The Oriel Text
[24]
This curteise clarke writeth in ryght this wyse,
Rebukyng the vice of vile detracc_i_ou_n_;
‘What man hit be that of custome and guise 164
Hurteth wyth his toung wyth foule corrosiou_n_
The absent wight, for that abusiou_n_
Suche detractoure [wayue][1] from this table
[Sidenote 1: A word loss.]
As vn-worthe, not to be reprocheable. 168
[25]
Whan ye sitten therfor at your_e_ repaste,
Annoyethe no man present nor absent,
But speketh feyre, for and ye make waste 171
Off [large] langage, for soth ye most be schent;
And wan ye speke, speketh wyth good entent
Of maters appendyng to myrth and plesaunce,
But nothyng that may causen men greuaunce.
[26]
Eschewe also taches of foule rauenyng,
Of gredy lust the vncurteyce appetite;
Pres not to sone to your_e_ viaunde, restraine 178
Your_e_ handis a while wyth manerly respytte;
Fedith for necessite, not for delite,
Demeneth you in mete and drink soo sobrely,
That ye be not infecte wyth gloteny.’ 182
Hill’s Text.
¶ This curteys clerke wryteth i_n_ this wyse,
Rebukyng the vyce of vyle detracc_i_on:
what may yt be that of custu_m_ & gvyse 164
hurteth w_i_t_h_ tonge or by fowle colusyon
The absente / weyne[1] ye for that abusyon
[Sidenote 1: or weyne]
Suche a detractowr_e_ from the table
As vnworthy & also reprocheable. 168
¶ Whan ye sytte therfor at yo_u_r repast,
Annoye ye no ma_n_ present nor absente,
but speke ye fewe; for yff ye make wast
of large langage, for soth ye must be shent. 172
& wha_n_ ye speke // speke w_i_t_h_ good Intent
Off maters accordyng vnto plesavnce,
but no thy_n_ge that may cavse me_n_ grevaunce.
¶ Eschewe also tacches of fowle ravayne,
of gredy luste; w_i_t_h_ vncurteys appetyte 177
prece not to sone; fro yo_u_r vyande restrayn_e_
yo_u_r hand a while w_i_t_h_ manerly respyte;
ffede you for necessyte, & not for delyte.
Demene you w_i_t_h_ mete & dry_n_ke so soberly
That ye not be Infecte wyth glotony.
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[24]
This curtoys clerk / writeth in this wise
Rebukyng_e_ the vice / of vyle detracc_i_on
[Sidenote: rebukes the vice of detraction,]
What man it be / that of custom & guyse 164
Hurteth with tunge / or by foule colusi[=o]n
Thabsente / weyue ye for that abusio[=n]
Suche a detractour / from the table
[Sidenote: and bids you turn all backbiters from the table]
As vnworthy / and also reprochable 168
[25]
Leaf 5 a.
Whan ye sitte therfore at your repaste
Annoye ye noman presente nor absente
But speke ye fewe / for yf ye make waste 171
[Sidenote: Speak little.]
Of large langage / for sothe ye must be shent
And whan ye speke / speke ye with good e_n_te_n_t
[Sidenote: and that pleasantly.]
Of maters acordyng_e_ vnto plesance
But nothi_n_g / that may cause men greua[=n]ce
[26]
Eschewe also tacches of foule Raueyne
[Sidenote: Don’t be ravenous,]
Of gredy luste / with vncurteys appetyte1
Prece not to sone / fro your viand restreyne 178
Your honde a while / with manerly respite
[Sidenote: but keep your hands from your food for a time.]
Fede you for necessite / & not for delite
Demene you with mete / & drynke so sobrely
That ye not ben enfecte with glotony 182
[27]
Embrewe not your_e_ vesselle ne your_e_ cuppe[1]
[Sidenote 1: Sic. Read “napery.”]
Ouer mesure and maner, but saue them clene;
Ensoyle not your_e_ cuppe, but kepe hit clenely,
Lete no fatte ferthyng of your_e_ lippe be sen.
For that is foule; wotte you what I mene?
Or than ye drincke, for your_e_ owne honeste,
Your_e_ lippis wepe, and klenly loke they be. 189
[28]
Blowe not in your_e_ drincke ne in your_e_ potage,
Ne farsith not your_e_ disshe to full of brede,
Ne bere not your_e_ knyf towarde your_e_ vysage, 192
For ther_e_-in is parell and mekell drede.
Clawe not your_e_ face ne touche not your_e_ hede
Wyth your_e_ bare hande, sittyng at the table,
For in norture that is reprouable. 196
[29]
Lowse not your_e_ gyrdyll syttyng at your_e_ table,[1]
[Sidenote 1: Sic. Read “mete.”]
For that is a tache of vncurtesye,
But and ye seme ye be enbrasyde streite, 199
Or than ye sitte amende hit secrely,
So couertly that no wyght hit espie.
Be ware also no breth from you rebounde
Vppe ne downe, be ware that shamefull sounde.
Hill’s Text.
ffl C lxij.
¶ Enbrewe not yo_u_r vessell ne yo_u_r naprye
over maner & mesure, but kepe the_m_ clene; 184
Ensoyle not yo_u_r cuppe, but kepe yt clenly,
lete no farsyone on yo_u_r lyppis be sene,
ffor that ys fowle; ye wott what I mene.
Or than ye drynke, for yo_u_r own honeste 188
yo_u_r lyppys wype, & clenly loke they be.
¶ Blowe not i_n_ yo_u_r drynke ne i_n_ yo_u_r pottage.
Ne ferce not yo_u_r disshe to full[e] of brede;
bere not yo_u_r knyf toward yo_u_r vysage, 192
ffor theryn ys peryll[e] & mykell[e] drede;
Clawe not yo_u_r visage, tovch not yo_u_r hede
w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r bare honde syttyng at the table,
ffor i_n_ norture suche thyng_is_ be rep_ro_veable. 196
¶ Lose not yo_u_r gyrdyll[e] syttyng at yo_u_r mete,
ffor that is a tache of vncurtesye;
but yff ye seme ye be enbrased streyte,
or than ye sytte, amend yt secretly
So wysely that no wyght you aspye.
be ware also no breth fro you rebownd
Vp ne down_e_, lest ye were shamfull[e] fownd.
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[27]
Enbrewe not your vessel / ne your naprye
[Sidenote: Don’t dirty your cloth or cup.]
Ouer maner & mesure / but kepe hem clene
Ensoyle not your cuppe / but kepe it clenlye
Lete no fat farssine / on your lippes be sene
For that is fowle / ye wote what I mene
Or than ye drynke / for your owen honeste
[Sidenote: Wipe your lips before you drink.]
Your lippes wype / and clenly loke they be 189
[28]
Leaf 5 b.
Blowe not in your dri_n_ke ne in your potage
[Sidenote: Don’t blow on your food,]
Ne farse not your dishe to ful of brede
Bere not your knyf / to ward_e_ your visage 192
[Sidenote: or put your knife to your face,]
For therin is parell_e_ / and mykyl drede
Clawe not your visage / touche not your hede
[Sidenote: or scratch it or your head.]
With your bare honde / sittyng atte table
For in norture / suche thing is reprouable 196
[29]
Lose not your gyrdel / sittyng at your mete
[Sidenote: Don’t undo your girdle at table;]
For that is a tacche / of vncurtesye
But yf ye seme / ye be embraced streite 199
[Sidenote: if it’s tight, let it out before you sit down.]
Or then ye sytte / amende it secretly
So couertly that no wight you espye
Beware also / no bret[=h] fro you rebounde
[Sidenote: Don’t break wind up or down.]
Vp ne dou[=n] / leste ye were shameful founde 203
[30]
Beth huste in chambre, cilent in the halle,
Herkenyth well, yeueth good audience;
Yef vsher or marchall for eny romour calle, 206
Putting Ianglers to rebuke and cilence,
Beth mylde of langage, demure of eloquence;
Enforcith you to them confourmyde be,
That can most good and haue humanyte.
[31]
Touche not wyth mete salt in the saler,
Lest folke Appoynt you of vncunnyngnesse,
Dresse hit apparte vppon a clene tranchere; 213
Force not your_e_ mouth to fulle for wantannesse,
Lene not vppon the table, that is but rudesse,
And yf I shall to you so playnly say,
Ouer the table ye shull not spette convey 217
[32]
Yif ye be seruid wyth metis delicate,
Departith wyth your_e_ fellowys in gentyl wyse,
The clarke seith, ‘nature is content and saciate
Wyth meane diete, and lytill shall suffice.’
Departyth therfor_e_, as I to you devise;
Engrosith not vnto your_e_ silven all,
For gentilnesse will ay be lyberall. 224
Hill’s Text.
¶ Be ye husht i_n_ chambre, scylente i_n_ hall[e];
herkyn well[e], & geve good audyence
yff vsshar or marchall[e] for any rvmowr_e_ call[e];
putt ye yanglers to rebuke for scilence.
Be ye myld of la_n_gage, demvre of eloquence; 208
Enforce you vnto hy_m_ co_n_formed to be
that ca_n_ most good, & hathe humanyte.
¶ Towch not w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r mete salte i_n_ the saler,
leest folke apoynte you of vnco_n_nyngnesse; 212
Dresse yt aparte vpon a clene trensher_e_.
ffarste not yo_u_r movth to full[e] for wantonesse;
lene not on the table, for that rvde ys;
& yff I shall[e] to you playnly saye, 216
over the table ye shall[e] not spetell[e] co_n_veye.
¶ Yff ye be s_er_vede w_i_t_h_ met_is_ delycate,
Departe w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r felawe i_n_ gentill[e] wyse;
the clerke seyth, ‘nature ys co_n_tent & sacyate
w_i_t_h_ mene dyete, & lytill[e] shall[e] suffyce;’
Departe therfor, as I you devyce,
Engrose not vnto yowr_e_ selfe all[e],
ffor gentylnesse will[e] ay be lyberall[e]. 224
CAXTON’S TEXT.
[30]
Be ye husht in chambre / scylent in halle
[Sidenote: Be silent,]
Herken wel and_e_ gyue good_e_ audience
Yf vssher or marchal for ony Rumour calle 206
Put ye Ianglers to rebuke for silence
[Sidenote: and put chatterers to rebuke.]
Be ye myld_e_ of langage / demure of eloque_n_ce
Enforce you vnto hym conformed to be
[Sidenote: Imitate him who has humanity.]
That can moste good / and_e_ hath humanyte
[31]
Leaf 6 a.
Touche not with your mete / salt i_n_ the saler
[Sidenote: Don’t dip your meat in the saltcellar,]
Lest folk apoynte you of vnconnyngnesse
Dresse it aparte / vpon a clene trencher 213
Farse not your mouth to ful / for wa_n_tonesse
Lene not vpon the table / for that rude is
[Sidenote: lean on the table,]
And yf I shal to you playnly saye
Ouer the table / ye shal not spetel conueye 217
[Sidenote: or spit over it.]
[32]
Yef ye be serued / with metes delicate
[Sidenote: Share dainties with your fellows:]
Departe with your felowe / in gentil wise
The clerck saith / nature is conte_n_t & saciate
With mene diete / and litil shall suffyse
Departe therfore / as I you deuyse
Engrose not / vnto your self all_e_
For gentilnes / wil aye be liberall_e_ 224
[Sidenote: gentleness is liberal.]
Notes
1 Orig. appetyce.