The ABC of Aristotle. [Lambeth MS. 853, ab. 1430 A.D., page 30, written without breaks.] Who-so wilnep to be wijs, & worschip desirip, Lerne he oo lettir, & looke on anothir Of pe .a. b. c. of aristotil: argue not azen þat : 4 It is councel for rigt manye clerkis & knyztis a pousand, And eek it myзte ameende a man ful ofte For to leerne lore of oo lettir, & his lijf saue; 8 For to myche of ony ping was neuere holsum. Reede ofte on pis rolle, & rewle pou þer aftir; Who-so be greued in his goost, gouerne him bettir; Blame he not pe barn þat þis .a. b. c. made, 12 But wite he his wickid will & his werk aftir; It schal neuere greue a good man pouz pe gilti Now herkenep & heerip how y bigynne. A to amerose, to aunterose, ne argue not to myche. [Page 31.] H to hasti, ne to hardi, ne to heuy in pine herte. M to medelus, ne to myrie, but as mesure wole it meeue. 0 P to orped, ne to ouerpwart, & oopis pou hate. to presing, ne to preuy with princis ne with dukis ; Q to queynte, ne 'to quarelose, but queeme weel 3oure souereyns. R to riotus, to reueling, ne rage not to rudeli. S to straunge, ne to stirynge, ne straungeli to stare. T V to toilose, ne to talewijs, for temperaunce is beest. to venemose, ne to veniable, & voide al vilonye. W to wielde, ne to wrapful, neiper waaste, ne waade not to depe, ¶ For a mesurable meene is euere pe beste of alle. [1 Page 32.] ["Whi is pis world biloued" follows.] Vrbanitatis. [Fol. 86, col. 2, MS. Cott. Calig. A. 11., ab. 1460 a.d.] Who-so wylle of nurtur lere, Foot & hond pou kepe fulle stylle And perto also pat pow gouerne be welle. Prece pou not vp to hy3 for no þyng, 28 For hit ys neypur good ne clene. When you come before a lord take off your cap or hood, and fall on your right knee twice or thrice. Keep your cap off till you're told to put it on; hold up your chin; look in the lord's face; keep hand and foot still; don't spit or snot; break wind quietly; behave well. When you go into the hall, don't press up too high. Don't be shame faced. Wherever you Reverence your betters, but treat all equally whom you don't know. [Fol. 86, back, col. 1.] See that your hands are clean, and your knife sharp. Let worthier men help themselves before you eat. Don't clutch at the best bit. Keep your hands from dirtying the cloth, and don't wipe your nose on it, or dip too deep in your cup. Have no meat in your mouth when you drink or speak; and stop talking when your neighbour is drinking. Lette not by contynaunce also abate, In halle, in chambur, ore where pou gon, 36 To do hem Reuerence by and by: Do hem no Reuerens, but sette alle in Rowe 40 Fayre & honestly thow ete hyt: Suffre hym fyrste to towche pe mete To be beste morselle pou may not stryke Ther-on pou shalt not by nose wype; To depe in by cuppe pou may not synke Then ys hyt no curtesy. Loke yn þy mowth be no mete 60 When pou begynneste to drynke or speke; Also when pou sest any man drynkyng Soone a-non pou sece þy tale, 64 Whepur he drynke wyne or Ale. Loke also pou skorne no mon For suche wordys pou my3th out kaste 80 84 With fayr speche pou may haue by wylle, Then by self pou art on, Lette by Ry3th sholdur folow his bakke, 92 |