Don't pick your teeth at meals, or drink with food in your mouth, as you may get choked, or killed, by its stopping your wind. Tell no tale to harm or shame your companions. Don't stroke the cat or dog. Don't dirty the table cloth with your knife. Don't blow on your food, or put your knife in your mouth, or wipe your teeth [Fol. 14.] or eyes with the table cloth. If you sit by a good man, don't put your knee under his thigh. Don't hand your cup to any one with your back towards him. Don't lean on your elbow, Clense not thi tethe at mete sittande, And sais pou may be choket at þat byt; 100 And stoppe þy wynde, pou art fordo. To foule pe borde clothe with pi knyfe; 112 Neper for colde, neper for hete; With mete ne bere by knyfe to mowthe, Ne bacwarde sittande gyf no3t þy cupe, Lene not on elbowe at þy mete, Noper for colde ne for hete; 1 an privative, unhonest. 2 AS. mod, mood, passion, violence. Dip not pi thombe þy drynke into, 128 hou art vncurtayse yf þou hit do; In salt saler yf þat pou pit Oper fisshe or flesshe þat men may wyt, Who so euer despise pis lessoun ryzt, Here endithe pe [first] boke of curtasye. or dip your thumb into your drink, or your food into the salt cellar : That is a vice. Don't spit in the basin you wash in or loosely (?) before a man of God. Y THE SECOND BOOK. F that pou be a 3ong enfaunt, And thenke po scoles for to haunt, If you go to This lessoun schalle by maistur þe merke, you shall learn: 144 Croscrist þe spede in alle pi werke ; Sytthen by pater noster he wille pe teche, As cristes owne postles con preche; Aftur þy Aue maria and pi crede, 148 pat shalle pe saue at dome of drede; ¶Then aftur to blesse pe with pe trinité, In nomine patris teche he wille þe; ben with marke, mathew, luke, and Ion, 152 With pe per crucis and the hegh name; To schryue pe in general pou schalle lere by Confiteor and misereatur in fere. 1. Cross of Christ, 2. Pater Noster, 8. Hail Mary and the Creed, 4. In the name of the Trinity, 5. of the Apostles, 6, the Confession. Seek the kingdom of God, and worship Him. At church, take holy water; pray for all Christian companions; kneel to God on both knees, to man only on one. At the Altar, serve the priest with both hands. Speak gently to your father and [Fol. 15.] mother, and honour them. Do to others as you would they should do to you. Don't be foolishly meek. The seed of the righteous shall To seche þe kyngdam of god, my chylde, 156 perto y rede pou be not wylde. Ther-fore worschip god, bothe olde and 3ong, To crist, for alle by crysten ferys; When pou ministers at þe heghe autere, Lest pou fayle, my dere broper. Anoper curtayse y wylle pe teche, 172 Thy fadur And modur, with mylde speche, In worschip and serue with alle þy my3t, 176 Then pou woldys be doñ of hym and hys; never beg or be shamed. 184 Gyf hym boner wordys on fayre manere, 192 With glad semblaunt and pure good cher. Also of seruice pou shalle be fre To euery mon in hys degré. bou schalle neuer lose for to be kynde; 196 That on forzetis anoper hase in mynde. ¶Yf Any man haue part with pe in gyft, With hym pou make an euen skyft; Let hit not henge in honde for glose, 200 hou art vncurtayse yf pou hyt dose. To sayntis yf þou þy gate hase hy3t, Thou schalle fulfylle hit with alle þy my3t, Lest god pe stryk with grete veniaunce, 204 And pyt þe in-to sore penaunce. ¶ Leue not alle men that speke pe fayre, Wheper pat hit ben comyns, burges, or mayre; In swete wordis pe nedder was closet, 208 Disseyuaunt euer and mysloset; per-fore pou art of adams blode, With wordis be ware, but pou be wode: A schort worde is comynly sothe 212 þat fyrst slydes fro monnes tothe. Loke lyzer neuer þat pou be-come, Kepe þys worde for alle and somme. 216 For no kyn myrthe þat any man mase; 224 pou may be secur of heuen blys. give him good words. [ MS. semblamt] Be willing to help every one. Give your partner his fair share. Go on the pilgrimages (?) you vow to saints, lest God take vengeance on you. Don't believe all who speak fair: the Serpent spoke Be cautious with your words, except when angry. Don't lie, but keep your word. Don't laugh too often, or you'll be called a shrew or a fool. Man's 3 enemies are: the Devil, the Flesh, and the World. Destroy these, and be sure of heaven. Don't strive with your lord, or bet or play with him. [Fol. 16.] In a strange place don't be too inqui sitive or fussy. If a man falls, don't laugh, but help him up: your own head may fall to your feet. At the Mass, if the priest doesn't please you, don't blame him. Don't tell your secrets to a shrew. Don't beckon, point, or whisper. When you meet a man, greet him, or answer him cheerily if he greets you: don't be dumb, lest men say you have no mouth. Never speak improperly of women, Ne waiour non with hym pou lay, 228 Ne at þe dyces with hym to play. Hym that pou knawes of gretter state, Be not hys felaw in rest ne bate. 3if pou be stad in strange contré, 232 Enserche no fyr pen falles to the, Ne take no more to do on honde, ben pou may hafe menske of alle in londe. 236 Laweghe not per-at in drye ne wete, 240 Ware lest þy hede falle to by fete. 244 Repreue hym no3t, but holde pe stylle. Lest he disclaundyr þe with tong 248 Amonge alle men, bothe olde and 3ong. Bekenyng, fynguryng, non pou vse, And pryué rownyng loke pou refuse. Yf pou mete knyzt, 30mon, or knaue, 252 Haylys hym a-non, "syre, god zou saue." Onsware hym gladly with-outen more. 256 Syn god hase laft the tonge to speke; 1 to relation or friend. |