Plate 25

"Gamblers"

Moriae Encomium

Illustrated by Hans Holbein the Younger

	Single Greeting Card (with matching Envelope) Code: H ME25 SGC Price: US$5.00
	Reproduction on 8x12" sheet Code: H ME25 8x12 Price: US$30.00
	Reproduction on 12x18" sheet Code: H ME25 12x18 Price: US$60.00

Holbein's illustration shown in Plate 25 from Moriae Encomium is associated with the following text drawn from

John Wilson's 1668 translation:

And then for gamesters, I am a little doubtful whether they are to be admitted into our college;

and yet 'tis a foolish and ridiculous sight to see some addicted so to it that they can no sooner

hear the rattling of the dice but their heart leaps and dances again. And then when time after

time they are so far drawn on with the hopes of winning that they have made shipwreck of all,

and having split their ship on that rock of dice, no less terrible than the bishop and his clerks,

scarce got alive to shore, they choose rather to cheat any man of their just debts than not pay

the money they lost, lest otherwise, forsooth, they be thought no men of their words. Again

what is it, I pray, to see old fellows and half blind to play with spectacles? Nay, and when a

justly deserved gout has knotted their knuckles, to hire a caster, or one that may put the dice in

the box for them? A pleasant thing, I must confess, did it not for the most part end in quarrels,

and therefore belongs rather to the Furies than me.

The associated French text from L'Eloge de la Folie (1728) follows:

Quant aux Joueurs de profession, j'ai quelque serupule de les fair entrer dans mon Empire. Ils

sont si passionnez pour le jeu, qu'au seul bruit des dez, le cœur leur saunte de joy. Lorsque, par

la trompeuse esperance de regagner, ils ont perdue tout leur bien, & que leur vaissaue s'est

brisé contre l'écueil de jeu, écueil non moins dangereux que Malée; encore trop heureux

d'échaper tout nuds de ce naufrage, ils aimeroient mieux fourber qui que ce fût, que celui qui

les a dépouillez, de peur de passer pour malhonnêtes-gens. Que dire de ces Vieillards qui,

presque aveugles par le grand âge, ne laissent pas de jouer avec des lunettes; ou, s'ils ont la

goute aux mains, choisissent un second qui jette les dez pour leur compte? Ce sont là des fous.

Ils se donnent du plaisir, & par cet endroit-là ils m'appartiennent: d'un autre côté, le jeu tourne

si souvent en rage & en fureur, que je ne ferois pas mal de le renvoyer aux Furies.