* * * * *
THE ORIEL TEXT.
[63]
Than, litle childe, I councelle you that ye
Take hede vnto the norture that men vse,
Newe founden or Auncient whet[h]er hit be, 437
So shall no man your_e_ curteyse refuse;
The guise and custome shall you, my childe, excuse;
Mennys werkys haue often entirchaunge,
That nowe is norture, sumtyme had ben full straunge.
[64]
Thinges whilome vside ben layde aside,
And new fetis dayly ben contryvyde,
Men[nys actes] can in no plight abyde, 444
They ben chaungeable and oft mevide,
Thing some-tyme alowide is nowe reprevide,
And aftir this shall thingis vppe aryse,
That men sette nowe but [at] litle a prise. 448
[65]
Thus mene I, my childe, that ye shull vse and haunte
The guise of them that don most man_er_ly,
But be ware of vnthrefte ruskyn galaunte, 451
Counterfetour_e_ vncunnyng of curtesie,
His tecches ben infecte wyth vilonye,
Vngerde, vnblesside, seruyng at the table,
Me semeth hym s_er_u_a_unt full pendable. 455
[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]
[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij back.]