192
  For ther_e_-in is parell and mekell drede.
  Clawe not your_e_ face ne touche not your_e_ hede
    Wyth your_e_ bare hande, sittyng at the table,
    For in norture that is reprouable. 196

[29]

Lowse not your_e_ gyrdyll syttyng at your_e_ table,[1]
[Sidenote 1: Sic. Read "mete."]
  For that is a tache of vncurtesye,
But and ye seme ye be enbrasyde streite, 199
  Or than ye sitte amende hit secrely,
  So couertly that no wyght hit espie.
    Be ware also no breth from you rebounde
    Vppe ne downe, be ware that shamefull sounde.

[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]

[Sidenote: ffl C lxij.]

¶ Enbrewe not yo_u_r vessell ne yo_u_r naprye
    over maner & mesure, but kepe the_m_ clene; 184
  Ensoyle not yo_u_r cuppe, but kepe yt clenly,
    lete no farsyone on yo_u_r lyppis be sene,
    ffor _tha_t ys fowle; ye wott what I mene.
      Or than ye drynke, for yo_u_r own honeste 188
      yo_u_r lyppys wype, & clenly loke they be.

¶ Blowe not i_n_ yo_u_r drynke ne i_n_ yo_u_r pottage.
    Ne ferce not yo_u_r disshe to full[e] of brede;
  bere not yo_u_r knyf toward yo_u_r vysage, 192
    ffor _ther_yn ys peryll[e] & mykell[e] drede;
    Clawe not yo_u_r visage, tovch not yo_u_r hede
      w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r bare honde syttyng at _th_e table,
      ffor i_n_ norture suche thyng_is_ be rep_ro_veable. 196

¶ Lose not yo_u_r gyrdyll[e] syttyng at yo_u_r mete,
    ffor _tha_t is a tache of vncurtesye;
  but yff ye seme ye be enbrased streyte,
    or than ye sytte, amend yt secretly 200
    So wysely _th_at no wyght you aspye.
      be ware also no breth fro you rebownd
      Vp ne down_e_, lest ye were shamfull[e] fownd.

CAXTON'S TEXT.

[27]

Enbrewe not your vessel / ne your naprye
[Sidenote: Don't dirty your cloth or cup.]
Ouer maner & mesure / but kepe hem clene
Ensoyle not your cuppe / but kepe it clenlye 185
Lete no fat farssine / on your lippes be sene
For that is fowle / ye wote what I mene
Or than ye drynke / for your owen honeste
[Sidenote: Wipe your lips before you drink.]
Your lippes wype / and clenly loke they be 189

[28]

[Sidenote: Leaf 5 b.]

Blowe not in your dri_n_ke ne in your potage
[Sidenote: Don't blow on your food,]
Ne farse not your dishe to ful of brede
Bere not your knyf / to ward_e_ your visage 192
[Sidenote: or put your knife to your face,]
For therin is parell_e_ / and mykyl drede
Clawe not your visage / touche not your hede
[Sidenote: or scratch it or your head.]
With your bare honde / sittyng atte table
For in norture / suche thing is reprouable 196

[29]

Lose not your gyrdel / sittyng at your mete
[Sidenote: Don't undo your girdle at table;]
For that is a tacche / of vncurtesye
But yf ye seme / ye be embraced streite 199
[Sidenote: if it's tight, let it out before you sit down.]
Or then ye sytte / amende it secretly
So couertly that no wight you espye
Beware also / no bret[=h] fro you rebounde
[Sidenote: Don't break wind up or down.]
Vp ne dou[=n] / leste ye were shameful founde 203

* * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT.

[30]

Beth huste in chambre, cilent in the halle,
  Herkenyth well, yeueth good audience;
Yef vsher or marchall for eny romour calle, 206
  Putting Ianglers to rebuke and cilence,
  Beth mylde of langage, demure of eloquence;
    Enforcith you to them confourmyde be,
    That can most good and haue humanyte. 210

[31]

Touche not wyth mete salt in the saler,
  Lest folke Appoynt you of vncunnyngnesse,
Dresse hit apparte vppon a clene tranchere; 213
  Force not your_e_ mouth to fulle for wantannesse,
  Lene not vppon the table, that is but rudesse,
    And yf I shall to you so playnly say,
    Ouer the table ye shull not spette convey 217

[32]

Yif ye be seruid wyth metis delicate,
  Departith wyth your_e_ fellowys in gentyl wyse,
The clarke seith, 'nature is content and saciate 220
  Wyth meane diete, and lytill shall suffice.'
  Departyth therfor_e_, as I to you devise;
    Engrosith not vnto your_e_ silven all,
    For gentilnesse will ay be lyberall. 224

[Sidenote: Hill's Text.]

¶ Be ye husht i_n_ chambre, scylente i_n_ hall[e];
    herkyn well[e], & geve good audyence 205
  yff vsshar or marchall[e] for any rvmowr_e_ call[e];
    putt ye yanglers to rebuke for scilence.
    Be ye myld of la_n_gage, demvre of eloquence; 208
      Enforce you vnto hy_m_ co_n_formed to be
      _tha_t ca_n_ most good, & hathe humanyte.

¶ Towch not w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r mete salte i_n_ _th_e saler,
    leest folke apoynte you of vnco_n_nyngnesse; 212
  Dresse yt aparte vpon a clene trensher_e_.
    ffarste not yo_u_r movth to full[e] for wantonesse;
    lene not on _th_e table, for _tha_t rvde ys;
      & yff I shall[e] to you playnly saye, 216
      over _th_e table ye shall[e] not spetell[e] co_n_veye.

¶ Yff ye be s_er_vede w_i_t_h_ met_is_ delycate,
    Departe w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r felawe i_n_ gentill[e] wyse;
  _th_e clerke seyth, 'nature ys co_n_tent & sacyate 220
    w_i_t_h_ mene dyete, & lytill[e] shall[e] suffyce;'
    Departe therfor, as I you devyce,
      Engrose not vnto yowr_e_ selfe all[e],
      ffor gentylnesse will[e] ay be lyberall[e]. 224

CAXTON'S TEXT.

[30]

Be ye husht in chambre / scylent in halle
[Sidenote: Be silent,]
Herken wel and_e_ gyue good_e_ audience
Yf vssher or marchal for ony Rumour calle 206
Put ye Ianglers to rebuke for silence
[Sidenote: and put chatterers to rebuke.]
Be ye myld_e_ of langage / demure of eloque_n_ce
Enforce you vnto hym conformed to be
[Sidenote: Imitate him who has humanity.]
That can moste good / and_e_ hath humanyte 210

[31]

[Sidenote: Leaf 6 a.]

Touche not with your mete / salt i_n_ the saler
[Sidenote: Don't dip your meat in the saltcellar,]
Lest folk apoynte you of vnconnyngnesse
Dresse it aparte / vpon a clene trencher 213
Farse not your mouth to ful / for wa_n_tonesse
Lene not vpon the table / for that rude is
[Sidenote: lean on the