The Game of Chess

...easily comes from it. Excessive good fortune causes many people to fall into idleness müessichait: idleness or sloth, which medieval theologians considered a "root of all evils" because it left the mind open to temptation. Afterwards, they sink into excessive sadness and bitterness, whereby the flame of joy is completely extinguished. In the heart that is turned toward despair, the Evangelist says: All faces shall turn pale original: "Alle anthaitz die werdent tras." This is likely an allusion to Nahum 2:10 or Joel 2:6, describing the physical appearance of those in spiritual or physical distress. when fortune begins to ebb. And for this reason, it happens that idleness brings many sins; therefore, it is said that because of idleness and sadness, Xerxes invented the game to bring joy to the people and to serve as a comfort and pastime for human life.

For the third reason, the game was invented out of a desire for new things, for all people desire to hear and know new things. As one reads of the Athenians, that they were always seeking new things, and for that reason, one's eyes are often closed The German text implies that physical sight can be a distraction from mental discovery. so that one may not think of or discover new things [through the senses alone]. And for this reason, Democritus A Greek philosopher often cited in the Middle Ages for the legend that he blinded himself to better focus on his thoughts. put out his own eyes so that he might better find new [intellectual] things. One also reads that Didymus Didymus the Blind (c. 313–398), a famous theologian in Alexandria who lost his sight at age four. of the city of Alexandria was blind and could not see, and because of this, his intellect was all the brighter and more transparent. So much so that his students were two great teachers: Gregory of Nazianzus and Jerome the Cardinal St. Jerome, the translator of the Bible into Latin. While he lived before the formal office of Cardinal was established, medieval authors almost always depicted him as one., who among other great teachers were instructors to many people. And so one reads that because of his great mind, the great teacher Anthony Saint Anthony the Great, the famous desert monk. visited him at home and questioned him, saying: "I wonder if you believe rightly, for I would be grieved [if you did not]." To which he answered, and then...