Yet the Brachman may assume the merit of inventing a pleasing fiction, which adorns the nakedness of truth, and alleviates, perhaps, to a royal ear, the harshness of instruction.

With a similar design, to admonish kings that they are strong only in the strength of their subjects, the same Indians invented the game of chess, which was likewise introduced into Persia under the reign of Nushirvan.

[56] [Footnote 46: A thousand years before his birth, the judges of Persia had given a solemn opinion, (Herodot.l.iii.c.31, p.

210, edit.
Wesseling.) Nor had this constitutional maxim been neglected as a useless and barren theory.] [Footnote 47: On the literary state of Persia, the Greek versions, philosophers, sophists, the learning or ignorance of Chosroes, Agathias (l.ii.c.

66--71) displays much information and strong prejudices.] [Footnote 48: Asseman.Bibliot.Orient.tom.iv.