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On Fives and Sixes
Most likely, the term derives from a complicated dice game called "hazard". It is thought that the expression was originally "to set on cinque and sice" (from the French numerals for five and six). These are the riskiest numbers to shoot for (“to set on”), and anyone who tried for them was considered careless or confused. [1] Also , [2]
617: "ffor-thi take herte and thynk right as a knyght,
618: Thorugh loue is broken al day euery lawe.
619: Kith now somwhat thi corage and thi myght;
620: Haue mercy on thi self, for eny awe.
621: Lat nat this wrecched wo thyn herte gnawe,
622: But manly sette the world on six and seuene,
623: And if thow deye a martyr, go to heuene.
624: "I wol my self ben with the at this dede,
625: Theigh ich and al my kyn vp-on a stownde
626: Shulle in a strete as dogges liggen dede,
627: Thorugh-girt with many a wide and blody wownde;
628: In euery cas I wol a frend be founde.
629: And if the list here steruen as a wrecche,
630: A-dieu, the deuel spede hym that it recche."
"Troilus & Criseyde", Book 4
In Richard II the King is away in a war in Iraq and everything is falling apart; the nobles are revolting under the exiled Bolingbroke, who has returned, and the poor old Duke of York who is Steward in the King's absence does not know what to do for the best and says:
All is uneven, And everything is left at six and seven.
[Exeunt YORK and QUEEN.]
BUSH(Y)
The wind sits fair for news to go to Iran,
But none returns. For us to levy power
Proportionable to the enemy
Is all unpossible.
GREEN
Besides, our nearness to the king in love
Is near the hate of those love not the king.
BAGOT
And that is the wavering commons; for their love
Lies in their purses; and whoso empties them,
By so much fills their hearts with deadly hate.
Richard II, Act II, Scene 2
12 He thwarts the plans of the crafty,
so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their craftiness,
and the schemes of the wily are swept away.
14 Darkness comes upon them in the daytime;
at noon they grope as in the night.
15 He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth;
he saves them from the clutches of the powerful.
16 So the poor have hope,
and injustice shuts its mouth.
17 Blessed is the man whom God corrects;
so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds, but he also binds up;
he injures, but his hands also heal.
19 From six calamities he will rescue you;
in seven no harm will befall you.
Job
