is there
can be no doubt whatever; and it is equally certain that it had an
influence, together with other modes of dissipation and corruption,
towards subjugating its civil liberties to the power of Macedon.

So shamelessly were the Athenians addicted to this vice, that they
forgot all public spirit in their continued habits of gaming, and
entered into convivial associations, or formed 'clubs,' for the purposes
of dicing, at the very time when Philip of Macedon was making one grand
'throw' for their liberties at the Battle of Chaeronea.

This politic monarch well knew the power of depravity in enervating
and enslaving the human mind; he therefore encouraged profusion,
dissipation, and gambling, as being sure of meeting with little
opposition from those who possessed such characters, in his projects of
ambition--as Demosthenes declared in one of his orations.(21) Indeed,
gambling had arrived at such a height in Greece, that Aristotle scruples
not to rank gamblers 'with thieves and plunderers, who for the sake of
gain do not scruple to despoil their best friends;'(22) and his pupil
Alexander set a fine upon some of his courtiers because he did not
perceive they made a sport or pastime of dice, but seemed to be employed
as in a most serious business.(23)

(21) First Olynthia. See also Athenaeus, lib. vi. 260.

(22) Ethic. Ad Nicomachum, lib. iv.

(23) Plutarch, _in Reg. et Imp. Apothegm_

The Greeks gambled not only with dice, and at their equivalent for
_Cross and Pile_, but also at cock-fighting, as will appear in the
sequel.

From a remark made by the Athenian orator Callistratus, it is evident
that desperate gambling was in vogue; he says that the games in which
the losers go on doubling their stakes resemble ever-recurring wars,
which terminate only with the extinction of the combatants.(24)

(24) Xenophon, _Hist. Graec_. lib. VI. c. iii.

CHAPTER IV. GAMING AMONG THE ANCIENT ROMAN EMPERORS.

In spite of the laws enacted against gaming, the court of the Emperor
Augustus was greatly addicted to that vice, and gave it additional
stimulus among the nation. Although, however, he was passionately fond
of gambling, and made light of the imputation on his character,(25)
it appears that in frequenting the gambling table he had other motives
besides mere cupidity. Writing to his daughter he said, 'I send you a
sum with which I should have gratified my companions, if they had wished
to play at dice or _od