[19] See a work by the late Mr. James Christie--more generally known to the world as an auctioneer than as a man of learning and of great research--entitled "An Enquiry into the ancient Greek game supposed to have been invented by Palamedes antecedent to the Siege of Troy; with Reasons for believing the Game to have been known from remote antiquity in China, and progressively improved into the Chinese, Indian, Persian, and European Chess." London, 1801. [20] Julius Pollux, Onomasticon, lib. ix, cap. 7. [21] "As the military groundwork of the game of cards, and its similarity to chess, cannot be denied; so a closer examination of this affinity may readily lead to the origin of the change in their figures and colours."--Breitkopf, Ueber den Ursprung der Spielkarten, s. 30. [22] "Le traducteur du Poëme de la Vielle, en décrivant les Echecs, s'exprime ainsi; 'La Reyne, que nous nommons Fierge, Tient de Venus, et n'est pas Vierge; Aimable est et amoureuse.'" &c. --L'Origine du Jeu des Echecs, par Mons. Freret. Hist. de l'Académie des Inscriptions, tom. v, p. 255. [23] "Comme c'est un jeu militaire, il y a dans chaque couleur un roi, un officier supérieur ou capitaine, nommé _Ober_, et un bas-officier appelé _Unter_. On appelait encore de nos jours dans l'Empire, où les mots François ne sont pas en vogue, les officiers supérieurs _Oberleute_, et les bas-officiers _Unterleute_"--Heineken, Idée Générale d'une Collection d'Estampes, p. 241. Leipsic, 1771. [24] It would appear that the etymology of this name was a matter of great uncertainty even among people of oriental race. According to some, it was _Sad-rengh_, the _hundred turns_, or wiles of the players; according to others, it was _Sad-rangi_, the hundred vexations of the game. A third derivation was from _Shesh-rengh_, _six colours_, as if each of the six orders of pieces had been distinguished by a separate colour.--Hyde, De Ludis Orientalibus. Par. 1. Historia Shahiludii, cap. De Nomine Shatrangi. Oxon. 1694. [25] That the suits of cards were formerly distinguished by an emblem which was suggestive of a particular colour, as well as representing a particular form, is certain. The Germans still call two of their suits _Roth_ and _Grün_--red and green--and the emblems are a heart and a leaf. [26] Observations on the Antiquity of Card-playing in England. In the Archæologia, vol. viii. [27] "Edward the First, when Prince of Wales, served nearly five years in Syria, and therefore, whilst military operations were suspended, must naturally have wished some sedentary amusement. Now, the Asiatics scarcely ever change their customs: and as they play at cards, though in many respects different from ours, it is not improbable that Edward might have been taught this game, _ad quatuor reges_, whilst he continued so long in this part of the globe."--Archæol. viii, p. 135.