The Oriel Text
[69]
Lat galaunte go, I mene, recheles ruskyn;
Take hede, my childe, to suche as ben cu_n_nyng,
So shall ye wyrship best conquere and wynne, 479
Enforsith you in all your_e_ demenyng
To sewe vertu, and[1] from foly declynyng;
[Sidenote 1: Omit and]
And, my childe, that ye loue of honeste.
Which is accordyng wyth humanyte. 483
[70]
That is, to you to vndirstond And knowe,
That your_e_ aray be manerly and resonable,
Not appeissh knawen[1] and to mowe, 486
[Sidenote 1: Sic.]
I[n] nyse aray that is not couenable,
Fetis founde be folkys vnp_ro_fitable,
That maketh this world_e_ so pleynly t_ra_nsformate,
That men semen almost effeminate.
[71]
Pley not Iakke mAlaperte, that is to sey,
Be ware of p_re_sumpc_i_oun, be ware of pride,
Take not the fyrst place, my childe, be no way, 493
Till odir be sette manerly abyde,
Presomcion is often sette asyde,
And Avalith f[r]om his highe[1] de-gre,
[Sidenote 1: MS. hight.]
And he sette vppe that hath humanite. 497
Hill’s Text.
¶ Lete gallant go! I mene, recheles ruskyn:
Take hede my child to suche as be co_n_nyng,
so shall[e] ye best worship co_n_qvere & wynne;
Enforce you i_n_ all[e] yo_u_r demenyng
To folowe vertu, & fro foly declynnyng;
& weyte well[e] that ye love honeste
which ys accordyng vnto humanyte.
Ihu 1503 per Richard Hill: ffl C lxv
¶ That ys for you to vnd_er_stond & knowe,
that yo_u_r araye be manerly resonable,
Not apysshe ynto moke ne to mowe;
To nyce araye that ys not co_m_mendable,
ffetys, newe fonden by foolis vnp_ro_fytable, 488
that make the worlde so playnly transformate
that me_n_ seme_n_ Almost enfemynate.
¶ Playe not Iacke maleperte, that ys to say,
be ware of presumpc_i_on, be ware of pryde; 492
take not the first place, my child, by the waye;
till[e] oder be sette, ryght manerly a-byde,
presumtvous be ofte sette a-syde
& all[e] day avaled, as me_n_ may see, 496
& he ys sette vp that hat[=h] humylyte.
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[69]
Lete galante go / I mene recheles rusky[=n]
[Sidenote: Let Reckless Ruskyn go!]
Take hede my chyld to suche as be connyng
[Sidenote: You follow skilful men,]
So shal ye best worship conquere & wynne 479
Enforce you in al your demenyng_e_
To folowe vertu / & fro folye declynyng_e_
[Sidenote: virtue and]
And waite wel that ye loue honeste
[Sidenote: honesty.]
Whiche is acordynge1 vnto humanyte 483
[70]
Leaf 12 b.
That is for you / to vnderstonde & knowe
That your araye / be manerly resonable
[Sidenote: Don’t dress]
Not apysshe / on to mocken ne to mowe 486
[Sidenote: apishly]
To nyce araye / that is not commendable
[Sidenote: or foppishly.]
Fetis newe founden1 by foolis vnp_ro_uffitable
That make þ^e world so plainly transformate
That men semen almoste enfemynate
[71]
Playe not Iack malapert / that is to saye
[Sidenote: Don’t play Jack Malapert, that is,]
Beware of presump_ci_on / beware of pryde1
[Sidenote: don’t be presumptuous.]
Take not þ^e first place my child by the waye 493
Tyl other be sette / right manerly abyde
[Sidenote: Wait till others are seated.]
Presumptuo_us_ ben often set a syde.
And_e_ alleday aualyd_e_ / as men may see
And he is sette vp / that hath humylyte 497
[72]
To[1] cu_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take,
[Sidenote 1: MS. The.]
Where ye be sette in right atentif wyse,
Connyng folke cu_n_nyng folke shulde make,
To theire goodnesse ye shalle make your_e_ su_m_mise,
And as thei do, ye mosten deuyse;
For this, my childe, is as the gospell treue,
Whoo wolle be cu_n_nyng muste the cu_n_nyng sewe.
[73]
And o thing I charge you speciall[ie],
To womanhode good kepe you take alway,
And them to serue loke that ye haue an eie, 507
Ther comau_n_dementis, my child_e_, loke ye obey,
Plesaunt wordis to them I warne you saye,
And in all wyse do your_e_ dilligence,
To do them plesur_e_, honoure, and reuerence. 511
[74]
As at this tyme this tretice shall suffice,
Disposeth you to kepe in your_e_ mynde
The doctrines whiche for you I deuyse, 514
And douteth not, fulle welle ye shall hit fynde;
To youre honoure enrolle hit vp and bynde
Ryght in your_e_ brest, and in your_e_ ryper age
I shall wryten you here-of the surplusage. 518
Hill’s Text.
¶ To co_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take,
wher ye be sette, right i_n_ ententyf wyse;
Co_n_nyng folke co_n_nyng me_n_ shall[e] make;
to ther co_n_nyng ye shall[e] make yo_u_r surmyse,
& as thei do, ye must yo_u_r selfe devyse;
ffor this, my child, ys as the gospell[e] trewe,
‘who will[e] be co_n_nyng, he must co_n_nyng sewe.’ 504
¶ And on thyng I warne you specyally:
to woma_n_hede take awe alway,
& the_m_ to s_er_ve loke ye haue an eye,
& ther co_m_avndment_is_ that ye obeye; 508
Plesaunt word_is_ I avyse you to the_m_ saye,
& in all[e] wyse do ye yo_u_r delygence
To do the_m_ plesyre and reverence. 511
¶ And at this tyme this treatise shall[e] suffice;
Do pose you to kepe it in yo_u_r mynde,
the doctryne which for you I devyse;
& dowteth not, full[e] well[e] ye shall[e] yt fynde
To yo_u_r honowr_e_; enrolle yt vp & bynde 516
Rig[=h]t i_n_ yo_u_r brest, & at yo_u_r ryper age
I shall[e] write you here-of the surplusage.
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[72]
To connynd_e_ perso[=n]s regarde ye take
[Sidenote: Watch knowing folk, and]
Where ye be sette / right in ententyf wyse
Connyng folk / connyng men shal make
To their co_n_nyng ye shal make your surmise
[Sidenote: their skill.]
And as they do / ye muste your self deuyse
For this my child_e_ / is as the gospel trewe
Who wil be co_n_nyng / he must þ^e co_n_nyng sewe 504
[73]
And one thing / I warne you specyally
To womanhede / take awe alweye
[Sidenote: Specially attend to women, and]
And them to serue / loke ye haue an eye 507
And theire com_m_andementis that ye obeye
Plesant wordes I auyse you to them seye
[Sidenote: speak pleasant words to them.]
And in alle wyse / do ye your diligence
To do them plesure / and reuerence 511
[74]
And at this tyme this tretye shal suffise
[Sidenote: This is enough for the present.]
Dispose you / to kepe it in your mynde
[Sidenote: Mind you attend to it,]
The doctrine whiche for you I deuyse 514
And doubteth not / ful wel ye shal it finde
To your honour / enrolle it vp and bynde
Right in your breste / and at your riper age
I shal wryte to you / herof the surplusage 518
[Sidenote: and when you’re older I’ll write you the rest.]
Notes
1 Orig. accrdynge.
1 Orig. fonuden.
1 Orig. pryte.