The Book of Chess

We work so that
the devil does not find us
idle among a healthy household.
When he finds a man idle,
he quickly seizes and binds him
in his thoughts
with desire and foolishness original: "vnsant dalke"
and many a deceitful scheme original: "planhart",
for he incites him to misdeeds.
Then he conceives such thoughts
whereby he loses his soul
to the fires of hell,
unless the Lord The OCR shows "d'", a common medieval abbreviation for "Dominus" (Lord) or "Driheit" (Trinity).
who has redeemed us
by His suffering original: "martel," referring to the Passion of Christ. prevents it,
for He desires us to be with Him.
As I have read myself,
the devil cannot deceive us
except as it happens to us
when we turn toward him willingly.
He sends into our hearts
evil thoughts and a wicked freedom.
My dear, free human,
what God has preserved for you—
these needs also remind me,
since I am needy myself.
I did not find in the little book original: "büchlin." The author is likely referring to the original Latin text by Jacobus de Cessolis, acknowledging that he is adding his own commentary.
everything that is written here;
yet it seems not useless to me
that I also added this,
for a poet sometimes needs
to say less or more

than what stands written before him,
so that it might be more complete.
I also noted concerning Judgment Day,
as it is written in the book [of life],
and as one reads about the Desert Fathers The "alt vatteren" (Old Fathers) refers to the early Christian hermits and monastics who lived in the Egyptian desert..
Thus I have read it,
and I found it written:
that a monk who kept his watch
found the poor devil lying upon him.
He never rests at any time,
for idleness is even more
like the devil himself.
So consider how perilously it stands
for those living the worldly life,
and also those who have surrendered to God.
They must suffer so much,
and from such envy,
they must lose all peace;
and the devils do such harm
to those who are God's servants.
I mean all spiritual children original: "geistlich kint." This refers to those who have taken religious vows, such as monks or nuns.
who stand in the spiritual life
and bind themselves to God.
They ought to live in peace
and be granted tranquility
in the hand of right obedience.
I read that in the land of Egypt,
when the Christian faith came there,
every monastery took this to heart
and always had its father Referring to an Abbot or spiritual leader of a community....