DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0211
A STRANGE PROPENSITY IN A PRINCE.
18
Resembling the ancient knights errant that ranged
through hills and dales in se'arch of able antagonists, this
Prince has traversed all Europe to obtain the supreme en-
joyment of putting some of the most accomplished chess-
players at defiance. I have even heard that it was his in-
tention to pass into Asia, to discover whether any of the
descendants of Palamedes are in existence ; but I am not
informed whether he has realized this noble project.
Prince Bathiani’s journey to Rome, however, had no
other object but to find able players, whom he flattered
himself he should be sufficiently skilful to confound. But
though he has lost considerable sums in the pursuit of this
idea, his passion has not been corrected by his disappoint-
ments. Presumptuous to excess, and but an indifferent
player ; yet instigated by the incitements of artful adven-
turers, more skilful than himself, he still continues to ex-
change his solid ducats for those fallacious eulogiums,
which he receives with more relish and avidity, than if he
really merited them.
Dining one day at his banker’s, an Abbe, being a stran-
ger, proposed a game at chess—accepted by the prince
with great pleasure. Five times had the Abbe obtained an
advantage ; when some inattention throwing him off his
guard, recollecting himself, he suddenly exclaimed—What
a fool am I? I was proceeding as if I had as much conceit
as Prince Bathiani. “Why, do you say, (answered the
Prince) that you are as conceited as the Prince Bathiani?”
“ Because (replied the Abbe) I have heard many say, that
this German Prince is a tolerable good chess-player ; while
unhappily, his presumption leads him to think, he is the
best player in the world ; though the proof of the contrary
exists at Vienna, where he lost 50,000 crowns.” That is
false, (answered the Prince) the loss was only 40,000
crowns.” “ Well, (said the Abbe) that proves him forty
times a fool.” It is needless to say, this party soon broke
B b 2 up.
18
Resembling the ancient knights errant that ranged
through hills and dales in se'arch of able antagonists, this
Prince has traversed all Europe to obtain the supreme en-
joyment of putting some of the most accomplished chess-
players at defiance. I have even heard that it was his in-
tention to pass into Asia, to discover whether any of the
descendants of Palamedes are in existence ; but I am not
informed whether he has realized this noble project.
Prince Bathiani’s journey to Rome, however, had no
other object but to find able players, whom he flattered
himself he should be sufficiently skilful to confound. But
though he has lost considerable sums in the pursuit of this
idea, his passion has not been corrected by his disappoint-
ments. Presumptuous to excess, and but an indifferent
player ; yet instigated by the incitements of artful adven-
turers, more skilful than himself, he still continues to ex-
change his solid ducats for those fallacious eulogiums,
which he receives with more relish and avidity, than if he
really merited them.
Dining one day at his banker’s, an Abbe, being a stran-
ger, proposed a game at chess—accepted by the prince
with great pleasure. Five times had the Abbe obtained an
advantage ; when some inattention throwing him off his
guard, recollecting himself, he suddenly exclaimed—What
a fool am I? I was proceeding as if I had as much conceit
as Prince Bathiani. “Why, do you say, (answered the
Prince) that you are as conceited as the Prince Bathiani?”
“ Because (replied the Abbe) I have heard many say, that
this German Prince is a tolerable good chess-player ; while
unhappily, his presumption leads him to think, he is the
best player in the world ; though the proof of the contrary
exists at Vienna, where he lost 50,000 crowns.” That is
false, (answered the Prince) the loss was only 40,000
crowns.” “ Well, (said the Abbe) that proves him forty
times a fool.” It is needless to say, this party soon broke
B b 2 up.