id="id00206">¶ A-wayte, my chyld, ye behaue you man_er_ly 148
    wha_n_ at yo_u_r mete ye sytte at the table;
  In eu_er_y prees & In en_er_y cu_m_pany
    Dyspose you to be so cu_m_penable
    _th_at me_n_ may of you reporte for co_m_me_n_dable; 152
      ffor, trustyth well[e], vpon yo_u_r beryng
      Men will[e] you blame or gyve p_ra_ysyng.

¶ And prynte ye truly _th_is in yo_u_r memorye
    for a pryncypall[e] poynt of fayer noretvre, 156
  _th_at ye deprave no ma_n_ absente specyally.
    Saynt Austyne amonessheth w_i_t_h_ besy cure,
    howe me_n_ att table shulde the_m_ assure
      _tha_t ther escape the_m_ no suche langage 160
      As myght hurte or bryng folke to disparage.

CAXTON'S TEXT

[21]

And yet in auenture / yf the caas require
Ye may speke / but ye muste thenne p_er_caas
Seue_n_ co_n_dic_i_ons obserue / as ye may now hyre 143
[Sidenote: If you must speak, observe the seven conditions.]
Auyse you wel / what ye saye / & in what place
Of whom / & to whom in your mynde co_m_pace
How ye shal speke / & whan take good hede
This co_u_ncelith the wise man withoute drede 147

[22]

[Sidenote: Leaf 4 b.]

Awayte my chylde / ye be haue you manerly
Whan at your mete / ye sitte at the table
[Sidenote: When you're at meals,]
In euery prees and in euery company 150
Dispose you to be so compenable
[Sidenote: be companionable]
That men may of you reporte for _com_me_n_dable
For trusteth wel / vpon your beryng_e_
Men wil you blame or gyue preysyng_e_ 154

[23]

And prynte ye trewly your memorie
For a princypal point of fair noreture
Ye depraue no man absent especyally 157
[Sidenote: and don't run down absent men.]
Saynt austyn amonessheth with besy cure
[Sidenote: St. Austin.]
How men atte table / shold hem assure
That there escape them / no suche langage
As myght other folke hurte to disparage 161

* * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT

[24]

This curteise clarke writeth in ryght this wyse,
  Rebukyng the vice of vile detracc_i_ou_n_;
'What man hit be that of custome and guise 164
  Hurteth wyth his toung wyth foule corrosiou_n_
  The absent wight, for that abusiou_n_
    Suche detractoure [wayue][1] from this table
[Sidenote 1: A word loss.]
    As vn-worthe, not to be reprocheable. 168

[25]

Whan ye sitten therfor at your_e_ repaste,
  Annoyethe no man present nor absent,
But speketh feyre, for and ye make waste 171
  Off [large] langage, for soth ye most be schent;
  And wan ye speke, speketh wyth good entent
    Of maters appendyng to myrth and plesaunce,
    But nothyng that may causen men greuaunce. 175

[26]

Eschewe also taches of foule rauenyng,
  Of gredy lust the vncurteyce appetite;
Pres not to sone to your_e_ viaunde, restraine 178
  Your_e_ handis a while wyth manerly respytte;
  Fedith for necessite, not for delite,
    Demeneth you in mete and drink soo sobrely,
    That ye be not infecte wyth gloteny.' 182

[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]

¶ This curteys clerke wryteth i_n_ _th_is wyse,
    Rebukyng the vyce of vyle detracc_i_on:
  what may yt be _tha_t of custu_m_ & gvyse 164
    hurteth w_i_t_h_ tonge or by fowle colusyon
    The absente / weyne[1] ye for _tha_t abusyon
[Sidenote 1: or weyne]
      Suche a detractowr_e_ from the table
      As vnworthy & also reprocheable. 168

¶ Whan ye sytte _ther_for at yo_u_r repast,
    Annoye ye no ma_n_ present nor absente,
  but speke ye fewe; for yff ye make wast
    of large langage, for soth ye must be shent. 172
    & wha_n_ ye speke // speke w_i_t_h_ good Intent
      Off maters accordyng vnto plesavnce,
      but no thy_n_ge _tha_t may cavse me_n_ grevaunce.

¶ Eschewe also tacches of fowle ravayne,
    of gredy luste; w_i_t_h_ vncurteys appetyte 177
  prece not to sone; fro yo_u_r vyande restrayn_e_
    yo_u_r hand a while w_i_t_h_ manerly respyte;
    ffede you for necessyte, & not for delyte. 180
      Demene you w_i_t_h_ mete & dry_n_ke so soberly
      That ye not be Infecte wyth glotony.

CAXTON'S TEXT.

[24]

This curtoys clerk / writeth in this wise
Rebukyng_e_ the vice / of vyle detracc_i_on
[Sidenote: rebukes the vice of detraction,]
What man it be / that of custom & guyse 164
Hurteth with tunge / or by foule colusi[=o]n
Thabsente / weyue ye for that abusio[=n]
Suche a detractour / from the table
[Sidenote: and bids you turn all backbiters from the table]
As vnworthy / and also reprochable 168

[25]

[Sidenote: Leaf 5 a.]

Whan ye sitte therfore at your repaste
Annoye ye noman presente nor absente
But speke ye fewe / for yf ye make waste 171
[Sidenote: Speak little.]
Of large langage / for sothe ye must be shent
And whan ye speke / speke ye with good e_n_te_n_t
[Sidenote: and that pleasantly.]
Of maters acordyng_e_ vnto plesance
But nothi_n_g / that may cause men greua[=n]ce 175

[26]

Eschewe also tacches of foule Raueyne
[Sidenote: Don't be ravenous,]
Of gredy luste / with vncurteys appetyte[1]
Prece not to sone / fro your viand restreyne 178
Your honde a while / with manerly respite
[Sidenote: but keep your hands from your food for a time.]
Fede you for necessite / & not for delite
Demene you with mete / & drynke so sobrely
That ye not ben enfecte with glotony 182

[Footnote 1: Orig. appetyce.]

* * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT.

[27]

Embrewe not your_e_ vesselle ne your_e_ cuppe[1]
[Sidenote 1: Sic. Read "napery."]
  Ouer mesure and maner, but saue them clene;
Ensoyle not your_e_ cuppe, but kepe hit clenely, 185
  Lete no fatte ferthyng of your_e_ lippe be sen.
  For that is foule; wotte you what I mene?
    Or than ye drincke, for your_e_ owne honeste,
    Your_e_ lippis wepe, and klenly loke they be. 189

[28]

Blowe not in your_e_ drincke ne in your_e_ potage,
  Ne farsith not your_e_ disshe to full of brede,
Ne bere not your_e_ knyf towarde your_e_ vysage,