other. Biron, in "Love's Labour's Lost" (iv. 3), speaks
of Nestor playing "at push-pin with the boys."

_Quintain._ This was a figure set up for tilters to run at, in mock
resemblance of a tournament, and is alluded to in "As You Like It" (i.
2) by Orlando, who says:

"My better parts
Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up
Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block."

It cannot be better or more minutely described than in the words of Mr.
Strutt:[812] "Tilting or combating at the quintain is a military
exercise of high antiquity, and antecedent, I doubt not, to the jousts
and tournaments. The quintain originally was nothing more than the trunk
of a tree or post set up for the practice of the tyros in chivalry.
Afterwards a staff or spear was fixed in the earth, and a shield being
hung upon it, was the mark to strike at. The dexterity of the performer
consisted in smiting the shield in such a manner as to break the
ligatures and bear it to the ground. In process of time this diversion
was improved, and instead of a staff and the shield, the resemblance of
a human figure carved in wood was introduced. To render the appearance
of this figure more formidable, it was generally made in the likeness of
a Turk or a Saracen, armed at all points, bearing a shield upon his left
arm, and brandishing a club or a sabre with his right. The quintain thus
fashioned was placed upon a pivot, and so contrived as to move round
with facility. In running at this figure, it was necessary for the
horseman to direct his lance with great adroitness, and make his stroke
upon the forehead between the eyes, or upon the nose; for if he struck
wide of those parts, especially upon the shield, the quintain turned
about with much velocity, and, in case he was not exceedingly careful,
would give him a severe blow upon the back with the wooden sabre held in
the right hand, which was considered as highly disgraceful to the
performer, while it excited the laughter and ridicule of the
spectators."[813] In Ben Jonson's "Underwoods" it is thus humorously
mentioned:

"Go, Captain Stub, lead on, and show
What horse you come on, by the blow
You give Sir Quintain, and the cuff
You 'scape o' the sandbags counterbuff."

[812] "Sports and Pastimes," 1876, p. 182.

[813] See Nares's "Glossary," vol. ii. p. 713.

_Quoits._ This game derived its origin, according to Strutt,[814] from
the