Grace Before Meat
Florus. Feed our hearts with Thy love, O Christ, who through Thy goodness nourishest the lives of all living beings. Blessed be these Thy gifts to us who partake of them so that Thou who providest them may be blessed.30 Amen.
Master. Sit as far apart as possible, so as not to press against one another’s sides, since there is sufficient room for each. And you, Brugensian, have you a knife?
Piso. This is a wonder! A Fleming without a knife, and he, too, a Brugensian, where the best knives are made.
Nep. I don’t need a knife. I can part my food into pieces by biting it with the teeth, and tear it into bits by my fingers.
Usher. They say that biting is very useful both for the gums and also for the surface of the teeth.
Master. Where didst thou receive early instruction in the Latin tongue, for thou appearest to me not badly taught?
Nep. At Bruges, under John Theodore Nervius.
Master. An industrious, learned, and honest man. Bruges is a most elegant city, but it is to be regretted that owing to the changing of the population from day to day, it is going down. When did you leave it?
Nep. Six days ago.
Master. When did you begin to study?
Nep. Three years ago.
Master. You have not got on badly.
Nep. Deservedly; for I have had a master I am not ashamed of.
Master. But what is our Vives doing?
Nep. They say that he is training as an athlete, yet not by athletics.
Master. What is the meaning of that?
Nep. He is always wrestling, but not bravely enough.
Master. With whom?
Nep. With his gout (morbo articulari).
Master. O mournful wrestler, which first of all attacks the feet.
Usher. Nay, rather cruel victor which fetters the whole body. But what are you doing? Why do you stop eating? You would seem to have come here not to eat, but to stare around. Let nobody during the meal disturb his cap lest any hair fall into the dishes. Why don’t you treat your guest as a comrade? Nepotulus, I drink to you.
Nep. Sir, your toast is most welcome.
Usher. Empty your cup, since so meagre a draught remains in it.
Nep. This would be new to me.
Praec. What! not empty it? But you, Usher, what do you say? What have you new to give us at our meal?