And whan þ^e borde is thynne / as of seruyse
Nought replenesshed with, grete diuersite
[Sidenote: When there are not many dishes,]
Of mete & dri_n_ke good chere may the[=n] suffise 255
With honest talkyng / and also ought ye
With gladsom chere / thenne fulsom for to be
[Sidenote: be satisfied with chatting cheerily.]
The poete saith / hou that a poure borde
Men may enriche / with cheerful wil & worde 259
[38]
And one thyng my chylde / ye vnderstonde
In especyall_e_ / for your owne honeste
In the water / wasshe so clene your honde 262
That your towel / neuer enfoyled be
[Sidenote: Wash your hands clean in the water,
so as to leave no dirt on your towel.]
So fowle / that it be lothsom on to see
Wasshe with water / your hondes so cleene
That in the towel shal no spotte be sene 266
* * * * *
THE ORIEL TEXT.
[39]
Leue not your_e_ spone in your_e_ dissche standyng,
Ne vppon the brede hit shall not lie;
Lette your_e_ trenchoure be clene for eny thyng, 269
Yif ye haue no chaunge, yit as honestly
As ye can, maketh avoydie,
So that no fragment from your_e_ trenchour_e_ falle;
Do this, my childe, in chambre and in halle. 273
[40]
Whan Another speketh at the table,
Be ware ye interrupte[1] not is tale nor langage,
[Sidenote 1: MS. corruptly has nattiripte.]
For that is a thing discommendable, 276
And hit is no signe of folkes sage
To ben of wordis besy and outrage;
For the wyse man seyth pleinly in sentence,
'He shall be wyse that yevith Audience.' 280
[41]