CAXTON'S TEXT
[21]
And yet in auenture / yf the caas require
Ye may speke / but ye muste thenne p_er_caas
Seue_n_ co_n_dic_i_ons obserue / as ye may now hyre 143
[Sidenote: If you must speak, observe the seven conditions.]
Auyse you wel / what ye saye / & in what place
Of whom / & to whom in your mynde co_m_pace
How ye shal speke / & whan take good hede
This co_u_ncelith the wise man withoute drede 147
[22]
[Sidenote: Leaf 4 b.]
Awayte my chylde / ye be haue you manerly
Whan at your mete / ye sitte at the table
[Sidenote: When you're at meals,]
In euery prees and in euery company 150
Dispose you to be so compenable
[Sidenote: be companionable]
That men may of you reporte for _com_me_n_dable
For trusteth wel / vpon your beryng_e_
Men wil you blame or gyue preysyng_e_ 154
[23]
And prynte ye trewly your memorie
For a princypal point of fair noreture
Ye depraue no man absent especyally 157
[Sidenote: and don't run down absent men.]
Saynt austyn amonessheth with besy cure
[Sidenote: St. Austin.]
How men atte table / shold hem assure
That there escape them / no suche langage
As myght other folke hurte to disparage 161
* * * * *
THE ORIEL TEXT
[24]
This curteise clarke writeth in ryght this wyse,
Rebukyng the vice of vile detracc_i_ou_n_;
'What man hit be that of custome and guise 164
Hurteth wyth his toung wyth foule corrosiou_n_
The absent wight, for that abusiou_n_
Suche detractoure [wayue][1] from this table
[Sidenote 1: A word loss.]
As vn-worthe, not to be reprocheable. 168
[25]
Whan ye sitten therfor at your_e_ repaste,
Annoyethe no man present nor absent,
But speketh feyre, for and ye make waste 171
Off [large] langage, for soth ye most be schent;
And wan ye speke, speketh wyth good entent
Of maters appendyng to myrth and plesaunce,
But nothyng that may causen men greuaunce. 175
[26]
Eschewe also taches of foule rauenyng,
Of gredy lust the vncurteyce appetite;
Pres not to sone to your_e_ viaunde, restraine 178
Your_e_ handis a while wyth manerly respytte;
Fedith for necessite, not for delite,
Demeneth you in mete and drink soo sobrely,
That ye be not infecte wyth gloteny.' 182
[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]
¶ This curteys clerke wryteth i_n_ _th_is wyse,
Rebukyng the vyce of vyle detracc_i_on:
what may yt be _tha_t of custu_m_ & gvyse 164
hurteth w_i_t_h_ tonge or by fowle colusyon
The absente / weyne[1] ye for _tha_t abusyon
[Sidenote 1: or weyne]
Suche a detractowr_e_ from the table
As vnworthy & also reprocheable. 168
¶ Whan ye sytte _ther_for at yo_u_r repast,
Annoye ye no ma_n_ present nor absente,
but speke ye fewe; for yff ye make wast
of large langage, for soth ye must be shent. 172
& wha_n_ ye speke // speke w_i_t_h_ good Intent
Off maters accordyng vnto plesavnce,
but no thy_n_ge _tha_t may cavse me_n_ grevaunce.
¶ Eschewe also tacches of fowle ravayne,
of gredy luste; w_i_t_h_ vncurteys appetyte 177
prece not to sone; fro yo_u_r vyande restrayn_e_
yo_u_r hand a while w_i_t_h_ manerly respyte;
ffede you for necessyte, & not for delyte. 180
Demene you w_i_t_h_ mete & dry_n_ke so soberly
That ye not be Infecte wyth glotony.