99 — ¶ Lessons for Waiting Servants
1
One diligent seruiture, skilfull to waight,
more comelieth thy table than other some eight,
That stand for to listen, or gasing about,
not minding their dutie, within nor without.
2
Such waiter is fautie that standeth so by,
vnmindful of seruice, forgetting his ey.
If maister to such giue a bone for to gnaw,
he doth but his office, to teach such a daw.
3
Such seruiture also deserueth a check,
that runneth out fisgingE474 with meat in his beck.
Such rauening puttocks for vittles so trim,
would haue a good maister to puttock with him.
4
Who daily can suffer, or else can afoord,
his meat so vp snatched that comes from his boord?
So tossed1 with cormorants, here and there some,
and others to want it that orderlie come?
5
Good seruiture waieth (once dinner begon,)
what asketh attendance and what to be don.
So purchasing maister a praise with the best,
gets praise to himselfe, both of maister and gest.
Notes
1 toesed. 1577.
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