Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Micatio

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

MICA'TIO; or digitis micare. A game of chance, combined with skill, still common in the south of Italy, where it now goes by the name of Mora. (Varro, ap. Non. s. v. p. 547. Suet. Aug. 13. Calpurn. Ecl. ii. 26.) It is played by two persons in the following manner. Both hold up their right hands with the fist closed; they then simultaneously extend a certain number of their fingers, calling out at the same time by guesswork the collective number extended by the two together, and he who succeeds in hitting on the right number wins the game. The annexed figures (Micatio/1.1), representing a couple of Egyptians playing at mora, from a painting in the tombs, testify the very great antiquity of the game, and will serve to convey a distinct notion of the manner in which it was conducted to those who have never seen it played. The manner is the same as that practised by the moderns, with the exception that the performers are in a sitting instead of a standing posture, as now practised; and that they appear to make use of all their fingers, instead of the right hand only, which must have greatly increased the difficulty and intricacy of the game, as it admits the various combinations which might be made out of twenty numbers instead of only ten. The right-hand figure has extended all the fingers of his right hand, and three of his left; his opponent puts out two with the right hand, and three on the left one; thus the number exhibited is thirteen. If either of the parties cry out "thirteen" at the moment of opening their hands, but before the opened fingers are actually displayed, he wins; if neither succeeds in guessing right, they again close their hands, cry out a number, and open the fingers until one of them calls the right amount. What appears to be so simple is most difficult to execute with any chance of success, and requires more skill and calculation than a person, who had not himself made the experiment, would imagine. Each player has first to settle in his own mind how many fingers he will show; then to surmise how many his oppenent is likely to put up, which he does by observing his usual style of play, by remembering the numbers he last called, and those he last showed; he then adds these to his own, and calls the collective number, thus endeavouring to make the number which he calls. But as all this, which takes so much time in narrating, is actually done with the greatest rapidity, the hands being opened and closed, and the numbers simultaneously called as fast as one can pronounce them — eight, two, six, ten, — it requires great readiness of intellect, and decision of purpose, for a player to have any chance of winning, as well as a quick eye and acute observation, to see in a moment the aggregate number of fingers shown, so as not to overlook his own success; nor, on the other hand, suffer himself to be imposed upon by a more astute opponent; whence the Romans characterized a person of exceeding probity and honour, by saying that one might play at mora with him in the dark — dignus, quicum in tenebris mices. Cic. Off. iii. 19.

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  Micatio/1.1