This is the condition of the wise man and foolish man in
playing chess.' From this it seems a descent to the tenth advantage,
which is, that chess combines war with sport; and pleasant allegories
are made subservient to the inculcation of sound truths and important
principles.
Next comes an explanation of the mode in which Great Chess was played,
with the nature and value of the various moves. Among the hard
technicalities with which it abounds, the writer takes occasion to
condemn the practice of giving a different value to the piece which
may have reached the end of the board; 'for,' as he says, 'what is
more natural or just than that men should occupy the station of their
predecessors, and that the son of a king should become a king, and a
general's son attain the rank of a general.' An instance of rigid
caste-law carried into a harmless recreation.
In another manuscript, chess is shewn to have something to do with a
man's fortunes: he who could watch a game without speaking, was held
to be discreet, and qualified for a government office. And conquerors
are enjoined not to boast of their success; not to say, even if such
be the case, that they have won all the games, but that they have 'won
some.
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