The Babees Book, OR A LYTYL REPORTE' OF HOW YOUNG PEOPLE [MS. Harl. 5086, fol. 86-90; ab. 1475 A.D.] IN this tretys the whiche I thenke to wryte Out of latyn in-to my comvne langage, And Facett seythe the Book of curtesye, 12 From this labour ywys, nor hit Refuse; 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 Babies, I call on you to and not on aged men expert therein. 24 For what nedys to yeve helle peynes smerte, 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 you 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, 48 How And how yee shulde whenne men lyste yow Re hete, Haue wordes lovly, swete, bleste, and benyngne. 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. Help the ignor Off myn vnkunnynge, swete lady, now Rewe; And thouhe vntauhte I speke of governaunce, 56 Withe thy swete helpe supporte myn ygnor- untaught! aunce. ance of me A. Bele Babees, herkne now to my lore! 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. you, look straight at them, and listen well till they have finished; do not chatter or let 64 And yf they speke withe you at youre komynge, If any speak to Withe stable Eye loke vpone theym Rihte, To theyre tales and yeve yee goode herynge Whils they haue seyde; loke eke withe your myhte 68 Yee Iangle nouhte, also caste nouhte your syhte Aboute the hovs, but take to theym entent your eyes wander about the house. Whenne yee Answere or speke, yee shulle be Answer purveyde sensibly, 72 What yee shalle say / speke eke thing fructuous; shortly, and On esy wyse latte thy Resone be sayde 76 To ylke wyseman that shalle yeve audience; 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. 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 Byfore your lorde, nor handylle ye no thyng 84 Als for that tyme vnto the hovs touching. At euery tyme obeye vnto youre lorde stone But yf he speke; loke withe oon accorde 92 Yiff that youre lorde also yee se drynkynge, 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 hale, Withe-oute chidynge as that yee wolde fyhte. 104 Lyst you 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, And entremete yow nouhte of theyre doynge, At hable tyme to done your lorde service, 112 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, Looke yee be preste, for so yee shalle ywys 116 In nurture gete a gentyl name ful sone; And yif ye shulde at god aske yow a bone, Als to the worlde better in noo degre Mihte yee desire thanne nurtred forto be. 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 you his cup, 121 To yow to drynke, ryse vp whanne yee it take, rise up, take it And resseyve it goodly withe boothe hende ; Of yt also to noone other profre ye make, 124 But vnto him that brouhte yt yee hit take youre Whenne haue done, for yt in no kyn wyse Auhte comvne be, as techis vs the wyse. Now must I telle in shorte, for I muste so, with both hands, offer it to no one else, but give it 128 Youre observaunce that ye shalle done at none; At Noon, when Whenne that ye se youre lorde to mete shalle your lord is ready goo, Be redy to fecche him water sone, for dinner, fetch him some clean water, hold Summe helle water; summe holde to he hathe the towel for him done 132 The clothe to him, And from him yee nat pace Whils he be sette, and haue herde sayde the grace. till he has finished, and don't leave till grace is said. |