¶ A-wayte, my chyld, ye behaue you man_er_ly 148
wha_n_ at yo_u_r mete ye sytte at the table;
In eu_er_y prees & In en_er_y cu_m_pany
Dyspose you to be so cu_m_penable
_th_at me_n_ may of you reporte for co_m_me_n_dable; 152
ffor, trustyth well[e], vpon yo_u_r beryng
Men will[e] you blame or gyve p_ra_ysyng.
¶ And prynte ye truly _th_is in yo_u_r memorye
for a pryncypall[e] poynt of fayer noretvre, 156
_th_at ye deprave no ma_n_ absente specyally.
Saynt Austyne amonessheth w_i_t_h_ besy cure,
howe me_n_ att table shulde the_m_ assure
_tha_t ther escape the_m_ no suche langage 160
As myght hurte or bryng folke to disparage.
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