The Babees Book, OR ALYTYL REPORTE' OF HOW YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD BEHAVE. [MS. Harl. 5086, fol. 86–90; ab. 1475 a.d.] N this tretys the whiche I thenke to wryte IN Out of latyn in-to my comvne langage, And Facett seythe the Book of curtesye, For myn owne lernynge wole I say summe thing ¶ But, O yonge Babees, whome bloode Royalle 16 Withe grace, Feture, and hyhe habylite Hathe enourmyd, on yow ys that I calle ; And nouhte to hem of elde that bene experte My God, support me while I translate this treatise from Latin. It shall teach those of tender age. To know and practise virtues is the most profitable thing in the world. Young Rabies, adorned with grace, I call on you to know this book (for Nurture should accompany beauty), and not on aged men expert therein, Why add pain to hell, water to the sea, Babies, my book is for you only, and so I hope no one will find fault with it, but only amend it. The only reward I seek is that my book may please all and improve you. If you don't know any word in it, ask till you do, and then keep hold of it. And do not won der at this being in metre. I must first describe how you Babies who dwell in households should behave at meals, and be ready with lovely and benign words when you are spoken to. Lady Facetia, help me! 24 For what nedys to yeve helle peynes smerte, Ioye vnto hevene, or water vnto the see, Heete to the Fyre that kan nat but hoote be? It nedys nouhte: therfore, O Babees yynge, 28 My Book only is made for youre lernynge. Therfore I pray that no man Reprehende This lytyl Book, the whiche for yow I make; But where defaute ys, latte ylke man amende, 32 And nouhte deme yt ; [I] pray thaym for youre sake. For other mede ywys I kepe noone take But that god wolde this Book myhte yche man plese, And in lernynge vnto yow donne somme ese. ¶ Eke, swete children, yf there be eny worde 37 That yee kenne nouhte, spyrre whils yee yt ken; Whanne yee yt knowe, yee mowe holde yt in horde, Thus thurhe spyrryng yee mowe lerne at wyse men. 40 Also thenke nouhte to straungely at my penne, ¶ But amonge alle that I thenke of to telle, How yee Babees in housholde that done duelle Shulde haue youre sylf whenne yee be sette at mete, And how yee shulde whenne men lyste yow Re hete, 48 Haue wordes lovly, swete, bleste, and benyngne. In this helpe me O Marie, Modir dyngne ! ¶ And eke, O lady myn, Facecia! My penne thow guyde, and helpe vnto me shewe; 52 For as the firste off alle lettres ys the A, So Artow firste Modir of alle vertue. [Fol, 87.] Thou art the Mother of all Virtue. Off myn vnkunnynge, swete lady, now Rewe; And thouhe vntauhte I speke of governaunce, 56 Withe thy swete helpe supporte myn ygnor- untaught! aunce. Help the ignorance of me Bele Babees, herkne now to my lore! A, when yee entre into your lordis place, Say first, "god spede;" And alle that ben by fore Fair Babies, when you enter your lord's place, say "God speed," and salute all there. 60 Yow in this stede, salue withe humble Face; Stert nat Rudely; komme Inne an esy pace; Holde vp youre heede, and knele but on oone Kneel on one kne To youre sovereyne or lorde, whedir he be. knee to your lord. And yf they speke withe yow at youre komynge, If any speak to 65 Withe stable Eye loke vpone theym Rihte, To theyre tales and yeve yee goode herynge you, look straight at them, and listen well till they have finished; do not Whils they haue seyde; loke eke withe alle chatter or let Whenne yee Answere or speke, yee shulle be Answer purveyde 72 What yee shalle say / speke eke thing fructuous; On esy wyse latte thy Resone be sayde For many wordes ben rihte Tedious 76 To ylke wyseman that shalle yeve audience; Thaym to eschewe therfore doo diligence. sensibly, shortly, and easily. [Fol. 87 b.] Many words are a bore to a wise man. Stand till you are told to sit: keep your head, hands, and feet quiet: don't scratch yourself, or lean against a post, or handle anything near. Bow to your lord when you answer. If any one better than yourself comes in, retire and give place to him. Turn your back on no man. Be silent while your lord drinks, not laughing, whispering, or joking. If he tells you to sit down, do so at once. Then don't talk dirt, or scorn any [Fol. 88,] one, but be meek and cheerful. If your better praises you, rise up and thank him heartily. 80 84 ¶ Take eke noo seete, but to stonde be yee preste ; Nor thurhe clowyng your flesshe loke yee nat Lene to no poste whils that ye stande present At euery tyme obeye vnto youre lorde stone But yf he speke; loke withe oon accorde Yiff that youre lorde also yee se drynkynge, 93 Looke that ye be in rihte stable sylence Withe-oute lowde lauhtere or Iangelynge, Rovnynge, Iapynge, or other Insolence. 96 Yiff he komaunde also in his presence Yow forto sytte, fulfille his wylle belyve, And for youre seete, looke nat withe other stryve, ¶ Whenne yee er sette, take noone vnhoneste tale; 100 Eke forto skorne eschewe withe alle your myhte; Latte ay youre chere be lowly, blythe, and Withe-oute chidynge as that yee wolde fyhte. 104 Lyst yow kommende that better be thanne yee, free. Yif that yee se youre lorde or youre lady Touching the housholde speke of eny thinge, 108 Latt theym alloone, for that is curtesy, 112 116 And entremete yow nouhte of theyre doynge, So shalle yee gete anoone a name of price. When your lord or lady is speaking about the household, don't you interfere, but be always ready to serve at the proper time, Also to brynge drynke, holde lihte whanne tyme to bring drink, ys, Or to doo that whiche ouhte forto be done, hold lights, or anything else, and so get a good name. The best prayer you can make to God is to be well mannered. ¶Yif that youre lorde his owne coppe lyste com- If your lord offers mende 121 To yow to drynke, ryse vp whanne yee it take, And resseyve it goodly withe boothe youre hende; Of yt also to nōōne other profre ye make, 124 But vnto him that brouhte yt yee hit take Whenne haue done, for yt in no kyn wyse yee Auhte comvne be, as techis vs the wyse. Now must I telle in shorte, for I muste so, 128 Youre observaunce that ye shalle done at none; Whenne that ye se youre lorde to mete shalle goo, Be redy to fecche him water sone; you his cup, rise up, take it with both hands, offer it to no one else, but give it back to him that brought it. [Fol. 88 b.] At Noon, when 1 your lord is ready for dinner, Summe helle' water; summe holde to he hathe some pour out done 132 The clothe to him, And from him yee nat pace water, some hold the towel for him till he has finished, and don't leave till Whils he be sette, and haue herde sayde the grace is said. grace. |