Her over-lippë wipéd she so clean,
That in her cup there was no farthing seen
Of grease, when she drunken had her draught.
Full seemëly after her meat she raught,[[5]]
And certainly she was of great desport,[[6]]
And full pleasant, and amiable of port;
And painéd her to counterfeitë cheer
Of court, and to be stately in mannér,
And to be holden digne of reverence.”
These maxims were versified that they might be the more easily remembered, as we know from various expressions, notably “Learn or be Lewd” (ignorant), which occurs at the end of several pieces. In 1612 the principle was stated explicitly, “because children will learn that book with most readiness and delight through the running of the metre, as it is found by experience.” And the fact that versified treatises on manners formed part of the schooling of that day, brings up the subject of medieval education.