Part 17 (1/2)

'26 two ... Knights':

one of these was the baron, see l. 66.

'27 Ombre':

a game of cards invented in Spain. It takes its name from the Spanish phrase originally used by the player who declared trumps: ”Yo soy l'hombre,” 'i.e.' I am the man. It could be played by three, five, or nine players, but the usual number was three as here. Each of these received nine cards, and one of them named the trump and thus became the ”ombre,” who played against the two others. If either of the ombre's opponents took more tricks than the ombre, it was ”codille” (l. 92).

This meant that the opponent took the stake and the ombre had to replace it for the next hand.

A peculiar feature of ombre is the rank, or value, of the cards. The three best cards were called ”matadores,” a Spanish word meaning ”killers.” The first of these matadores was ”Spadillio,” the ace of spades; the third was ”Basto,” the ace of clubs. The second, ”Manillio,”

varied according to the suit. If a black suit were declared, Maniilio was the two of trumps; if a red suit, Manillio was the seven of trumps.

It is worth noting also that the red aces were inferior to the face cards of their suits except when a red suit was trump.

A brief a.n.a.lysis of the game played on this occasion will clear up the pa.s.sage and leave the reader free to admire the ingenuity with which Pope has described the contest in terms of epic poetry.

Belinda declares spades trumps and so becomes the ”ombre.” She leads one after the other the three matadores; and takes three tricks. She then leads the next highest card, the king of spades, and wins a fourth trick. Being out of trumps she now leads the king of clubs; but the baron, who has actually held more spades than Belinda, trumps it with the queen of spades. All the trumps are now exhausted and the baron's long suit of diamonds is established. He takes the sixth, seventh, and eighth tricks with the king, queen, and knave of diamonds, respectively.

Everything now depends on the last trick, since Belinda and the baron each have taken four. The baron leads the ace of hearts and Belinda takes it with the king, thus escaping ”codille” and winning the stake.

'30 the sacred nine':

the nine Muses.

'41 succint':

tucked up.

'54 one Plebeian card':

one of Belinda's opponents is now out of trumps and discards a low card on her lead.

'61 Pam':

a term applied to the knave of clubs which was always the highest card in Lu, another popular game of that day.

'74 the globe':

the jeweled ball which forms one of the regalia of a monarch. The aspect of playing cards has changed not a little since Pope's day, but the globe is still to be seen on the king of clubs.

'79 Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts':