[Illustration:  Fig. 165.—­Powder-horn.—­Work of the Sixteenth Century (Artillery Museum of Brussels).]

Games and Pastimes.

Games of the Ancient Greeks and Romans.—­Games of the Circus.—­Animal Combats.—­Daring of King Pepin.—­The King’s Lions.—­Blind Men’s Fights.—­Cockneys of Paris.—­Champ de Mars.—­Cours Plenieres and Cours Couronnees.—­Jugglers, Tumblers, and Minstrels.—­Rope-dancers.—­Fireworks.—­Gymnastics.—­Cards and Dice.—­Chess, Marbles, and Billiards.—­La Soule, La Pirouette, &c.—­Small Games for Private Society.—­History of Dancing.—­Ballet des Ardents.—­The “Orchesographie” (Art of Dancing) of Thoinot Arbeau.—­List of Dances.

People of all countries and at all periods have been fond of public amusements, and have indulged in games and pastimes with a view to make time pass agreeably.  These amusements have continually varied, according to the character of each nation, and according to the capricious changes of fashion.  Since the learned antiquarian, J. Meursius, has devoted a large volume to describing the games of the ancient Greeks ("De Ludis Graecorum"), and Rabelais has collected a list of two hundred and twenty games which were in fashion at different times at the court of his gay master, it will be easily understood that a description of all the games and pastimes which have ever been in use by different nations, and particularly by the French, would form an encyclopaedia of some size.

We shall give a rapid sketch of the different kinds of games and pastimes which were most in fashion during the Middle Ages and to the end of the sixteenth century—­omitting, however, the religious festivals, which belong to a different category; the public festivals, which will come under the chapter on Ceremonials; the tournaments and tilting matches and other sports of warriors, which belong to Chivalry; and, lastly, the scenic and literary representations, which specially belong to the history of the stage.

We shall, therefore, limit ourselves here to giving in a condensed form a few historical details of certain court amusements, and a short description of the games of skill and of chance, and also of dancing.

The Romans, especially during the times of the emperors, had a passionate love for performances in the circus and amphitheatre, as well as for chariot races, horse races, foot races, combats of animals, and feats of strength and agility.  The daily life of the Roman people may be summed up as consisting of taking their food and enjoying games in the circus (panem et circenses).  A taste for similar amusements was common to the Gauls as well as to the whole Roman Empire; and, were historians silent on the subject, we need no further information than that which is to be gathered from the ruins of the numerous amphitheatres, which are to be found at every centre of Roman occupation.  The circus disappeared on the establishment of the Christian religion, for the bishops condemned it as