The Game of Chess

asked the master Yerxes to teach it to him. Then the master said to the king that no one should learn this game unless they first submitted themselves to be correctedoriginal: "strauffen". This is a central theme in the text; the game is not merely for leisure but is a tool for moral discipline and "correction" of a ruler's character.. This pleased the king, and he said he would gladly allow himself to be corrected, for he was compelled by the beauty and novelty of the game.

Then Yerxes showed and instructed the king on the squaresoriginal: "veld". Literally "fields," referring to the 64 squares of the chessboard. and also the piecesoriginal: "gestaines". Literally "stones," a common medieval term for gaming pieces.. Regarding the forms of the king, the queen, and the other pieces, he drew the king aside and gave him praiseworthy examples within the game for justice and for noble conduct.

And when the king heard the correction—the very thing for which he had previously destroyedoriginal: "verderbet". This implies the king had a history of executing or ruining wise men who dared to criticize his behavior. many wise men—he commanded him with a stern decree that he must tell him why he had invented the game.

To this Yerxes answered and said: "O now, dear lord and high king, my heart's desire and will is that you should lead a praiseworthy, princely life that might be above reproachoriginal: "strauffenlich". Here meaning "blameworthy" or "deserving of correction." Yerxes wants the King's life to be so virtuous that it cannot be criticized. in the eyes of men, and..."