Songs of Exile/Sketch of the Game of Chess
SKETCH
OF THE
GAME OF CHESS
The date of this composition is given variously: the twelfth century or, according to Steinschneider, the fourteenth or fifteenth. The remarkable feature is that the game is mainly described by a combination and adaptation of Biblical texts.
Paragraph 9. In the thirteenth century the Alfyn had the diagonal move of our Bishop, restricted in its range of action to the third square from which it stood. (From the Chess Player's Chronicle, vol. iii, p. 63.) Steinschneider's date would appear to be in conflict with this fact.
Sketch of the Game of Chess
By Bon Senior Abn Yachia
IN the beginning of the reign, the armies stand before thee.
Thine eyes shall see the King in his glory. Behold, he standeth at the head of all his hosts; he shall cry, yea, he shall shout aloud; he shall do mightily against his enemies, By the strength of his hand and in his power, he is established in his stronghold, the fourth post, which is his place of encampment in the beginning of his reign.
The Queen doth stand at his right hand; he looketh upon her with favor.
Nigh unto them are two Horsemen mounted upon fed horses; at their right and at their left is an Elephant, and a War-car on either side.
These are the generals and officers, such as have ability to stand, Facing these in full array, stand two opposing lines of warriors.
The same are the mighty men which were of old. Such are their positions, and the standards of their camps, according to their families, according to their fathers' houses.
Come, let us take our fill of love, and I will give thee a place of access between these that stand by. I will display before thee the marchings and counter-marchings of this army, and I will explain in lucid words how the battle is turned back at the gate.
When the King marcheth from place to place in his dominion, there is but one law for him, whether his course be flank-wise or straight; all that he desireth he doeth; but his heart is not ambitious to extend his range in battle, lest he should die in the war.
The Elephants advance three paces without divergence, in oblique direction, bent in their path on victory, and they turn not aside. Behold them tramping forth, and whither they go, they work utter desolation.
And the Horsemen set themselves in array at the gate. Each hath his sword girt at his side. The glory of the snorting is terrible. They pace one stage straight across the field, and take another step in an oblique direction, before they halt in face of the enemy.
Before the War-cars lies but a straight path, their movement being the same on their four sides, They turn not when they go. They march along the whole length of the path which is before them. If they prevail by strength, none assaileth them; but should the commanders or servants of the hostile King stand before them, gone is their power to pass. Nor by their multitude, nor by their wealth can they deviate from the course already taken. Notwithstanding the great strength of this officer, one of the lowest rank of the enemy may suddenly capture him, when he deemeth himself in a place of safety.
When the war rageth, the King avoideth standing at the extremity of the battle-field, far from his troops; and thither he attempteth not to go, nor is he seen there, nor found there, unless one of his warriors stand before him, as a shield and as a safeguard to conceal his person from all men, If he arise again and walk abroad upon his staff, after he hath been seen, he waxeth in his wrath; he goeth and hideth himself behind a wall or fortress, and he fleeth and escapeth from the battle.
Behold, I have laid before thee goodly words, to teach thee to obey the King's commands and his decree whithersoever they may reach thee. And concerning these men who draw near, have I not written unto thee excellent things? I have shown thee the laws of the contest, its genius, and its principles, and every sign; and there lacketh not one about whom I have not written.
Excepting that we have not yet spoken of the woman, She sitteth at the top of the high places by the city, She is clamorous and wilful in her way. She girdeth her loins with strength, Her feet abide not in her house, She moveth in all directions, and turneth about her. Her evolutions are wonderful, her ardor untiring. How beautiful are her steps across the plain!
And the King, clad in black garments, standeth at the fourth post, which is white, over against the next post, which is black, where standeth his Queen. He draweth nigh unto the thick darkness. His eye is upon her, for he hath married an Ethiopian woman. They shall come out against thee one way, with one movement and one journey. If they be not cautious, as the one dieth, so dieth the other,
But the black King is strong when there standeth before him a great and numerous and powerful people, serving him in the field of battle as a strong army, For they dare advance and bravely leap from place to place, Their feet are straight feet, but if it be their will to capture prisoners or spoil, they may diverge to either flank, One of them may gain power and increase in strength. Should he reach the haven of his desire, lo! he skippeth as a hart! Then is he swifter than the eagles of heaven, he hasteneth his steps, and doeth that in which his soul delighteth, even all that the woman doeth.
And now the two Kings intrigue against each other, and pursue each other unto the death, One is embarrassed in the fight; and when he resteth in his place, an officer of the enemy may command him to go forth from his boundary, lest he should smite him with destruction. He may retreat in any direction; but if in striving to escape his feet be caught in the snare set by the warriors that surround him, then is his glory turned unto destruction. Ah, lord! ah, for his glory! And his people who are left after him are as nothing; for of what account are they? In one moment the mighty men are subdued, and the commander is brought low, he is thrust out, he boweth down, and he falleth. The King who hath striven against him bringeth him down from his greatness, until not a remnant is left unto him. Then is he overthrown and cut off from his position and honor. How can one pursue a thousand! That one is left in glory and majesty, and the other dieth in bitterness of soul.
Thus shall perish all the enemies of the King, and they that seek his evil; but they that love him shall be as the sun when he goeth forth in his glory.