with laughter; the one hugs himself for his good success, the other is ready to hang himself for his ill-fortune. Carmen sell their horses and give over drawing of loads to draw lots. There came a young wench in one day, a maid-servant, that had newly received her quarter's wages, and was going to buy clothes to her back: but this silver mine standing in her way, here she vowed to dig and to try if she could be made for ever. She ventured all her money, and lost all: but when she saw it gone, she sighed and swore that the loss of her maidenhead should never have grieved her so much as the loss of her wages.
Coun. I believe her, Sir.
Cit. Imagine how a vintner's boy, having received a reckoning of his master's guests, and they falling presently to dice; if the drawer should set his master's money, and crying "at all," should lose it all: how would that fellow look? even so looked that poor wench.
Coun. Are there—think you, Sir—no deceits in this lottery to cozen and abuse the people?
Cit. Trust me, father, I dare accuse no man of any, because I know of none. Such actions as these—how warrantable soever, and strengthened by the best authorities who have wisdom to look through and through them—if there were any juggling conceit, notwithstanding stand from the stings of slander. If any villany be done, the people that swarm hither practise it one against another.
Coun. And how, I pray you, Sir?
Knavish tricks done at the lottery. Cit. For I have been told that some one crafty knave amongst the rest, taking upon him to play the good shepherd over the flock that stands about him, hath gathered money from several men or women, he himself likewise putting in his own; and then keeping a crowding to pass through the press, he comes back and delivers so many blanks as he received shillings: which blanks were not of the lottery, but cunningly made up by himself and carried of purpose up and down by him in his pocket.
Coun. They are worthily served that will be cheated by such a doctor in the art of knavery. If any man therefore will needs be, as the term is now, one of these "twelvepenny gulls," let him hereafter set his own lime twigs; and then if he catch no bird, nobody else shall laugh at him.
