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]
[Sidenote: 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 175
[26]
Eschewe also tacches of foule Raueyne
[Sidenote: Don't be ravenous,]
Of gredy luste / with vncurteys appetyte[1]
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
[Footnote 1: Orig. appetyce.]
* * * * *
THE ORIEL TEXT.
[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, 185
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.
[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]
[Sidenote: 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 _tha_t 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 _ther_yn 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 _th_e 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 _tha_t is a tache of vncurtesye;
but yff ye seme ye be enbrased streyte,
or than ye sytte, amend yt secretly 200
So wysely _th_at no wyght you aspye.
be ware also no breth fro you rebownd
Vp ne down_e_, lest ye were shamfull[e] fownd.