CAXTON'S TEXT.
[15]
And whan ye speke / loke men in the face
[Sidenote: When you speak to men, look 'em in the face.]
With sobre chere / and_e_ goodly semblaunce
Caste not your eye a syde / in other place 101
For that is a token of wantou[=n] inconsta_n_ce
Whiche wil appeyre your name & disaua[=n]ce
The wise ma_n_ saith who hath these thi_n_gis thre
[Sidenote: The wise Man says]
Is not lyke a good_e_ man for to be 105
[16]
[Sidenote: Leaf 3 b.]
In herte he seith / who that is inconsta[=n]te
A waueryng eye / glydyng sodeynly
[Sidenote: an inconstant man with a wavering eye and a wandering foot]
Fro place to place / & a foot varia[=n]te 108
That in no place / abydeth stably
These ben þ^e signes / the wisema_n_ seith sikerly
Of suche a wight / as is vnmanerly nyce
And is ful likely disposid vnto vyce 112
[Sidenote: will turn to vice.]
[17]
Awayte my chylde / whan ye sta_n_de atte table
[Sidenote: When you serve at table,]
Of maister or souerayn / whether it be
Applye you for to be seruysable 115
[Sidenote: be attentive and tidy,]
That no defaute in you founden be
Loke / who doth best / and hym ensiewe ye
And in especyal / vse ye attendaunce
[Sidenote: specially to well-off men.]
Wherein ye shal your self best auaunce 119
* * * * *
THE ORIEL TEXT.
[18]
A ye be comaundyd, so ye do algate,
Beth not wyth-oute cause from the tabul absent;
Hit is plesaunce vnto the gret astate 122
To se theyr_e_ saruaunt about them p_re_sent;
Haunteth no halkes, for then ye woll be schent.
Lette maner and Mesure be your_e_ guydes twey,
So shall ye best please, I dare well sey. 126
[19]
Rewarde all-way the loke and countenaunce
Of your_e_ master, or of your_e_ souereine,
Ther shall ye best preue what is plesaunce, 129
And what displesaunce; this is the soth serteyne,
The chere discureth often tyme both twayne,
And eke the chere may some tyme you addresse
In thyng that langage may not þan expresse. 133
[20]
And what ye here there, loke ye kepe hit secre,
Besy report of mystrust is cheff norice;
Mekell langage may not all fautles be; 136
Than doth, my childe, as teicheth you the wyse,
Whiche vnto you this wysdome dothe devise,
'Here and see, be still in euery prees,[1]
[Sidenote 1: MS. 'in euery place and in prees.' Place was to have
been the last word; and in prees was carelessly added, instead of
striking out place.—Sk.]
Passe forth your_e_ way in silence and in pees.'
[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]
¶ As ye be co_m_avnded, so do ye algate; 120
be not cavseles fro _th_e table absente;
yt ys a grete pleasure to _th_e high estate[1]
[Sidenote 1: noble, lord.]
To se his s_er_vaunttes abowte hy_m_ presente.
havnte no halke, for the_n_ ye will[e] be shente; 124
lette maner_e_ & mesure be yo_u_r gydes twayne;
so shall[e] ye best please, I dare savely sayne.
¶ Reward also thy loke & contenavnce,
Off yo_u_r master or of yo_u_r soverayne, 128
so shall[e] ye best p_re_ve what ys his plesavnce
or ell_is_ his dysplesavnce: this ys s_er_tayne,
The chere discovereth oftyn both[e] twayn,
& eke the chere su_m_tyme may yow addresse 132
In thyn_gis_ the langage may not the_n_ expresse.
[Sidenote: ffl C lxj, back.]
¶ And _tha_t ye here, loke ye kepe always secre;
besy reporte, of myschefe ys chese noryse;
Mykyll[e] langage may not all[e] fawtles be; 136
The_n_ do, my chyld, as techeth you _th_e wyse
whiche vnto you _th_is lessu_n_ doth devyce:
here & see, & be styll[e] in eu_er_y prees,
passe forthe yo_u_r way i_n_ scilence & i_n_ pees. 140