The Game of Chess

...better that you die than that he leads such a shameful life as he does; for it is said that he acts on your advice. For thus did Theodorus Goryoneus Theodorus of Cyrene, a philosopher known for his boldness toward rulers., whom King Lysimachus hung upon a cross because he rebuked his evil life. He spoke openly before the king's counselors, who stood before him in purple and rich clothing: "I care not whether I rot in the air or in the earth." Of this same master it is said that he gouged out his own eyes so that he would not see the wicked prosper while the good and the peaceful were oppressed.

Also Socrates, the great master, was forced to drink poison because he would not suffer injustice. And when his wife scolded him for it, he said, "Silence; I would much rather die in righteousness than live in injustice."

In this way, the noble master Xerxes, who invented this game, wished to risk his life for the sake of what is right. This beautiful game of chess schachzabelFrom the Latin scaccarium. In the Middle Ages, chess was often used as an allegory for social order and morality. was invented by the master Xerxes for three reasons:

First, for the improvement of the evil life of King Evilmerodach. For Xerxes feared that he would be put to death by the king if he rebuked him for his misdeeds; therefore, he invented the game and taught it to the free dukes, free counts, and other noble lords who were in the court. And when the king [saw] the nobles and the...