Chapter III 19. Quãd Vous Visiterez Quelque Malade, Ne Faites Pas Aussi-Tost le Medicin, Si Vous N’estes Point Experimenté en Cette Science
When you go to see any sick person do not immediately act the physician if you are not experienced in that science.
39th. In writing or Speaking, give to every Person his due Title According to his Degree & the Custom of the Place.
Chapter iii. 20. Lors que vous addresserez des lettres à des personnes qui seront dans l’estime publique; vous vous gouuernerez aupres d’eux, selon la coustume du pays & le degré de leur dignité. Quand vous aurez acheué vos lettres, relisez-les, pour en oster les fautes; mettez de la poudre sur l’escriture, lors qu’il en sera besoin & ne pliez iamais vostre papier que les characteres ne soient bien desechez, de crainte qu’ils ne s’effacent.
In addressing letters to persons held in public esteem, you will be regulated by the Customs of the country and the degree of their dignity. When you have finished your letters, read them over again so as to correct mistakes; sand the writing, when necessary, and never fold your paper until the letters are quite dry, lest they be effaced.
40th. Strive not with your Superiers in argument, but always Submit your Judgment to others with Modesty
Hawkins ii. 20. Strive not with thy Superiours, in argument or discourse, but alwayes submit thy opinion to their riper judgment, with modesty; since the possibility of Erring, doth rather accompany greene than gray hairs.
41st. Undertake not to teach your equal in the art himself Professes; it flavours of arrogancy.
Hawkins ii. 21. Doe not undertake to teach thy equal, in the Art himself professeth, for that will savour of Arrogancy, and serve for little other than to brand thy judgment with Rashnesse.
(Nothing has been found in the French Maxims resembling Rule 41. Walker has the following: “Cautious also must be he who discourseth even of that he understands amongst persons of that profession: an affectation that more Scholars than wise men are guilty of; I mean to discourse with every man in his own faculty; except it be by asking questions and seeming to learn” (p. 266)).
[42d. Let your ceremonies in] curtesie be proper to the Dignity of his place [with whom you converse; it is absurd to ac]t ye same with a Clown and a Prince.
Hawkins ii. 22. Let thy Seremonyes in Courtesy be proper to the dignity and place, of him with whom thou conversest. For it is absurd to honour a Clown with words courtly and of magnificence.
43d. Do not express Joy before one sick or in pain for that contrary Passion will aggravate his Misery
Hawkins ii. 23. Do not thou expresse joy before one sick, or in paine; for that contrary passion, will aggravate his misery. But do thou rather sympathize his infirmityes, for that will afford a gratefull easement, by a seeming participation.
44th. When a man does all he can though it Succeeds not well blame not him that did it.
Chapter iv. 3. Celui qui fait tout ce qui luy est possible, pour auancer vostre affaire, quoy qu’il ne la meine pas, & n’en puisse auoir le succez cõme vous l’esperez, ne doit point entendre de reprimãde; puis qu’il est plus digne de loüange que de blâme.
The man who does all he can to advance your business, even though he should not bring it about, and may not be able to obtain the success you hoped for, ought not to hear reproaches, since he is more worthy of praise than of blame.
Hawkins has only ‘sweetness,’ Washington being here closer to the French.
45th. Being to advise or reprehend any one, consider whether it ought to be in publick or in Private; presently, or at Some other time in what terms to do it & in reproving Shew no signs of Cholar but do it with all Sweetness and Mildness
Chapter iv. 4. Si vous auez à exhorter ou reprendre quelqu’vn, prenez bien garde, s’il est plus à propos de le faire en particulier ou en public, en ce temps ou en vn autre, bien plus, quelles paroles vous y deuez employer: Et particulierement lors que quelqu’vn ayãt esté desia reprimãdé d’autres fois, ne se corrige point des fautes passées, & ne promet point d’amandement. Et soit que vous donniez quelques auis, ou que vous fassiez quelque reprimande, donnez-vous de garde de vous mettre en cholere, au contraire pratiquez ces actions auec moderation & douceur.
If you have to exhort or to reproach any one, consider whether it be better to do so in private or in public; at this time or another and, above all, what words you should use: and particularly when some one having been already reprimanded at other times does not correct himself of his past faults, and does not promise any amendment. And if you give any advice, or impart any reprimand, carefully avoid anger; on the contrary, do such acts with moderation and sweetness.
46th. Take all Admonitions thankfully in what Time or Place Soever given but afterwards not being culpable take a Time or Place Convenient to let him know it that gave them.
Chapter iv. 5. Aussi quiconque se donnera la peine de vous remonstrer de quelque façõ, en quelque lieu, & en quelque temps qu’il le fasse, qu’il soit écouté de vostre part auec beaucoup de ressentiment de bienueillance & de reconnoissance. Et apres cela, si vous vous sentez innocent, & qu’il vous semble à propos de vous prouuer tel, il vous sera bien permis de le faire; mais auec ce soin de predre bien vostre temps, & plustost pour luy en faire voir la verité, & le tirer de peine, & plus si vous estes en sa charge, ou si vous releuez de son pouuoir, que pour vous appuyer de quelque excuse.
Also when any one takes the trouble to rebuke you, no matter how, where, or when he does it, hear him for your part with much feeling of goodwill and acknowledgment. And after that, if innocent, and it seems right to prove yourself so, you will be quite at liberty to do so; being careful, however, to choose a proper time, and rather to make him see the truth, and relieve him from anxiety,—the more if you are in his charge or depend on his authority—than to defend yourself with some excuse.
[4]7th. Mock not nor Jest at anything of Importance break no Jest that are Sharp Biting, and if you Deliver anything witty and Pleasent abtain from Laughing thereat yourself.
Chapter iv. 7. Ne vous amusez point aux equiuoques ny en matiere importante, ny en choses honteuses. Si vous trouuez bon de railler, gardez vous bien de mordre, & bien plus de déchirer comme un chien. Que les bons-mots & les rencontres soient tirées du suiet, que les vns & les autres ayent leur gentillesse & leur pointe, sans attirer l’indignation de personne. Que les plaisanteries ne soient point comme celles des bouffons, qui font rire par des representations extrauagantes, & des actions deshonnestes: si vous rencontrez ioliment, si vous donnez quelque bon-mot, en faisant rire les autres, empeschez-vous-en, le plus qu’il vous sera possible.
Do not divert yourself with equivoques, either in important or in mean matters. If you find good occasion for a joke, be careful not to bite, still less to tear, like a dog. Witticisms and repartee should be to the point, and should have elegance and appropriateness without exciting the indignation of any. Do not let your pleasantries degenerate into those of buffoons, who raise laughter by extravagant representations and indecent action. If you are clever in repartee, if you say a good thing, manage if possible, in making others laugh, to abstain from it yourself.
48th. Wherein wherein you reprove Another be unblameable yourself; for example is is more prevalent than Precepts
Hawkins iii. 8. Be sure thy conversation be in that poynt vertuous, wherein thou art desirous to retaine another, least thy Actions render thy advice unprofitable. Since the ratification of any advice is the serious prosecution of that vertue. For example hath ever been more prevalent than precept.
49th. Use no Reproachfull Language against any one neither Curse nor Revile
Hawkins iii. 11. Use no reproachfull language against any man, nor Curse, or Revile. For improperations and imprecations will rather betray thy affections than in any manner, hurt him against whom thou utters them.
[5]0th. Be not hasty to believe flying Reports to the Disparagement of any
Hawkins iii. 10. Thou oughtest not too suddenly to believe a flying Rumour of a friend, or any other. But let charity guid thy judgment, untill more certainty: for by this meanes thou securest his Reputation, and frees thy self of rashness.
51st. Wear not your Cloths, foul, unript or Dusty but See they be Brush’d once every day at least and take heed that you approach not to any Uncleanness
Chapter v. 4. Que vos habits ne demeurent point sales, déchirez, couuerts de poussiere, ou pelez. Qu’ils soient tous les iours du moins vne fois nettoyez auec les époussettes. Et prenez bien garde aussi en quel lieu vous vous assoirez, où vous vous mettrez à genoux, où vous vous accouderez, que le lieu ne soit point malpropre, ny reply d’immondices. Ne portez point le manteau sur le bras, à l’imitation des Fanfarons. Et mettant bas ou vostre robbe, ou vôtre mãteau, pliez les bien proprement & adroitement, & prenez bien garde où vous les posez.
Do not let your clothes be dirty, torn, covered with dust or threadbare. Have them brushed at least once a day. And take care also in what place you sit down, or kneel, or rest your elbows, that it be not unfit or filthy. Do not carry your cloak over your arm after the manner of swaggerers. And when you take off your coat or cloak, fold them neatly and carefully, and take care where you put them.
‘Accomodate nature’ is a phrase from a precept in Hawkins concerning apparel.
52nd. In your Apparel be Modest and endeavour to accomodate Nature, rather than to procure Admiration keep to the Fashion of your equals Such as are Civil and orderly with respect to Times and Places
Chapter v. 5. Choisissez tousiours des habits semblables à ceux de vos compagnons qui passent pour les plus honnestes & moderez, en considerant les lieux & les temps auec discretion: & outre cela, faites qu’en ce poinct vous paroissiez souhaitter d’estre vestu le plus simplement & modestement de tous vos égaux, bien plustost que d’affecter les plus beaux vestements.
Always choose clothes like those of your companions who pass for the most genteel and moderate, in discreet consideration of time and place: and more, make it a point to be the most simply and modestly dressed of all your equals, rather than to affect the finest raiment.
53d. Run not in the Streets, neither go too slowly nor with Mouth open go not Shaking y’r Arms [stamping, or shuffling; nor pull up your stockings in the street. Walk] not upon the toes, nor in a Dancing [or skipping manner, nor yet with measured steps. Strike not the heels together, nor stoop when there is no occasion]
Chapter vi. 1. Faites en sorte quand vous marchez, de ne pas faire des démarches precipitées, d’auoir la bouche ouuerte & comme beante, & de ne vous trop demener le corps, ou le pancher, ou laisser vos mains pendantes, ou remuer & secoüer les bras; sans frapper trop rudement la terre, ou letter à vos pieds de part & d’autre. Cette sorte d’action demande encore ces conditions, que l’on ne s’arreste pas à retirer ses chausses en haut, dans le chemin, que l’on ne marche sur les extremitez des pieds, ny en sautillant ou s’eleuant, comme il se pratique en la dance, que l’on ne courbe point le corps, que l’on ne baisse point la teste, qne l’on n’auance point à pas cõptez, que l’on ne se choque point les talons l’un contre l’autre en entrant dans l’Eglise, que l’on ne reste point teste nuë a la sortie. Si la deuotion n’y oblige, comme lors qu’il est question d’accompagner le Tres-sainct Sacrement.
In walking guard against hurried steps, or having your mouth open and gaping; and do not move your body too much, or stoop, or let your hands hang down, or move and shake your arms; walk without striking the ground too hard or throwing your feet this way and that. That sort of action also demands these conditions,—not to stop to pull up one’s stockings in the street, not to walk on the toes, or in a skipping rising as in dancing; do not stoop, nor bend the head; do not advance with measured steps; do not strike the heels against each other on entering church, nor leave it bareheaded, unless devotion requires it, as in accompanying the Holy Sacrament.
54th. Play not the Peacock, looking everywhere about you, to See if you be well Deck’t, if your Shoes fit well if your Stockings Sit neatly, and Cloths handsomely.
Chapter vi. 2. Ne vous amusez pas à vous quarer comme vn Paon, & regarder superbement autour de vous, si vous estes bien mis, & bien chaussé, si vos hauts-dechausses & vos autres habits vous sont bienfaits. Ne sortez point de vostre chãbre, portant vostre plume à vostre bouche, ou sur vostre aureille. Ne vous amusez pas à mettre des fleurs à vos aureilles, à vostre bonnet, ou à vostre chappeau. Ne tenez point vostre mouchoir à la main, ou pendu à vostre bouche, ny à vostre ceinture, ny sous vostre aiselle, ny sur vostre espaule, ou caché sous vostre robbe. Mettez-le en lieu d’où il ne puisse être veu, & il puisse estre toutesfois cõmodément tiré, dez qu’il en sera besoin. Ne le presentez iamais à personne, s’il n’est tout blanc, ou presque pas deployé.
Do not delight in strutting like a peacock, or look proudly around to see if you are well decked, if your breeches and other clothes fit well. Do not leave your room carrying your pen in your mouth or behind your ear. Do not indulge yourself by putting flowers in your ears, cap, or hat. Do not hold your pocket-handkerchief in your hand, hanging from your mouth, at your girdle, under your armpit, on your shoulder, or stuffed under your coat. Put it in some place where it cannot be seen, but from whence you may easily draw it when you want it. Never offer it to anybody unless it be quite clean, or hardly unfolded.
55th. Eat not in the Streets, nor in ye House, out of Season.
Chapter vi. 3. Ne marchez jamais par les chemins, en mangeant, soil seul ou en compagnie, & particulierement parmy la foule de la ville. Ne vous mettez pas mesme à manger en la maison hors de temps du repas, & du moins abstenez vous en, quand il s’y rencontrera quelqu’vn.
Never walk on the roads eating, whether alone or in company, especially amid the crowd in a town. Do not set to eating even in the house out of meal-times; at least abstain from it in the presence of others.
56th. Associate yourself with Men of good Quality if you Esteem your own Reputation; for ’tis better to be alone than in bad Company.
Chapter vi. 5. Et si, vous voulez passer pour honneste, accostez vous tousiours des Gents-de-bien, si vous n’en trouuez pas la commodité, ou par ce que vous n’en connoissez point, ou pour quelqu’autre raison, il vaut tousiours mieux que vous alliez seul, qu’en mauuaise compagnie.
If you wish to pass as genteel, always go with well-bred people; if you cannot get the chance,—from not knowing any, or any other reason,—it is always better to go alone than in bad company.
57th. In walking up and Down in a House, only with One in Company if he be Greater than yourself, at the first give him the Right hand and Stop not till he does and be not the first that turns, and when you do turn let it be with your face towards him, it he be a Man of Great Quality, walk not with him Cheek by Jowl but Somewhat behind him; but yet in such a Manner that he may easily Speak to you.
The repetition of the feminine “Elle” refers to ‘vne personne,’ in the first line, although the masculine (‘qu’il’ and ’s’il’) has twice followed it. There is no allusion to the female sex in the French Maxims.
Chapter vi. 7. Si vous promenez auec vne personne seule dans la maison, & qu’il soil d’vne conditiõ qui luy fasse meriter quelque deference, dés le premier pas de la promenade, ne manquez pas de luy donner la droite: Ne cessez point de marcher, s’il ne vient à s’arrester: Ne changez pas le premier le diuertissement, & en vous tournant, ne luy montrez iamais les épaules; mais tousiours le visage. Si elle est dans vne charge releuée, gardez bien de marcher d’vn pas tout à fait égal; mais suiuez tant soit pen derriere, auec tant de iustesse pourtant & de moderatiõ, qu’elle vous puisse bien parler sans s’incõmoder. Si elle vous est égale allez d’un mesme pas tout le long de la promenade, & ne tournez pas tovsiours le premier, à chaque bout de champ; ne faites pas si souuent des pauses au milieu du chemin sans suiet. Car cette liberté ressent sa grandeur & donne du mécontentement. Celuy qui tient le milieu dans vne compagnie dont il est enuironné, si ceux qui la composent, sont égaux, ou presque égaux, il se doit tourner vne fois à droit dans la promenade, & s’ils se rencontrent notablement inegaux, il se doit plus souuent tourner vers le plus qualifié. Enfin que ceux qui l’enuironnent, viennent tousiours à se détourner de son costé & en mesme temps que luy, non point deuant ny apres; puis qu’il est comme le but de la promenade.
If you are walking about the house alone with a person whose rank demands some deference, at the very first step be sure and give him the right hand: Do not stop walking if he does not wish to stop: Be not the first to change the diversion, and, in turning, never show him your shoulder but always your face. If he has a high public appointment take care not to walk quite side by side with him but a very little behind him with so much exactness and moderation that he may be able to speak to you without inconvenience. If he is your equal in rank, keep step with him during the whole walk, and do not always turn first at every end of the walk. Do not stop often midway without reason, such liberty touches his dignity and gives dissatisfaction. He who is the centre of the company by whom he is surrounded ought, if those of whom it consists are equal or nearly equal in rank, always to turn to the right once during the walk, and if they are manifestly unequal, he should oftenest turn towards the most distinguished. Lastly those who are about him should always turn round towards his side and at the same time as he, neither before nor after, as he is, so to say, the object of the walk.
58th. let your conversation be without malice or envy, for ’tis a sign of a tractable and commendable nature: & in all causes of passion admit reason to govern
Hawkins v. 9. Let thy conversation be without malice or envye, for that is a signe of a tractable and commendable nature. And in all causes of passion, admit reason for thy governesse. So shall thy Reputation be either altogether inviolable, or at the least not stayned with common Tinctures.
59th. Never express anything unbecoming, nor Act against the Rules Moral before your inferiours
Walker: ‘A man should not divertise himself with his Inferiors, nor make his Servants privy to his infirmities and failures.’
Hawkins v. 10. Never expresse any thing unbeseeming, nor act against the Rules morall, before thy inferiours, For in these things, thy own guilt will multiply Crimes by example, and as it were, confirme Ill by authority.
60th. Be not immodest in urging your Friends to Discover a Secret
Hawkins uses the word ‘Farce’ instead of ‘Stuff.’
Hawkins v. 11. Be not immodest in urging thy friend to discover his secrets; lest an accidentall discovery of them work a breach in your amitye.
61st. Utter not base and frivilous things amongst grave and Learn’d Men nor very Difficult Questions or Subjects, among the Ignorant or things hard to be believed, Stuff not your Discourse with Sentences amongst your Betters nor Equals
Chapter vii. 1. dans la conuersation de gents doctes & habiles ne debitez pas des bagatelles, & n’auancez pas des discours trop releuez parmy les ignorants, qu’ils ne soient po[note: word missing here] capables d’entendre, ou qu’ils ne puissent pas croire fort facilement. ne debutez pas toûjours par des prouerbes, particulierement parmy vos égaux, & bien moins auec vos superieurs. ne parlez point de choses à cõtr[~e]teps, ou qui puissent choquer les esprits de vos auditeurs. parmy les banquets, & dans les iours de resioüissance ne mettez point sur le tapis de tristes nouuelles, point de recits de rudes calamitez, point d’ordures, point de deshõnestetez, point d’afflictions. bien au cõtraire si tels discours se trouuent entamez par quelqu’autre, faites vostre possible pour en détourner adroictement la suitte. ne contez iamais vos songes qu’à de vos confidents, & encore que ce soit pour profiter de leur interpretation; vous gardant bien d’y donner aucune croyance.
Walker says—‘nor tell your dreams when perhaps your best waking actions are not worth the reciting.’
When talking with learned and clever men, do not introduce trifles, and do not bring forward too advanced conversation before ignorant people which they cannot understand nor easily believe. Do not always begin with proverbs, especially among your equals, and still less with your superiors. Do not speak of things out of place, or of such as may shock your hearers. At banquets and on days of rejoicing do not bring up sorrowful news or accounts of sad calamities, no filth, nothing improper, nothing afflicting. On the contrary, if such conversation is begun by any one else, do your best adroitly to turn the subject. Never relate your dreams except to your confidants, and then only to profit by their interpretation, taking care not to put the least belief in it.
62d. Speak not of doleful Things in a Time of Mirth or at the Table; Speak not of Melancholy Things as Death and Wounds, and if others Mention them Change if you can the Discourse tell not your Dreams, but to your intimate Friend
(The substance of Rule 62 is in the French Maxim quoted under the previous Rule (61), beginning with the third sentence, ‘Ne parlez point, etc.’) 63d. A Man ought not to value himself of his Atchievements or rare Qua[lities, his Riches, Tit]les Virtue or Kindred[; but he need not speak meanly of himself.]
Chapter vii. 2. Vne personne bien nourrie ne s’amuse iamais à faire parade de ses belles actions, de son esprit, de sa vertu, & de ses autres bonnes & loüables qualitez, au cõtraire il ne faut iamais s’entretenir auec les autres de sa haute naissance, ou de la Noblesse de ses parents, de ses richesses, ny de ses grandeurs, si l’on n’y est contrainct. II ne faut pas aussi se raualler entierement.
A well-bred person never makes parade of his good actions, wit, virtue, and other good and praiseworthy qualities; on the contrary, one ought never to speak with another about his high birth, the nobility of his parents, his wealth or dignities, unless obliged to do so. But one need not efface himself altogether.
64’th Break not a Jest where none take pleasure in mirth Laugh not aloud, nor at all without Occasion, deride no man’s Misfortune, tho’ there seem to be Some cause
Chapter vii. 3. Il ne faut pas se mettre sur la raillerie, quãd il n’est point temps de solastrer. Gardez-vous bien d’éclater en risées, d’y passer les bornes de la bienseance, & de le faire sans un suiet raisonnable, pour suiure l’inclinatiõ qui vous porte à rire. Ne prenez iamais suiet de rire du malheur d’autruy, quoy qu’il semble en quelque façon digne de risée.
Jesting must be avoided when it is out of season. Beware of bursting out into laughter, beyond the limits of decorum, and of doing so without reasonable cause, merely from an inclination to laugh. Never laugh at the misfortunes of others, although they seem in some sort laughable
65th Speak not injurious Words neither in Jest nor Earnest Scoff at none although they give Occasion
Chapter vii. 4. Ne donnez iamais de sobriquet, soit dans le jeu, ou bien hors du jeu. Gardez vous bien de picquer qui que ce puisse estre; ne vous mocquez d’aucune personne, particulierement d’entre celles qui sont qualifiées, quoy qu’auec occasion.
Never give nicknames, whether in fun or not. Take care not to hurt anybody, whoever it may be; do not mock any one, especially persons of distinction, although there be occasion.
66th Be not forward but friendly and Courteous; the first to Salute hear and answer & be not Pensive when it’s a time to converse.
Chapter vii. 5. Ne vous rendez point morne & de fâcheux abord; mais affable & prompt à rendre de bons offices, & soyez toûjours le premier à saluër. Entendez bien ce que l’on vous dit & y respondez; Ne vous retirez point à l’écart, quand le deuoir vous engage à la conversation.
Do not be glum and unfriendly of approach; but affable, prompt in rendering kind offices, and always the first to salute. Listen carefully to what is said and respond; do not keep aloof when duty requires you to take a share in the conversation.
67th. Detract not from others neither be excessive in Commending.