, &c., sorrow and beggary succeeds. So
good things may be abused, and that which was first invented to [3296]
refresh men's weary spirits, when they come from other labours and studies
to exhilarate the mind, to entertain time and company, tedious otherwise in
those long solitary winter nights, and keep them from worse matters, an
honest exercise is contrarily perverted.

Chess-play is a good and witty exercise of the mind for some kind of men,
and fit for such melancholy, Rhasis holds, as are idle, and have
extravagant impertinent thoughts, or troubled with cares, nothing better to
distract their mind, and alter their meditations: invented (some say) by
the [3297]general of an army in a famine, to keep soldiers from mutiny: but
if it proceed from overmuch study, in such a case it may do more harm than
good; it is a game too troublesome for some men's brains, too full of
anxiety, all out as bad as study; besides it is a testy choleric game, and
very offensive to him that loseth the mate. [3298]William the Conqueror, in
his younger years, playing at chess with the Prince of France (Dauphine was
not annexed to that crown in those days) losing a mate, knocked the
chess-board about his pate, which was a cause afterward of much enmity
between them. For some such reason it is belike, that Patritius, in his _3.
book, tit. 12. de reg. instit_. forbids his prince to play at chess;
hawking and hunting, riding, &c. he will allow; and this to other men, but
by no means to him. In Muscovy, where they live in stoves and hot houses
all winter long, come seldom or little abroad, it is again very necessary,
and therefore in those parts, (saith [3299]Herbastein) much used. At Fez in
Africa, where the like inconvenience of keeping within doors is through
heat, it is very laudable; and (as [3300]Leo Afer relates) as much
frequented. A sport fit for idle gentlewomen, soldiers in garrison, and
courtiers that have nought but love matters to busy themselves about, but
not altogether so convenient for such as are students. The like I may say
of Col. Bruxer's philosophy game, D. Fulke's _Metromachia_ and his
_Ouronomachia_, with the rest of those intricate astrological and
geometrical fictions, for such especially as are mathematically given; and
the rest of those curious games.

Dancing, singing, masking, mumming, stage plays, howsoever they be heavily
censured by some severe Catos, yet if opportunely and soberly used, may
justly be approved. _