To the lovely Pallas
quote:
"A few Days ago, I took it into my Head to " make a Visit to the celebrated Therefius, in order to be informed of my Deftiny. Help
thyfelf to a Seat, faid he, my Friend, fit down, and give me thy Hand. He pored on it for a confiderable while, caft a Figure, faid not one Word, but ordered me to return the next Day. His Silence feemed to me very ominous, and to portend me no Good; yet I much rather chofe to be at once acquainted with my ill Fortune, than to continue longer in a fufpenceful Uncertainty. I therefore very importunately prefled him to let me know his Reafon for giving me no Anfwer to my Quere. Still the old Cuff was mute, making no manner of Reply, but reaching a Pack of Cards, fat down by me, and challenged me to play a Game with him at Piquet; the which, heavy-hearted and out of Humour as I was, I could not, nay durft not well refufe.
Well.— We cut; he has the Hand ; I deal; he takes five, and leaves me three.— I find in my Hand a Quint in Hearts, three Kings, three Knaves, the Queen of Diamonds, and three Spades which I difcarded. A promifing Game! Great Hopes ! But, Morbleu! Not one Ace in the three Cards I took in !— Faith, Madam ; I beg your Pardon for fwearing; but it was so curfedly provoking, that I cannot keep my Temper when ever I think of it.
Sixty five? fays he. Good. A Quint to a Knave ? Equal. He then fpreads
out upon the Table feven Diamonds.. Sixty five are feven, fays my Antagonift, very gravely; a Quatorzeof Aces, fourteen more. All good, cries I, with a deep Sigh. Diamonds, fays he, playing his Ace, twenty-two, and plays out all his Diamonds running.' Down went my Queen, accompanied with two Clubs and four Hearts. He next plays his Ace of Clubs, and that quite confounds me ; for, the moft unluckily in the World, I had left my King unguarded. He redoubles upon me with the Ten of Clubs ; I fling him a Spade. Next, upon his Ace of Hearts, I give my Knave, flill depending upon faving the Lurch, fcarce doubting of his having the Queen. My King of Spades next falls a Victim to his Ace.— But, how was I Thunder-ftruck ! How were all my Hopes blafled! The Devil a Bit of the Queen of Hearts had he, and poor Charles found himfelf Capoted.
I have won the Game, faid he.. From hence learn thy Deftiny. If you muft love, pitch upon fome Object that is more your Match: For if ever you attack the divine Pallas, you will infallibly be Lurched. Heaven take thee into it's Protection: Thus we parted.
end quote from:
Whartoniana; or, Miscellanies, in verse and prose. By the Wharton family, and several other persons of distinction [Tr. from the Fr. by J. Morgan. Ed. by E. Curll].
edited by Edmund Curll
Translated by Joseph Morgan
Published by , 1727
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