More striking than the preceding, and abounding in singular correspondences with the first three numbers of our own collection, is the Italian version, as played in Venice. In this game, one of the rows is composed of a boy, who represents the head of the house, and five or six girls who stand at his right and left. The other row is formed by the ambassador, whose suite consists of boys and girls. These last advance towards the first row, singing, "The ambassador is come," then, retreating, sing a chorus, "Olà, olà, olà." The conversation then proceeds in a rhythmical way between the two rows as follows:
| "What do you wish?" | "A maid." |
| "Which maid?" | "The fairest." |
| "Who is the fairest?" | "Nineta bella." |
| "What husband will you give her?" | "A chimney-sweep." |
| "That will not do." | "The king of France." |
| "That will do well." | "What dowry will you give her?" |
| "A ducat." | "It will not do." |
| "A zechin a day." | "That will do well." |
| "Come and take her." | "Here I come and take her." |
The "ambassador" advances and takes the girl by the hand; then, as if changing his mind, rejects her, saying as he returns—
| "And now I don't want her!" | |
| "Why do you not want her?" | "She is too little (or ugly)." |
| "Is that the trouble?" | "Yes, that is the trouble." |
| "Come, let us make peace." | "Peace is made." |
The ambassador then takes by the hand the girl, who is presented to him by the head of the house; the two files unite to form a circle, and the bride receives the general congratulations of the company, who clap their hands, courtesy, and sing,[38] as in the pretty English equivalent—
And the bells will ring, and the birds will sing,
And we'll all clap hands together.
In Spain, the game is known as the "Embassy of the Moorish King." The "King of the Moors" is seated on the ground, with crossed legs, his attendants about him. The "ambassador" makes three steps forward, and demands one of his daughters. The king replies, "If I have them, I have them not to give away; of the bread which I eat, they shall eat as well."
The ambassador withdraws angry: "In discontent I go from the king's palace." But the king, repenting, calls after him—
"Turn thee, knight, come, turn thee hither,
The most fair I'll give to thee—
The most lovely and the sweetest,
Sweetest rose upon the tree."
The ambassador crosses hands with one of his train to make a seat, on which the bride is placed in triumph, singing—