it is said about shapur that he was a chess player who had an obedient ruler over chess. so his ruler gambled with him and shapur said to him what is your order? he said i will ride you until i take you to the public gate. shapur said to him what a bad place to put you he replied otherwise. he said this is what i said. shapur regretted that and stood up and called for a veil then covered himself then knelt before his ruler and refused to climb on the kings back out of respect and reverence for him. so a year later shapur proclaimed among the subjects no one should play a game with an absent referee for whoever does his blood will be shed.
وفيما يحكى عن سابور أنه لاعب تربا كان له بالشطرنج إمرة مطاعة. فقمره تربه، فقال له سابور ما إمرتك؟ فقال أركبك حتى أخرج بك إلى باب العامة. فقال له سابور بئس موضع الدالة وضعتك، فرد غير هذا. فقال بهذا جرى لفظي. فأسف لذلك سابور، وقام فدعا ببرقع، فتبرقع، ثم جثا لتربه، فامتنع أن يعلو ظهر الملك إجلالا له وإعظاما. فنادى سابور بعد ذلك بسنة في الرعية لا يلعبن أحد لعبة على حكم غائب، فمن فعل، فدمه هدر.