The Game of the Chesse (Caxton, facsimile)

The philosopher put out his own eyes, so that original: "for as moche as" he might have better understanding original: "entendement" and comprehension. Many have been made blind who were great scholars original: "clerkis", just as was Didymus, Bishop of Alexandria Didymus the Blind (c. 313–398) was a famous theologian who lost his sight as a child but became a renowned teacher.. Although original: "how wel that" he could not see, yet he was such a great scholar that Gregory Nazianzen original: "gregore nazaz"; a 4th-century Archbishop of Constantinople. and Saint Jerome—who were themselves scholars and masters to others—came to be his students original: "scolers" and learned from him.

And Saint Anthony the Great, the hermit Saint Anthony was a prominent leader among the Desert Fathers and is considered the father of Christian monasticism., once came to see him, and among other things, he asked original: "demaunded" him if he were not greatly displeased that he was blind and could not see. He answered that he was greatly distressed, for he could not help but be unhappy original: "supposid not that he was not displeasid" about the fact that he had lost his sight.

And Saint Anthony answered him, "I marvel much that it displeases you that you have lost that thing which is common between you and the beasts. For you know well that you have not lost that thing which is common between you and the angels."

For these reasons mentioned above, the philosopher intended to put away all anxiety original: "pensifnes" and distracting thoughts, and to think only on this game, as shall be explained and appear in this book hereafter.