfortune to mingle with the Romans。
The evil continued to increase； stimulated by imperial example。
The day on which Didius Julianus was proclaimed Emperor； he
walked over the dead and bloody body of Pertinax； and began
to play at dice in the next room。＇36＇
＇36＇ Dion Cass。 _Hist。 Rom_。 l。 lxxiii。
At the end of the fourth century； the following state of things
at Rome is described by Gibbon； quoting from Ammianus
Marcellinus：
‘Another method of introduction into the houses and society of
the 〃great；〃 is derived from the profession of gaming； or； as
it is more politely styled； of play。 The confederates are united
by a strict and indissoluble bond of friendship； or rather of
conspiracy； a superior degree of skill in the 〃tessarian〃 art；
is a sure road to wealth and reputation。 A master of that
sublime science who； in a supper or assembly； is placed below a
magistrate； displays in his countenance the surprise and
indignation which Cato might be supposed to feel when he was
refused the praetorship by the votes of a capricious
people。'＇37＇
＇37＇ Amm。 Marcellin。 lib。 XIV。 c。 vi。
Finally； at the epoch when Constantine abandoned Rome never to
return； every inhabitant of that city； down to the populace； was
addicted to gambling。
CHAPTER V。
GAMBLING IN FRANCE IN ALL TIMES。
CHARLES VI。 and CHARLES VII。The early French annals record the
deeds of haughty and idle lords； whose chief occupations were
tormenting their vassals； drinking； fighting； and gaming； for
most of them were desperate gamblers； setting at defiance all the
laws enacted against the practice； and outraging all the
decencies of society。 The brother of Saint Louis played at dice
in spite of the repeated prohibitions of that virtuous prince。
Even the great Duguesclin gamed away all his property in
prison。＇38＇ The Duc de Touraine； brother of Charles VI。； ‘set to
work eagerly to win the king's money；' says Froissart； and
transported with joy one day at having won five thousand livres；
his first cry was_Monseigneur； faites…moi payer_； ‘Please to
pay； Sire。'
＇38＇ Hist。 de Dugueselin； par Menard。
Gaming went on in the camp； and even in the presence of the
enemy。 Generals； after having ruined their own fortunes；
compromised the safety of the country。 Among the rest； Philibert
de Chalon； Prince d'Orange； who was in command at the siege of
Florence； under the Emperor Charles the Fifth； gambled away the
money which had been confided to him for the pay of the soldiers；
and was compelled； after a struggle of eleven months； to
capitulate with those whom he might have forced to surrender。＇39＇
＇39＇ Paul。 Jov。 _Hist_。 lib。 xxix。
In the reign of Charles VI。 we read of an Hotel de Nesle which
was famous for terrible gaming catastrophes。 More than one of
its frequenters lost their lives there； and some their honour；
dearer than life。 This hotel was not accessible to everybody；
like more modern gaming _salons_； called _Gesvres_ and
_Soissons；_ its gate was open only to the nobility； or the most
opulent gentlemen of the day。
There exists an old poem which describes the doings at this
celebrated Hotel de Nesle。＇40＇ The author； after describing
the convulsions of the players and recording their blasphemies；
says：
＇40＇ The title of this curious old poem is as follows：
‘C'est le dit du Gieu des Dez fait par Eustace； et la maniere
et contenance des Joueurs qui etoient a Neele； ou
etoient Messeigneurs de Berry； de Bourgogne； et plusieurs
autres。'
Que maints Gentils…hommes tres haulx
Y ont perdu armes et chevaux；
Argent； honour； et Seignourie；
Dont c'etoit horrible folie。
‘How many very eminent gentlemen have there lost their arms and
horses； their money and lordshipa horrible folly。'
In another part of the poem he says：
Li jeune enfant deviennent Rufien；
Jo