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 185
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]
[Sidenote: 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
* * * * *
THE ORIEL TEXT.
[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. 210
[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 220
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
[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]
¶ Be ye husht i_n_ chambre, scylente i_n_ hall[e];
herkyn well[e], & geve good audyence 205
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
_tha_t ca_n_ most good, & hathe humanyte.
¶ Towch not w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r mete salte i_n_ _th_e 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 _th_e table, for _tha_t rvde ys;
& yff I shall[e] to you playnly saye, 216
over _th_e 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;
_th_e clerke seyth, 'nature ys co_n_tent & sacyate 220
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