The Game of Chess Moralized

interpreted in a good light what they were saying. ¶ And you should know
that the King must always have truth in his heart: in his
mouth: and must blame and reprove all evil
tongues according to what the prophet Likely a reference to King David in Psalm 15:2, "who speaks the truth from his heart." says, with his heart
always thinking the truth: but his lips speak
always according to it; by reason of his office, he must
resemble in some manner the God who created him
and for whom he is held in such high honor: God, who
is pure truth, must always be within him: also,
and everything that he says must be true: and he must keep in every
manner that which he promises. And we bring before
the text an example of Alexander the Great; for
Alexander once went with his army, strongly
moved by anger against the city of Lampsacus original: "lassace" to destroy
and overthrow it. And Anaximenes original: "anaximane" the philosopher, who was
born in that city and had been Alexander’s teacher, when
he heard that the King was coming so enraged, went out
from the city. And when the King saw him, he knew immediately that he was coming to
request mercy for the city so that it would not be destroyed.
And so that the King would not have to hear the request
of the philosopher, he swore first by his gods
that he would do nothing of the thing the philosopher requested of him.
¶ Whereupon the philosopher wisely requested of him
such a thing of which he knew well he would be refused Anaximenes uses a logical trap: by asking for the city's destruction, Alexander must do the opposite to keep his oath of "not doing what is asked.",
and said to him: "Sire, I therefore require and pray you
that the city of Lampsacus, where I was born, you destroy
utterly and completely." When Alexander heard his request, he
granted mercy to the city: he pardoned his anger: he preferred
to abandon his ill will and the anger he had
against the city, rather than go against his oath. And he was