The Juggler's Oracle; or, The Whole Art of Legerdemain Laid Open / Consisting of all the newest and most surprising tricks and experiments with cards, cups and balls, conveyance of money and rings, boxes, fire, strings and knots; with many curious experiments by optical illusion, chymical changes, and magical cards, &c.

by H. Boaz

The first trick that I learned to do
Was out of one ball to make two:
Ah! since it cannot better be,
Of these two I will soon make three,
Which is called the first trick of dexterity.

So then you have three balls on the table to play with, and one left between the fingers of your right hand.

The Position of the Cups is thus—

1 2 3

Lay your three balls upon the table; then say, “Ladies and Gentlemen, you see here are three balls, and here are three cups; that is, a cup for each ball, and a ball for each cup.” Then taking the ball which you have in your right hand (which you are always to keep private) and clapping it under the first cup; and, taking up one of the three balls with your right hand, seem to put it into your left hand, but retain it still in your right, shutting your left hand in due time; then say, “Presto, begone.”

Then taking the second cup up, say, “Ladies and Gentlemen, you see there is nothing under my cup;” so clap the ball under that you have in your right hand, and then take the second ball up with your right hand, and seem to put it into your left, but retain it in your right, shutting your left hand in due time, as before, saying, “Vado, begone.”

Then taking the third cup up, saying, “Ladies and Gentlemen, you see there is nothing under my last cup,” clap the ball under your right hand, and, taking the third ball up with your right hand, seem to put it into your left hand, but retain it in your right hand; so, shutting your left hand in due time, as before, saying, “Presto, make haste”: so you have your three balls come under your three cups, as thus, and so lay your three cups down upon the table.