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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:45:18 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 04:45:18 -0700 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14761-0.txt b/14761-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5572a5b --- /dev/null +++ b/14761-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3313 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14761 *** + +CAXTON'S BOOK OF CURTESYE + +Printed at Westminster about 1477-8 A.D. and Now Reprinted, +with Two Ms. Copies of the Same Treatise, from the Oriel Ms. 79, +and the Balliol Ms. 354 + +Edited by + +FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, M.A. + +Editor of 'The Babees Book, Etc.' ('Manners and Meals in Olden Time'), +Etc. Etc. + +London: +Published for the Early English Text Society +by Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, +Amen House, E.C. 4 + +1868 (reprinted 1882, 1898, 1932) + + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +Though no excuse can be needed for including in our Extra Series a +reprint of a unique Caxton on a most interesting subject, yet this Book +of Curtesye from Hill's MS. was at first intended for our original +series, I having forgotten lately that Caxton had written to 'lytyl +Iohn,' though some months back I had entered the old printer's book for +my second collection of Manners and Meals tracts for the Society. After +the copy of Hill--which Mr W.W. King kindly made for his +fellow-members--had gone to press, Mr Hazlitt reminded me of the Caxton, +and its first and last lines in Mr Blades's admirable book showed that +Hill's text was the same as the printed one. I accordingly went to +Cambridge to copy it, and there, before tea, Mr Skeat showed me the copy +of _The Vision of Piers Plowman_ which the Provost and Fellows of Oriel +had been good enough to lend him for his edition of 'Text B.' Having +enjoyed the vellum Vision, I turned to the paper leaves at its end, and +what should they contain but an earlier and better version of the Caxton +that I had just copied part of?[1] I drank seven cups of tea, and eat +five or six large slices of bread and butter, in honour of the event;[2] +and Mr Skeat, with his never-failing kindness, undertook to copy and +edit the Oriel text for the Society. With three texts, therefore, in +hand, I could not well stick them at the end of the Postscript to the +_Babees Book, &c._,[3] and as I wanted Caxton's name to this Book of +Curtesye to distinguish it from what has long been to me THE Book of +Courtesy,--that from the Sloane MS. 1986, edited by Mr Halliwell for the +Percy Society, and by me for our own E.E.T.S.--and as also Caxton's name +is one 'to conjure withal,' I have, with our Committee's leave, made +this little volume an Extra Series one, and called it Caxton's, though +his text is not so good as that of the Oriel MS. + +[Footnote 1: Mr Bradshaw was kind enough to copy the rest, and to read +the whole of the proof with Caxton's original.] + +[Footnote 2: I must be excused for not having found the poem before, as +it is not in the Index to Mr Coxe's Catalogue. In the body of the work +it is entered as "A father's advice to his son; with instructions for +his behaviour as a king's or nobleman's page. ff. 88, 89, 78. Beg. + + "Kepeth clene and leseth not youre gere."] + +[Footnote 3: The Treatises in _The Babees Book, &c._, and the Index at +the end, should be consulted for parallel and illustrative passages to +those in Caxton's text.] + +On this latter point Mr Skeat writes: + +"The Oriel copy is evidently the best. Not only does it give better +readings, but the lines, as a rule, run more smoothly; and it has an +extra stanza. This stanza, which is marked 54, occurs between stanzas 53 +and 54 of the other copies, and is of some interest and importance. It +shows that Lidgate's pupil, put in mind of Lidgate's style by the very +mention of his name, introduces a ballad of three stanzas, in which +every stanza has a burden after the Lidgate manner. The recurrence of +this burden no doubt caused copyists to lose their place, and so the +stanza came to be omitted in other copies. Its omission, however, spoils +the ballad. Both it and the curious lines in Piers Ploughmans Crede, + + "For aungells and arcangells / all Þei whijt vseÞ + And alle aldermen / Þat ben _ante tronum_, + +"i.e. all the elders before the throne, allude to Rev. iv. 10. This Crede +passage has special reference to the _Carmelites_ or _White_ Friars. + +"The first two leaves of the Oriel copy are misplaced inside out at the +end; but this is not the only misarrangement. The poem has evidently +been copied into this MS. from an older copy having a leaf capable of +containing _six stanzas at a time_; which leaves were out of order. +Hence the poem in the Oriel MS. is written in the following order, as +now bound up, Stanzas 11 (l. 5)-18, 25-30, 37-42, 19-24, 49-54, 31-36, +43-48, 55-76, 8-11 (l. 4), 4 (l. 5)-7, 1-4 (l. 4)." + +As an instance of a word improved by the Oriel text, may be cited the +'_brecheles_ feste' of Caxton's and Hill's texts, l. 66, and l. 300, + + ffor truste ye well ye shall you not excuse + ffrom _brecheles feste_, & I may you espye + Playenge at any game of rebawdrye.--_Hill_, l. 299-301. + +Could it be 'profitless,' from A.-Sax. _bréc_, gain, profit; or +'breechless,' a feast of birch for the boy with his breeches off? The +latter was evidently meant, but it was a forced construction. The Oriel +_byrcheley_ set matters right at once. + +Another passage I cannot feel sure is set at rest by the Oriel text. +Hill's and Caxton's texts, when describing the ill-mannered servant +whose ways are to be avoided, say of him, as to his hair, that he is + + Absolon with disheveled heres smale, + lyke to a prysoner of saynt Malowes,[1] + _a sonny busshe able to the galowes_.--_Hill_, l. 462. + +[Footnote 1: An allusion to the strong castle built at St Malo's by +Anne, Duchess of Bretayne.--Dyce.] + +For the last line the Oriel MS. reads, + + _a sonny bush myght cause hym to goo louse_, + +and Mr Skeat says,--"This is clearly the right reading, of which +_galowes_ is an unmeaning corruption. The poet is speaking of the +_dirty_ state of a bad and ill-behaved servant. He is as dirty as a man +come out of St Malo's prison; a sunny bush would cause him to go and +free himself from minute attendants. A 'sunny bush' probably means no +more than a warm nook, inviting one to rest, or to such quiet pursuits +as the one indicated. That this is really the reading is shown by the +next stanza, wherein the poet apologizes for having spoken too bluntly; +he ought to have spoken of such a chase by saying that he goes +_a-hawking_ or _a-hunting_. Such was the right euphemism required by +'norture.'" + +If this is the meaning, we may compare with it the old poet's reproof to +the proud man: + + Man, of Þi schuldres and of Þi side + Þou mi3*te hunti luse and flee: + of such a park i ne hold no pride; + Þe dere nis nau3*te Þat Þou mighte sle. + + _Early English Poems_, ed. F.J.F., 1862, p. 1, l. 5. + +and remember that one of the blessings of the early Paradisaical _Land +of Cokaygne_ is: + + Nis Þer flei, fle, no lowse, + In cloÞ, in toune, bed, no house. + + _Ib._, p. 157, l. 37-8. + +We may also compare the following extract about Homer's death from +"Pleasant and Delightfull Dialogues in Spanish and English: Profitable +to the Learner, and not vnpleasant to any other Reader. By _John +Minsheu_, Professor of Languages in London. 1623," p. 47. + +"F ... a foole with his foolishnesse framed in his owne imagination may +giue to a hundred wise men matter to picke out. + +"I, So it hapned to the Poet Homer, that as he was with age blinde, and +went walking by the sea shoare, & heard certaine Fishermen talking, that +at that time were a _lowsing_ themselues, and as he asked them, what +fish they caught, they vnderstanding that he had meant their lice, they +answered, Those that we [1]haue, we seeke for, and those that we [2]haue +not wee finde, but as the good Homer could not see what they did, and +for this cause could not vnderstand the riddle, it did so grieue his +vnderstanding to obtaine the secret of this matter, which was a +sufficient griefe to cause his death." + +[Footnote 1: i. Haue in their clothes. i. lice.] + +[Footnote 2: i. Haue not in hand.] + +But the subject is not a very pleasant one for discussion, though the +occupation alluded to in the Oriel Text must have been one of the +pastimes of many people in Early England. + +The book itself, _Lytill Johan_, is by a disciple of Lydgate's--see l. +366, p. 36-7--and contains, besides, the usual directions how to dress, +how to behave in church, at meals, and when serving at table, a wise +man's advice on the books his little Jack should read, the best English +poets,--then Gower, Chaucer, Occleve, and Lydgate,--not the Catechism +and Latin Grammar. It was very pleasant to come off the directions not +to conveye spetell over the table, or burnish one's bones with one's +teeth, to the burst of enthusiasm with which the writer speaks of our +old poets. He evidently believed in them with all his heart; and it +would have been a good thing for England if our educators since had +followed his example. If the time wasted, almost, in Latin and Greek by +so many middle-class boys, had been given to Milton and Shakspere, +Chaucer and Langland, with a fit amount of natural science, we should +have been a nobler nation now than we are. There is no more promising +sign of the times than the increased attention paid to English in +education now. + +But to return to our author. He gives Chaucer the poet's highest gift, +Imagination, in these words, + + what ever to say he toke in his entente, + his langage was so fayer & pertynante, + yt semeth vnto manys heryng + _not only the worde, but veryly the thyng_. (l. 343.) + +And though the writer has the bad taste to praise Lydgate more than +Chaucer, yet we may put this down to his love for his old master, and +may rest assured that though the cantankerous Ritson calls the Bury +schoolmaster a 'driveling monk,' yet the larking schoolboy who robbed +orchards, played truant, and generally raised the devil in his early +days (_Forewords to Babees Book_, p. xliv.), retained in later years +many of the qualities that draw to a man the boy's bright heart, the +disciple's fond regret. We too will therefore hope that old Lydgate's + + sowle be gon + (To) the sterred paleys above the dappled skye, + Ther to syng _Sanctus_ insessavntly + Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall, + Before the hyeste Iubyter of all. (l. 381-5.) + +In old age the present poem was composed (st. 60, p. 42-3); 'a lytill +newe Instruccion' to a lytle childe, to remove him from vice & make him +follow virtue. At his riper age our author promises his boy the +surplusage of the treatise (st. 74, p. 50-1); and if a copy of it +exists, I hope it will soon fall in our way and get into type, for 'the +more the merrier' of these peeps into old boy-life. + +On one of the grammatical forms of the Oriel MS., Mr Skeat writes: + +"It is curious to observe the forms of the imperative mood plural which +occur so frequently throughout the poem in the Oriel copy. The forms +ending in _-eth_ are about 31 in number, of which 17 are of French, and +14 of A.S. origin. The words in which the ending _-eth_ is dropped are +42, of which 18 are of French, and 24 of A.S. origin. The three +following French words take _both_ forms; _avyse_ or _avyseth_, _awayte_ +or _awayteth_, _wayte_ or _wayteth_; and the five following A.S. words, +_be_ or _beth_, _kepe_ or _kepeth_, _knele_ or _knelyth_, _loke_ or +_loketh_, _make_ or _maketh_. Thus the poet makes use, on the whole, of +one form almost as often as the other (that is, supposing the scribe to +have copied correctly), and he no doubt consulted his convenience in +taking that one which suited the line best. It is an instance of what +followed in almost every case of naturalization, that A.S. inflections +were added to the French words quite as freely as to those of native +origin. Both the _-eth_ and _-e_ forms are commonly used without the +word _ye_, though. _Be ye_ occurs in l. 58. In the phrase _avise you_ +(l. 78), _you_ is in the accusative." + +Commenting also on l. 71 of Caxton and Hill, Mr Skeat notices how they +have individualised the general 'child' of the earlier Oriel text: + +"71. Here we find _child_ riming to _mylde_. In most other places it is +_Johan_. The rime shows that the reading _child_ is right, and _Johan_ +is a later adaptation. The Oriel MS. never uses the word _Johan_ at all; +it is always _child_." + +I may remark also, that on the question lately raised by Mr Bradshaw, +'who before Hampole,[1] or after him, used _you_ for the nominative as +well as the correct _ye_,' Hill uses both _you_ and _ye_, see l. 47, 51, +52, &c., though so far as a hasty search shows, Lydgate, in his Minor +Poems at least, uses _ye_ only, as do Lord Berners in his _Arthur of +Lytil Brytayne_, ab. 1530, the Ormulum, Ancren Riwle, Genesis and +Exodus, William of Palerne, Alliterative Poems, Early Metrical Homilies, +&c.[2] + +[Footnote 1: _Pricke of Conscience_, p. 127, l. 4659; and p. xvii.] + +[Footnote 2: Mr Skeat holds that in the various reading _3*ow drieth_ +from the Univ. Coll. Oxford MS. (of the early part of the 15th century) +to the Vernon MS. _þou drui3*est_, l. 25, Passus 1, of the Vision of +Piers Plowman, the 3*ow is an accusative, "exactly equivalent to the +Gothic in the following passage--'_hwana_ þaursjai, gaggai du mis, i.e. +_whom_ it may thirst, let him come to me.' John vii. 37. I conclude that +3*ow is accusative, not dative. The same construction occurs in German +constantly, '_es dürstet mich_' = it thirsts me, I thirst."] + +The final _d_, _f_, _t_, of Hill's MS., often have a tag to them. As +they sometimes occur in places where I judge they must mean nothing, I +have neglected them all. Every final _ll_ has a line through it, which +may mean _e_. Nearly every final _n_ and _m_ has a curly tail or line +over it. This is printed _e_ or _[=n]_, though no doubt the tail and +line have often no value at all. The curls to the _r_s are printed _e_, +because _ther_ with the curly _r_, in l. 521, Hill, rimes to _where_ of +l. 519. + +At the end of Caxton's final _d_ and _g_ is occasionally a crook-backed +line, something between the line of beauty and the ordinary knocker. +This no doubt represents the final _e_ of MSS., and is so printed, as Mr +Childs has not the knocker in the fount of type that he uses for the +Society's work. Caxton's _[=n]_ stands for _u_n in the _-aunce_, +_-aunte_, of words from the French. No stops or inverted commas have +been put to Caxton's text here, but the stanzas and lines have been +numbered, and side-notes added. + +"The _Book of Curtesye_," says Mr Bradshaw, "is known from three early +editions. The first, without any imprint, but printed at Westminster by +Caxton ab. 1477-78,[1] the only known copy of which is here reproduced. +The second (with the colophon 'Here endeth a lytyll treatyse called the +booke of Curtesye or lytyll John. Emprynted atte Westmoster') is only +known from a printer's proof of two pages[2] preserved among the Douce +fragments in the Bodleian. It must have been printed by Wynkin de Worde +in Caxton's house ab. 1492. In the third edition it was reprinted at the +end of the _Stans puer ad Mensam_ by Wynkin de Worde ab. 1501-1510. The +Cambridge copy is the only one known to remain of this edition." + +[Footnote 1: In his type No. 2, _Blades_, ii. 63.] + +[Footnote 2: In Caxton's type No. 5, _Blades_, ii. 235 (not 253 as in +Index).] + +I have no more to say: but, readers, remember this coming New Year to do +more than last for what Dr Stratmann calls "the dear Old English." Think +of Chaucer when his glad spring comes, and every day besides; forget +not Langland or any of our early men: + + reporte + & revyue _th_e lawde of the_m_ th_a_t were + famovs i_n_[1] owr_e_ langage, these faders dere, + whos sowles i_n_ blis, god et_er_nall avaunce, + _th_at lysten so[2] owr_e_ langage to enhavnce! + + (_Hill_, l. 430-4.) + +[Footnote 1: Founders of, _Oriel_ MS.] + +[Footnote 2: some, _Hill_; so, _Oriel_.] + + +_3, St George's Square, N.W. + +15 Dec., 1867._ + + + + + +The Book of Curtesye. + + + + + +[The Book of Curtesy.] + + +[_From the Oriel MS. lxxix._] + +[1] + +Lytle childe, sythen youre tendre infancie + Stondeth as yett vndir yndyff[e]rence, +To vice or vertu to moven[1] or Applie, 3 +[Sidenote 1: MS. coorven] + And in suche Age ther is no prouide_n_ce, +Ne comenly no sadde intelligence, + But ryght as wax receyueth printe and figure, + So chylder ben disposed of nature, + +[2] + +Vice or vertu to Folowe and ympresse + In mynde; and therfore, to stere and remeve +You from vice, and to vertu thou[1] dresse, 10 +[Sidenote 1: _Read_ you] + That on to folow, and the other to eschewe, + I haue devysed you this lytill newe + Instrucc_i_on according to your_e_ age, + Playne in sentence, but playner in langage. 14 + + +(_Richard Hill's Commonplace Book, or Balliol MS. 354, ffl C lx._) + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +Here begynnyth lytill[e] Ioh_a_n. + +¶ Lytell[e] Iohan, sith yo_u_r tender_e_ enfancye + Stondyth as yet vnder_e_ Indyfference + To vyce or vertu to mevyn or applie, + & in suche age _ther_[1] ys no p_ro_vydence, 4 + Ne come_n_ly no sage Intelygence, + But as wax receyvith prynt or fygure, + So chyldren bene disposed of nature + +[Footnote 1: The _th_ is the same as the _y_.] + +¶ Vyce or vertu to folowe, & enpresse 8 + In mynde; & _ther_for to styre & remeve + you frome vice, & to vertu addresse, + That on to folow, & _tha_t o_ther_ to eschewe, + I haue devysed you this lytill[e] newe 12 + Instrucc_i_on[1] accordyng vnto yo_u_r age, + playn In sentence, but playner_e_ In langage. + +[Footnote 1: The mark of contraction is over the _n_: t.i. the _n_ has +its tail curled over its back like a dog's.] + + +[The Book of Courtesye.] + +[_Caxton's Text._] + +[1] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 1 a.] + + Lytyl Iohn syth your tendre enfancye + Stondeth as yet vnder / in difference +[Sidenote: As Infancy is indifferent] +To vice or vertu to meuyn or applye 3 +[Sidenote: whether it follows vice or virtue,] +And in suche age ther is no prouidence +Ne comenly no sad_e_ Intelligence +But as waxe resseyueth prynte or figure +So children ben disposid_e_ of nature 7 + +[2] + +Vyce or vertue to folowe and_e_ enpresse +In mynde / and_e_ therfore / to styre & remeue +You from vice / and_e_ to vertue addresse 10 +That one to folowe / and that other teschewe +I haue deuysed you / this lytyl newe +[Sidenote: I have written this new treatise to draw you from vice, and +turn you to virtue.] +Instrucc_i_on / acordyng_e_ vnto your age +Playne in sentence / but playner in la_n_gage 14 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[3] + +Taketh hede therfore and herkyn what I say, + And yeueth therto hooly your_e_ adu_er_tence, +Lette not your_e_ eye be here and your_e_ hert away, 17 + But yeueth herto your_e_ besy diligence, + And ley aparte alle wantawne insolence, + Lernyth to be vertues and well thewid; + Who wolle not lere, nedely must be lewid. 21 + +[4] + +Afore all thyng, fyrst and principally, + In the morowe when ye[1] shall vppe ryse, +[Sidenote 1: MS. he.] +To wyrship god haue in your_e_ memorie; 24 + Wyth cristis crosse loke ye blesse you thriese, + Youre pater-nosteir seyth in devoute wyse, + Aue maria wyth the holy crede, + Than alle the after the bettir may ye spede. 28 + +[5] + +And while ye be Abouten honestely + To dresse your_e_-self and don on your_e_ aray, +Wyth your_e_ felawe well and tretably 31 + Oure lady matens Avyseth that you say, + And this obseruaunce vseth eu_e_ry day, + Wyth prime and owris, and wythouten drede + The blyssed lady woll graunte you your_e_ mede. 35 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Take hede _ther_for, & harken what I saye, + & geve _ther_to yowr_e_ good advertence, 16 + lette not yo_u_r ere be here, & yo_u_r herte awaye, + But pute you _ther_to besy delygence, + Laying a-p_ar_te all[e] wanton Insolence, + lernyd to be v_er_tuvs & well[e] thewed; 20 + who will[e] not lerne, nedely he must be lewed. + +¶ Afore all[e] thyng, & pryncypally + In the mornyng wha_n_ ye vp ryse, + To worship god haue in memory; 24 + w_i_t_h_ cryst_is_ crosse loke ye blesse ye thryse, + yo_u_r pater_e_ nost_er_ say i_n_ devoute wyse, + Aue maria / w_i_t_h_ the holy crede; + The_n_ all[e] _th_e day the bett_er_ shall ye spede. 28 + +¶ And while ye dresse yo_u_r selfe, honestly + To dresse yo_u_r selfe & do on yo_u_r araye, + w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r felowe well[e] & tretably + Owr_e_ lady matens loke _tha_t you say; 32 + And this obs_er_vance vse ye eu_er_y day, + w_i_t_h_ pryme & owers w_i_t_h_-owt drede. + _th_e blessyd lady will quyte you yo_u_r mede. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[3] + +Take hede therfore / and herkne what I saye +[Sidenote: Attend therefore to what I say.] +And_e_ gyue therto / your good_e_ aduertence +Lete not your ere be here & your herte awaye 17 +But put ye therto / besy diligence +Leyng_e_ aparte al wantown Insolence +Lerneth to be vertuous / and wel thewed_e_ +[Sidenote: Learn good manners.] +Who wil not lerne / nedely he must be lewed 21 + +[4] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 1 b.] + +Afore alle thing_e_ / and_e_ principally +In the morenyng_e_ / whan ye vp rise +[Sidenote: On rising,] +To worshipe god_e_ / haue in memorie 24 +With crystes crosse / loke ye blesse you thrise +[Sidenote: cross yourself,] +Your pater noster / saye in deuoute wyse +[Sidenote: say your Pater Noster, Ave, and Creed.] +Aue maria / with the holy crede +Thenne alle the day / the better shal ye spede 28 + +[5] + +And while that ye be aboute honestly +To dresse your self / & do o[=n] your araye +[Sidenote: While dressing,] +With your felawe / wel and tretably 31 +Oure lady matyns / loke that ye saye +[Sidenote: say our Lady's Matins,] +And_e_ this obserua[=n]ce / vse ye every daye +With pryme and ouris / withouten drede +[Sidenote: Prime, and Hours.] +The blessid_e_ lady / wil quyte you your mede 35 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[6] + +Kembe your_e_ hede and loke ye kepe hit clene, + Your_e_ eris twayne suffre not foule to be; +In your_e_ visage wayteth no spotte be sene, 38 + Purge your_e_ nase, let hit not combred be + Wyth foule matiers Ayenst all oneste, + But wyth bare hande no matier from hit feche, + For that is a foule and an vncurtays teche. 42 + +[7] + +Youre handes wassheth, that is an holsom thyng, + Youre nayles loke they be not geet blake, +Suffre hem not to ben ouer long growyng; 45 + To your_e_ aray good hede I warne you take, + That manerly ye seet hit vp and make, + Your_e_ hode, your_e_ gowne, your_e_ hose, and eke your_e_ scho, + Wyth all array longyng your_e_ body to. 49 + +[8] + +Kepeth clene and leseth not your_e_ gere, + And or ye passen oute of your_e_ loggyng, +Euery garment that ye schulle vppon you were, 52 + Awayteth welle that hit be so syttyng + As to your_e_ degre semeth moost on accordyng; + Than woll men sey, 'for soth this childe is he + That is well taught and loueth honeste.' 56 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lx back.] + +¶ Kembe yo_u_r hede, & loke you kepe yt clene; 36 + yo_u_r eres twayn suffre not fowle to be; + In yo_u_r wysage loke no spote be sene; + purge yo_u_r nose; lett no ma_n_ in yt se + The vile matter; yt ys none honeste; 40 + Ne w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r bare hond no fylth fro_m_ yt feche, + ffor _tha_t ys fowle, & an vncurtoys teche. + +¶ Yo_u_r hond_is_ wasshe; yt ys an holsom thyng; + yo_u_r naylis loke they be not gety blake, 44 + Ne suffre not the_m_ over longe growyng. + To yo_u_r A-raye I warne you good hede take, + Manerly & ffyte loke you yt make; + yo_ur_ hood / gown_e_ / hosen / & eke yo_u_r sho, 48 + w_i_t_h_ all yo_u_r araye longyng yo_u_r body to. + +¶ Kepe you clene, & lose not yo_u_r gere; + & or you passe owt of yo_u_r lodgyng, + Eu_er_y garment _tha_t ye shall[e] were, 52 + Awayte well[e] _tha_t yt be so syttyng + & to yo_u_r degre semed accordyng; + Tha_n_ will[e] me_n_ say, "for sothe _th_is child ys he + _tha_t ys well[e] tawght, & loweth honeste." 56 + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[6] + +Kembe your hede / & loke ye kepe it clene +[Sidenote: Comb your head;] +Your eres tweyne / suffre not fowl to be +[Sidenote: clean your ears] +In your visage / wayte no spot be sene 38 +Purge your nose / lete noman in it see +[Sidenote: and nose;] +The vile mater / it is none honeste +Ne with your bare honde / no filth fro it fecche +[Sidenote: don't pick it.] +For that is fowl / and an vncurtoys teche 42 + +[7] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 2 a.] + +Your hondes wesshe / it is an holsom thing_e_ +Your naylis loke / they be not gety blacke +Ne suffre not hem / to be ou_er_ longe growyng 45 +[Sidenote: Wash your hands; don't keep your nails jet-black or too +long.] +To your araye / I warne you good hede take +That manerly ye fytte it vp and make +[Sidenote: Wear fit clothes, that fit well] +Your hood_e_. gowne. hosyn / & eke your sho +With al your aray longyng your body to 49 + +[8] + +Kepe you clene / and lose not your gere +And or ye passe / out of your loggyng_e_ +Euery garment / that ye shal on were 52 +Awayte wel / that it be so syttyng_e_ +As to your degre / semeth accordyng_e_ +[Sidenote: and suit your station;] +The_n_ne wil men saye / forsoth this childe is he +[Sidenote: the men will praise you.] +That is wel taught / and louyth honeste 56 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[12] + +Avise you well Also for eny thyng, + The schirche of prayer is the house and place, +Be ware ther_e_-for_e_ of clappe or Ianglyng, 80 + For in the schirche that is full gret trysspace, + And A token of hem that lacken grace; + Ther beth demur_e_ and kepeth your_e_ sylence, + And serueth god wyth all your_e_ deligence. 84 + +[13] + +To helpe the prest whan he shall sey the masse, + Whan hit shall happen you or be-tyde, +Remeue not ferr_e_ ne from his p_re_sence passe, 87 + Kneleth or stondeth deuoutly hym be-syde, + And not to nyghe; your_e_ tounge mooste be applied + To Answere hym wyth[1] v[o]ice full moderate; +[Sidenote 1: MS. wyth hym wyth.] + Avyse you well, my lityll childe, Algate 91 + +[14] + +To mynystre wyth de-voute Reuerence, + Loke that ye do your_e_ humble obseruaunce +Debonarly wyth [dewe] obideence, 94 + Cyrcum-spectly, wyth eu_er_[y] circumstaunce + Of porte, of chere, demevir_e_ of countenaunce, + Remembryng, the lord aboue is he + Whom to serue is grettest liberte. 98 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Avyce you well[e] also for any thynge, + The chyrche, of p_ra_yer ys howse & place; + be ware _ther_for of clappe or Iangelynge, 80 + ffor i_n_ the chyrche yt ys a full[e] gret trespas, + & a token of suche as lacketh g_ra_ce. + Ther be ye demvre, & kepe ye scilence, + And s_er_ve ye god w_i_t_h_ all yo_u_r delygence. 84 + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxj.] + +¶ To helpe _th_e P_re_est wha_n_ he sayth masse, + wha_n_ yt shall[e] happen you or betyde, + Remeve not fer, ne fro_m_ his p_re_sence passe; + knele or stonde you devovtly hy_m_ besyde, 88 + & not to ny[=g]h: yo_u_r tonge mvst be applyde + To answere hy_m_ w_i_t_h_ woyce moderate. + Avyce you well, my lytill child, algate + +¶ To mynyster w_i_t_h_ devout reverence; 92 + loke ye do yo_u_r hu_m_ble observaunce + Debonerly wyth dewe obedyence, + Circu_m_spectly w_i_t_h_ euery circu_m_stavnce + Of poort, & chere of goodly covntenavnce, 96 + Remembryng well _th_e lorde a-bove ys he, + whome to s_er_ve ys grettest lyberte. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[12] + +Auyse you wel also / for ony thinge +The chirche of prayer / is hous and place +Beware therfore / of clappe or Iangelyng_e_ 80 +[Sidenote: Don't chatter,] +For in þ^e chirche / it is a ful grate trespaas +And a token of suche / as lackyth grace +There be ye demure / and kepe ye scilence +[Sidenote: but be silent, and serve God.] +And serue ye god / with al your diligence 84 + +[13] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 3 a.] + +To helpe the preest / whan he saith masse +[Sidenote: When you help the priest at Mass,] +Whan it shal happen you or betyde +Remeue not fer / ne from his presence passe 87 +Knele or stonde ye / deuoutly hym besyde +[Sidenote: kneel or stand near him,] +And not to nyg[=h] your to_n_ge muste be applide +Tanswere hym / with voys ful moderate +[Sidenote: and answer him in a moderate tone.] +Auyse you wel / my lityl childe algate 91 + +[14] + +To mynystre / with deuoute reuerence +[Sidenote: Minister reverently] +Loke ye do / youre humble obseruance +Debonairly / with due obedyence 94 +Circumspectly / with euery circumstaunce +[Sidenote: and circumspectly.] +Of poort and chere / of goodly counte[=n]ance +Remembryng_e_ wel the lord_e_ / a boue is he +Whom to serue / is grettest liberte 98 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[15] + +And whan ye speke, loketh men in the face[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. visage.] + Wyth sobre chere and goodly semblaunce; +Cast not your_e_ eye asyde in odir place, 101 + For that is a tokyn of wantowne inconstaunce, + Which wolle appeyre your_e_ name, and disauau_n_ce; + The wyse man seyth, 'who hathe this signes thre + Ne is not like a good man [for] to be--' 105 + +[16] + +'Yn hert,' he seyth, 'who that is inconstaunte,[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. inconstaunce] + A waveryng eye, glyddryng but sodenly +From place to place, and A fote[2] variaunte[3] 108 +[Sidenote 2: MS. fore.] +[Sidenote 3: MS. variaunce.] + That in no place abydeth stabully-- + Thes ben signes,' the wyse man seyth sekerly, + 'Of suche a wyght as is vnmanerly nyce, + And is full like dissposed be to vice.' 112 + +[17] + +And wayte, my childe, whan ye stond at the table, + Of souereyne or maister whether hit be, +Applieth you [for] to be seruysable, 115 + That no defaute in you may founde be; + Loke who doth best and hym envyeth ye, + And specially vseth attendaunce, + Whiche is to souereyne thyng of gret plesaunce. 119 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ And wha_n_ ye speke, loke me_n_ in _th_e face + w_i_t_h_ sobre chere & goodly semblavnce; 100 + Caste not eye a-side in no other_e_ place, + ffor _tha_t ys a token of a wanton constavnce + which will[e] apayre yo_ur_ name, & dysavance. + The wyse ma_n_ sayth, 'who hath these thy_ngis_ iij, 104 + ys not lyke a good man for to be:' + +¶ 'In herte,' he sayth, 'who _tha_t ys Inco_n_stavnte, + A waverynge eye, glydyng sodenly + ffro place to place, & a foote varyavnte 108 + that in no place a-bydyth stabli, + 'Thyse bene _th_e thyng_is_,' _th_e wysma_n_ sayth sekerly, + 'Off suche a wayghte _tha_t be vnmanerly nyce, + & be full[e] lykely dysposed vnto vyce.' 112 + +¶ Awayte, my chyld, wha_n_ ye stonde at table, + Off mayster or soverayne whe_ther_ yt be, + Applye you for to be servysable + That no defawte in you fownden be; 116 + loke who dothe best, & hym folow ye, + & in especyall[e] vse ye attendavnce + wheryn ye shall[e] yo_u_r selfe best avaunce. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[15] + +And whan ye speke / loke men in the face +[Sidenote: When you speak to men, look 'em in the face.] +With sobre chere / and_e_ goodly semblaunce +Caste not your eye a syde / in other place 101 +For that is a token of wantou[=n] inconsta_n_ce +Whiche wil appeyre your name & disaua[=n]ce +The wise ma_n_ saith who hath these thi_n_gis thre +[Sidenote: The wise Man says] +Is not lyke a good_e_ man for to be 105 + +[16] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 3 b.] + +In herte he seith / who that is inconsta[=n]te +A waueryng eye / glydyng sodeynly +[Sidenote: an inconstant man with a wavering eye and a wandering foot] +Fro place to place / & a foot varia[=n]te 108 +That in no place / abydeth stably +These ben þ^e signes / the wisema_n_ seith sikerly +Of suche a wight / as is vnmanerly nyce +And is ful likely disposid vnto vyce 112 +[Sidenote: will turn to vice.] + +[17] + +Awayte my chylde / whan ye sta_n_de atte table +[Sidenote: When you serve at table,] +Of maister or souerayn / whether it be +Applye you for to be seruysable 115 +[Sidenote: be attentive and tidy,] +That no defaute in you founden be +Loke / who doth best / and hym ensiewe ye +And in especyal / vse ye attendaunce +[Sidenote: specially to well-off men.] +Wherein ye shal your self best auaunce 119 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[18] + +A[s] ye be comaundyd, so ye do algate, + Beth not wyth-oute cause from the tabul absent; +Hit is plesaunce vnto the gret astate 122 + To se theyr_e_ saruaunt about them p_re_sent; + Haunteth no halkes, for then ye woll be schent. + Lette maner and Mesure be your_e_ guydes twey, + So shall ye best please, I dare well sey. 126 + +[19] + +Rewarde all-way the loke and countenaunce + Of your_e_ master, or of your_e_ souereine, +Ther shall ye best preue what is plesaunce, 129 + And what displesaunce; this is the soth serteyne, + The chere discureth often tyme both twayne, + And eke the chere may some tyme you addresse + In thyng that langage may not þan expresse. 133 + +[20] + +And what ye here there, loke ye kepe hit secre, + Besy report of mystrust is cheff norice; +Mekell langage may not all fautles be; 136 + Than doth, my childe, as teicheth you the wyse, + Whiche vnto you this wysdome dothe devise, + 'Here and see, be still in euery prees,[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. 'in euery place and in prees.' _Place_ was to have +been the last word; _and in prees_ was carelessly _added_, instead of +striking out _place_.--Sk.] + Passe forth your_e_ way in silence and in pees.' + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ As ye be co_m_avnded, so do ye algate; 120 + be not cavseles fro _th_e table absente; + yt ys a grete pleasure to _th_e high estate[1] +[Sidenote 1: noble, lord.] + To se his s_er_vaunttes abowte hy_m_ presente. + havnte no halke, for the_n_ ye will[e] be shente; 124 + lette maner_e_ & mesure be yo_u_r gydes twayne; + so shall[e] ye best please, I dare savely sayne. + +¶ Reward also thy loke & contenavnce, + Off yo_u_r master or of yo_u_r soverayne, 128 + so shall[e] ye best p_re_ve what ys his plesavnce + or ell_is_ his dysplesavnce: this ys s_er_tayne, + The chere discovereth oftyn both[e] twayn, + & eke the chere su_m_tyme may yow addresse 132 + In thyn_gis_ the langage may not the_n_ expresse. + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxj, back.] + +¶ And _tha_t ye here, loke ye kepe always secre; + besy reporte, of myschefe ys chese noryse; + Mykyll[e] langage may not all[e] fawtles be; 136 + The_n_ do, my chyld, as techeth you _th_e wyse + whiche vnto you _th_is lessu_n_ doth devyce: + here & see, & be styll[e] in eu_er_y prees, + passe forthe yo_u_r way i_n_ scilence & i_n_ pees. 140 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[18] + +As ye be comanded_e_ / so do ye algate +Be not causeles / fro the table absent +[Sidenote: Don't absent yourself from table,] +It is a grete plesure / to the hyghe estate 122 +To see his seruantis aboute hym present +Haunte no halke / for the_n_ne ye wil be shente +[Sidenote: or stick yourself in a corner.] +Lete maner & mesure / be your gydes tweyne +[Sidenote: Let Manners and Moderation guide you.] +So shal ye best plese / I dar sauely seyne 126 + +[19] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 4 a.] + +Rewarde also the loke and_e_ contenaunce +Of your maister / or of your souereyne +[Sidenote: Look at your master's face;] +So shal ye best preue what is his plesa[=n]ce 129 +Or els displesaunce / this is soth serteyne +[Sidenote: that'll show whether he's pleased or not.] +The chere discouerith / often bothe tweyne +And eke þ^e cher_e_ / somtyme may you addresse +In thi_n_gis / þ^t la_n_gage may not them expresse 133 + +[20] + +And_e_ that ye her loke / kepe alway secree +[Sidenote: Keep secret all you hear.] +Besy reporte / of mischief is chief noryse +Mykyl langage / may not al fawtles bee 136 +Then_n_e do my childe / as techeth you the wyse +Whiche vnto you / this lesson doth deuyse +Here and see / and_e_ be styll_e_ in euery prees +Passe forth your way in scilence & in pees 140 +[Sidenote: Hear, see, and go your way.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[21] + +And yit in Aventure ye, if the caase require, + Ye most speke as hit may doo percace; +[Sidenote 1: MS. precace.] +Seuen condic_i_ons obserue as ye shall hire, 143 + Avise you well what ye sey and in what place, + Of whom, and to whom, in your_e_ mynde compace; + Howe ye shall speke, and whan, taketh good hede, + This couns_e_illeth the wyse man wyth-outen drede. + +[22] + +A wayte, my childe, ye haue you manerly, + Whan at your_e_ mete ye sittyn at your_e_ table; +In euery pres, in euery company, 150 + Disposeth you to be so componable, + That men may you reporte for comendable; + For tristeth well, vppon your_e_ bering + Men woll you blame or yeven you preysing. 154 + +[23] + +And printeth chiefly in your_e_ memorie, For A principalle poynt of +feire norture, Ye depraue no man absent especially; 157 Seint Austyn +Amonishith wyth besy cure, Howe at the table men shull them assure, That +there escapeth them no suche langage, As myght turne other folke to +disparage. 161 */ + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text.] + +¶ And yet i_n_ aduenture, yf _th_e caas requyre, + ye may speke, but ye must p_er_caas + Seven[1] co_n_dyc_i_ons obs_er_ve, as ye may here: +[Sidenote: Six they are at p. 358, _Babees Book_, of the Wise Man.] + Avyce ye well[e] what ye say, & i_n_ what place, 144 + Off whom, & to whom, i_n_ yo_u_r mynd co_m_pace; + how ye shall[e] speke, & wha_n_, take good hede: + _th_is cow[n]syled _th_e wyse ma_n_ w_i_t_h_owten drede. + +¶ 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, 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 table,] +And yf I shal to you playnly saye +Ouer the table / ye shal not spetel conueye 217 +[Sidenote: or spit over it.] + +[32] + +Yef ye be serued / with metes delicate +[Sidenote: Share dainties with your fellows:] +Departe with your felowe / in gentil wise +The clerck saith / nature is conte_n_t & saciate 220 +With mene diete / and litil shall suffyse +Departe therfore / as I you deuyse +Engrose not / vnto your self all_e_ +For gentilnes / wil aye be liberall_e_ 224 +[Sidenote: gentleness is liberal.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[33] + +And wan p_er_cace your_e_ seruice is not large, + Grucchith not wyth frownyng countenaunce, +Ne maketh not ther-of to mekell charge, 227 + Disposeth you to goodly sufferaunce, + And what ye haue, take hit for suffisaunce; + Holde you pleased wyth that god hath you sent, + He hath Inough[1] that can hold hym content. 231 +[Sidenote 1: MS. Inought.] + +[34] + +Burnysh no bonys wyth your_e_ tethe, be ware, + That houndis tecche fayleth of curtesie; +But wyth your_e_ knyff make the bonys bare; 234 + Handell your_e_ mete so well and so clenly, + That ye offenden not the company + Where ye be sette, as ferre-forth as ye can; + Remembre well that man_er_ maketh man. 238 + +[35] + +And whan your teeth shall cutte your_e_ mete small, + Wyth open mouth be ware that ye not ete, +But loke your_e_ lippis be closede as a wall, 241 + Whan to &[1] fro ye trauers your_e_ mete; +[Sidenote 1: MS. a.] + Kepe you so close that men haue no conceite + To seyn of you langage of vilonye, + Be cause ye ete your_e_ mete vnma[ne]rly. 245 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ And wha_n_ p_er_caas yo_u_r s_er_vyce ys not large, + Groge not w_i_t_h_ frownynge covntenavnce, + Ne make ther-of not to mykyll[e] charge; + Dyspose you to goodly suffravnce, 228 + & what ye haue, take yt in suffysavnce; + be you plesid w_i_t_h_ suche as god hath you sent; + he ha[=th] ynowgh Þat ca_n_ hold hy_m_ co_n_tente. + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxij back.] + +¶ Burnysshe no bonys w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r te[=th], be ware, 232 + Suche hownd_is_ tacches fallen of vncurtesye, + but w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r knyfe make the bonys bare. + Handle yo_u_r mete so well[e] & so clenly + That ye offende not the company 236 + wher ye be sette, as ferforthe as ye can, + Reme_m_bryng well[e] _th_at maners make man. + +¶ And whan _tha_t ye ete yo_u_r mete small[e], + w_i_t_h_ open mowth be ware ye not ete, 240 + but loke / yo_u_r lyppes be closed as a wall[e]; + wha_n_ to & fro ye traverse yo_u_r mete, + kepe you so cloos _tha_t men haue no co_n_ceyte + To saye of you any langage or vylonye 244 + by cavse ye ete yo_u_r mete so vnmanerly. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[33] + +And whan percaas your seruise is not large +Gruccheth not / with frownyng contena_u_nce +[Sidenote: If your helping is not large, don't grumble,] +Ne make therof / not to mykyl charge 227 +Dispose you to goodly suffra_u_nce +And what ye haue / take it in suffysa_u_nce +Be ye plesid with suche as god hath you sent +[Sidenote: but be content.] +He hath ynough / that can hold_e_ hym conte_n_t 231 + +[34] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 6 b.] + +Burnysshe no bones / with your teth / beware +[Sidenote: Don't burnish bones with your teeth.] +Suche houndis tacches / falle of vncurtesye +But with your knyf / make the bones bare 234 +Handle your mete / so wel and so clenly +[Sidenote: Handle your food cleanly,] +That ye offende not the company +Where ye be sette / as ferfort[=h] as ye can +Reme_m_bryng wel / that manners make ma[=n]. 238 +[Sidenote: for Manners make Man.] + +[35] + +And_e_ whan that / ye ete your mete small_e_ +With open mout[=h] / beware ye not ete +[Sidenote: Eat with your lips closed] +But loke your lippea / be closed as a wall_e_ 241 +Whan to and_e_ fro / ye trauerse your mete +Kepe you so cloos / that men haue no co_n_seite +To say of you / ony langage or vilonye +Bicause ye ete your mete / vnmanerly 245 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[36] + +Be ware, my child, of laughing ou_er_ mesure, + Ye shall not Also at the borde your_e_ naylis pare, +Ne pike not your_e_ teth wyth your_e_ knyff, I you ensure, + Ete at your_e_ messe, and odir folkes spare; 249 + A glottou_n_ can but make dissches bare, + And of Inough he taketh neu_er_ hede, + He fedith for lust more than[1] he doth for nede. +[Sidenote 1: MS. that.] + +[37] + +And whan the borde is then [as] of s_er_uice, 253 + Not replenyshide wyth gret diuercite, +Of mete and drincke good chere may than suffice, + Hit is A signe of gret humanite, 256 + Wyth gladsom chere than fulsom for to be; + The poet seyth howe that the poure borde + Men may encrese wyth cherefull wille and worde. + +[38] + +And o thing, my childe, I warne you vndirstonde, + Specially for your_e_ owne honeste, +In the water wasschith so clene your_e_ hande, 262 + That your_e_ towell neuer ensoyled be + So foule that hit be lothely vnto se; + Wasschith wyth watir_e_ till your_e_ handis be clene, + And in your_e_ clothe ther shall no spotte be sene. + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Beware, my chyld, of laughynge ou_er_ mesure; + Ne at _th_e borde ye shall[e] no nayles pare, + Ne pyke yo_u_r teth w_i_t__h knyf, I you ensure. 248 + Ete at yo_u_r messe, & other_e_ folk_i_s spare; + A gloton ca_n_ but make _th_e bonys bare, + & of ynowgh he takyth never_e_ hede, + he ffedyth more for lust than for nede. 252 + +¶ And wha_n_ _th_e borde ys thyn as of s_er_vyce, + Nowght replenysshed w_i_t_h_ gret dyversite + of mete & drynke, gud chere may tha_n_ suffice, + w_i_t_h_ honest talkyng; & also owght ye 256 + w_i_t_h_ gladsu_m_ chere the_n_ fulsome for to be: + The poete seyth how _tha_t 'a powre borde + Me_n_ may enryche w_i_t_h_ cherfull[e] will[e] & worde.' 259 + +¶ And on thyng, my child, ye vnderstond, + In especyall[e] for yo_u_r own honeste: + In _th_e wat_er_ wasshe so clene yo_u_r hond + _tha_t yo_u_r towell[e] never ensoyled be + So fowle _tha_t yt be lothsome on to see; 264 + wasshe w_i_t_h_ wat_er_ yo_u_r hond_is_ so clene + _tha_t in _th_e towell[e] shall[e] no spote be sene. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[36] + +Beware my child_e_ / of laughyng ou_er_ mesure +Ne at the borde / ye shall no naylis pare +[Sidenote: Don't pare your nails at table,] +Ne pyke your teth / with knyf / I you ensure 248 +[Sidenote: or pick your teeth with a knife.] +Ete at your messe / and other folkes spare +A gloton can but make the bones bare +And_e_ of ynough / he taketh neuer hede +He fedith more for lust / than for nede 252 + +[37] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 7 a.] + +And whan þ^e borde is thynne / as of seruyse +Nought replenesshed with, grete diuersite +[Sidenote: When there are not many dishes,] +Of mete & dri_n_ke good chere may the[=n] suffise 255 +With honest talkyng / and also ought ye +With gladsom chere / thenne fulsom for to be +[Sidenote: be satisfied with chatting cheerily.] +The poete saith / hou that a poure borde +Men may enriche / with cheerful wil & worde 259 + +[38] + +And one thyng my chylde / ye vnderstonde +In especyall_e_ / for your owne honeste +In the water / wasshe so clene your honde 262 +That your towel / neuer enfoyled be +[Sidenote: Wash your hands clean in the water, +so as to leave no dirt on your towel.] +So fowle / that it be lothsom on to see +Wasshe with water / your hondes so cleene +That in the towel shal no spotte be sene 266 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[39] + +Leue not your_e_ spone in your_e_ dissche standyng, + Ne vppon the brede hit shall not lie; +Lette your_e_ trenchoure be clene for eny thyng, 269 + Yif ye haue no chaunge, yit as honestly + As ye can, maketh avoydie, + So that no fragment from your_e_ trenchour_e_ falle; + Do this, my childe, in chambre and in halle. 273 + +[40] + +Whan Another speketh at the table, + Be ware ye interrupte[1] not is tale nor langage, +[Sidenote 1: MS. _corruptly has_ nattiripte.] +For that is a thing discommendable, 276 + And hit is no signe of folkes sage + To ben of wordis besy and outrage; + For the wyse man seyth pleinly in sentence, + 'He shall be wyse that yevith Audience.' 280 + +[41] + +Vndre-stondeth ther-for_e_ or than ye speke, + Printyng in your_e_ mynde clerely the sentence, +He that vseth A mannes tale to breke 283 + Lettyth vncurtesly the Audience, + And hurtyth hym-sylf for lacke of silence; + He may not yeue answere convenyent + That herith not fynally what is ment. 287 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ lete not yo_u_r spone in yo_u_r_e_ disshe stond, + Ne vpon _th_e table yt shuld not lye; 268 + lete yo_u_r trenchowre be clen_e_ for any thyng, + & yf ye haue, change yet as honestly + As ye ca_n_; make avoyde manerly + So _th_at no fragme_n_t fro yo_u_r tre_n_cher_e_ fall[e]: 272 + Do thus, my child, i_n_ chamber_e_ & i_n_ hall[e]. + +¶ And wha_n_ a-nother ma_n_ spekyth at _th_e table, + be ware ye int_er_rupte not his langage, + for _tha_t ys a thyng on-comendable, 276 + & yt ys not no signe of folk_is_ sage + To be of langage besy & owtrage; + ffor the wyse sayd in his sentence + 'he shuld be bold [& be wyse][1] _tha_t gevyth audyence.' 280 +[Sidenote 1: In a later hand, above the line.] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiij.] + +¶ Vnd_er_stond _ther_for or than ye speke; + prynt i_n_ yo_u_r mynde clerly _th_e sentence; + who _tha_t vsyth a ma_n_ys tale to breke, + lettyth vncurteysly all[e] the audyence 284 + And hurteth hy_m_ self for lake of scyence; + he maye not geve answere co_n_venyente + _tha_t heryt[=h] not fynally what ys mente. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[39] + +Lete not your spone / in your disshe sto_n_ding +[Sidenote: Don't leave your spoon in your dish or on the table.] +Ne vpon the table / it shold not lye +Lete your trenchour / be clene for ony thing 269 +[Sidenote: Keep your trencher clean.] +And yf ye haue cha[=n]ge / yet as honestly +As ye can / make a voyde manerly +So that no fragme_n_t / fro your tre_n_cher falle +Do thus my childe / in chambre & in halle 273 + +[40] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 7 b.] + +And whan another man / spekith atte table +Beware ye enterrupte not / his langage +[Sidenote: Don't interrupt man in his talk] +For that is a thinge discomendable 276 +And_e_ it is no signe of folkes sage +To be of langage / besy and_e_ outrage +For the wyse man said_e_ / in his sentence +He shold_e_ be wyse / that gyueth audience 280 + +[41] + +Vnderstonde therfore or than ye speke +Prynte in your mynde / clerly the sentence +[Sidenote: Before you speak, settle in your mind what you have to say.] +Who that vsith / a mannes tale to breke 283 +Letteth vncurteysly / alle the audyence +And_e_ hurteth hym self / for lack of science +He may not gyue answers conuenyente +That herith not fynally / what is mente 287 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[42] + +Be ware Also, my childe, of rehersaille + Of materis whiche ben at the table mevide; +Hit grevith ofte and dothe men disavaylle, 290 + Full many a man that vice hath mysschevide, + Of evill thyng saide is wors often contrivide; + Suche reportis alway loke ye esschewe, + As may of olde frendis make enemyes newe. 294 + +[43] + +Avise you well whan ye take your_e_ disporte, + Honest games that ye haunte and vse, +And suche as ben of violente reporte, 297 + I counsell you, my childe, that ye refuse; + For trustith well ye shall nout you excuse + From berchely fest, yef I may you aspie + Playng at[1] eny game of rebaudie. 301 +[Sidenote 1: MS. or.] + +[44] + +Itt is to A goodly childe well syttyng, + To vse disportis of myrth and plesaunce, +To harpe and lute, or lustely to syng, 304 + And in the pres ryght manerly to daunce; + When men se A childe of suche gouernaunce, + They seyn, 'gladde may this [childes] frendis be + To haue a sone soo manerly as he.' 308 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ But beware, my child, also of rehersayle + Off maters whiche be at _th_e table meved: 289 + It grewet[=h][1] ofte, & dot[=h] me_n_ dysavayle; +[Sidenote 1: The line is over the _th_.] + ffull[e] many a ma_n_ _th_at vyce hathe myscheved; + Off evyll[e] thynke sayd, ys worse co_n_tryved; 292 + Suche reportes alwaye, my child, eschewe, + As may of olde frend_is_ make enmyes newe. + +¶ Avyse you well[e] wha_n_ ye take yo_u_r dysporte, + honeste games _th_at ye hawnt & vse; 296 + & suche as bene of vyleyns report, + I cownsell[e] you, my child, _tha_t ye refuse; + ffor truste ye well[e] ye shall[e] you not excuse + ffro_m_ brecheles feste, & I may you espye 300 + Playenge at any game of rebawdrye. + +¶ Ytt ys to a goodly child well[e] syttyng + To vse dysportes of myrth & plesavnce, + to harpe, to lute, or lustyly to synge, 304 + Or i_n_ the prees right manerly to davnce. + wha_n_ me_n_ se a child of suche governavnce, + _the_i saye, 'glade may _th_is child_is_ frendys be + To haue a child so manerly as ys he.' 308 + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[42] + +But beware my child_e_ / also of rehersayll_e_ +[Sidenote: Don't repeat what you hear at table.] +Of maters / whiche ben atte table meuid_e_ +It greuith ofte / and_e_ doth men disauayle 290 +Ful many a man / þ^t vice hath myscheuid_e_ +Of euyl thing_e_ said_e_ / is werse contryuid_e_ +Suche reportis / alway my child_e_ eschewe +As may of olde fre_n_dis / make enemyes newe 294 + +[43] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 8 a.] + +Aduise you wel whan ye take your disporte +Honest games / that ye haunte and_e_ vse +[Sidenote: Play only at proper games.] +And suche as ben of vylayns reporte 297 +I counceyl you my chyld / that ye refuse +For truste ye wel / ye shal you not excuse +From brecheles feste / and I may you espye +Playng_e_ at ony game of Rybawdrye 301 + +[44] + +It is to a godly chyld wel syttyng_e_ +To vse disportes of myrthe & plesa[=n]ce +To harpe or lute / or lustely to synge 304 +[Sidenote: You should harp, lute, sing or dance.] +Or in the prees right manerly to daunce +Whan men se a chyld of suche gouernance +They saye / glad may this chyldis fre_n_dis be +To haue a chylde / so manerly as is he 308 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[45] + +Exersice your_e_-selfe also in redyng + Of bokys enournede wyth eloquence; +Ther shall ye fynde both pleasaunce and lernyng, 311 + And so ye may in eu_er_y good presence + Some [what] fynde and see as in sentence, + That shall accorde the tyme to ocupie, + That ye not nede to stondyn idelie. 315 + +[46] + +Itt[1] is fare to be cominycatyfe +[Sidenote 1: MS. Iit.] + In matires vnto purpoos according, +So that a wight sume not excessyfe, 318 + For trusteth well, hit is tedious thyng + For to here a childe multiplie talkyng, + Yif hit be not to the purpose applied, + And also wyth goodly termys aleyde. 322 + +[47] + +Redith Gower in his writyng moralle, + That au[=n]cient faders memorie, +Redith his bokis clepide 'confessionalle,' 325 + Wyth many anodir vertuous tretie, + Full of sentence sette so frutuously, + That them to rede shall yeue you corage, + So is he fulle of sentence and langage. 329 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Excersyse also yo_u_r selfe in redyng + Off bokes enorned wit[=h] eloquence, + _ther_ shall[e] ye fynde bot[=h] plesyre & lernynge, + so _th_at ye may in eu_er_y good presence 312 + Some-what fynde as in sentence + _th_at shall[e] accorde the tyme to occupye, + That ye not nede to stonde ydellye. + +¶ It ys fayer to be comynycatyfe + In maters vnto purpose accordyng, 317 + So _th_at a wyghte seme exersyfe; + ffor trustyth well[e] yt ys a tedyovs thy_n_g + ffor to here a child multyply talkyng 320 + yf yt be not to _th_e purpose applyed, + & also w_i_t_h_ goodly termes alyed. + +¶ Redyt[=h] gover i_n_ his wrytyng morall[e], + That Auncyente ffader of memorye, 324 + Redyt[=h] his bookes called co_n_fessyonall[e], + w_i_t_h_ many a-nother_e_ vertuvs tretye + ffull[e] of sentence sett full[e] fructvously, + That hy_m_ to rede shall[e] geve you covrage, 328 + he ys so full[e] of frute, se_n_tence, & langage. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[45] + +Excersise your self also in redyng_e_ +Of bookes enorned_e_ with eloquence +[Sidenote: Practice reading of eloquent books.] +Ther shal ye fynde / bothe plesir & lernyng_e_ 311 +So that ye may / in euery good presence +Somwhat fynde / as in sentence +That shal acorde / the tyme to ocupy +That ye not nede / to stonden ydelly 315 + +[46] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 8 b.] + +It is fayr / for to be comynycatyf +In maters vnto purpose acordyng_e_ +[Sidenote: It is right to talk pertinently,] +So that a wyght seme excersyf 318 +For trusteth wel / it is a tedyous thyng_e_ +For to here a chylde / multeplye talkyng +Yf it be not to the purpose applyed_e_ +[Sidenote: but a bore if the talk is irrelevant.] +And_e_ also with / goodly termys alyed_e_ 322 + +[47] + +Redeth gower in his wrytyng_e_ morall_e_ +[Sidenote: Read Gower's] +That auncyent[1] fader of memorye +[Sidenote 1: Orig. anucyent.] +Redeth his bookes / called_e_ confessionall_e_ 325 +[Sidenote: _Confessio Amentis_.] +With many another vertuous trayttye +Ful of sentence / set ful fructuosly +That hym to rede / shal gyue you corage +He is so ful of fruyt, sente_n_ce and langage 329 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[48] + +O Fader and Founder of eternate eloquence, + That eluminede all this oure britaigne; +To sone we lost his lauriate presence, 332 + O lusty licoure of that fulsom_e_ fountaigne; + Cursed deth, why hast thou this poete slayne, + I mene Fadir chaucers, mastir Galfride? + Allas! the while, that eu_e_r he from vs diede. 336 + +[49] + +Redith his bokys fulle of all plesaunce, + Clere in sentence, in longage excellent, +Brefly to wryte suche was his suffesaunce, 339 + What-euer to sey he toke in his entent, + His longage was so feyre and p_er_tinent, + That semed vnto mennys heryng, + Not[1] only the worde, but verrely the thing. 343 +[Sidenote 1: MS. But.] + +[50] + +Redith, my child, redith his warkys all, + Refuseth non, they ben expedient; +Sentence or langage, or both, fynde ye shall 346 + Full delectable, for that fader ment + Of all his purpos and his hole entent + Howe to plese in euery audience, + And in our_e_ tou_n_g was well of eloquence. 350 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Sidenote: ff C lxiij back.] + +¶ O fader & fownder of ornate eloquence + _tha_t Illumyned hast all[e] owre bretayne! + To sone we loste thy lavreat science, 332 + O lusty lyqvovre of _tha_t fulsu_m_ fontayn_e_! + O cursed det[=h]! why hast _tho_u _tha_t poete slayn_e_, + I mene fader chavucer, mayst_er_ galfryde? + Alas _th_e while _tha_t ever he from vs dyed! 336 + +¶ Redyt[=h] his werkes full[e] of plesavnce, + Clere in sentence, I_n_ langage excellente: + Bryefly to wryte, such was his suffysavnce, + What-ever_e_ to say he toke i_n_ his entente, 340 + his langage was so fayer_e_ & p_er_tynente, + yt semet[=h] vnto manys heryng + Not only the worde, but veryly _th_e thyng. 343 + +¶ Redyth, my child, redyth his bookes all[e], + Refusith Non, they ben expedyente; + sentence or langage, bot[=h] fynd ye shall[e]; + ffull[e] delectablé that good fader mente, + for all[e] his purpose & his hole entente 348 + [was] how to please in eu_er_y audyence, + & In owr_e_ tonge was well[e] of Eloquence. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[48] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 163, back.] + +O fader and founder of ornate eloquence +[Sidenote: and the Father and Founder of Eloquence,] +That enlumened hast alle our bretayne +To soone we loste / thy laureate scyence 332 +O lusty lyquour / of that fulsom fontayne +O cursid deth / why hast thou þ^t poete slayne +I mene fader chaucer / maister galfryde +[Sidenote: mayster Galfryde Chawcer,] +Alas the whyle / that euer he from vs dyde 336 + +[49] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 9 a.] + +Redith his werkis / ful of plesaunce +[Sidenote: whose works are full of pleasaunce,] +Clere in sentence / in langage excellent +Briefly to wryte / suche was his suffysa[=n]ce 339 +What euer to saye / he toke in his entente +His langage was so fayr and pertynente +It semeth vnto mannys heeryng_e_ +Not only the worde / but verely the thynge 343 +[Sidenote: whose language seems not only words, but truly things.] + +[50] + +Redeth my chylde / redeth his bookes alle +Refuseth none / they ben expedyente +[Sidenote: Read _all_ his books; refuse none:] +Sentence or langage / or bothe fynde ye shall_e_ 346 +Ful delectable / for that good fader mente +[Sidenote: he is delightful.] +Of al his purpose / and his hole entente +How to plese in euery audyence +And in our tunge / was welle of eloquence 350 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[51] + +Beholde Oclyff in his translac_i_on, + In goodly langage and sentence passing wyse, +Yevyng the prince suche exortac_i_on 353 + As to his highnesse he coude best devyse. + Of trouth, peace, of mercy, and of Iustice, + And odir vertuys, sparing for no slouthe + To don his devere, and quiten hym, as trouth 357 + +[52] + +Required hym, anenste his souereyne, + Most dradde and louyd, whos excellent highnesse +He aduertysede by his writing playne, 360 + To vertue p_er_teynyng to the nobles + Of a prince, and berith wyttenesse + His trety entitlede 'of regyment,' + Compyled of most entier true entent. 364 + +[53] + +Loketh Also vppon dan Iohn lidgate, + My mastir_e_, whilome clepid monke of bury, +Worthy to be renownede laureate, 367 + I pray to god_e_, in blis his soule be mery, + Synging 'Rex Splendens,' the heuenly 'kery,' + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all. 371 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Behold Ocklyf in his transslacion,[1] +[Sidenote 1: transflacion] + In goodly langage & se_n_tence passyng wyse 352 + howe he gewyth his p_ri_nce such exortac_i_on + As to the hyeste he covld best devyse + Off trowt[=h] / pees / m_er_cy / & Iustyse, + & vertu, lettyng for no slowth 356 + To do his devoyre & qvyte hy_m_ his trowth. + +¶ Requyre hy_m_ As Agaynst his soverayn_e_, + moste Drade & loved, whose excellent hyenes + he advertysed by his wrytyng playn_e_ 360 + To vertu ap_er_teynyng to nobles + Off a p_ri_nce, as beryt[=h] god wytnes, + hys treatye entytled of regemente, + Compyled of entyer trewe entente. 364 + +¶ Loke also than vpon Ioh_a_n lydgate, + My mayrster, whylom monke of bury, + worthy to be renomed As poete lavreate; + I p_ra_y to god in blysse his sowle be mery, 368 + Syngyng / Rex splendens / _tha_t hevenly Kyrye, + Amonge _th_e mvses nyne celestyall[e] + be-fore _th_e hyghest Iubyter of all[e], + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[51] + +Beholde Ocklyf in his translac_i_on +[Sidenote: Read Occleve too,] +In goodly langage / & sente_n_ce passyng wyse +How he gyueth his prynce / suche exortac_i_on 353 +[Sidenote: who gave his Prince such wise advice] +As to the hyest / he coude best deuyse +Of trouthe. pees. mercy. and Iustise +And vertues / leetyng for no slouthe +To do his deuoir & quite him of his trouthe 357 + +[52] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 9 b.] + +Required_e_ hym / as ayenst his souerayne +Most drad_e_ & louyd_e_ / wos excellent hyeues +He aduertysed_e_ / by his wrytyng_e_ playne 360 +To vertu / apperteynyng to nobles +Of a prynce / as bereth good_e_ witnes +His traytye / entitled_e_ of regymente +[Sidenote: in his treatise _De Regimine Principum_.] +Compyled_e_ of entyer trewe entente 364 + +[53] + +Loke also / vpon dan Io[=h]n lydgate +My maister whylome / monke of berye +[Sidenote: John Lydgate, too, my master.] +Worthy to be renomed_e_ / as poete laureate 367 +I praye to god_e_ in blysse his soule be mercy +Syngyng_e_ Rex splendens that heuenly kyrye +[Sidenote: I pray God his soul is singing _Rex splendens_.] +Amonge the muses nyne celestyall_e_ +Byfore the hyest Iubyter of all_e_ 371 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[54] + +I not why deth my mastir_e_ dide envie, + But for he shuld_e_ chaunge his habite; +Pety hit is that suche a man shulde die! 374 + But nowe I trist he be a carmylite; + His amyse blacke is chaunged into white, + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all; 378 + +[55] + +Passing the muses all of elicon_e_, + Where is ynympariable of Armonye, +Thedir I trist my mastir-is soule is gon_e_, 381 + The sterrede palays aboue dapplede skye, + Ther to syng 'sanctus' incessantly + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Affore the highest Iubiter of all. 385 + +[56] + +Redith is volumes that ben so large and wyde, + Souereynly sitte in sadnesse of sentence, +Elumynede wyth colouris fresshe on eu_er_y syde, 388 + Hit passith my wytte, I haue no eloquence + To yeue hym lawde aftir his excellence, + For I dare say he lefte hym not on lyue, + That coude his cu_n_nyng suffisantly discreue. 392 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii] 372 + + + + 376 + + +¶ Passyng the mvses nyne of elycon, + Wher ys no pareyll[e] of Armonye; 380 + Thyder I trust my Maysters sowle be gon, + The sterred paleys above _th_e dappled skye, + Ther to syng snactus insessavntly 384 + Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall[e], + Before _th_e hyeste Iubyter of all[e]. + +¶ Redyth hys volumes _tha_t be large & wyde, + Severyly sette in sadnes of sentence, + Enlumined w_i_t_h_ colovres fresshe on eu_er_y side. 388 +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij.] + Me lakketh wytt, I haue non eloquence, + To geve hy_m_ lawde after his excellence, + ffor I dare saye he lefte hy_m_ not alyve + That covde his cu_n_yng ssufficiently discryve. 392 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[54] + +[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii.] + +374 + + + +378 + +[55] + +Passyng_e_ the muses nyne of Elyco[=n] +Where is non pareyl of armonye +Thider I truste my meistres soule begone 381 +The sterrid_e_ paleys / aboue the dapplyd skye +[Sidenote: in the starred palace above the dappled sky, before the] +There to synge sanctus incessantly +Amonge the muses ix celestyall_e_ +Byfore the hyest / Iubiter of all_e_ 385 +[Sidenote: highest Jupiter of all.] + +[56] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 10 a.] + +Redeth his volumes / that ben large & wyde +[Sidenote: Read his large volumes] +Seueryly set / in sadnes of sentence +Enlumyned with colours fressh on euery side 388 +[Sidenote: illuminated with fresh colours.] +Me lacketh witte / I haue none eloquence +To gyue hym lawde / after his excellence +For I dar saye / he lefte hym not a lyue +That coude his co_n_nyng / sufficiently discriue 392 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[57] + +But his werkys his laude moste nede conquere, + He may neuer oute of remembrance die, +His werkys shall his [name[1]] conuey and bere 395 +[Sidenote: MS. _here repeats_ werkys.] + Aboute the world all-most eternallie; + Lette his owne werkys prayse hym and magnifie; + I dare not preyse, for fere that I offende, + My lewde langage shuld rather appeyre than amend. + +[58] + +Lo, my childe, thes good faders Au[=n]cient + Repide the feldis fresshe of fulsumnesse, +The floures feyre they gadderid vp and hent, 402 + Of siluereus langage the tresoure and richesse; + Who wolle hit haue, my litle childe, doutelesse + Must of hem begge, ther is no more to say, + For of our_e_ toung they were bothe locke and key. + +[59] + +There can no man ther_e_ fames nowe disteyne, + Thanbawmede toung and aureate sentence, +Men gette hit nowe by cantelmele, and gleyne 409 + Here and there wyth besy diligence, + And fayne wolde riche the crafte of eloquence; + But be the glaynes is hit often sene, + In whois feldis they glayned haue and ben_e_. 413 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ But his werkes his lavde must nede co_n_quere; + _the_i may never owt of reme_m_bravnce dye; + hys werkes shall[e] his name co_n_veye & bere + Abowte _th_e world almoste eternelly. 396 + lete his own_e_ werk_is_ p_ra_yse hy_m_, & magnyfye; + I dare not p_ra_yse, leest for fere I offende; + My langage shuld rather_e_ apayer_e_ tha_n_ amend. + +¶ Loo, my child, this faders avncyente + Repen _th_e fyldes ffresshe of fulsomnes; 401 + _th_e flowres fresshe thei gadered vp, & hente. + Off syluer langage _th_e greate ryches + who will[e] yt haue, my child, dowtles 404 + Muste of the_m_ bege: ther_e_ ys no more to saye, + ffor of owr_e_ tonge _the_i were both loke & keye; + +¶ Ther ca_n_ no ma_n_ _ther_ werkes dysteyne: + The enbamed tonge & avreat sentence, 408 + Me_n_ gete yt now by ca_n_telmele, & glene + here & ther_e_ by besy delygence, + & fayne wold reche _ther_ crafte of eloqvence; + & by _the_ gleyne ytt ys full[e] ofte sene 412 + In whose fylde the gleners haue bene. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[57] + +But his werkis / his laude / must nede co_n_q_ue_re +[Sidenote: His works] +They may neuer / out of remembraunce dye +His werkis shal [=h]is name conueye & bere 395 +Aboute the world_e_ / almost eternely +[Sidenote: shall bear his name about the world almost eternally.] +Lete his owe_n_ werkis preyse hym & magnefie +I dar not preyse / for fere lest I offende +My la_n_gage / shold rather apeyre than amende 399 + +[58] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 10 b.] + +Loo my child_e_ / these faders auncyente +Repen the feldes fresshe of fulsomnes +[Sidenote: These fathers reaped the fields,] +The flours fresh they gadred vp & hente 402 +[Sidenote: and gathered the flowers.] +Of siluer langage / the grete riches +Who wil it haue my lityl childe doutles +Muste of hem begge / ther is no more to saye +[Sidenote: He who wants silver words must beg of them.] +For of our tunge / they were both lok & kaye 406 + +[59] + +Ther can noma[=n] now her werkis disteyne +The enbamed tunge / and aureate sentence +Men gete it now / by cantelmele & gleyne 409 +[Sidenote: Now we only glean,] +Here and there by besy diligence +And fayne wold reche / her craft of eloque_n_ce +And by the gleyne / it is ful oft sene +In whos felde / the gleyners haue bene 413 +[Sidenote: and by the gleaning one sees in whose fields the +gleaners have been.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[60] + +As vnto me Age hath bede good morowe, + I am not able clenly for to gleyne, +Nature is feyne of crafte here eien to borowe, 416 + Me fayleth clerenesse of myn eien tweyne; + Begge I may, I can no gleyn certeyn, + Ther-for that werke I wolle playnly remytte + To folke yong, more p_er_saunt clere of wytte. 420 + +[61] + +And syke also, and in case ye fynde + Suche gleynes fresch as hath some apparence +Of fayre langage, yet take them and vnbynde, 423 + And preueth what they beth in existence, + Coloured in langage, savory in sentence, + And dou[te]th not, my childe, wythoute drede, + Hit woll profite such thyng to se and rede. 427 + +[62] + +Yit eft-sonnys, my child_e_, let us resorte + To the intente of our_e_ fyrst matier_e_ +Digresside, somwhat fulle we wolld reporte, 430 + And reuyue the lawde of them that were + Founders of our_e_ langage, thilke fadyrs dere, + Who-is soulis god [aboue] in b[l]esse inhaunce + That lusten so our_e_ langage to Avaunce. 434 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ And unto my age bot good morowe + I am not able clerly for to gleyne, + Nature ys fayn_e_ of crafte her eyen to borow; 416 + Me lakketh clernes of myn_e_ eyen twayn_e_; + Begge I may / gleyn_e_ I may not c_er_teyn_e_; + _ther_fore _tha_t werke I will[e] playnly remytte + To folk_is_ yong, more passyng clere of wyte. 420 + +¶ Seche ye _ther_fore, & in caas ye fynde + suche glenars fresshe as haue su_m_ apparens + Off fayer la_n_gage, yet take the_m_, & vnbynde, + & preve ye what _the_i be i_n_ existence 424 + Colovred i_n_ langage, saverly i_n_ sentence, + & dowte not, my child, w_i_t_h_-owt drede + yt will[e] p_ro_fet to se such thy_n_g_is_, & rede. 427 + +¶ Ye, efte-soones, my child, let vs resorte + To _th_e yntent of yo_u_r fyrst matere + Degressed somwhat, for we wolde reporte + & revyue _th_e lawde of the_m_ _tha_t were + famovs i_n_ owr_e_ langage, thise faders dere 432 + who_s_[1] sowles i_n_ blis, god et_er_nall[e] avaunce, +[Sidenote 1: The _s_ is by a later hand.] + _th_at lysten sone owr_e_ langage to enhavnce! + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[60] + +And vnto me / age hath bode good morowe +I am not able clenly / for to gleyne +[Sidenote: I cannot glean,] +Nature is fay[=n] of craft / her eyen to borowe 416 +Me lacketh clerenes / of myn eyen tweyne +Begge I maye / gleyne I can not certeyne +[Sidenote: I can only beg:] +Therfore Þ^t werck / I wil playnly remytte +To folkis yong / more passyng clere of witte 420 +[Sidenote: gleaning I give up to younger folks.] + +[61] + +Seche ye therfore / and in caas ye fynde +[Sidenote: If you find such gleaners,] +Such gleynors fressh as haue so[=m] appare_n_ce +Of fayr langage / yet take hem & unbynde 423 +[Sidenote: unbind their sheaves:] +And preue ye / what they be in existence +Colourd in langage / sauerly in sentence +[Sidenote: their fair speech] +And doubte not my childe / withoute drede +It wil prouffite to see suche thingis & red[e][1] 427 +[Sidenote: will profit you.] + +[Footnote 1: A hole in the paper.] + +[62] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 11 a.] + +Yet eft sones my child_e_ / lete vs resorte +[Sidenote: But let us return to our first subject.] +To thentente of yur first matere +Degressed somwhat / for we wold reporte 430 +And reuiue the laude of hem that were +Famous in our langage / these faders dere +Whos sowles in blysse / god et_er_nel aua_u_nce +That lysten so our langage to enhaunce 434 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[63] + +Than, litle childe, I councelle you that ye + Take hede vnto the norture that men vse, +Newe founden or Auncient whet[h]er hit be, 437 + So shall no man your_e_ curteyse refuse; + The guise and custome shall you, my childe, excuse; + Mennys werkys haue often entirchaunge, + That nowe is norture, sumtyme had ben full straunge. + +[64] + +Thinges whilome vside ben layde aside, + And new fetis dayly ben contryvyde, +Men[nys actes] can in no plight abyde, 444 + They ben chaungeable and oft mevide, + Thing some-tyme alowide is nowe reprevide, + And aftir this shall thingis vppe aryse, + That men sette nowe but [at] litle a prise. 448 + +[65] + +Thus mene I, my childe, that ye shull vse and haunte + The guise of them that don most man_er_ly, +But be ware of vnthrefte ruskyn galaunte, 451 + Counterfetour_e_ vncunnyng of curtesie, + His tecches ben infecte wyth vilonye, + Vngerde, vnblesside, seruyng at the table, + Me semeth hym s_er_u_a_unt full pendable. 455 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text_.] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij back.] + +¶ Then litill[e] Ioh[=n], I co_n_sayle you _tha_t ye + Take hede to _th_e nortvres _tha_t me_n_ vse, 436 + newe fownd or avncyent, whe_ther_ yt be; + So shall[e] no ma_n_ yo_u_r curtesye refuse; + _the_ gyse & custu_m_, my child, shall[e] you excuse. + Menys werkes haue oftyn enterchavnce; 440 + _tha_t now ys norture, so_m_tyme hath be stravnge; + +¶ Thyng_is_ whylom vsed be now layd a-syde, + & newe fetes dayly be co_n_tryved: + Menys actes ca_n_ in no plyte abyde, 444 + They be chavngable & ofte meved; + thynges su_m_tym_e_ alowed be now rep_re_ved; + & after this shall thynges vp a-ryse + that me_n_ sett now but at lytill[e] pryse: 448 + +¶ This mene I, my child, _tha_t ye shall[e] havnte + _th_e gyse of the_m_ _tha_t do most manerly; + but be ware of onthryft[1] ruskyn gallavnte, +[Sidenote 1: A later hand has added _y_.] + Co_n_terfetter[2] of vnco_n_nyng curtessy, 452 +[Sidenote 2: The _r_ is by a later hand.] + hys taches ben enfecte w_i_t_h_ vylonye; + Vngerte / vnblessed / s_er_vyng at table, + Me semeth hy_m_ a s_er_vavnte no thyng able; + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[63] + +Then_n_e lityl Io[=h]n / I counceyl you that ye +[Sidenote: Little Jack,] +Take hede to the norture / that men vse +[Sidenote: take heed to the manners of your time,] +Newe founde / or auncyent whether it be 437 +So shal no man / your curtoisye refuse +The guyse & custom / my child shal you excuse +Me_n_ys werkis / haue often entercha[=n]ge +[Sidenote: for customs change,] +That nowe is norture / so_m_tyme had be stra[=n]ge 441 + +[64] + +Thingis whilom vsed / ben now leyd a syde +And newe feetis / dayly ben contreuid_e_ +[Sidenote: new ways are invented every day,] +Mennys actes / can in no plyte abyde 444 +They be changeable and_e_ ofte meuid_e_ +Thingis somtyme alowed / is now repreuid +And after this / shal thinges vp aryse +[Sidenote: and will be hereafter.] +That men set now / but at lytyl pryse 448 + +[65] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 11 b.] + +This mene I my childe / þ^t ye shal haunte +The guyse of them / that do most manerly +But beware of vnthryft Ruskyn gala[=n]te 451 +[Sidenote: Imitate the well-mannered, and beware of ruskyn gallants] +Counterfeter of vnconnyng curtoisye +His tacchis ben enfecte with vilonye +[Sidenote: of bad habits,] +Vngyrte. vnblyssed. seruyng atte table +[Sidenote: serving ungirt,] +Me semeth hym a serua[=n]t nothing able 455 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[66] + +Wynter ne somer to his souerayne + Chappron hardy no bonet lust avale, +For euery worde yeuyng his maister tweyne, 458 + Vaunparlere in euery mannes tale, + Absolon wyth the disculede heres smalle; + Lyke to A presener of seint Malouse, + A sonny bush myght cause hym to goo louse. 462 + +[67] + +O I passe norture! fy! fy! for schame! + I shuld haue seide he myght go hauke and hunt, +For that schuld be A gentilmannys game, 465 + To suche disportis thes gentis folkys be wounte; + I seide to ferre, my langage was to blounte, + But of this galaunte, loo! loke a while & fele, + He feccheth his compace whan he shall bowe or knele, + +[68] + +Braced so straytly th[at h]e[1] may not plie, +[Sidenote 1: MS. the.] + But gaderith hit in by man_er_ of wyndlese, +And 3*if he wrenche aside or lytil wrye, 472 + His gere stonte all in pertous[2] case, +[Sidenote 2: _Read_ perlous?] + The scho, the hose, the point, doublet, and lace; + And if ought breke, som_m_e thing_es_[3] that ben badde +[Sidenote 3: _Read_ toung_es_.] + Shall sey anon, 'a knaue hath broke a ladde.' 476 + + +[Sidenote: _ Hill's Text._] + +¶ Wynter & somer to his soverayn_e_ + Capron hardy, no bonet lyst to avayle, 457 + For eu_er_y worde geveyng his mayst_er_ twayn_e_, + avavntp_ar_ler In eu_er_y manys tale, + Absolon w_i_t_h_ disheveld heres smale, 460 + lyke to a prysoner of saynt malowes, + A sonny busshe able to the galowes. + +¶ O! I passe nortvre! fy, fy, for sham! + I myght haue said he shuld go havke & honte, 464 + ffor _tha_t shuld be a gentylman[i]s game, + To suche dysport_is_ gentill[e] folk_is_ be wonte; + I sayd to ferre, my langage was but blonte; + but yet, sir gallavnt, wha_n_ ye shall[e] bowe or knele 468 + he got[=h] by co_m_passe rovnd as doth a whele. + +¶ Brased so streyte þat he may not plye, + but gaderyth yt by maner_e_ of a wyndlas; + & he awght wrench a-side, or a litill[e] wrye, 472 + hys gere stondyt[=h] the_m_ i_n_ full[e] p_ar_lovs caas, + hys sho / his hose / doblet, poynt & laas; + & yff owght breke, su_m_ tonges _tha_t be bade + will[e] moke & say, "A knave hath broke a lade." 476 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[66] + +Wynter and somer to his souereyne +Capron hardy / no bonet lyste to auale +[Sidenote: not doffing his cap to his master,] +For euery word / gyui_n_g his maister tweyne 458 +Auauntparler / in euery mannys tale +[Sidenote: forward in speech,] +Absolon with disheueld heeris smale +[Sidenote: rough-haired,] +Lyke to a prysoner of seynt malowis +[Sidenote: and lousy-headed,] +A sonny busshe / able to go to the galowis 462 + +[67] + +O I passe norture fy fy for shame +[Sidenote: (though it's hardly good manners to say so.)] +I myght haue said he shold go hauke & honte +For that shold be a gentilmans game 465 +To such disportes / gentil folkes be wonte +I sayd to ferre / my langage was to blonte +But yet sir gala_n_te wha_n_ ye shal bowe or knele +[Sidenote: When he tries to kneel, he works round like a wheel,] +He goth by compace round as doth a whele 469 + +[68] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 12 a.] + +Braced so strayt / that he may not plye +[Sidenote: being braced so tight that he can't bend.] +But gaderith it / by maner of a wyndelas +And he ought wrenche a syde / or a litil wrie 472 +[Sidenote: If he twists, a lace is like to crack.] +His geer stondeth then_n_e / in ful parlo_us_ caas +His sho / his hose / doblet / point & laas +And yf ought breke / som_m_e tu_n_ges þ^t be bad_e_ +Wil mocke & saie / a knaue hath broke a lad 476 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[69] + +Lat galaunte go, I mene, recheles ruskyn; + Take hede, my childe, to suche as ben cu_n_nyng, +So shall ye wyrship best conquere and wynne, 479 + Enforsith you in all your_e_ demenyng + To sewe vertu, and[1] from foly declynyng; +[Sidenote 1: _Omit_ and] + And, my childe, that ye loue of honeste. + Which is accordyng wyth humanyte. 483 + +[70] + +That is, to you to vndirstond And knowe, + That your_e_ aray be manerly and resonable, +Not appeissh knawen[1] and to mowe, 486 +[Sidenote 1: _Sic._] + I[n] nyse aray that is not couenable, + Fetis founde be folkys vnp_ro_fitable, + That maketh this world_e_ so pleynly t_ra_nsformate, + That men semen almost effeminate. 490 + +[71] + +Pley not Iakke mAlaperte, that is to sey, + Be ware of p_re_sumpc_i_oun, be ware of pride, +Take not the fyrst place, my childe, be no way, 493 + Till odir be sette manerly abyde, + Presomcion is often sette asyde, + And Avalith f[r]om his highe[1] de-gre, +[Sidenote 1: MS. hight.] + And he sette vppe that hath humanite. 497 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Lete gallant go! I mene, recheles ruskyn: + Take hede my child to suche as be co_n_nyng, + so shall[e] ye best worship co_n_qvere & wynne; + Enforce you i_n_ all[e] yo_u_r demenyng 480 + To folowe vertu, & fro foly declynnyng; + & weyte well[e] _tha_t ye love honeste + which ys accordyng vnto humanyte. + +[Sidenote: Ihu 1503 per Richard Hill: ffl C lxv] + +¶ That ys for you to vnd_er_stond & knowe, + _th_at yo_u_r araye be manerly resonable, 485 + Not apysshe ynto moke ne to mowe; + To nyce araye _tha_t ys not co_m_mendable, + ffetys, newe fonden by foolis vnp_ro_fytable, 488 + _th_at make _th_e worlde so playnly transformate + _th_at me_n_ seme_n_ Almost enfemynate. + +¶ Playe not Iacke maleperte, _tha_t ys to say, + be ware of presumpc_i_on, be ware of pryde; 492 + take not _th_e first place, my child, by _th_e waye; + till[e] oder be sette, ryght manerly a-byde, + presumtvous be ofte sette a-syde + & all[e] day avaled, as me_n_ may see, 496 + & he ys sette vp _th_at hat[=h] humylyte. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[69] + +Lete galante go / I mene recheles rusky[=n] +[Sidenote: Let Reckless Ruskyn go!] +Take hede my chyld to suche as be connyng +[Sidenote: You follow skilful men,] +So shal ye best worship conquere & wynne 479 +Enforce you in al your demenyng_e_ +To folowe vertu / & fro folye declynyng_e_ +[Sidenote: virtue and] +And waite wel that ye loue honeste +[Sidenote: honesty.] +Whiche is acordynge[1] vnto humanyte 483 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ accrdynge.] + +[70] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 12 b.] + +That is for you / to vnderstonde & knowe +That your araye / be manerly resonable +[Sidenote: Don't dress] +Not apysshe / on to mocken ne to mowe 486 +[Sidenote: apishly] +To nyce araye / that is not commendable +[Sidenote: or foppishly.] +Fetis newe founden[1] by foolis vnp_ro_uffitable +That make þ^e world so plainly transformate +That men semen almoste enfemynate 490 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ fonuden.] + +[71] + +Playe not Iack malapert / that is to saye +[Sidenote: Don't play Jack Malapert, that is,] +Beware of presump_ci_on / beware of pryde[1] +[Sidenote: don't be presumptuous.] +Take not þ^e first place my child by the waye 493 +Tyl other be sette / right manerly abyde +[Sidenote: Wait till others are seated.] +Presumptuo_us_ ben often set a syde. +And_e_ alleday aualyd_e_ / as men may see +And he is sette vp / that hath humylyte 497 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ pryte.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[72] + +To[1] cu_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take, +[Sidenote 1: MS. The.] + Where ye be sette in right atentif wyse, +Connyng folke cu_n_nyng folke shulde make, 500 + To theire goodnesse ye shalle make your_e_ su_m_mise, + And as thei do, ye mosten deuyse; + For this, my childe, is as the gospell treue, + Whoo wolle be cu_n_nyng muste the cu_n_nyng sewe. + +[73] + +And o thing I charge you speciall[ie], + To womanhode good kepe you take alway, +And them to serue loke that ye haue an eie, 507 + Ther comau_n_dementis, my child_e_, loke ye obey, + Plesaunt wordis to them I warne you saye, + And in all wyse do your_e_ dilligence, + To do them plesur_e_, honoure, and reuerence. 511 + +[74] + +As at this tyme this tretice shall suffice, + Disposeth you to kepe in your_e_ mynde +The doctrines whiche for you I deuyse, 514 + And douteth not, fulle welle ye shall hit fynde; + To youre honoure enrolle hit vp and bynde + Ryght in your_e_ brest, and in your_e_ ryper age + I shall wryten you here-of the surplusage. 518 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ To co_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take, + wher ye be sette, right i_n_ ententyf wyse; + Co_n_nyng folke co_n_nyng me_n_ shall[e] make; 500 + to _ther_ co_n_nyng ye shall[e] make yo_u_r surmyse, + & as _the_i do, ye must yo_u_r selfe devyse; + ffor this, my child, ys as _th_e gospell[e] trewe, + 'who will[e] be co_n_nyng, he must co_n_nyng sewe.' 504 + +¶ And on thyng I warne you specyally: + to woma_n_hede take awe alway, + & the_m_ to s_er_ve loke ye haue an eye, + & _ther_ co_m_avndment_is_ _tha_t ye obeye; 508 + Plesaunt word_is_ I avyse you to the_m_ saye, + & in all[e] wyse do ye yo_u_r delygence + To do the_m_ plesyre and reverence. 511 + +¶ And at this tyme _th_is treatise shall[e] suffice; + Do pose you to kepe it in yo_u_r mynde, + _th_e doctryne which for you I devyse; + & dowteth not, full[e] well[e] ye shall[e] yt fynde + To yo_u_r honowr_e_; enrolle yt vp & bynde 516 + Rig[=h]t i_n_ yo_u_r brest, & at yo_u_r ryper age + I shall[e] write you here-of the surplusage. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[72] + +To connynd_e_ perso[=n]s regarde ye take +[Sidenote: Watch knowing folk, and] +Where ye be sette / right in ententyf wyse +Connyng folk / connyng men shal make 500 +To their co_n_nyng ye shal make your surmise +[Sidenote: their skill.] +And as they do / ye muste your self deuyse +For this my child_e_ / is as the gospel trewe +Who wil be co_n_nyng / he must þ^e co_n_nyng sewe 504 + +[73] + +And one thing / I warne you specyally +To womanhede / take awe alweye +[Sidenote: Specially attend to women, and] +And them to serue / loke ye haue an eye 507 +And theire com_m_andementis that ye obeye +Plesant wordes I auyse you to them seye +[Sidenote: speak pleasant words to them.] +And in alle wyse / do ye your diligence +To do them plesure / and reuerence 511 + +[74] + +And at this tyme this tretye shal suffise +[Sidenote: This is enough for the present.] +Dispose you / to kepe it in your mynde +[Sidenote: Mind you attend to it,] +The doctrine whiche for you I deuyse 514 +And doubteth not / ful wel ye shal it finde +To your honour / enrolle it vp and bynde +Right in your breste / and at your riper age +I shal wryte to you / herof the surplusage 518 +[Sidenote: and when you're older I'll write you the rest.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[75] + +Goo, litle childe, and who doth you Appose, + Seying, your_e_ quaire kepeth non accordaunce, +Tell [hym], as yite neyther of ryme ne prose 521 + Ye be experte; pray hym of sufferaunce; + Childer must be of childly gouernaunce, + And they must also entredet[1] be +[Sidenote 1: _Read_ entreted] + Wyth esy thyng, [and not] of subtilte. 525 + +[76] + +Your_e_ lytil quaier su_m_mitteth euery where + To corecc_i_on and beneuolence, +But where enuie is, loke hit come not there, 528 + For eny thing kepith your_e_ trety thense; + Enuie is full of frowarde reprehense, + And howe to hurte liethe eu_er_e in awayte, + Kepeth your_e_ quaier_e_, that hit be not her baite. + +EXPLICIT. + +DOMINE, SALUU_M_ FAC REGEM. + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Go, litill[e] Ioh[=n], & who doth you oppose, + sayenge yo_u_r quayre, kepeth no_n_ accordavnce; 520 + Tell[e] hy_m_ as 3*et neyther_e_ i_n_ ryme ne p_r_ose + ye ben exp_er_te; p_ra_y hy_m_ of suffraunce. + Chyldren[1] muste be of childy gou_er_navnce, +[Sidenote 1: MS. Clyldren.] + & also _the_i muste entreted be 524 + W_i_t_h_ easy thynge, & not w_i_t_h_ subtilte. + +¶ Go, lytill[e] quayer, submyte you eu_er_y where + vnder correcc_i_on of benevolence; + & wher envy ys, loke you cu_m_ not ther_e_, 528 + ffor any thyng kepe yo_u_r treatye thens; + Envye ys full of froward reprehens, + & how to hurte lyeth ever i_n_ a-wayte; + kepe yo_u_r quayre _th_at yt be not ther bayte. 532 + + Here endyth A lytyll[e] treatyse + called _th_e boke of curtesy or litill[e] Ioh_a_n. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[75] + +Go lytyl Io[=h]n / and who doth you appose +[Sidenote: Whoever questions you,] +Sayng your quayer / kepe non accordance +Telle hym as yet / neyther in ryme ne prose 521 +Ye ben expert / praye hym of suffra[=n]ce +[Sidenote: say you are not yet up in rime or prose.] +Chyldren muste be / of chyldly gouerna[=n]ce +And also they muste entretyd_e_ be +With esy thing / and not with subtylte 525 + +[76] + +Go lytil quayer / submytte you euery where +Vnder correct_i_on of benyuolence +[Sidenote: Little book, I submit you to correction:] +And where enuye is / loke ye come not there 528 +[Sidenote: but go not where envy is.] +For ony thing_e_ / kepe your tretye thens +Enuye is ful of froward reprehens +And how to hurte / lyeth euer in a wayte +Kepe your quayer / that it be not ther bayte 532 + +Explicit the book of curtesye. + + + + +INDEX. + + +H. stands for Hill's MS. at the bottom of the pages, O. for the Oriel +MS. on the even pages. Cot. is for Cotgrave's Dictionary. + + +Absolom with dissheveled hair, l. 460. + +Amyse, l. 376, amice. Fr. _amict_, an Amict or Amice, part of a massing +priest's habit. Cot. From L. _amicire_, to throw round; _am_ and +_jacere_. Mahn. + +Annoy no man, l. 170. + +Apayer, l. 399 H., appeyre, O., worsen, impair. + +Apish, don't let your dress be, l. 486. + +Appose, l. 519, question. _See_ Oppose. + +Avale, l. 457, lower, take off. + +Ave Maria, say, l. 27, 77. + +Avoyde, l. 271, emptying. + +Austin, St, tells men how to behave at table, l. 158. + +Author is old, l. 414-18. + +Authors, the right ones to read, l. 323, 335, 351, 365, 393. + + +Bearing, men praised or blamed for their, l. 153. + +Belch not, l. 202. + +Beware of ruskyn, l. 451. + +Birds and beasts, don't throw stones at, l. 64. + +Blow not in your drink, l. 190. + +Brecheles, l. 300, without breeches, of flogging. + +Breth, l. 203, wind. + + +Capron, H., chappron, O., l. 457. O. Fr. _Chaperon_, "habillement de +tête." Roquefort. Provençal, _capayron,_ from Lat. _caput_. Skeat. +_Chaperon_ ... any hood, bonnet ... _Vn Chaperon fait à i'en veux_, A +notable whipster or twigger; a good one I warrant her. Cotgrave. 'Capron +hardy' must then be 'a bold or saucy young scamp.' + +Cantelmele, l. 409, piecemeal: _cantel_, a corner, bit. + +CHAUCER, read his works full of pleasance, l. 335-350. + +Chere, l. 131, face, expression on it. + +Childly, _adj._ l. 523, O., childy, H., fitted for children. + +Children are like wax, l. 6. + +Church, how to behave at, l. 71-98. + +Clappe, l. 80, noise. + +Claw not your visage, l. 194. + +Comb your head, l. 36. + +Communicative, be, l. 316. + +Compace, l. 469. Fr. _compas_, a compasse, a circle, a round. + +Constaunce, l. 102. Fr. _constance_, stabilitie, firmenesse. Cot. + +Couenable, l. 487. Fr. _convenable_, apt, fit, meet for, beseeming, +seemlie, &c. Cot. + +Crede, say it, l. 77. + +Cross yourself on rising, l. 25. + +Cumpenable, l. 151. Fr. _compagnable_, companable, friendlie, sociable. + +Cunning, (knowing) men, take heed to them, l. 478, l. 498-504. + +Cup, soil not yours, l. 186. + + +Dancing, right for a child, l. 305. + +Deprave, l. 157, backbite, run down. Fr. _despraver_, spoyle, marre, +make crooked, wrest, wry to bad purposes. Cot. + +Detraction, the vice of, l. 163. + +Disauayle, l. 290, harm, damage. + +Discreue, l. 392, describe. + +Disculede, l. 460, O., dissheveled. + +Disteyne, l. 407, stain, spot. + +Dogs, don't irritate them, l. 67. + +Dress, to be manerly, l. 47, 52; to be reasonable, l. 485. + + +Ears, clean yours, l. 37. + +Entredet, l. 524, O., entretyde, H., taught. + +Envy, keep clear of, l. 528. + +Estate, l. 122, lord noble. + +Exercyse, excersyf, l. 318, _?_ practised, able to handle a subject. Fr. +_exercer_, to handle, manage. Cot. + +Eye, cast not yours aside, l. 101. + + +Face, have no spots on it, l. 38. + +Farsyone, l. 186, H., stuffing: _farse_ (or _ferce_, 1. 191), to stuff; +_farsure_, stuffing. Cp. Chaucer's _ferthyng_, of the Prioress, _Prol. +Cant. T._, and the Oriel text. + +Fetis, l. 443, O., fashions. Fr. _faict_, feat, pranke, part. Cot. + +Fewe, l. 171, little, few words. + +First place, don't take it, l. 493. + +Follow virtue, l. 481. + +Founders of our language; revive their praise, l. 431. + +Fulsom, l. 257, _?_ full, satisfied; or helpful, A.S. _fylst_, help, +assistance. + +Fulsomnes, l. 401, fulness, plenty. 'Fulnesse or plente (fulsu_m_nesse, +K.H.P.) _Habundancia, copia_.' Promptorium. + + +Games, play only at proper ones, l. 296. + +Girdle, don't loose yours at table, l. 197. + +Glaynes, l. 412, O., gleynes, l. 422, O., gleanings. Fr. _glane_, a +gleaning; also the corne thats gleaned or left for the gleaner. Cot. + +Gluttonous, don't be, l. 180. + +Good cheer, make it serve for a scanty table, l. 253-5. + +GOWER'S moral writings, read them, l. 323; and his _Confessio Amantis_, +l. 325. + + +Halke, l. 124, generally means corner; A.S. _heal_, an angle, a corner; +but another _heal_ is a hall, place of entertainment, inn, which may be +the meaning here. + +Hands, wash yours, l. 43; wash 'em clean at table, l. 262-5. + +Hanging, the servant that deserves it, st. 65, O. + +Harping recommended, l. 304. + +Head, don't scratch it at table, l. 194. + +Holy water, l. 72. + +Humanite, l. 497, Fr. _humanité_, courtesie, ciuilitie, gentlenesse. +Cot. + + +Inhaunce, l. 433, put forward, up. Lat. _in antea_, Prov. _enansar_, to +advance, exalt. Wedgwood. + +Interrupt no man's talk, l. 275, 283. + +Is, l. 386, O., his. + +Iubiter, l. 371, 378, God. + + +Jangelynge, l. 80, chattering. + + +Kery, l. 369, [Greek: kyrie], Lord, [have mercy upon us!] + +Knife, don't put it near your face, l. 192. + + +Ladde, l. 476, O., lade, H., a thong of leather, a shoe-latchet. +Halliwell. + +Language, silver, is to be learnt only from our old poets, st. 58, l. +400-6. + +Lewed (ignorant), he must be who will not learn, l. 21. + +Lips, wipe yours before drinking, l. 186, 189. + +Look men, you speak to, in the face, l. 99. + +Louse, l. 462, catching lice. + +Luting recommended, l. 302. + +LYDGATE, Jo[=h]n, my master, l. 365; read his volumes large and wide, l. +379. + + +Malapert, Jack, don't play, l. 491. Fr. _Müiere_, malapert, outrageous, +ever doing one mischiefe or other. _Marmiton_, a saucie, malapert, or +knauish fellow. Cot. + +Malouse, l. 461, Malo's. + +Manner & measure should guide you, l. 125. + +Manners make man, l. 238. + +Mass, help the priest at, l. 85. + +Matins, our Lady's, l. 32. + +Mouth, eat with it shut, l. 241. + +Multiply talking, don't, l. 320. + + +Nails, clean yours, l. 44; don't pare them at table, l. 247. + +Norture, l. 436, deportment, manners. + +Nose, clean it, l. 39; don't pick it, l. 41. + + +OCKLYF; read his translation of _De Regimine Principum_, l. 351-64. + +Oppose, l. 518, 'I oppose one, I make a tryall of his lernyng, or I laye +a thyng to his charge, _ie appose_.' Palsgrave. See Towneley Mysteries, +pp. 193-95. Way, in Promptorium. + + We may bi oure law examyne hym fyrst.... ... let me _oppose_ + hym ... + + _T. Myst_, p. 195. + +Outrage, l. 278, outrageous, beyond bounds, too talkative. _See_ +Malapert. + +Owers, l. 34, see _pryme_. + + +Pater noster, say yours, l. 26, 77. + +Pendable, l. 455, O., Fr. _pendable_, hangable, that deserves hanging, +thats fit to be hanged. Cot. + +Poor table, men to be cheerful at, l. 253. + +Presumption, beware of, l. 492. + +Pride, beware of, l. 492. + +Print your words in your mind before you speak them, l. 282. + +Pryme & owers, l. 34. 'The _prime_ and other _hours_ are the services +_Ad primam horam_, _Ad tertiam_, _Ad sextam_, and _Ad nonam_, found in +the Primer, or layman's prayer-book. They are sometimes called the +middle hours, as distinguished from Matins and Vespers.' H. Bradshaw. + + +Quaire, l. 520, 526, 532, quire, pamphlet, treatise. + + +Ravenous, don't be, l. 176. + +Read eloquent books, l. 310. + +Rehersaylle, l. 288, rehearsal, repetition. + +Repeat conversations, don't, l. 288. + +Report (tale-telling) is the chief nurse of mischief, l. 135. + +Reward, l. 127, look at, watch. + +Rising, what to do on, l. 23. + + +Secret, keep what you hear, l. 134. + +Sewe, l. 481, follow, pursue. + +Silence, keep, l. 140; in hall, l. 204. + +Siluerous, l. 403, O., silvern. + +Singing lustily is good for a child, l. 304. + +Speak fair to folks, l. 60. + +Speaking, the conditions to be observed in, l. 143. + +Spoon, don't put it in your dish or on the table, l. 267. + +Surplusage, l. 518, rest, remainder. + +Syttyng, l. 302, fit, suitable. 'Syttyng or convenyent--m. _asseant ... +aduenant_.' Palsgrave. + + +Table, how to wait at, l. 113. + +Tacches, l. 176, tache, l. 198; Fr. _tache_, a spot, staine, blemish. +Cot. + +Taches, H., teches, O., l. 453, manners. + +Teeth, don't pick 'em with your knife, l. 248. + +Terre, l. 67; _tar_, to set on, provoke; O. Fr. _atarier_. They have +_terrid_ thee to ire. Wiclif, Psalms. Sc. _tirr_, to snarl; quarrelsome, +crabbed. Wedgwood. + +Thewed, l. 20, mannered. + +Towel, don't soil it, l. 263, 266. + +Traverse, l. 242, change from side to side. + +Trencher; keep yours clean, l. 269. + +Trety, l. 529, treatise. + +True as the gospel, l. 503. + + +Weyne, l. 166, A.S. _wanian_, to diminish, take away. + +Wind, break not, up or down, l. 202. + +Wise man, the; his marks of a youth likely to be had, l. 104;--his +counsel as to speaking, l. 137, 147. + +Women, always take good heed to them, l. 506. + +Wyndlese, l. 471, windlass. + + +Yanglers, l. 207, chatterers. + +Ydellye, l. 315, idly. + +Ynympariable, l. 380, unequalled, L. _par_, Fr. _pareil_, equal, like. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14761 *** diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d854c28 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14761 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14761) diff --git a/old/14761-8.txt b/old/14761-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1443576 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14761-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3704 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Caxton's Book of Curtesye, Edited by +Frederick J. Furnivall + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Caxton's Book of Curtesye + +Editor: Frederick J. Furnivall + +Release Date: January 22, 2005 [eBook #14761] + +Language: EN + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAXTON'S BOOK OF CURTESYE*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Lindahl, Linda Cantoni, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +CAXTON'S BOOK OF CURTESYE + +Printed at Westminster about 1477-8 A.D. and Now Reprinted, +with Two Ms. Copies of the Same Treatise, from the Oriel Ms. 79, +and the Balliol Ms. 354 + +Edited by + +FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, M.A. + +Editor of 'The Babees Book, Etc.' ('Manners and Meals in Olden Time'), +Etc. Etc. + +London: +Published for the Early English Text Society +by Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, +Amen House, E.C. 4 + +1868 (reprinted 1882, 1898, 1932) + + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +Though no excuse can be needed for including in our Extra Series a +reprint of a unique Caxton on a most interesting subject, yet this Book +of Curtesye from Hill's MS. was at first intended for our original +series, I having forgotten lately that Caxton had written to 'lytyl +Iohn,' though some months back I had entered the old printer's book for +my second collection of Manners and Meals tracts for the Society. After +the copy of Hill--which Mr W.W. King kindly made for his +fellow-members--had gone to press, Mr Hazlitt reminded me of the Caxton, +and its first and last lines in Mr Blades's admirable book showed that +Hill's text was the same as the printed one. I accordingly went to +Cambridge to copy it, and there, before tea, Mr Skeat showed me the copy +of _The Vision of Piers Plowman_ which the Provost and Fellows of Oriel +had been good enough to lend him for his edition of 'Text B.' Having +enjoyed the vellum Vision, I turned to the paper leaves at its end, and +what should they contain but an earlier and better version of the Caxton +that I had just copied part of?[1] I drank seven cups of tea, and eat +five or six large slices of bread and butter, in honour of the event;[2] +and Mr Skeat, with his never-failing kindness, undertook to copy and +edit the Oriel text for the Society. With three texts, therefore, in +hand, I could not well stick them at the end of the Postscript to the +_Babees Book, &c._,[3] and as I wanted Caxton's name to this Book of +Curtesye to distinguish it from what has long been to me THE Book of +Courtesy,--that from the Sloane MS. 1986, edited by Mr Halliwell for the +Percy Society, and by me for our own E.E.T.S.--and as also Caxton's name +is one 'to conjure withal,' I have, with our Committee's leave, made +this little volume an Extra Series one, and called it Caxton's, though +his text is not so good as that of the Oriel MS. + +[Footnote 1: Mr Bradshaw was kind enough to copy the rest, and to read +the whole of the proof with Caxton's original.] + +[Footnote 2: I must be excused for not having found the poem before, as +it is not in the Index to Mr Coxe's Catalogue. In the body of the work +it is entered as "A father's advice to his son; with instructions for +his behaviour as a king's or nobleman's page. ff. 88, 89, 78. Beg. + + "Kepeth clene and leseth not youre gere."] + +[Footnote 3: The Treatises in _The Babees Book, &c._, and the Index at +the end, should be consulted for parallel and illustrative passages to +those in Caxton's text.] + +On this latter point Mr Skeat writes: + +"The Oriel copy is evidently the best. Not only does it give better +readings, but the lines, as a rule, run more smoothly; and it has an +extra stanza. This stanza, which is marked 54, occurs between stanzas 53 +and 54 of the other copies, and is of some interest and importance. It +shows that Lidgate's pupil, put in mind of Lidgate's style by the very +mention of his name, introduces a ballad of three stanzas, in which +every stanza has a burden after the Lidgate manner. The recurrence of +this burden no doubt caused copyists to lose their place, and so the +stanza came to be omitted in other copies. Its omission, however, spoils +the ballad. Both it and the curious lines in Piers Ploughmans Crede, + + "For aungells and arcangells / all Þei whijt vseÞ + And alle aldermen / Þat ben _ante tronum_, + +"i.e. all the elders before the throne, allude to Rev. iv. 10. This Crede +passage has special reference to the _Carmelites_ or _White_ Friars. + +"The first two leaves of the Oriel copy are misplaced inside out at the +end; but this is not the only misarrangement. The poem has evidently +been copied into this MS. from an older copy having a leaf capable of +containing _six stanzas at a time_; which leaves were out of order. +Hence the poem in the Oriel MS. is written in the following order, as +now bound up, Stanzas 11 (l. 5)-18, 25-30, 37-42, 19-24, 49-54, 31-36, +43-48, 55-76, 8-11 (l. 4), 4 (l. 5)-7, 1-4 (l. 4)." + +As an instance of a word improved by the Oriel text, may be cited the +'_brecheles_ feste' of Caxton's and Hill's texts, l. 66, and l. 300, + + ffor truste ye well ye shall you not excuse + ffrom _brecheles feste_, & I may you espye + Playenge at any game of rebawdrye.--_Hill_, l. 299-301. + +Could it be 'profitless,' from A.-Sax. _bréc_, gain, profit; or +'breechless,' a feast of birch for the boy with his breeches off? The +latter was evidently meant, but it was a forced construction. The Oriel +_byrcheley_ set matters right at once. + +Another passage I cannot feel sure is set at rest by the Oriel text. +Hill's and Caxton's texts, when describing the ill-mannered servant +whose ways are to be avoided, say of him, as to his hair, that he is + + Absolon with disheveled heres smale, + lyke to a prysoner of saynt Malowes,[1] + _a sonny busshe able to the galowes_.--_Hill_, l. 462. + +[Footnote 1: An allusion to the strong castle built at St Malo's by +Anne, Duchess of Bretayne.--Dyce.] + +For the last line the Oriel MS. reads, + + _a sonny bush myght cause hym to goo louse_, + +and Mr Skeat says,--"This is clearly the right reading, of which +_galowes_ is an unmeaning corruption. The poet is speaking of the +_dirty_ state of a bad and ill-behaved servant. He is as dirty as a man +come out of St Malo's prison; a sunny bush would cause him to go and +free himself from minute attendants. A 'sunny bush' probably means no +more than a warm nook, inviting one to rest, or to such quiet pursuits +as the one indicated. That this is really the reading is shown by the +next stanza, wherein the poet apologizes for having spoken too bluntly; +he ought to have spoken of such a chase by saying that he goes +_a-hawking_ or _a-hunting_. Such was the right euphemism required by +'norture.'" + +If this is the meaning, we may compare with it the old poet's reproof to +the proud man: + + Man, of Þi schuldres and of Þi side + Þou mi3*te hunti luse and flee: + of such a park i ne hold no pride; + Þe dere nis nau3*te Þat Þou mighte sle. + + _Early English Poems_, ed. F.J.F., 1862, p. 1, l. 5. + +and remember that one of the blessings of the early Paradisaical _Land +of Cokaygne_ is: + + Nis Þer flei, fle, no lowse, + In cloÞ, in toune, bed, no house. + + _Ib._, p. 157, l. 37-8. + +We may also compare the following extract about Homer's death from +"Pleasant and Delightfull Dialogues in Spanish and English: Profitable +to the Learner, and not vnpleasant to any other Reader. By _John +Minsheu_, Professor of Languages in London. 1623," p. 47. + +"F ... a foole with his foolishnesse framed in his owne imagination may +giue to a hundred wise men matter to picke out. + +"I, So it hapned to the Poet Homer, that as he was with age blinde, and +went walking by the sea shoare, & heard certaine Fishermen talking, that +at that time were a _lowsing_ themselues, and as he asked them, what +fish they caught, they vnderstanding that he had meant their lice, they +answered, Those that we [1]haue, we seeke for, and those that we [2]haue +not wee finde, but as the good Homer could not see what they did, and +for this cause could not vnderstand the riddle, it did so grieue his +vnderstanding to obtaine the secret of this matter, which was a +sufficient griefe to cause his death." + +[Footnote 1: i. Haue in their clothes. i. lice.] + +[Footnote 2: i. Haue not in hand.] + +But the subject is not a very pleasant one for discussion, though the +occupation alluded to in the Oriel Text must have been one of the +pastimes of many people in Early England. + +The book itself, _Lytill Johan_, is by a disciple of Lydgate's--see l. +366, p. 36-7--and contains, besides, the usual directions how to dress, +how to behave in church, at meals, and when serving at table, a wise +man's advice on the books his little Jack should read, the best English +poets,--then Gower, Chaucer, Occleve, and Lydgate,--not the Catechism +and Latin Grammar. It was very pleasant to come off the directions not +to conveye spetell over the table, or burnish one's bones with one's +teeth, to the burst of enthusiasm with which the writer speaks of our +old poets. He evidently believed in them with all his heart; and it +would have been a good thing for England if our educators since had +followed his example. If the time wasted, almost, in Latin and Greek by +so many middle-class boys, had been given to Milton and Shakspere, +Chaucer and Langland, with a fit amount of natural science, we should +have been a nobler nation now than we are. There is no more promising +sign of the times than the increased attention paid to English in +education now. + +But to return to our author. He gives Chaucer the poet's highest gift, +Imagination, in these words, + + what ever to say he toke in his entente, + his langage was so fayer & pertynante, + yt semeth vnto manys heryng + _not only the worde, but veryly the thyng_. (l. 343.) + +And though the writer has the bad taste to praise Lydgate more than +Chaucer, yet we may put this down to his love for his old master, and +may rest assured that though the cantankerous Ritson calls the Bury +schoolmaster a 'driveling monk,' yet the larking schoolboy who robbed +orchards, played truant, and generally raised the devil in his early +days (_Forewords to Babees Book_, p. xliv.), retained in later years +many of the qualities that draw to a man the boy's bright heart, the +disciple's fond regret. We too will therefore hope that old Lydgate's + + sowle be gon + (To) the sterred paleys above the dappled skye, + Ther to syng _Sanctus_ insessavntly + Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall, + Before the hyeste Iubyter of all. (l. 381-5.) + +In old age the present poem was composed (st. 60, p. 42-3); 'a lytill +newe Instruccion' to a lytle childe, to remove him from vice & make him +follow virtue. At his riper age our author promises his boy the +surplusage of the treatise (st. 74, p. 50-1); and if a copy of it +exists, I hope it will soon fall in our way and get into type, for 'the +more the merrier' of these peeps into old boy-life. + +On one of the grammatical forms of the Oriel MS., Mr Skeat writes: + +"It is curious to observe the forms of the imperative mood plural which +occur so frequently throughout the poem in the Oriel copy. The forms +ending in _-eth_ are about 31 in number, of which 17 are of French, and +14 of A.S. origin. The words in which the ending _-eth_ is dropped are +42, of which 18 are of French, and 24 of A.S. origin. The three +following French words take _both_ forms; _avyse_ or _avyseth_, _awayte_ +or _awayteth_, _wayte_ or _wayteth_; and the five following A.S. words, +_be_ or _beth_, _kepe_ or _kepeth_, _knele_ or _knelyth_, _loke_ or +_loketh_, _make_ or _maketh_. Thus the poet makes use, on the whole, of +one form almost as often as the other (that is, supposing the scribe to +have copied correctly), and he no doubt consulted his convenience in +taking that one which suited the line best. It is an instance of what +followed in almost every case of naturalization, that A.S. inflections +were added to the French words quite as freely as to those of native +origin. Both the _-eth_ and _-e_ forms are commonly used without the +word _ye_, though. _Be ye_ occurs in l. 58. In the phrase _avise you_ +(l. 78), _you_ is in the accusative." + +Commenting also on l. 71 of Caxton and Hill, Mr Skeat notices how they +have individualised the general 'child' of the earlier Oriel text: + +"71. Here we find _child_ riming to _mylde_. In most other places it is +_Johan_. The rime shows that the reading _child_ is right, and _Johan_ +is a later adaptation. The Oriel MS. never uses the word _Johan_ at all; +it is always _child_." + +I may remark also, that on the question lately raised by Mr Bradshaw, +'who before Hampole,[1] or after him, used _you_ for the nominative as +well as the correct _ye_,' Hill uses both _you_ and _ye_, see l. 47, 51, +52, &c., though so far as a hasty search shows, Lydgate, in his Minor +Poems at least, uses _ye_ only, as do Lord Berners in his _Arthur of +Lytil Brytayne_, ab. 1530, the Ormulum, Ancren Riwle, Genesis and +Exodus, William of Palerne, Alliterative Poems, Early Metrical Homilies, +&c.[2] + +[Footnote 1: _Pricke of Conscience_, p. 127, l. 4659; and p. xvii.] + +[Footnote 2: Mr Skeat holds that in the various reading _3*ow drieth_ +from the Univ. Coll. Oxford MS. (of the early part of the 15th century) +to the Vernon MS. _þou drui3*est_, l. 25, Passus 1, of the Vision of +Piers Plowman, the 3*ow is an accusative, "exactly equivalent to the +Gothic in the following passage--'_hwana_ þaursjai, gaggai du mis, i.e. +_whom_ it may thirst, let him come to me.' John vii. 37. I conclude that +3*ow is accusative, not dative. The same construction occurs in German +constantly, '_es dürstet mich_' = it thirsts me, I thirst."] + +The final _d_, _f_, _t_, of Hill's MS., often have a tag to them. As +they sometimes occur in places where I judge they must mean nothing, I +have neglected them all. Every final _ll_ has a line through it, which +may mean _e_. Nearly every final _n_ and _m_ has a curly tail or line +over it. This is printed _e_ or _[=n]_, though no doubt the tail and +line have often no value at all. The curls to the _r_s are printed _e_, +because _ther_ with the curly _r_, in l. 521, Hill, rimes to _where_ of +l. 519. + +At the end of Caxton's final _d_ and _g_ is occasionally a crook-backed +line, something between the line of beauty and the ordinary knocker. +This no doubt represents the final _e_ of MSS., and is so printed, as Mr +Childs has not the knocker in the fount of type that he uses for the +Society's work. Caxton's _[=n]_ stands for _u_n in the _-aunce_, +_-aunte_, of words from the French. No stops or inverted commas have +been put to Caxton's text here, but the stanzas and lines have been +numbered, and side-notes added. + +"The _Book of Curtesye_," says Mr Bradshaw, "is known from three early +editions. The first, without any imprint, but printed at Westminster by +Caxton ab. 1477-78,[1] the only known copy of which is here reproduced. +The second (with the colophon 'Here endeth a lytyll treatyse called the +booke of Curtesye or lytyll John. Emprynted atte Westmoster') is only +known from a printer's proof of two pages[2] preserved among the Douce +fragments in the Bodleian. It must have been printed by Wynkin de Worde +in Caxton's house ab. 1492. In the third edition it was reprinted at the +end of the _Stans puer ad Mensam_ by Wynkin de Worde ab. 1501-1510. The +Cambridge copy is the only one known to remain of this edition." + +[Footnote 1: In his type No. 2, _Blades_, ii. 63.] + +[Footnote 2: In Caxton's type No. 5, _Blades_, ii. 235 (not 253 as in +Index).] + +I have no more to say: but, readers, remember this coming New Year to do +more than last for what Dr Stratmann calls "the dear Old English." Think +of Chaucer when his glad spring comes, and every day besides; forget +not Langland or any of our early men: + + reporte + & revyue _th_e lawde of the_m_ th_a_t were + famovs i_n_[1] owr_e_ langage, these faders dere, + whos sowles i_n_ blis, god et_er_nall avaunce, + _th_at lysten so[2] owr_e_ langage to enhavnce! + + (_Hill_, l. 430-4.) + +[Footnote 1: Founders of, _Oriel_ MS.] + +[Footnote 2: some, _Hill_; so, _Oriel_.] + + +_3, St George's Square, N.W. + +15 Dec., 1867._ + + + + + +The Book of Curtesye. + + + + + +[The Book of Curtesy.] + + +[_From the Oriel MS. lxxix._] + +[1] + +Lytle childe, sythen youre tendre infancie + Stondeth as yett vndir yndyff[e]rence, +To vice or vertu to moven[1] or Applie, 3 +[Sidenote 1: MS. coorven] + And in suche Age ther is no prouide_n_ce, +Ne comenly no sadde intelligence, + But ryght as wax receyueth printe and figure, + So chylder ben disposed of nature, + +[2] + +Vice or vertu to Folowe and ympresse + In mynde; and therfore, to stere and remeve +You from vice, and to vertu thou[1] dresse, 10 +[Sidenote 1: _Read_ you] + That on to folow, and the other to eschewe, + I haue devysed you this lytill newe + Instrucc_i_on according to your_e_ age, + Playne in sentence, but playner in langage. 14 + + +(_Richard Hill's Commonplace Book, or Balliol MS. 354, ffl C lx._) + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +Here begynnyth lytill[e] Ioh_a_n. + +¶ Lytell[e] Iohan, sith yo_u_r tender_e_ enfancye + Stondyth as yet vnder_e_ Indyfference + To vyce or vertu to mevyn or applie, + & in suche age _ther_[1] ys no p_ro_vydence, 4 + Ne come_n_ly no sage Intelygence, + But as wax receyvith prynt or fygure, + So chyldren bene disposed of nature + +[Footnote 1: The _th_ is the same as the _y_.] + +¶ Vyce or vertu to folowe, & enpresse 8 + In mynde; & _ther_for to styre & remeve + you frome vice, & to vertu addresse, + That on to folow, & _tha_t o_ther_ to eschewe, + I haue devysed you this lytill[e] newe 12 + Instrucc_i_on[1] accordyng vnto yo_u_r age, + playn In sentence, but playner_e_ In langage. + +[Footnote 1: The mark of contraction is over the _n_: t.i. the _n_ has +its tail curled over its back like a dog's.] + + +[The Book of Courtesye.] + +[_Caxton's Text._] + +[1] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 1 a.] + + Lytyl Iohn syth your tendre enfancye + Stondeth as yet vnder / in difference +[Sidenote: As Infancy is indifferent] +To vice or vertu to meuyn or applye 3 +[Sidenote: whether it follows vice or virtue,] +And in suche age ther is no prouidence +Ne comenly no sad_e_ Intelligence +But as waxe resseyueth prynte or figure +So children ben disposid_e_ of nature 7 + +[2] + +Vyce or vertue to folowe and_e_ enpresse +In mynde / and_e_ therfore / to styre & remeue +You from vice / and_e_ to vertue addresse 10 +That one to folowe / and that other teschewe +I haue deuysed you / this lytyl newe +[Sidenote: I have written this new treatise to draw you from vice, and +turn you to virtue.] +Instrucc_i_on / acordyng_e_ vnto your age +Playne in sentence / but playner in la_n_gage 14 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[3] + +Taketh hede therfore and herkyn what I say, + And yeueth therto hooly your_e_ adu_er_tence, +Lette not your_e_ eye be here and your_e_ hert away, 17 + But yeueth herto your_e_ besy diligence, + And ley aparte alle wantawne insolence, + Lernyth to be vertues and well thewid; + Who wolle not lere, nedely must be lewid. 21 + +[4] + +Afore all thyng, fyrst and principally, + In the morowe when ye[1] shall vppe ryse, +[Sidenote 1: MS. he.] +To wyrship god haue in your_e_ memorie; 24 + Wyth cristis crosse loke ye blesse you thriese, + Youre pater-nosteir seyth in devoute wyse, + Aue maria wyth the holy crede, + Than alle the after the bettir may ye spede. 28 + +[5] + +And while ye be Abouten honestely + To dresse your_e_-self and don on your_e_ aray, +Wyth your_e_ felawe well and tretably 31 + Oure lady matens Avyseth that you say, + And this obseruaunce vseth eu_e_ry day, + Wyth prime and owris, and wythouten drede + The blyssed lady woll graunte you your_e_ mede. 35 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Take hede _ther_for, & harken what I saye, + & geve _ther_to yowr_e_ good advertence, 16 + lette not yo_u_r ere be here, & yo_u_r herte awaye, + But pute you _ther_to besy delygence, + Laying a-p_ar_te all[e] wanton Insolence, + lernyd to be v_er_tuvs & well[e] thewed; 20 + who will[e] not lerne, nedely he must be lewed. + +¶ Afore all[e] thyng, & pryncypally + In the mornyng wha_n_ ye vp ryse, + To worship god haue in memory; 24 + w_i_t_h_ cryst_is_ crosse loke ye blesse ye thryse, + yo_u_r pater_e_ nost_er_ say i_n_ devoute wyse, + Aue maria / w_i_t_h_ the holy crede; + The_n_ all[e] _th_e day the bett_er_ shall ye spede. 28 + +¶ And while ye dresse yo_u_r selfe, honestly + To dresse yo_u_r selfe & do on yo_u_r araye, + w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r felowe well[e] & tretably + Owr_e_ lady matens loke _tha_t you say; 32 + And this obs_er_vance vse ye eu_er_y day, + w_i_t_h_ pryme & owers w_i_t_h_-owt drede. + _th_e blessyd lady will quyte you yo_u_r mede. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[3] + +Take hede therfore / and herkne what I saye +[Sidenote: Attend therefore to what I say.] +And_e_ gyue therto / your good_e_ aduertence +Lete not your ere be here & your herte awaye 17 +But put ye therto / besy diligence +Leyng_e_ aparte al wantown Insolence +Lerneth to be vertuous / and wel thewed_e_ +[Sidenote: Learn good manners.] +Who wil not lerne / nedely he must be lewed 21 + +[4] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 1 b.] + +Afore alle thing_e_ / and_e_ principally +In the morenyng_e_ / whan ye vp rise +[Sidenote: On rising,] +To worshipe god_e_ / haue in memorie 24 +With crystes crosse / loke ye blesse you thrise +[Sidenote: cross yourself,] +Your pater noster / saye in deuoute wyse +[Sidenote: say your Pater Noster, Ave, and Creed.] +Aue maria / with the holy crede +Thenne alle the day / the better shal ye spede 28 + +[5] + +And while that ye be aboute honestly +To dresse your self / & do o[=n] your araye +[Sidenote: While dressing,] +With your felawe / wel and tretably 31 +Oure lady matyns / loke that ye saye +[Sidenote: say our Lady's Matins,] +And_e_ this obserua[=n]ce / vse ye every daye +With pryme and ouris / withouten drede +[Sidenote: Prime, and Hours.] +The blessid_e_ lady / wil quyte you your mede 35 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[6] + +Kembe your_e_ hede and loke ye kepe hit clene, + Your_e_ eris twayne suffre not foule to be; +In your_e_ visage wayteth no spotte be sene, 38 + Purge your_e_ nase, let hit not combred be + Wyth foule matiers Ayenst all oneste, + But wyth bare hande no matier from hit feche, + For that is a foule and an vncurtays teche. 42 + +[7] + +Youre handes wassheth, that is an holsom thyng, + Youre nayles loke they be not geet blake, +Suffre hem not to ben ouer long growyng; 45 + To your_e_ aray good hede I warne you take, + That manerly ye seet hit vp and make, + Your_e_ hode, your_e_ gowne, your_e_ hose, and eke your_e_ scho, + Wyth all array longyng your_e_ body to. 49 + +[8] + +Kepeth clene and leseth not your_e_ gere, + And or ye passen oute of your_e_ loggyng, +Euery garment that ye schulle vppon you were, 52 + Awayteth welle that hit be so syttyng + As to your_e_ degre semeth moost on accordyng; + Than woll men sey, 'for soth this childe is he + That is well taught and loueth honeste.' 56 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lx back.] + +¶ Kembe yo_u_r hede, & loke you kepe yt clene; 36 + yo_u_r eres twayn suffre not fowle to be; + In yo_u_r wysage loke no spote be sene; + purge yo_u_r nose; lett no ma_n_ in yt se + The vile matter; yt ys none honeste; 40 + Ne w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r bare hond no fylth fro_m_ yt feche, + ffor _tha_t ys fowle, & an vncurtoys teche. + +¶ Yo_u_r hond_is_ wasshe; yt ys an holsom thyng; + yo_u_r naylis loke they be not gety blake, 44 + Ne suffre not the_m_ over longe growyng. + To yo_u_r A-raye I warne you good hede take, + Manerly & ffyte loke you yt make; + yo_ur_ hood / gown_e_ / hosen / & eke yo_u_r sho, 48 + w_i_t_h_ all yo_u_r araye longyng yo_u_r body to. + +¶ Kepe you clene, & lose not yo_u_r gere; + & or you passe owt of yo_u_r lodgyng, + Eu_er_y garment _tha_t ye shall[e] were, 52 + Awayte well[e] _tha_t yt be so syttyng + & to yo_u_r degre semed accordyng; + Tha_n_ will[e] me_n_ say, "for sothe _th_is child ys he + _tha_t ys well[e] tawght, & loweth honeste." 56 + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[6] + +Kembe your hede / & loke ye kepe it clene +[Sidenote: Comb your head;] +Your eres tweyne / suffre not fowl to be +[Sidenote: clean your ears] +In your visage / wayte no spot be sene 38 +Purge your nose / lete noman in it see +[Sidenote: and nose;] +The vile mater / it is none honeste +Ne with your bare honde / no filth fro it fecche +[Sidenote: don't pick it.] +For that is fowl / and an vncurtoys teche 42 + +[7] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 2 a.] + +Your hondes wesshe / it is an holsom thing_e_ +Your naylis loke / they be not gety blacke +Ne suffre not hem / to be ou_er_ longe growyng 45 +[Sidenote: Wash your hands; don't keep your nails jet-black or too +long.] +To your araye / I warne you good hede take +That manerly ye fytte it vp and make +[Sidenote: Wear fit clothes, that fit well] +Your hood_e_. gowne. hosyn / & eke your sho +With al your aray longyng your body to 49 + +[8] + +Kepe you clene / and lose not your gere +And or ye passe / out of your loggyng_e_ +Euery garment / that ye shal on were 52 +Awayte wel / that it be so syttyng_e_ +As to your degre / semeth accordyng_e_ +[Sidenote: and suit your station;] +The_n_ne wil men saye / forsoth this childe is he +[Sidenote: the men will praise you.] +That is wel taught / and louyth honeste 56 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[12] + +Avise you well Also for eny thyng, + The schirche of prayer is the house and place, +Be ware ther_e_-for_e_ of clappe or Ianglyng, 80 + For in the schirche that is full gret trysspace, + And A token of hem that lacken grace; + Ther beth demur_e_ and kepeth your_e_ sylence, + And serueth god wyth all your_e_ deligence. 84 + +[13] + +To helpe the prest whan he shall sey the masse, + Whan hit shall happen you or be-tyde, +Remeue not ferr_e_ ne from his p_re_sence passe, 87 + Kneleth or stondeth deuoutly hym be-syde, + And not to nyghe; your_e_ tounge mooste be applied + To Answere hym wyth[1] v[o]ice full moderate; +[Sidenote 1: MS. wyth hym wyth.] + Avyse you well, my lityll childe, Algate 91 + +[14] + +To mynystre wyth de-voute Reuerence, + Loke that ye do your_e_ humble obseruaunce +Debonarly wyth [dewe] obideence, 94 + Cyrcum-spectly, wyth eu_er_[y] circumstaunce + Of porte, of chere, demevir_e_ of countenaunce, + Remembryng, the lord aboue is he + Whom to serue is grettest liberte. 98 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Avyce you well[e] also for any thynge, + The chyrche, of p_ra_yer ys howse & place; + be ware _ther_for of clappe or Iangelynge, 80 + ffor i_n_ the chyrche yt ys a full[e] gret trespas, + & a token of suche as lacketh g_ra_ce. + Ther be ye demvre, & kepe ye scilence, + And s_er_ve ye god w_i_t_h_ all yo_u_r delygence. 84 + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxj.] + +¶ To helpe _th_e P_re_est wha_n_ he sayth masse, + wha_n_ yt shall[e] happen you or betyde, + Remeve not fer, ne fro_m_ his p_re_sence passe; + knele or stonde you devovtly hy_m_ besyde, 88 + & not to ny[=g]h: yo_u_r tonge mvst be applyde + To answere hy_m_ w_i_t_h_ woyce moderate. + Avyce you well, my lytill child, algate + +¶ To mynyster w_i_t_h_ devout reverence; 92 + loke ye do yo_u_r hu_m_ble observaunce + Debonerly wyth dewe obedyence, + Circu_m_spectly w_i_t_h_ euery circu_m_stavnce + Of poort, & chere of goodly covntenavnce, 96 + Remembryng well _th_e lorde a-bove ys he, + whome to s_er_ve ys grettest lyberte. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[12] + +Auyse you wel also / for ony thinge +The chirche of prayer / is hous and place +Beware therfore / of clappe or Iangelyng_e_ 80 +[Sidenote: Don't chatter,] +For in þ^e chirche / it is a ful grate trespaas +And a token of suche / as lackyth grace +There be ye demure / and kepe ye scilence +[Sidenote: but be silent, and serve God.] +And serue ye god / with al your diligence 84 + +[13] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 3 a.] + +To helpe the preest / whan he saith masse +[Sidenote: When you help the priest at Mass,] +Whan it shal happen you or betyde +Remeue not fer / ne from his presence passe 87 +Knele or stonde ye / deuoutly hym besyde +[Sidenote: kneel or stand near him,] +And not to nyg[=h] your to_n_ge muste be applide +Tanswere hym / with voys ful moderate +[Sidenote: and answer him in a moderate tone.] +Auyse you wel / my lityl childe algate 91 + +[14] + +To mynystre / with deuoute reuerence +[Sidenote: Minister reverently] +Loke ye do / youre humble obseruance +Debonairly / with due obedyence 94 +Circumspectly / with euery circumstaunce +[Sidenote: and circumspectly.] +Of poort and chere / of goodly counte[=n]ance +Remembryng_e_ wel the lord_e_ / a boue is he +Whom to serue / is grettest liberte 98 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[15] + +And whan ye speke, loketh men in the face[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. visage.] + Wyth sobre chere and goodly semblaunce; +Cast not your_e_ eye asyde in odir place, 101 + For that is a tokyn of wantowne inconstaunce, + Which wolle appeyre your_e_ name, and disauau_n_ce; + The wyse man seyth, 'who hathe this signes thre + Ne is not like a good man [for] to be--' 105 + +[16] + +'Yn hert,' he seyth, 'who that is inconstaunte,[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. inconstaunce] + A waveryng eye, glyddryng but sodenly +From place to place, and A fote[2] variaunte[3] 108 +[Sidenote 2: MS. fore.] +[Sidenote 3: MS. variaunce.] + That in no place abydeth stabully-- + Thes ben signes,' the wyse man seyth sekerly, + 'Of suche a wyght as is vnmanerly nyce, + And is full like dissposed be to vice.' 112 + +[17] + +And wayte, my childe, whan ye stond at the table, + Of souereyne or maister whether hit be, +Applieth you [for] to be seruysable, 115 + That no defaute in you may founde be; + Loke who doth best and hym envyeth ye, + And specially vseth attendaunce, + Whiche is to souereyne thyng of gret plesaunce. 119 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ And wha_n_ ye speke, loke me_n_ in _th_e face + w_i_t_h_ sobre chere & goodly semblavnce; 100 + Caste not eye a-side in no other_e_ place, + ffor _tha_t ys a token of a wanton constavnce + which will[e] apayre yo_ur_ name, & dysavance. + The wyse ma_n_ sayth, 'who hath these thy_ngis_ iij, 104 + ys not lyke a good man for to be:' + +¶ 'In herte,' he sayth, 'who _tha_t ys Inco_n_stavnte, + A waverynge eye, glydyng sodenly + ffro place to place, & a foote varyavnte 108 + that in no place a-bydyth stabli, + 'Thyse bene _th_e thyng_is_,' _th_e wysma_n_ sayth sekerly, + 'Off suche a wayghte _tha_t be vnmanerly nyce, + & be full[e] lykely dysposed vnto vyce.' 112 + +¶ Awayte, my chyld, wha_n_ ye stonde at table, + Off mayster or soverayne whe_ther_ yt be, + Applye you for to be servysable + That no defawte in you fownden be; 116 + loke who dothe best, & hym folow ye, + & in especyall[e] vse ye attendavnce + wheryn ye shall[e] yo_u_r selfe best avaunce. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[15] + +And whan ye speke / loke men in the face +[Sidenote: When you speak to men, look 'em in the face.] +With sobre chere / and_e_ goodly semblaunce +Caste not your eye a syde / in other place 101 +For that is a token of wantou[=n] inconsta_n_ce +Whiche wil appeyre your name & disaua[=n]ce +The wise ma_n_ saith who hath these thi_n_gis thre +[Sidenote: The wise Man says] +Is not lyke a good_e_ man for to be 105 + +[16] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 3 b.] + +In herte he seith / who that is inconsta[=n]te +A waueryng eye / glydyng sodeynly +[Sidenote: an inconstant man with a wavering eye and a wandering foot] +Fro place to place / & a foot varia[=n]te 108 +That in no place / abydeth stably +These ben þ^e signes / the wisema_n_ seith sikerly +Of suche a wight / as is vnmanerly nyce +And is ful likely disposid vnto vyce 112 +[Sidenote: will turn to vice.] + +[17] + +Awayte my chylde / whan ye sta_n_de atte table +[Sidenote: When you serve at table,] +Of maister or souerayn / whether it be +Applye you for to be seruysable 115 +[Sidenote: be attentive and tidy,] +That no defaute in you founden be +Loke / who doth best / and hym ensiewe ye +And in especyal / vse ye attendaunce +[Sidenote: specially to well-off men.] +Wherein ye shal your self best auaunce 119 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[18] + +A[s] ye be comaundyd, so ye do algate, + Beth not wyth-oute cause from the tabul absent; +Hit is plesaunce vnto the gret astate 122 + To se theyr_e_ saruaunt about them p_re_sent; + Haunteth no halkes, for then ye woll be schent. + Lette maner and Mesure be your_e_ guydes twey, + So shall ye best please, I dare well sey. 126 + +[19] + +Rewarde all-way the loke and countenaunce + Of your_e_ master, or of your_e_ souereine, +Ther shall ye best preue what is plesaunce, 129 + And what displesaunce; this is the soth serteyne, + The chere discureth often tyme both twayne, + And eke the chere may some tyme you addresse + In thyng that langage may not þan expresse. 133 + +[20] + +And what ye here there, loke ye kepe hit secre, + Besy report of mystrust is cheff norice; +Mekell langage may not all fautles be; 136 + Than doth, my childe, as teicheth you the wyse, + Whiche vnto you this wysdome dothe devise, + 'Here and see, be still in euery prees,[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. 'in euery place and in prees.' _Place_ was to have +been the last word; _and in prees_ was carelessly _added_, instead of +striking out _place_.--Sk.] + Passe forth your_e_ way in silence and in pees.' + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ As ye be co_m_avnded, so do ye algate; 120 + be not cavseles fro _th_e table absente; + yt ys a grete pleasure to _th_e high estate[1] +[Sidenote 1: noble, lord.] + To se his s_er_vaunttes abowte hy_m_ presente. + havnte no halke, for the_n_ ye will[e] be shente; 124 + lette maner_e_ & mesure be yo_u_r gydes twayne; + so shall[e] ye best please, I dare savely sayne. + +¶ Reward also thy loke & contenavnce, + Off yo_u_r master or of yo_u_r soverayne, 128 + so shall[e] ye best p_re_ve what ys his plesavnce + or ell_is_ his dysplesavnce: this ys s_er_tayne, + The chere discovereth oftyn both[e] twayn, + & eke the chere su_m_tyme may yow addresse 132 + In thyn_gis_ the langage may not the_n_ expresse. + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxj, back.] + +¶ And _tha_t ye here, loke ye kepe always secre; + besy reporte, of myschefe ys chese noryse; + Mykyll[e] langage may not all[e] fawtles be; 136 + The_n_ do, my chyld, as techeth you _th_e wyse + whiche vnto you _th_is lessu_n_ doth devyce: + here & see, & be styll[e] in eu_er_y prees, + passe forthe yo_u_r way i_n_ scilence & i_n_ pees. 140 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[18] + +As ye be comanded_e_ / so do ye algate +Be not causeles / fro the table absent +[Sidenote: Don't absent yourself from table,] +It is a grete plesure / to the hyghe estate 122 +To see his seruantis aboute hym present +Haunte no halke / for the_n_ne ye wil be shente +[Sidenote: or stick yourself in a corner.] +Lete maner & mesure / be your gydes tweyne +[Sidenote: Let Manners and Moderation guide you.] +So shal ye best plese / I dar sauely seyne 126 + +[19] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 4 a.] + +Rewarde also the loke and_e_ contenaunce +Of your maister / or of your souereyne +[Sidenote: Look at your master's face;] +So shal ye best preue what is his plesa[=n]ce 129 +Or els displesaunce / this is soth serteyne +[Sidenote: that'll show whether he's pleased or not.] +The chere discouerith / often bothe tweyne +And eke þ^e cher_e_ / somtyme may you addresse +In thi_n_gis / þ^t la_n_gage may not them expresse 133 + +[20] + +And_e_ that ye her loke / kepe alway secree +[Sidenote: Keep secret all you hear.] +Besy reporte / of mischief is chief noryse +Mykyl langage / may not al fawtles bee 136 +Then_n_e do my childe / as techeth you the wyse +Whiche vnto you / this lesson doth deuyse +Here and see / and_e_ be styll_e_ in euery prees +Passe forth your way in scilence & in pees 140 +[Sidenote: Hear, see, and go your way.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[21] + +And yit in Aventure ye, if the caase require, + Ye most speke as hit may doo percace; +[Sidenote 1: MS. precace.] +Seuen condic_i_ons obserue as ye shall hire, 143 + Avise you well what ye sey and in what place, + Of whom, and to whom, in your_e_ mynde compace; + Howe ye shall speke, and whan, taketh good hede, + This couns_e_illeth the wyse man wyth-outen drede. + +[22] + +A wayte, my childe, ye haue you manerly, + Whan at your_e_ mete ye sittyn at your_e_ table; +In euery pres, in euery company, 150 + Disposeth you to be so componable, + That men may you reporte for comendable; + For tristeth well, vppon your_e_ bering + Men woll you blame or yeven you preysing. 154 + +[23] + +And printeth chiefly in your_e_ memorie, For A principalle poynt of +feire norture, Ye depraue no man absent especially; 157 Seint Austyn +Amonishith wyth besy cure, Howe at the table men shull them assure, That +there escapeth them no suche langage, As myght turne other folke to +disparage. 161 */ + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text.] + +¶ And yet i_n_ aduenture, yf _th_e caas requyre, + ye may speke, but ye must p_er_caas + Seven[1] co_n_dyc_i_ons obs_er_ve, as ye may here: +[Sidenote: Six they are at p. 358, _Babees Book_, of the Wise Man.] + Avyce ye well[e] what ye say, & i_n_ what place, 144 + Off whom, & to whom, i_n_ yo_u_r mynd co_m_pace; + how ye shall[e] speke, & wha_n_, take good hede: + _th_is cow[n]syled _th_e wyse ma_n_ w_i_t_h_owten drede. + +¶ 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, 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 table,] +And yf I shal to you playnly saye +Ouer the table / ye shal not spetel conueye 217 +[Sidenote: or spit over it.] + +[32] + +Yef ye be serued / with metes delicate +[Sidenote: Share dainties with your fellows:] +Departe with your felowe / in gentil wise +The clerck saith / nature is conte_n_t & saciate 220 +With mene diete / and litil shall suffyse +Departe therfore / as I you deuyse +Engrose not / vnto your self all_e_ +For gentilnes / wil aye be liberall_e_ 224 +[Sidenote: gentleness is liberal.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[33] + +And wan p_er_cace your_e_ seruice is not large, + Grucchith not wyth frownyng countenaunce, +Ne maketh not ther-of to mekell charge, 227 + Disposeth you to goodly sufferaunce, + And what ye haue, take hit for suffisaunce; + Holde you pleased wyth that god hath you sent, + He hath Inough[1] that can hold hym content. 231 +[Sidenote 1: MS. Inought.] + +[34] + +Burnysh no bonys wyth your_e_ tethe, be ware, + That houndis tecche fayleth of curtesie; +But wyth your_e_ knyff make the bonys bare; 234 + Handell your_e_ mete so well and so clenly, + That ye offenden not the company + Where ye be sette, as ferre-forth as ye can; + Remembre well that man_er_ maketh man. 238 + +[35] + +And whan your teeth shall cutte your_e_ mete small, + Wyth open mouth be ware that ye not ete, +But loke your_e_ lippis be closede as a wall, 241 + Whan to &[1] fro ye trauers your_e_ mete; +[Sidenote 1: MS. a.] + Kepe you so close that men haue no conceite + To seyn of you langage of vilonye, + Be cause ye ete your_e_ mete vnma[ne]rly. 245 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ And wha_n_ p_er_caas yo_u_r s_er_vyce ys not large, + Groge not w_i_t_h_ frownynge covntenavnce, + Ne make ther-of not to mykyll[e] charge; + Dyspose you to goodly suffravnce, 228 + & what ye haue, take yt in suffysavnce; + be you plesid w_i_t_h_ suche as god hath you sent; + he ha[=th] ynowgh Þat ca_n_ hold hy_m_ co_n_tente. + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxij back.] + +¶ Burnysshe no bonys w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r te[=th], be ware, 232 + Suche hownd_is_ tacches fallen of vncurtesye, + but w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r knyfe make the bonys bare. + Handle yo_u_r mete so well[e] & so clenly + That ye offende not the company 236 + wher ye be sette, as ferforthe as ye can, + Reme_m_bryng well[e] _th_at maners make man. + +¶ And whan _tha_t ye ete yo_u_r mete small[e], + w_i_t_h_ open mowth be ware ye not ete, 240 + but loke / yo_u_r lyppes be closed as a wall[e]; + wha_n_ to & fro ye traverse yo_u_r mete, + kepe you so cloos _tha_t men haue no co_n_ceyte + To saye of you any langage or vylonye 244 + by cavse ye ete yo_u_r mete so vnmanerly. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[33] + +And whan percaas your seruise is not large +Gruccheth not / with frownyng contena_u_nce +[Sidenote: If your helping is not large, don't grumble,] +Ne make therof / not to mykyl charge 227 +Dispose you to goodly suffra_u_nce +And what ye haue / take it in suffysa_u_nce +Be ye plesid with suche as god hath you sent +[Sidenote: but be content.] +He hath ynough / that can hold_e_ hym conte_n_t 231 + +[34] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 6 b.] + +Burnysshe no bones / with your teth / beware +[Sidenote: Don't burnish bones with your teeth.] +Suche houndis tacches / falle of vncurtesye +But with your knyf / make the bones bare 234 +Handle your mete / so wel and so clenly +[Sidenote: Handle your food cleanly,] +That ye offende not the company +Where ye be sette / as ferfort[=h] as ye can +Reme_m_bryng wel / that manners make ma[=n]. 238 +[Sidenote: for Manners make Man.] + +[35] + +And_e_ whan that / ye ete your mete small_e_ +With open mout[=h] / beware ye not ete +[Sidenote: Eat with your lips closed] +But loke your lippea / be closed as a wall_e_ 241 +Whan to and_e_ fro / ye trauerse your mete +Kepe you so cloos / that men haue no co_n_seite +To say of you / ony langage or vilonye +Bicause ye ete your mete / vnmanerly 245 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[36] + +Be ware, my child, of laughing ou_er_ mesure, + Ye shall not Also at the borde your_e_ naylis pare, +Ne pike not your_e_ teth wyth your_e_ knyff, I you ensure, + Ete at your_e_ messe, and odir folkes spare; 249 + A glottou_n_ can but make dissches bare, + And of Inough he taketh neu_er_ hede, + He fedith for lust more than[1] he doth for nede. +[Sidenote 1: MS. that.] + +[37] + +And whan the borde is then [as] of s_er_uice, 253 + Not replenyshide wyth gret diuercite, +Of mete and drincke good chere may than suffice, + Hit is A signe of gret humanite, 256 + Wyth gladsom chere than fulsom for to be; + The poet seyth howe that the poure borde + Men may encrese wyth cherefull wille and worde. + +[38] + +And o thing, my childe, I warne you vndirstonde, + Specially for your_e_ owne honeste, +In the water wasschith so clene your_e_ hande, 262 + That your_e_ towell neuer ensoyled be + So foule that hit be lothely vnto se; + Wasschith wyth watir_e_ till your_e_ handis be clene, + And in your_e_ clothe ther shall no spotte be sene. + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Beware, my chyld, of laughynge ou_er_ mesure; + Ne at _th_e borde ye shall[e] no nayles pare, + Ne pyke yo_u_r teth w_i_t__h knyf, I you ensure. 248 + Ete at yo_u_r messe, & other_e_ folk_i_s spare; + A gloton ca_n_ but make _th_e bonys bare, + & of ynowgh he takyth never_e_ hede, + he ffedyth more for lust than for nede. 252 + +¶ And wha_n_ _th_e borde ys thyn as of s_er_vyce, + Nowght replenysshed w_i_t_h_ gret dyversite + of mete & drynke, gud chere may tha_n_ suffice, + w_i_t_h_ honest talkyng; & also owght ye 256 + w_i_t_h_ gladsu_m_ chere the_n_ fulsome for to be: + The poete seyth how _tha_t 'a powre borde + Me_n_ may enryche w_i_t_h_ cherfull[e] will[e] & worde.' 259 + +¶ And on thyng, my child, ye vnderstond, + In especyall[e] for yo_u_r own honeste: + In _th_e wat_er_ wasshe so clene yo_u_r hond + _tha_t yo_u_r towell[e] never ensoyled be + So fowle _tha_t yt be lothsome on to see; 264 + wasshe w_i_t_h_ wat_er_ yo_u_r hond_is_ so clene + _tha_t in _th_e towell[e] shall[e] no spote be sene. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[36] + +Beware my child_e_ / of laughyng ou_er_ mesure +Ne at the borde / ye shall no naylis pare +[Sidenote: Don't pare your nails at table,] +Ne pyke your teth / with knyf / I you ensure 248 +[Sidenote: or pick your teeth with a knife.] +Ete at your messe / and other folkes spare +A gloton can but make the bones bare +And_e_ of ynough / he taketh neuer hede +He fedith more for lust / than for nede 252 + +[37] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 7 a.] + +And whan þ^e borde is thynne / as of seruyse +Nought replenesshed with, grete diuersite +[Sidenote: When there are not many dishes,] +Of mete & dri_n_ke good chere may the[=n] suffise 255 +With honest talkyng / and also ought ye +With gladsom chere / thenne fulsom for to be +[Sidenote: be satisfied with chatting cheerily.] +The poete saith / hou that a poure borde +Men may enriche / with cheerful wil & worde 259 + +[38] + +And one thyng my chylde / ye vnderstonde +In especyall_e_ / for your owne honeste +In the water / wasshe so clene your honde 262 +That your towel / neuer enfoyled be +[Sidenote: Wash your hands clean in the water, +so as to leave no dirt on your towel.] +So fowle / that it be lothsom on to see +Wasshe with water / your hondes so cleene +That in the towel shal no spotte be sene 266 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[39] + +Leue not your_e_ spone in your_e_ dissche standyng, + Ne vppon the brede hit shall not lie; +Lette your_e_ trenchoure be clene for eny thyng, 269 + Yif ye haue no chaunge, yit as honestly + As ye can, maketh avoydie, + So that no fragment from your_e_ trenchour_e_ falle; + Do this, my childe, in chambre and in halle. 273 + +[40] + +Whan Another speketh at the table, + Be ware ye interrupte[1] not is tale nor langage, +[Sidenote 1: MS. _corruptly has_ nattiripte.] +For that is a thing discommendable, 276 + And hit is no signe of folkes sage + To ben of wordis besy and outrage; + For the wyse man seyth pleinly in sentence, + 'He shall be wyse that yevith Audience.' 280 + +[41] + +Vndre-stondeth ther-for_e_ or than ye speke, + Printyng in your_e_ mynde clerely the sentence, +He that vseth A mannes tale to breke 283 + Lettyth vncurtesly the Audience, + And hurtyth hym-sylf for lacke of silence; + He may not yeue answere convenyent + That herith not fynally what is ment. 287 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ lete not yo_u_r spone in yo_u_r_e_ disshe stond, + Ne vpon _th_e table yt shuld not lye; 268 + lete yo_u_r trenchowre be clen_e_ for any thyng, + & yf ye haue, change yet as honestly + As ye ca_n_; make avoyde manerly + So _th_at no fragme_n_t fro yo_u_r tre_n_cher_e_ fall[e]: 272 + Do thus, my child, i_n_ chamber_e_ & i_n_ hall[e]. + +¶ And wha_n_ a-nother ma_n_ spekyth at _th_e table, + be ware ye int_er_rupte not his langage, + for _tha_t ys a thyng on-comendable, 276 + & yt ys not no signe of folk_is_ sage + To be of langage besy & owtrage; + ffor the wyse sayd in his sentence + 'he shuld be bold [& be wyse][1] _tha_t gevyth audyence.' 280 +[Sidenote 1: In a later hand, above the line.] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiij.] + +¶ Vnd_er_stond _ther_for or than ye speke; + prynt i_n_ yo_u_r mynde clerly _th_e sentence; + who _tha_t vsyth a ma_n_ys tale to breke, + lettyth vncurteysly all[e] the audyence 284 + And hurteth hy_m_ self for lake of scyence; + he maye not geve answere co_n_venyente + _tha_t heryt[=h] not fynally what ys mente. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[39] + +Lete not your spone / in your disshe sto_n_ding +[Sidenote: Don't leave your spoon in your dish or on the table.] +Ne vpon the table / it shold not lye +Lete your trenchour / be clene for ony thing 269 +[Sidenote: Keep your trencher clean.] +And yf ye haue cha[=n]ge / yet as honestly +As ye can / make a voyde manerly +So that no fragme_n_t / fro your tre_n_cher falle +Do thus my childe / in chambre & in halle 273 + +[40] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 7 b.] + +And whan another man / spekith atte table +Beware ye enterrupte not / his langage +[Sidenote: Don't interrupt man in his talk] +For that is a thinge discomendable 276 +And_e_ it is no signe of folkes sage +To be of langage / besy and_e_ outrage +For the wyse man said_e_ / in his sentence +He shold_e_ be wyse / that gyueth audience 280 + +[41] + +Vnderstonde therfore or than ye speke +Prynte in your mynde / clerly the sentence +[Sidenote: Before you speak, settle in your mind what you have to say.] +Who that vsith / a mannes tale to breke 283 +Letteth vncurteysly / alle the audyence +And_e_ hurteth hym self / for lack of science +He may not gyue answers conuenyente +That herith not fynally / what is mente 287 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[42] + +Be ware Also, my childe, of rehersaille + Of materis whiche ben at the table mevide; +Hit grevith ofte and dothe men disavaylle, 290 + Full many a man that vice hath mysschevide, + Of evill thyng saide is wors often contrivide; + Suche reportis alway loke ye esschewe, + As may of olde frendis make enemyes newe. 294 + +[43] + +Avise you well whan ye take your_e_ disporte, + Honest games that ye haunte and vse, +And suche as ben of violente reporte, 297 + I counsell you, my childe, that ye refuse; + For trustith well ye shall nout you excuse + From berchely fest, yef I may you aspie + Playng at[1] eny game of rebaudie. 301 +[Sidenote 1: MS. or.] + +[44] + +Itt is to A goodly childe well syttyng, + To vse disportis of myrth and plesaunce, +To harpe and lute, or lustely to syng, 304 + And in the pres ryght manerly to daunce; + When men se A childe of suche gouernaunce, + They seyn, 'gladde may this [childes] frendis be + To haue a sone soo manerly as he.' 308 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ But beware, my child, also of rehersayle + Off maters whiche be at _th_e table meved: 289 + It grewet[=h][1] ofte, & dot[=h] me_n_ dysavayle; +[Sidenote 1: The line is over the _th_.] + ffull[e] many a ma_n_ _th_at vyce hathe myscheved; + Off evyll[e] thynke sayd, ys worse co_n_tryved; 292 + Suche reportes alwaye, my child, eschewe, + As may of olde frend_is_ make enmyes newe. + +¶ Avyse you well[e] wha_n_ ye take yo_u_r dysporte, + honeste games _th_at ye hawnt & vse; 296 + & suche as bene of vyleyns report, + I cownsell[e] you, my child, _tha_t ye refuse; + ffor truste ye well[e] ye shall[e] you not excuse + ffro_m_ brecheles feste, & I may you espye 300 + Playenge at any game of rebawdrye. + +¶ Ytt ys to a goodly child well[e] syttyng + To vse dysportes of myrth & plesavnce, + to harpe, to lute, or lustyly to synge, 304 + Or i_n_ the prees right manerly to davnce. + wha_n_ me_n_ se a child of suche governavnce, + _the_i saye, 'glade may _th_is child_is_ frendys be + To haue a child so manerly as ys he.' 308 + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[42] + +But beware my child_e_ / also of rehersayll_e_ +[Sidenote: Don't repeat what you hear at table.] +Of maters / whiche ben atte table meuid_e_ +It greuith ofte / and_e_ doth men disauayle 290 +Ful many a man / þ^t vice hath myscheuid_e_ +Of euyl thing_e_ said_e_ / is werse contryuid_e_ +Suche reportis / alway my child_e_ eschewe +As may of olde fre_n_dis / make enemyes newe 294 + +[43] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 8 a.] + +Aduise you wel whan ye take your disporte +Honest games / that ye haunte and_e_ vse +[Sidenote: Play only at proper games.] +And suche as ben of vylayns reporte 297 +I counceyl you my chyld / that ye refuse +For truste ye wel / ye shal you not excuse +From brecheles feste / and I may you espye +Playng_e_ at ony game of Rybawdrye 301 + +[44] + +It is to a godly chyld wel syttyng_e_ +To vse disportes of myrthe & plesa[=n]ce +To harpe or lute / or lustely to synge 304 +[Sidenote: You should harp, lute, sing or dance.] +Or in the prees right manerly to daunce +Whan men se a chyld of suche gouernance +They saye / glad may this chyldis fre_n_dis be +To haue a chylde / so manerly as is he 308 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[45] + +Exersice your_e_-selfe also in redyng + Of bokys enournede wyth eloquence; +Ther shall ye fynde both pleasaunce and lernyng, 311 + And so ye may in eu_er_y good presence + Some [what] fynde and see as in sentence, + That shall accorde the tyme to ocupie, + That ye not nede to stondyn idelie. 315 + +[46] + +Itt[1] is fare to be cominycatyfe +[Sidenote 1: MS. Iit.] + In matires vnto purpoos according, +So that a wight sume not excessyfe, 318 + For trusteth well, hit is tedious thyng + For to here a childe multiplie talkyng, + Yif hit be not to the purpose applied, + And also wyth goodly termys aleyde. 322 + +[47] + +Redith Gower in his writyng moralle, + That au[=n]cient faders memorie, +Redith his bokis clepide 'confessionalle,' 325 + Wyth many anodir vertuous tretie, + Full of sentence sette so frutuously, + That them to rede shall yeue you corage, + So is he fulle of sentence and langage. 329 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Excersyse also yo_u_r selfe in redyng + Off bokes enorned wit[=h] eloquence, + _ther_ shall[e] ye fynde bot[=h] plesyre & lernynge, + so _th_at ye may in eu_er_y good presence 312 + Some-what fynde as in sentence + _th_at shall[e] accorde the tyme to occupye, + That ye not nede to stonde ydellye. + +¶ It ys fayer to be comynycatyfe + In maters vnto purpose accordyng, 317 + So _th_at a wyghte seme exersyfe; + ffor trustyth well[e] yt ys a tedyovs thy_n_g + ffor to here a child multyply talkyng 320 + yf yt be not to _th_e purpose applyed, + & also w_i_t_h_ goodly termes alyed. + +¶ Redyt[=h] gover i_n_ his wrytyng morall[e], + That Auncyente ffader of memorye, 324 + Redyt[=h] his bookes called co_n_fessyonall[e], + w_i_t_h_ many a-nother_e_ vertuvs tretye + ffull[e] of sentence sett full[e] fructvously, + That hy_m_ to rede shall[e] geve you covrage, 328 + he ys so full[e] of frute, se_n_tence, & langage. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[45] + +Excersise your self also in redyng_e_ +Of bookes enorned_e_ with eloquence +[Sidenote: Practice reading of eloquent books.] +Ther shal ye fynde / bothe plesir & lernyng_e_ 311 +So that ye may / in euery good presence +Somwhat fynde / as in sentence +That shal acorde / the tyme to ocupy +That ye not nede / to stonden ydelly 315 + +[46] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 8 b.] + +It is fayr / for to be comynycatyf +In maters vnto purpose acordyng_e_ +[Sidenote: It is right to talk pertinently,] +So that a wyght seme excersyf 318 +For trusteth wel / it is a tedyous thyng_e_ +For to here a chylde / multeplye talkyng +Yf it be not to the purpose applyed_e_ +[Sidenote: but a bore if the talk is irrelevant.] +And_e_ also with / goodly termys alyed_e_ 322 + +[47] + +Redeth gower in his wrytyng_e_ morall_e_ +[Sidenote: Read Gower's] +That auncyent[1] fader of memorye +[Sidenote 1: Orig. anucyent.] +Redeth his bookes / called_e_ confessionall_e_ 325 +[Sidenote: _Confessio Amentis_.] +With many another vertuous trayttye +Ful of sentence / set ful fructuosly +That hym to rede / shal gyue you corage +He is so ful of fruyt, sente_n_ce and langage 329 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[48] + +O Fader and Founder of eternate eloquence, + That eluminede all this oure britaigne; +To sone we lost his lauriate presence, 332 + O lusty licoure of that fulsom_e_ fountaigne; + Cursed deth, why hast thou this poete slayne, + I mene Fadir chaucers, mastir Galfride? + Allas! the while, that eu_e_r he from vs diede. 336 + +[49] + +Redith his bokys fulle of all plesaunce, + Clere in sentence, in longage excellent, +Brefly to wryte suche was his suffesaunce, 339 + What-euer to sey he toke in his entent, + His longage was so feyre and p_er_tinent, + That semed vnto mennys heryng, + Not[1] only the worde, but verrely the thing. 343 +[Sidenote 1: MS. But.] + +[50] + +Redith, my child, redith his warkys all, + Refuseth non, they ben expedient; +Sentence or langage, or both, fynde ye shall 346 + Full delectable, for that fader ment + Of all his purpos and his hole entent + Howe to plese in euery audience, + And in our_e_ tou_n_g was well of eloquence. 350 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Sidenote: ff C lxiij back.] + +¶ O fader & fownder of ornate eloquence + _tha_t Illumyned hast all[e] owre bretayne! + To sone we loste thy lavreat science, 332 + O lusty lyqvovre of _tha_t fulsu_m_ fontayn_e_! + O cursed det[=h]! why hast _tho_u _tha_t poete slayn_e_, + I mene fader chavucer, mayst_er_ galfryde? + Alas _th_e while _tha_t ever he from vs dyed! 336 + +¶ Redyt[=h] his werkes full[e] of plesavnce, + Clere in sentence, I_n_ langage excellente: + Bryefly to wryte, such was his suffysavnce, + What-ever_e_ to say he toke i_n_ his entente, 340 + his langage was so fayer_e_ & p_er_tynente, + yt semet[=h] vnto manys heryng + Not only the worde, but veryly _th_e thyng. 343 + +¶ Redyth, my child, redyth his bookes all[e], + Refusith Non, they ben expedyente; + sentence or langage, bot[=h] fynd ye shall[e]; + ffull[e] delectablé that good fader mente, + for all[e] his purpose & his hole entente 348 + [was] how to please in eu_er_y audyence, + & In owr_e_ tonge was well[e] of Eloquence. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[48] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 163, back.] + +O fader and founder of ornate eloquence +[Sidenote: and the Father and Founder of Eloquence,] +That enlumened hast alle our bretayne +To soone we loste / thy laureate scyence 332 +O lusty lyquour / of that fulsom fontayne +O cursid deth / why hast thou þ^t poete slayne +I mene fader chaucer / maister galfryde +[Sidenote: mayster Galfryde Chawcer,] +Alas the whyle / that euer he from vs dyde 336 + +[49] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 9 a.] + +Redith his werkis / ful of plesaunce +[Sidenote: whose works are full of pleasaunce,] +Clere in sentence / in langage excellent +Briefly to wryte / suche was his suffysa[=n]ce 339 +What euer to saye / he toke in his entente +His langage was so fayr and pertynente +It semeth vnto mannys heeryng_e_ +Not only the worde / but verely the thynge 343 +[Sidenote: whose language seems not only words, but truly things.] + +[50] + +Redeth my chylde / redeth his bookes alle +Refuseth none / they ben expedyente +[Sidenote: Read _all_ his books; refuse none:] +Sentence or langage / or bothe fynde ye shall_e_ 346 +Ful delectable / for that good fader mente +[Sidenote: he is delightful.] +Of al his purpose / and his hole entente +How to plese in euery audyence +And in our tunge / was welle of eloquence 350 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[51] + +Beholde Oclyff in his translac_i_on, + In goodly langage and sentence passing wyse, +Yevyng the prince suche exortac_i_on 353 + As to his highnesse he coude best devyse. + Of trouth, peace, of mercy, and of Iustice, + And odir vertuys, sparing for no slouthe + To don his devere, and quiten hym, as trouth 357 + +[52] + +Required hym, anenste his souereyne, + Most dradde and louyd, whos excellent highnesse +He aduertysede by his writing playne, 360 + To vertue p_er_teynyng to the nobles + Of a prince, and berith wyttenesse + His trety entitlede 'of regyment,' + Compyled of most entier true entent. 364 + +[53] + +Loketh Also vppon dan Iohn lidgate, + My mastir_e_, whilome clepid monke of bury, +Worthy to be renownede laureate, 367 + I pray to god_e_, in blis his soule be mery, + Synging 'Rex Splendens,' the heuenly 'kery,' + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all. 371 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Behold Ocklyf in his transslacion,[1] +[Sidenote 1: transflacion] + In goodly langage & se_n_tence passyng wyse 352 + howe he gewyth his p_ri_nce such exortac_i_on + As to the hyeste he covld best devyse + Off trowt[=h] / pees / m_er_cy / & Iustyse, + & vertu, lettyng for no slowth 356 + To do his devoyre & qvyte hy_m_ his trowth. + +¶ Requyre hy_m_ As Agaynst his soverayn_e_, + moste Drade & loved, whose excellent hyenes + he advertysed by his wrytyng playn_e_ 360 + To vertu ap_er_teynyng to nobles + Off a p_ri_nce, as beryt[=h] god wytnes, + hys treatye entytled of regemente, + Compyled of entyer trewe entente. 364 + +¶ Loke also than vpon Ioh_a_n lydgate, + My mayrster, whylom monke of bury, + worthy to be renomed As poete lavreate; + I p_ra_y to god in blysse his sowle be mery, 368 + Syngyng / Rex splendens / _tha_t hevenly Kyrye, + Amonge _th_e mvses nyne celestyall[e] + be-fore _th_e hyghest Iubyter of all[e], + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[51] + +Beholde Ocklyf in his translac_i_on +[Sidenote: Read Occleve too,] +In goodly langage / & sente_n_ce passyng wyse +How he gyueth his prynce / suche exortac_i_on 353 +[Sidenote: who gave his Prince such wise advice] +As to the hyest / he coude best deuyse +Of trouthe. pees. mercy. and Iustise +And vertues / leetyng for no slouthe +To do his deuoir & quite him of his trouthe 357 + +[52] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 9 b.] + +Required_e_ hym / as ayenst his souerayne +Most drad_e_ & louyd_e_ / wos excellent hyeues +He aduertysed_e_ / by his wrytyng_e_ playne 360 +To vertu / apperteynyng to nobles +Of a prynce / as bereth good_e_ witnes +His traytye / entitled_e_ of regymente +[Sidenote: in his treatise _De Regimine Principum_.] +Compyled_e_ of entyer trewe entente 364 + +[53] + +Loke also / vpon dan Io[=h]n lydgate +My maister whylome / monke of berye +[Sidenote: John Lydgate, too, my master.] +Worthy to be renomed_e_ / as poete laureate 367 +I praye to god_e_ in blysse his soule be mercy +Syngyng_e_ Rex splendens that heuenly kyrye +[Sidenote: I pray God his soul is singing _Rex splendens_.] +Amonge the muses nyne celestyall_e_ +Byfore the hyest Iubyter of all_e_ 371 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[54] + +I not why deth my mastir_e_ dide envie, + But for he shuld_e_ chaunge his habite; +Pety hit is that suche a man shulde die! 374 + But nowe I trist he be a carmylite; + His amyse blacke is chaunged into white, + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all; 378 + +[55] + +Passing the muses all of elicon_e_, + Where is ynympariable of Armonye, +Thedir I trist my mastir-is soule is gon_e_, 381 + The sterrede palays aboue dapplede skye, + Ther to syng 'sanctus' incessantly + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Affore the highest Iubiter of all. 385 + +[56] + +Redith is volumes that ben so large and wyde, + Souereynly sitte in sadnesse of sentence, +Elumynede wyth colouris fresshe on eu_er_y syde, 388 + Hit passith my wytte, I haue no eloquence + To yeue hym lawde aftir his excellence, + For I dare say he lefte hym not on lyue, + That coude his cu_n_nyng suffisantly discreue. 392 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii] 372 + + + + 376 + + +¶ Passyng the mvses nyne of elycon, + Wher ys no pareyll[e] of Armonye; 380 + Thyder I trust my Maysters sowle be gon, + The sterred paleys above _th_e dappled skye, + Ther to syng snactus insessavntly 384 + Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall[e], + Before _th_e hyeste Iubyter of all[e]. + +¶ Redyth hys volumes _tha_t be large & wyde, + Severyly sette in sadnes of sentence, + Enlumined w_i_t_h_ colovres fresshe on eu_er_y side. 388 +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij.] + Me lakketh wytt, I haue non eloquence, + To geve hy_m_ lawde after his excellence, + ffor I dare saye he lefte hy_m_ not alyve + That covde his cu_n_yng ssufficiently discryve. 392 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[54] + +[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii.] + +374 + + + +378 + +[55] + +Passyng_e_ the muses nyne of Elyco[=n] +Where is non pareyl of armonye +Thider I truste my meistres soule begone 381 +The sterrid_e_ paleys / aboue the dapplyd skye +[Sidenote: in the starred palace above the dappled sky, before the] +There to synge sanctus incessantly +Amonge the muses ix celestyall_e_ +Byfore the hyest / Iubiter of all_e_ 385 +[Sidenote: highest Jupiter of all.] + +[56] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 10 a.] + +Redeth his volumes / that ben large & wyde +[Sidenote: Read his large volumes] +Seueryly set / in sadnes of sentence +Enlumyned with colours fressh on euery side 388 +[Sidenote: illuminated with fresh colours.] +Me lacketh witte / I haue none eloquence +To gyue hym lawde / after his excellence +For I dar saye / he lefte hym not a lyue +That coude his co_n_nyng / sufficiently discriue 392 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[57] + +But his werkys his laude moste nede conquere, + He may neuer oute of remembrance die, +His werkys shall his [name[1]] conuey and bere 395 +[Sidenote: MS. _here repeats_ werkys.] + Aboute the world all-most eternallie; + Lette his owne werkys prayse hym and magnifie; + I dare not preyse, for fere that I offende, + My lewde langage shuld rather appeyre than amend. + +[58] + +Lo, my childe, thes good faders Au[=n]cient + Repide the feldis fresshe of fulsumnesse, +The floures feyre they gadderid vp and hent, 402 + Of siluereus langage the tresoure and richesse; + Who wolle hit haue, my litle childe, doutelesse + Must of hem begge, ther is no more to say, + For of our_e_ toung they were bothe locke and key. + +[59] + +There can no man ther_e_ fames nowe disteyne, + Thanbawmede toung and aureate sentence, +Men gette hit nowe by cantelmele, and gleyne 409 + Here and there wyth besy diligence, + And fayne wolde riche the crafte of eloquence; + But be the glaynes is hit often sene, + In whois feldis they glayned haue and ben_e_. 413 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ But his werkes his lavde must nede co_n_quere; + _the_i may never owt of reme_m_bravnce dye; + hys werkes shall[e] his name co_n_veye & bere + Abowte _th_e world almoste eternelly. 396 + lete his own_e_ werk_is_ p_ra_yse hy_m_, & magnyfye; + I dare not p_ra_yse, leest for fere I offende; + My langage shuld rather_e_ apayer_e_ tha_n_ amend. + +¶ Loo, my child, this faders avncyente + Repen _th_e fyldes ffresshe of fulsomnes; 401 + _th_e flowres fresshe thei gadered vp, & hente. + Off syluer langage _th_e greate ryches + who will[e] yt haue, my child, dowtles 404 + Muste of the_m_ bege: ther_e_ ys no more to saye, + ffor of owr_e_ tonge _the_i were both loke & keye; + +¶ Ther ca_n_ no ma_n_ _ther_ werkes dysteyne: + The enbamed tonge & avreat sentence, 408 + Me_n_ gete yt now by ca_n_telmele, & glene + here & ther_e_ by besy delygence, + & fayne wold reche _ther_ crafte of eloqvence; + & by _the_ gleyne ytt ys full[e] ofte sene 412 + In whose fylde the gleners haue bene. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[57] + +But his werkis / his laude / must nede co_n_q_ue_re +[Sidenote: His works] +They may neuer / out of remembraunce dye +His werkis shal [=h]is name conueye & bere 395 +Aboute the world_e_ / almost eternely +[Sidenote: shall bear his name about the world almost eternally.] +Lete his owe_n_ werkis preyse hym & magnefie +I dar not preyse / for fere lest I offende +My la_n_gage / shold rather apeyre than amende 399 + +[58] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 10 b.] + +Loo my child_e_ / these faders auncyente +Repen the feldes fresshe of fulsomnes +[Sidenote: These fathers reaped the fields,] +The flours fresh they gadred vp & hente 402 +[Sidenote: and gathered the flowers.] +Of siluer langage / the grete riches +Who wil it haue my lityl childe doutles +Muste of hem begge / ther is no more to saye +[Sidenote: He who wants silver words must beg of them.] +For of our tunge / they were both lok & kaye 406 + +[59] + +Ther can noma[=n] now her werkis disteyne +The enbamed tunge / and aureate sentence +Men gete it now / by cantelmele & gleyne 409 +[Sidenote: Now we only glean,] +Here and there by besy diligence +And fayne wold reche / her craft of eloque_n_ce +And by the gleyne / it is ful oft sene +In whos felde / the gleyners haue bene 413 +[Sidenote: and by the gleaning one sees in whose fields the +gleaners have been.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[60] + +As vnto me Age hath bede good morowe, + I am not able clenly for to gleyne, +Nature is feyne of crafte here eien to borowe, 416 + Me fayleth clerenesse of myn eien tweyne; + Begge I may, I can no gleyn certeyn, + Ther-for that werke I wolle playnly remytte + To folke yong, more p_er_saunt clere of wytte. 420 + +[61] + +And syke also, and in case ye fynde + Suche gleynes fresch as hath some apparence +Of fayre langage, yet take them and vnbynde, 423 + And preueth what they beth in existence, + Coloured in langage, savory in sentence, + And dou[te]th not, my childe, wythoute drede, + Hit woll profite such thyng to se and rede. 427 + +[62] + +Yit eft-sonnys, my child_e_, let us resorte + To the intente of our_e_ fyrst matier_e_ +Digresside, somwhat fulle we wolld reporte, 430 + And reuyue the lawde of them that were + Founders of our_e_ langage, thilke fadyrs dere, + Who-is soulis god [aboue] in b[l]esse inhaunce + That lusten so our_e_ langage to Avaunce. 434 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ And unto my age bot good morowe + I am not able clerly for to gleyne, + Nature ys fayn_e_ of crafte her eyen to borow; 416 + Me lakketh clernes of myn_e_ eyen twayn_e_; + Begge I may / gleyn_e_ I may not c_er_teyn_e_; + _ther_fore _tha_t werke I will[e] playnly remytte + To folk_is_ yong, more passyng clere of wyte. 420 + +¶ Seche ye _ther_fore, & in caas ye fynde + suche glenars fresshe as haue su_m_ apparens + Off fayer la_n_gage, yet take the_m_, & vnbynde, + & preve ye what _the_i be i_n_ existence 424 + Colovred i_n_ langage, saverly i_n_ sentence, + & dowte not, my child, w_i_t_h_-owt drede + yt will[e] p_ro_fet to se such thy_n_g_is_, & rede. 427 + +¶ Ye, efte-soones, my child, let vs resorte + To _th_e yntent of yo_u_r fyrst matere + Degressed somwhat, for we wolde reporte + & revyue _th_e lawde of the_m_ _tha_t were + famovs i_n_ owr_e_ langage, thise faders dere 432 + who_s_[1] sowles i_n_ blis, god et_er_nall[e] avaunce, +[Sidenote 1: The _s_ is by a later hand.] + _th_at lysten sone owr_e_ langage to enhavnce! + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[60] + +And vnto me / age hath bode good morowe +I am not able clenly / for to gleyne +[Sidenote: I cannot glean,] +Nature is fay[=n] of craft / her eyen to borowe 416 +Me lacketh clerenes / of myn eyen tweyne +Begge I maye / gleyne I can not certeyne +[Sidenote: I can only beg:] +Therfore Þ^t werck / I wil playnly remytte +To folkis yong / more passyng clere of witte 420 +[Sidenote: gleaning I give up to younger folks.] + +[61] + +Seche ye therfore / and in caas ye fynde +[Sidenote: If you find such gleaners,] +Such gleynors fressh as haue so[=m] appare_n_ce +Of fayr langage / yet take hem & unbynde 423 +[Sidenote: unbind their sheaves:] +And preue ye / what they be in existence +Colourd in langage / sauerly in sentence +[Sidenote: their fair speech] +And doubte not my childe / withoute drede +It wil prouffite to see suche thingis & red[e][1] 427 +[Sidenote: will profit you.] + +[Footnote 1: A hole in the paper.] + +[62] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 11 a.] + +Yet eft sones my child_e_ / lete vs resorte +[Sidenote: But let us return to our first subject.] +To thentente of yur first matere +Degressed somwhat / for we wold reporte 430 +And reuiue the laude of hem that were +Famous in our langage / these faders dere +Whos sowles in blysse / god et_er_nel aua_u_nce +That lysten so our langage to enhaunce 434 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[63] + +Than, litle childe, I councelle you that ye + Take hede vnto the norture that men vse, +Newe founden or Auncient whet[h]er hit be, 437 + So shall no man your_e_ curteyse refuse; + The guise and custome shall you, my childe, excuse; + Mennys werkys haue often entirchaunge, + That nowe is norture, sumtyme had ben full straunge. + +[64] + +Thinges whilome vside ben layde aside, + And new fetis dayly ben contryvyde, +Men[nys actes] can in no plight abyde, 444 + They ben chaungeable and oft mevide, + Thing some-tyme alowide is nowe reprevide, + And aftir this shall thingis vppe aryse, + That men sette nowe but [at] litle a prise. 448 + +[65] + +Thus mene I, my childe, that ye shull vse and haunte + The guise of them that don most man_er_ly, +But be ware of vnthrefte ruskyn galaunte, 451 + Counterfetour_e_ vncunnyng of curtesie, + His tecches ben infecte wyth vilonye, + Vngerde, vnblesside, seruyng at the table, + Me semeth hym s_er_u_a_unt full pendable. 455 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text_.] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij back.] + +¶ Then litill[e] Ioh[=n], I co_n_sayle you _tha_t ye + Take hede to _th_e nortvres _tha_t me_n_ vse, 436 + newe fownd or avncyent, whe_ther_ yt be; + So shall[e] no ma_n_ yo_u_r curtesye refuse; + _the_ gyse & custu_m_, my child, shall[e] you excuse. + Menys werkes haue oftyn enterchavnce; 440 + _tha_t now ys norture, so_m_tyme hath be stravnge; + +¶ Thyng_is_ whylom vsed be now layd a-syde, + & newe fetes dayly be co_n_tryved: + Menys actes ca_n_ in no plyte abyde, 444 + They be chavngable & ofte meved; + thynges su_m_tym_e_ alowed be now rep_re_ved; + & after this shall thynges vp a-ryse + that me_n_ sett now but at lytill[e] pryse: 448 + +¶ This mene I, my child, _tha_t ye shall[e] havnte + _th_e gyse of the_m_ _tha_t do most manerly; + but be ware of onthryft[1] ruskyn gallavnte, +[Sidenote 1: A later hand has added _y_.] + Co_n_terfetter[2] of vnco_n_nyng curtessy, 452 +[Sidenote 2: The _r_ is by a later hand.] + hys taches ben enfecte w_i_t_h_ vylonye; + Vngerte / vnblessed / s_er_vyng at table, + Me semeth hy_m_ a s_er_vavnte no thyng able; + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[63] + +Then_n_e lityl Io[=h]n / I counceyl you that ye +[Sidenote: Little Jack,] +Take hede to the norture / that men vse +[Sidenote: take heed to the manners of your time,] +Newe founde / or auncyent whether it be 437 +So shal no man / your curtoisye refuse +The guyse & custom / my child shal you excuse +Me_n_ys werkis / haue often entercha[=n]ge +[Sidenote: for customs change,] +That nowe is norture / so_m_tyme had be stra[=n]ge 441 + +[64] + +Thingis whilom vsed / ben now leyd a syde +And newe feetis / dayly ben contreuid_e_ +[Sidenote: new ways are invented every day,] +Mennys actes / can in no plyte abyde 444 +They be changeable and_e_ ofte meuid_e_ +Thingis somtyme alowed / is now repreuid +And after this / shal thinges vp aryse +[Sidenote: and will be hereafter.] +That men set now / but at lytyl pryse 448 + +[65] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 11 b.] + +This mene I my childe / þ^t ye shal haunte +The guyse of them / that do most manerly +But beware of vnthryft Ruskyn gala[=n]te 451 +[Sidenote: Imitate the well-mannered, and beware of ruskyn gallants] +Counterfeter of vnconnyng curtoisye +His tacchis ben enfecte with vilonye +[Sidenote: of bad habits,] +Vngyrte. vnblyssed. seruyng atte table +[Sidenote: serving ungirt,] +Me semeth hym a serua[=n]t nothing able 455 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[66] + +Wynter ne somer to his souerayne + Chappron hardy no bonet lust avale, +For euery worde yeuyng his maister tweyne, 458 + Vaunparlere in euery mannes tale, + Absolon wyth the disculede heres smalle; + Lyke to A presener of seint Malouse, + A sonny bush myght cause hym to goo louse. 462 + +[67] + +O I passe norture! fy! fy! for schame! + I shuld haue seide he myght go hauke and hunt, +For that schuld be A gentilmannys game, 465 + To suche disportis thes gentis folkys be wounte; + I seide to ferre, my langage was to blounte, + But of this galaunte, loo! loke a while & fele, + He feccheth his compace whan he shall bowe or knele, + +[68] + +Braced so straytly th[at h]e[1] may not plie, +[Sidenote 1: MS. the.] + But gaderith hit in by man_er_ of wyndlese, +And 3*if he wrenche aside or lytil wrye, 472 + His gere stonte all in pertous[2] case, +[Sidenote 2: _Read_ perlous?] + The scho, the hose, the point, doublet, and lace; + And if ought breke, som_m_e thing_es_[3] that ben badde +[Sidenote 3: _Read_ toung_es_.] + Shall sey anon, 'a knaue hath broke a ladde.' 476 + + +[Sidenote: _ Hill's Text._] + +¶ Wynter & somer to his soverayn_e_ + Capron hardy, no bonet lyst to avayle, 457 + For eu_er_y worde geveyng his mayst_er_ twayn_e_, + avavntp_ar_ler In eu_er_y manys tale, + Absolon w_i_t_h_ disheveld heres smale, 460 + lyke to a prysoner of saynt malowes, + A sonny busshe able to the galowes. + +¶ O! I passe nortvre! fy, fy, for sham! + I myght haue said he shuld go havke & honte, 464 + ffor _tha_t shuld be a gentylman[i]s game, + To suche dysport_is_ gentill[e] folk_is_ be wonte; + I sayd to ferre, my langage was but blonte; + but yet, sir gallavnt, wha_n_ ye shall[e] bowe or knele 468 + he got[=h] by co_m_passe rovnd as doth a whele. + +¶ Brased so streyte þat he may not plye, + but gaderyth yt by maner_e_ of a wyndlas; + & he awght wrench a-side, or a litill[e] wrye, 472 + hys gere stondyt[=h] the_m_ i_n_ full[e] p_ar_lovs caas, + hys sho / his hose / doblet, poynt & laas; + & yff owght breke, su_m_ tonges _tha_t be bade + will[e] moke & say, "A knave hath broke a lade." 476 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[66] + +Wynter and somer to his souereyne +Capron hardy / no bonet lyste to auale +[Sidenote: not doffing his cap to his master,] +For euery word / gyui_n_g his maister tweyne 458 +Auauntparler / in euery mannys tale +[Sidenote: forward in speech,] +Absolon with disheueld heeris smale +[Sidenote: rough-haired,] +Lyke to a prysoner of seynt malowis +[Sidenote: and lousy-headed,] +A sonny busshe / able to go to the galowis 462 + +[67] + +O I passe norture fy fy for shame +[Sidenote: (though it's hardly good manners to say so.)] +I myght haue said he shold go hauke & honte +For that shold be a gentilmans game 465 +To such disportes / gentil folkes be wonte +I sayd to ferre / my langage was to blonte +But yet sir gala_n_te wha_n_ ye shal bowe or knele +[Sidenote: When he tries to kneel, he works round like a wheel,] +He goth by compace round as doth a whele 469 + +[68] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 12 a.] + +Braced so strayt / that he may not plye +[Sidenote: being braced so tight that he can't bend.] +But gaderith it / by maner of a wyndelas +And he ought wrenche a syde / or a litil wrie 472 +[Sidenote: If he twists, a lace is like to crack.] +His geer stondeth then_n_e / in ful parlo_us_ caas +His sho / his hose / doblet / point & laas +And yf ought breke / som_m_e tu_n_ges þ^t be bad_e_ +Wil mocke & saie / a knaue hath broke a lad 476 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[69] + +Lat galaunte go, I mene, recheles ruskyn; + Take hede, my childe, to suche as ben cu_n_nyng, +So shall ye wyrship best conquere and wynne, 479 + Enforsith you in all your_e_ demenyng + To sewe vertu, and[1] from foly declynyng; +[Sidenote 1: _Omit_ and] + And, my childe, that ye loue of honeste. + Which is accordyng wyth humanyte. 483 + +[70] + +That is, to you to vndirstond And knowe, + That your_e_ aray be manerly and resonable, +Not appeissh knawen[1] and to mowe, 486 +[Sidenote 1: _Sic._] + I[n] nyse aray that is not couenable, + Fetis founde be folkys vnp_ro_fitable, + That maketh this world_e_ so pleynly t_ra_nsformate, + That men semen almost effeminate. 490 + +[71] + +Pley not Iakke mAlaperte, that is to sey, + Be ware of p_re_sumpc_i_oun, be ware of pride, +Take not the fyrst place, my childe, be no way, 493 + Till odir be sette manerly abyde, + Presomcion is often sette asyde, + And Avalith f[r]om his highe[1] de-gre, +[Sidenote 1: MS. hight.] + And he sette vppe that hath humanite. 497 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Lete gallant go! I mene, recheles ruskyn: + Take hede my child to suche as be co_n_nyng, + so shall[e] ye best worship co_n_qvere & wynne; + Enforce you i_n_ all[e] yo_u_r demenyng 480 + To folowe vertu, & fro foly declynnyng; + & weyte well[e] _tha_t ye love honeste + which ys accordyng vnto humanyte. + +[Sidenote: Ihu 1503 per Richard Hill: ffl C lxv] + +¶ That ys for you to vnd_er_stond & knowe, + _th_at yo_u_r araye be manerly resonable, 485 + Not apysshe ynto moke ne to mowe; + To nyce araye _tha_t ys not co_m_mendable, + ffetys, newe fonden by foolis vnp_ro_fytable, 488 + _th_at make _th_e worlde so playnly transformate + _th_at me_n_ seme_n_ Almost enfemynate. + +¶ Playe not Iacke maleperte, _tha_t ys to say, + be ware of presumpc_i_on, be ware of pryde; 492 + take not _th_e first place, my child, by _th_e waye; + till[e] oder be sette, ryght manerly a-byde, + presumtvous be ofte sette a-syde + & all[e] day avaled, as me_n_ may see, 496 + & he ys sette vp _th_at hat[=h] humylyte. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[69] + +Lete galante go / I mene recheles rusky[=n] +[Sidenote: Let Reckless Ruskyn go!] +Take hede my chyld to suche as be connyng +[Sidenote: You follow skilful men,] +So shal ye best worship conquere & wynne 479 +Enforce you in al your demenyng_e_ +To folowe vertu / & fro folye declynyng_e_ +[Sidenote: virtue and] +And waite wel that ye loue honeste +[Sidenote: honesty.] +Whiche is acordynge[1] vnto humanyte 483 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ accrdynge.] + +[70] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 12 b.] + +That is for you / to vnderstonde & knowe +That your araye / be manerly resonable +[Sidenote: Don't dress] +Not apysshe / on to mocken ne to mowe 486 +[Sidenote: apishly] +To nyce araye / that is not commendable +[Sidenote: or foppishly.] +Fetis newe founden[1] by foolis vnp_ro_uffitable +That make þ^e world so plainly transformate +That men semen almoste enfemynate 490 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ fonuden.] + +[71] + +Playe not Iack malapert / that is to saye +[Sidenote: Don't play Jack Malapert, that is,] +Beware of presump_ci_on / beware of pryde[1] +[Sidenote: don't be presumptuous.] +Take not þ^e first place my child by the waye 493 +Tyl other be sette / right manerly abyde +[Sidenote: Wait till others are seated.] +Presumptuo_us_ ben often set a syde. +And_e_ alleday aualyd_e_ / as men may see +And he is sette vp / that hath humylyte 497 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ pryte.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[72] + +To[1] cu_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take, +[Sidenote 1: MS. The.] + Where ye be sette in right atentif wyse, +Connyng folke cu_n_nyng folke shulde make, 500 + To theire goodnesse ye shalle make your_e_ su_m_mise, + And as thei do, ye mosten deuyse; + For this, my childe, is as the gospell treue, + Whoo wolle be cu_n_nyng muste the cu_n_nyng sewe. + +[73] + +And o thing I charge you speciall[ie], + To womanhode good kepe you take alway, +And them to serue loke that ye haue an eie, 507 + Ther comau_n_dementis, my child_e_, loke ye obey, + Plesaunt wordis to them I warne you saye, + And in all wyse do your_e_ dilligence, + To do them plesur_e_, honoure, and reuerence. 511 + +[74] + +As at this tyme this tretice shall suffice, + Disposeth you to kepe in your_e_ mynde +The doctrines whiche for you I deuyse, 514 + And douteth not, fulle welle ye shall hit fynde; + To youre honoure enrolle hit vp and bynde + Ryght in your_e_ brest, and in your_e_ ryper age + I shall wryten you here-of the surplusage. 518 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ To co_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take, + wher ye be sette, right i_n_ ententyf wyse; + Co_n_nyng folke co_n_nyng me_n_ shall[e] make; 500 + to _ther_ co_n_nyng ye shall[e] make yo_u_r surmyse, + & as _the_i do, ye must yo_u_r selfe devyse; + ffor this, my child, ys as _th_e gospell[e] trewe, + 'who will[e] be co_n_nyng, he must co_n_nyng sewe.' 504 + +¶ And on thyng I warne you specyally: + to woma_n_hede take awe alway, + & the_m_ to s_er_ve loke ye haue an eye, + & _ther_ co_m_avndment_is_ _tha_t ye obeye; 508 + Plesaunt word_is_ I avyse you to the_m_ saye, + & in all[e] wyse do ye yo_u_r delygence + To do the_m_ plesyre and reverence. 511 + +¶ And at this tyme _th_is treatise shall[e] suffice; + Do pose you to kepe it in yo_u_r mynde, + _th_e doctryne which for you I devyse; + & dowteth not, full[e] well[e] ye shall[e] yt fynde + To yo_u_r honowr_e_; enrolle yt vp & bynde 516 + Rig[=h]t i_n_ yo_u_r brest, & at yo_u_r ryper age + I shall[e] write you here-of the surplusage. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[72] + +To connynd_e_ perso[=n]s regarde ye take +[Sidenote: Watch knowing folk, and] +Where ye be sette / right in ententyf wyse +Connyng folk / connyng men shal make 500 +To their co_n_nyng ye shal make your surmise +[Sidenote: their skill.] +And as they do / ye muste your self deuyse +For this my child_e_ / is as the gospel trewe +Who wil be co_n_nyng / he must þ^e co_n_nyng sewe 504 + +[73] + +And one thing / I warne you specyally +To womanhede / take awe alweye +[Sidenote: Specially attend to women, and] +And them to serue / loke ye haue an eye 507 +And theire com_m_andementis that ye obeye +Plesant wordes I auyse you to them seye +[Sidenote: speak pleasant words to them.] +And in alle wyse / do ye your diligence +To do them plesure / and reuerence 511 + +[74] + +And at this tyme this tretye shal suffise +[Sidenote: This is enough for the present.] +Dispose you / to kepe it in your mynde +[Sidenote: Mind you attend to it,] +The doctrine whiche for you I deuyse 514 +And doubteth not / ful wel ye shal it finde +To your honour / enrolle it vp and bynde +Right in your breste / and at your riper age +I shal wryte to you / herof the surplusage 518 +[Sidenote: and when you're older I'll write you the rest.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[75] + +Goo, litle childe, and who doth you Appose, + Seying, your_e_ quaire kepeth non accordaunce, +Tell [hym], as yite neyther of ryme ne prose 521 + Ye be experte; pray hym of sufferaunce; + Childer must be of childly gouernaunce, + And they must also entredet[1] be +[Sidenote 1: _Read_ entreted] + Wyth esy thyng, [and not] of subtilte. 525 + +[76] + +Your_e_ lytil quaier su_m_mitteth euery where + To corecc_i_on and beneuolence, +But where enuie is, loke hit come not there, 528 + For eny thing kepith your_e_ trety thense; + Enuie is full of frowarde reprehense, + And howe to hurte liethe eu_er_e in awayte, + Kepeth your_e_ quaier_e_, that hit be not her baite. + +EXPLICIT. + +DOMINE, SALUU_M_ FAC REGEM. + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +¶ Go, litill[e] Ioh[=n], & who doth you oppose, + sayenge yo_u_r quayre, kepeth no_n_ accordavnce; 520 + Tell[e] hy_m_ as 3*et neyther_e_ i_n_ ryme ne p_r_ose + ye ben exp_er_te; p_ra_y hy_m_ of suffraunce. + Chyldren[1] muste be of childy gou_er_navnce, +[Sidenote 1: MS. Clyldren.] + & also _the_i muste entreted be 524 + W_i_t_h_ easy thynge, & not w_i_t_h_ subtilte. + +¶ Go, lytill[e] quayer, submyte you eu_er_y where + vnder correcc_i_on of benevolence; + & wher envy ys, loke you cu_m_ not ther_e_, 528 + ffor any thyng kepe yo_u_r treatye thens; + Envye ys full of froward reprehens, + & how to hurte lyeth ever i_n_ a-wayte; + kepe yo_u_r quayre _th_at yt be not ther bayte. 532 + + Here endyth A lytyll[e] treatyse + called _th_e boke of curtesy or litill[e] Ioh_a_n. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[75] + +Go lytyl Io[=h]n / and who doth you appose +[Sidenote: Whoever questions you,] +Sayng your quayer / kepe non accordance +Telle hym as yet / neyther in ryme ne prose 521 +Ye ben expert / praye hym of suffra[=n]ce +[Sidenote: say you are not yet up in rime or prose.] +Chyldren muste be / of chyldly gouerna[=n]ce +And also they muste entretyd_e_ be +With esy thing / and not with subtylte 525 + +[76] + +Go lytil quayer / submytte you euery where +Vnder correct_i_on of benyuolence +[Sidenote: Little book, I submit you to correction:] +And where enuye is / loke ye come not there 528 +[Sidenote: but go not where envy is.] +For ony thing_e_ / kepe your tretye thens +Enuye is ful of froward reprehens +And how to hurte / lyeth euer in a wayte +Kepe your quayer / that it be not ther bayte 532 + +Explicit the book of curtesye. + + + + +INDEX. + + +H. stands for Hill's MS. at the bottom of the pages, O. for the Oriel +MS. on the even pages. Cot. is for Cotgrave's Dictionary. + + +Absolom with dissheveled hair, l. 460. + +Amyse, l. 376, amice. Fr. _amict_, an Amict or Amice, part of a massing +priest's habit. Cot. From L. _amicire_, to throw round; _am_ and +_jacere_. Mahn. + +Annoy no man, l. 170. + +Apayer, l. 399 H., appeyre, O., worsen, impair. + +Apish, don't let your dress be, l. 486. + +Appose, l. 519, question. _See_ Oppose. + +Avale, l. 457, lower, take off. + +Ave Maria, say, l. 27, 77. + +Avoyde, l. 271, emptying. + +Austin, St, tells men how to behave at table, l. 158. + +Author is old, l. 414-18. + +Authors, the right ones to read, l. 323, 335, 351, 365, 393. + + +Bearing, men praised or blamed for their, l. 153. + +Belch not, l. 202. + +Beware of ruskyn, l. 451. + +Birds and beasts, don't throw stones at, l. 64. + +Blow not in your drink, l. 190. + +Brecheles, l. 300, without breeches, of flogging. + +Breth, l. 203, wind. + + +Capron, H., chappron, O., l. 457. O. Fr. _Chaperon_, "habillement de +tête." Roquefort. Provençal, _capayron,_ from Lat. _caput_. Skeat. +_Chaperon_ ... any hood, bonnet ... _Vn Chaperon fait à i'en veux_, A +notable whipster or twigger; a good one I warrant her. Cotgrave. 'Capron +hardy' must then be 'a bold or saucy young scamp.' + +Cantelmele, l. 409, piecemeal: _cantel_, a corner, bit. + +CHAUCER, read his works full of pleasance, l. 335-350. + +Chere, l. 131, face, expression on it. + +Childly, _adj._ l. 523, O., childy, H., fitted for children. + +Children are like wax, l. 6. + +Church, how to behave at, l. 71-98. + +Clappe, l. 80, noise. + +Claw not your visage, l. 194. + +Comb your head, l. 36. + +Communicative, be, l. 316. + +Compace, l. 469. Fr. _compas_, a compasse, a circle, a round. + +Constaunce, l. 102. Fr. _constance_, stabilitie, firmenesse. Cot. + +Couenable, l. 487. Fr. _convenable_, apt, fit, meet for, beseeming, +seemlie, &c. Cot. + +Crede, say it, l. 77. + +Cross yourself on rising, l. 25. + +Cumpenable, l. 151. Fr. _compagnable_, companable, friendlie, sociable. + +Cunning, (knowing) men, take heed to them, l. 478, l. 498-504. + +Cup, soil not yours, l. 186. + + +Dancing, right for a child, l. 305. + +Deprave, l. 157, backbite, run down. Fr. _despraver_, spoyle, marre, +make crooked, wrest, wry to bad purposes. Cot. + +Detraction, the vice of, l. 163. + +Disauayle, l. 290, harm, damage. + +Discreue, l. 392, describe. + +Disculede, l. 460, O., dissheveled. + +Disteyne, l. 407, stain, spot. + +Dogs, don't irritate them, l. 67. + +Dress, to be manerly, l. 47, 52; to be reasonable, l. 485. + + +Ears, clean yours, l. 37. + +Entredet, l. 524, O., entretyde, H., taught. + +Envy, keep clear of, l. 528. + +Estate, l. 122, lord noble. + +Exercyse, excersyf, l. 318, _?_ practised, able to handle a subject. Fr. +_exercer_, to handle, manage. Cot. + +Eye, cast not yours aside, l. 101. + + +Face, have no spots on it, l. 38. + +Farsyone, l. 186, H., stuffing: _farse_ (or _ferce_, 1. 191), to stuff; +_farsure_, stuffing. Cp. Chaucer's _ferthyng_, of the Prioress, _Prol. +Cant. T._, and the Oriel text. + +Fetis, l. 443, O., fashions. Fr. _faict_, feat, pranke, part. Cot. + +Fewe, l. 171, little, few words. + +First place, don't take it, l. 493. + +Follow virtue, l. 481. + +Founders of our language; revive their praise, l. 431. + +Fulsom, l. 257, _?_ full, satisfied; or helpful, A.S. _fylst_, help, +assistance. + +Fulsomnes, l. 401, fulness, plenty. 'Fulnesse or plente (fulsu_m_nesse, +K.H.P.) _Habundancia, copia_.' Promptorium. + + +Games, play only at proper ones, l. 296. + +Girdle, don't loose yours at table, l. 197. + +Glaynes, l. 412, O., gleynes, l. 422, O., gleanings. Fr. _glane_, a +gleaning; also the corne thats gleaned or left for the gleaner. Cot. + +Gluttonous, don't be, l. 180. + +Good cheer, make it serve for a scanty table, l. 253-5. + +GOWER'S moral writings, read them, l. 323; and his _Confessio Amantis_, +l. 325. + + +Halke, l. 124, generally means corner; A.S. _heal_, an angle, a corner; +but another _heal_ is a hall, place of entertainment, inn, which may be +the meaning here. + +Hands, wash yours, l. 43; wash 'em clean at table, l. 262-5. + +Hanging, the servant that deserves it, st. 65, O. + +Harping recommended, l. 304. + +Head, don't scratch it at table, l. 194. + +Holy water, l. 72. + +Humanite, l. 497, Fr. _humanité_, courtesie, ciuilitie, gentlenesse. +Cot. + + +Inhaunce, l. 433, put forward, up. Lat. _in antea_, Prov. _enansar_, to +advance, exalt. Wedgwood. + +Interrupt no man's talk, l. 275, 283. + +Is, l. 386, O., his. + +Iubiter, l. 371, 378, God. + + +Jangelynge, l. 80, chattering. + + +Kery, l. 369, [Greek: kyrie], Lord, [have mercy upon us!] + +Knife, don't put it near your face, l. 192. + + +Ladde, l. 476, O., lade, H., a thong of leather, a shoe-latchet. +Halliwell. + +Language, silver, is to be learnt only from our old poets, st. 58, l. +400-6. + +Lewed (ignorant), he must be who will not learn, l. 21. + +Lips, wipe yours before drinking, l. 186, 189. + +Look men, you speak to, in the face, l. 99. + +Louse, l. 462, catching lice. + +Luting recommended, l. 302. + +LYDGATE, Jo[=h]n, my master, l. 365; read his volumes large and wide, l. +379. + + +Malapert, Jack, don't play, l. 491. Fr. _Müiere_, malapert, outrageous, +ever doing one mischiefe or other. _Marmiton_, a saucie, malapert, or +knauish fellow. Cot. + +Malouse, l. 461, Malo's. + +Manner & measure should guide you, l. 125. + +Manners make man, l. 238. + +Mass, help the priest at, l. 85. + +Matins, our Lady's, l. 32. + +Mouth, eat with it shut, l. 241. + +Multiply talking, don't, l. 320. + + +Nails, clean yours, l. 44; don't pare them at table, l. 247. + +Norture, l. 436, deportment, manners. + +Nose, clean it, l. 39; don't pick it, l. 41. + + +OCKLYF; read his translation of _De Regimine Principum_, l. 351-64. + +Oppose, l. 518, 'I oppose one, I make a tryall of his lernyng, or I laye +a thyng to his charge, _ie appose_.' Palsgrave. See Towneley Mysteries, +pp. 193-95. Way, in Promptorium. + + We may bi oure law examyne hym fyrst.... ... let me _oppose_ + hym ... + + _T. Myst_, p. 195. + +Outrage, l. 278, outrageous, beyond bounds, too talkative. _See_ +Malapert. + +Owers, l. 34, see _pryme_. + + +Pater noster, say yours, l. 26, 77. + +Pendable, l. 455, O., Fr. _pendable_, hangable, that deserves hanging, +thats fit to be hanged. Cot. + +Poor table, men to be cheerful at, l. 253. + +Presumption, beware of, l. 492. + +Pride, beware of, l. 492. + +Print your words in your mind before you speak them, l. 282. + +Pryme & owers, l. 34. 'The _prime_ and other _hours_ are the services +_Ad primam horam_, _Ad tertiam_, _Ad sextam_, and _Ad nonam_, found in +the Primer, or layman's prayer-book. They are sometimes called the +middle hours, as distinguished from Matins and Vespers.' H. Bradshaw. + + +Quaire, l. 520, 526, 532, quire, pamphlet, treatise. + + +Ravenous, don't be, l. 176. + +Read eloquent books, l. 310. + +Rehersaylle, l. 288, rehearsal, repetition. + +Repeat conversations, don't, l. 288. + +Report (tale-telling) is the chief nurse of mischief, l. 135. + +Reward, l. 127, look at, watch. + +Rising, what to do on, l. 23. + + +Secret, keep what you hear, l. 134. + +Sewe, l. 481, follow, pursue. + +Silence, keep, l. 140; in hall, l. 204. + +Siluerous, l. 403, O., silvern. + +Singing lustily is good for a child, l. 304. + +Speak fair to folks, l. 60. + +Speaking, the conditions to be observed in, l. 143. + +Spoon, don't put it in your dish or on the table, l. 267. + +Surplusage, l. 518, rest, remainder. + +Syttyng, l. 302, fit, suitable. 'Syttyng or convenyent--m. _asseant ... +aduenant_.' Palsgrave. + + +Table, how to wait at, l. 113. + +Tacches, l. 176, tache, l. 198; Fr. _tache_, a spot, staine, blemish. +Cot. + +Taches, H., teches, O., l. 453, manners. + +Teeth, don't pick 'em with your knife, l. 248. + +Terre, l. 67; _tar_, to set on, provoke; O. Fr. _atarier_. They have +_terrid_ thee to ire. Wiclif, Psalms. Sc. _tirr_, to snarl; quarrelsome, +crabbed. Wedgwood. + +Thewed, l. 20, mannered. + +Towel, don't soil it, l. 263, 266. + +Traverse, l. 242, change from side to side. + +Trencher; keep yours clean, l. 269. + +Trety, l. 529, treatise. + +True as the gospel, l. 503. + + +Weyne, l. 166, A.S. _wanian_, to diminish, take away. + +Wind, break not, up or down, l. 202. + +Wise man, the; his marks of a youth likely to be had, l. 104;--his +counsel as to speaking, l. 137, 147. + +Women, always take good heed to them, l. 506. + +Wyndlese, l. 471, windlass. + + +Yanglers, l. 207, chatterers. + +Ydellye, l. 315, idly. + +Ynympariable, l. 380, unequalled, L. _par_, Fr. _pareil_, equal, like. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAXTON'S BOOK OF CURTESYE*** + + +******* This file should be named 14761-8.txt or 14761-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/6/14761 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + diff --git a/old/14761-8.zip b/old/14761-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b8d1365 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14761-8.zip diff --git a/old/14761.txt b/old/14761.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ace703 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14761.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3721 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Caxton's Book of Curtesye, Edited by +Frederick J. Furnivall + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Caxton's Book of Curtesye + +Editor: Frederick J. Furnivall + +Release Date: January 22, 2005 [eBook #14761] + +Language: EN + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAXTON'S BOOK OF CURTESYE*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Lindahl, Linda Cantoni, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team + + + +Editorial note: This e-book was prepared with the iso-8859-1 (Latin-1) + character set, and this ASCII file was created by + converting the iso-8859-1 characters. There is no + ASCII equivalent for two of these characters: + 1) The runic alphabet remnant "thorn," which looks + like a lower case "p" but with the vertical line + extended further upward. This character has a + "th" sound and has been rendered as "[th]" in + this ASCII version. + 2) The "paragraph" sign (a backward "P" with a + double vertical line), which in this ASCII + version has been rendered as "P)". + + + + + +CAXTON'S BOOK OF CURTESYE + +Printed at Westminster about 1477-8 A.D. and Now Reprinted, +with Two Ms. Copies of the Same Treatise, from the Oriel Ms. 79, +and the Balliol Ms. 354 + +Edited by + +FREDERICK J. FURNIVALL, M.A. + +Editor of 'The Babees Book, Etc.' ('Manners and Meals in Olden Time'), +Etc. Etc. + +London: +Published for the Early English Text Society +by Humphrey Milford, Oxford University Press, +Amen House, E.C. 4 + +1868 (reprinted 1882, 1898, 1932) + + + + + + + +PREFACE + + +Though no excuse can be needed for including in our Extra Series a +reprint of a unique Caxton on a most interesting subject, yet this Book +of Curtesye from Hill's MS. was at first intended for our original +series, I having forgotten lately that Caxton had written to 'lytyl +Iohn,' though some months back I had entered the old printer's book for +my second collection of Manners and Meals tracts for the Society. After +the copy of Hill--which Mr W.W. King kindly made for his +fellow-members--had gone to press, Mr Hazlitt reminded me of the Caxton, +and its first and last lines in Mr Blades's admirable book showed that +Hill's text was the same as the printed one. I accordingly went to +Cambridge to copy it, and there, before tea, Mr Skeat showed me the copy +of _The Vision of Piers Plowman_ which the Provost and Fellows of Oriel +had been good enough to lend him for his edition of 'Text B.' Having +enjoyed the vellum Vision, I turned to the paper leaves at its end, and +what should they contain but an earlier and better version of the Caxton +that I had just copied part of?[1] I drank seven cups of tea, and eat +five or six large slices of bread and butter, in honour of the event;[2] +and Mr Skeat, with his never-failing kindness, undertook to copy and +edit the Oriel text for the Society. With three texts, therefore, in +hand, I could not well stick them at the end of the Postscript to the +_Babees Book, &c._,[3] and as I wanted Caxton's name to this Book of +Curtesye to distinguish it from what has long been to me THE Book of +Courtesy,--that from the Sloane MS. 1986, edited by Mr Halliwell for the +Percy Society, and by me for our own E.E.T.S.--and as also Caxton's name +is one 'to conjure withal,' I have, with our Committee's leave, made +this little volume an Extra Series one, and called it Caxton's, though +his text is not so good as that of the Oriel MS. + +[Footnote 1: Mr Bradshaw was kind enough to copy the rest, and to read +the whole of the proof with Caxton's original.] + +[Footnote 2: I must be excused for not having found the poem before, as +it is not in the Index to Mr Coxe's Catalogue. In the body of the work +it is entered as "A father's advice to his son; with instructions for +his behaviour as a king's or nobleman's page. ff. 88, 89, 78. Beg. + + "Kepeth clene and leseth not youre gere."] + +[Footnote 3: The Treatises in _The Babees Book, &c._, and the Index at +the end, should be consulted for parallel and illustrative passages to +those in Caxton's text.] + +On this latter point Mr Skeat writes: + +"The Oriel copy is evidently the best. Not only does it give better +readings, but the lines, as a rule, run more smoothly; and it has an +extra stanza. This stanza, which is marked 54, occurs between stanzas 53 +and 54 of the other copies, and is of some interest and importance. It +shows that Lidgate's pupil, put in mind of Lidgate's style by the very +mention of his name, introduces a ballad of three stanzas, in which +every stanza has a burden after the Lidgate manner. The recurrence of +this burden no doubt caused copyists to lose their place, and so the +stanza came to be omitted in other copies. Its omission, however, spoils +the ballad. Both it and the curious lines in Piers Ploughmans Crede, + + "For aungells and arcangells / all [th]ei whijt vse[th] + And alle aldermen / [th]at ben _ante tronum_, + +"i.e. all the elders before the throne, allude to Rev. iv. 10. This Crede +passage has special reference to the _Carmelites_ or _White_ Friars. + +"The first two leaves of the Oriel copy are misplaced inside out at the +end; but this is not the only misarrangement. The poem has evidently +been copied into this MS. from an older copy having a leaf capable of +containing _six stanzas at a time_; which leaves were out of order. +Hence the poem in the Oriel MS. is written in the following order, as +now bound up, Stanzas 11 (l. 5)-18, 25-30, 37-42, 19-24, 49-54, 31-36, +43-48, 55-76, 8-11 (l. 4), 4 (l. 5)-7, 1-4 (l. 4)." + +As an instance of a word improved by the Oriel text, may be cited the +'_brecheles_ feste' of Caxton's and Hill's texts, l. 66, and l. 300, + + ffor truste ye well ye shall you not excuse + ffrom _brecheles feste_, & I may you espye + Playenge at any game of rebawdrye.--_Hill_, l. 299-301. + +Could it be 'profitless,' from A.-Sax. _brec_, gain, profit; or +'breechless,' a feast of birch for the boy with his breeches off? The +latter was evidently meant, but it was a forced construction. The Oriel +_byrcheley_ set matters right at once. + +Another passage I cannot feel sure is set at rest by the Oriel text. +Hill's and Caxton's texts, when describing the ill-mannered servant +whose ways are to be avoided, say of him, as to his hair, that he is + + Absolon with disheveled heres smale, + lyke to a prysoner of saynt Malowes,[1] + _a sonny busshe able to the galowes_.--_Hill_, l. 462. + +[Footnote 1: An allusion to the strong castle built at St Malo's by +Anne, Duchess of Bretayne.--Dyce.] + +For the last line the Oriel MS. reads, + + _a sonny bush myght cause hym to goo louse_, + +and Mr Skeat says,--"This is clearly the right reading, of which +_galowes_ is an unmeaning corruption. The poet is speaking of the +_dirty_ state of a bad and ill-behaved servant. He is as dirty as a man +come out of St Malo's prison; a sunny bush would cause him to go and +free himself from minute attendants. A 'sunny bush' probably means no +more than a warm nook, inviting one to rest, or to such quiet pursuits +as the one indicated. That this is really the reading is shown by the +next stanza, wherein the poet apologizes for having spoken too bluntly; +he ought to have spoken of such a chase by saying that he goes +_a-hawking_ or _a-hunting_. Such was the right euphemism required by +'norture.'" + +If this is the meaning, we may compare with it the old poet's reproof to +the proud man: + + Man, of [th]i schuldres and of [th]i side + [th]ou mi3*te hunti luse and flee: + of such a park i ne hold no pride; + [th]e dere nis nau3*te [th]at [th]ou mighte sle. + + _Early English Poems_, ed. F.J.F., 1862, p. 1, l. 5. + +and remember that one of the blessings of the early Paradisaical _Land +of Cokaygne_ is: + + Nis [th]er flei, fle, no lowse, + In clo[th], in toune, bed, no house. + + _Ib._, p. 157, l. 37-8. + +We may also compare the following extract about Homer's death from +"Pleasant and Delightfull Dialogues in Spanish and English: Profitable +to the Learner, and not vnpleasant to any other Reader. By _John +Minsheu_, Professor of Languages in London. 1623," p. 47. + +"F ... a foole with his foolishnesse framed in his owne imagination may +giue to a hundred wise men matter to picke out. + +"I, So it hapned to the Poet Homer, that as he was with age blinde, and +went walking by the sea shoare, & heard certaine Fishermen talking, that +at that time were a _lowsing_ themselues, and as he asked them, what +fish they caught, they vnderstanding that he had meant their lice, they +answered, Those that we [1]haue, we seeke for, and those that we [2]haue +not wee finde, but as the good Homer could not see what they did, and +for this cause could not vnderstand the riddle, it did so grieue his +vnderstanding to obtaine the secret of this matter, which was a +sufficient griefe to cause his death." + +[Footnote 1: i. Haue in their clothes. i. lice.] + +[Footnote 2: i. Haue not in hand.] + +But the subject is not a very pleasant one for discussion, though the +occupation alluded to in the Oriel Text must have been one of the +pastimes of many people in Early England. + +The book itself, _Lytill Johan_, is by a disciple of Lydgate's--see l. +366, p. 36-7--and contains, besides, the usual directions how to dress, +how to behave in church, at meals, and when serving at table, a wise +man's advice on the books his little Jack should read, the best English +poets,--then Gower, Chaucer, Occleve, and Lydgate,--not the Catechism +and Latin Grammar. It was very pleasant to come off the directions not +to conveye spetell over the table, or burnish one's bones with one's +teeth, to the burst of enthusiasm with which the writer speaks of our +old poets. He evidently believed in them with all his heart; and it +would have been a good thing for England if our educators since had +followed his example. If the time wasted, almost, in Latin and Greek by +so many middle-class boys, had been given to Milton and Shakspere, +Chaucer and Langland, with a fit amount of natural science, we should +have been a nobler nation now than we are. There is no more promising +sign of the times than the increased attention paid to English in +education now. + +But to return to our author. He gives Chaucer the poet's highest gift, +Imagination, in these words, + + what ever to say he toke in his entente, + his langage was so fayer & pertynante, + yt semeth vnto manys heryng + _not only the worde, but veryly the thyng_. (l. 343.) + +And though the writer has the bad taste to praise Lydgate more than +Chaucer, yet we may put this down to his love for his old master, and +may rest assured that though the cantankerous Ritson calls the Bury +schoolmaster a 'driveling monk,' yet the larking schoolboy who robbed +orchards, played truant, and generally raised the devil in his early +days (_Forewords to Babees Book_, p. xliv.), retained in later years +many of the qualities that draw to a man the boy's bright heart, the +disciple's fond regret. We too will therefore hope that old Lydgate's + + sowle be gon + (To) the sterred paleys above the dappled skye, + Ther to syng _Sanctus_ insessavntly + Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall, + Before the hyeste Iubyter of all. (l. 381-5.) + +In old age the present poem was composed (st. 60, p. 42-3); 'a lytill +newe Instruccion' to a lytle childe, to remove him from vice & make him +follow virtue. At his riper age our author promises his boy the +surplusage of the treatise (st. 74, p. 50-1); and if a copy of it +exists, I hope it will soon fall in our way and get into type, for 'the +more the merrier' of these peeps into old boy-life. + +On one of the grammatical forms of the Oriel MS., Mr Skeat writes: + +"It is curious to observe the forms of the imperative mood plural which +occur so frequently throughout the poem in the Oriel copy. The forms +ending in _-eth_ are about 31 in number, of which 17 are of French, and +14 of A.S. origin. The words in which the ending _-eth_ is dropped are +42, of which 18 are of French, and 24 of A.S. origin. The three +following French words take _both_ forms; _avyse_ or _avyseth_, _awayte_ +or _awayteth_, _wayte_ or _wayteth_; and the five following A.S. words, +_be_ or _beth_, _kepe_ or _kepeth_, _knele_ or _knelyth_, _loke_ or +_loketh_, _make_ or _maketh_. Thus the poet makes use, on the whole, of +one form almost as often as the other (that is, supposing the scribe to +have copied correctly), and he no doubt consulted his convenience in +taking that one which suited the line best. It is an instance of what +followed in almost every case of naturalization, that A.S. inflections +were added to the French words quite as freely as to those of native +origin. Both the _-eth_ and _-e_ forms are commonly used without the +word _ye_, though. _Be ye_ occurs in l. 58. In the phrase _avise you_ +(l. 78), _you_ is in the accusative." + +Commenting also on l. 71 of Caxton and Hill, Mr Skeat notices how they +have individualised the general 'child' of the earlier Oriel text: + +"71. Here we find _child_ riming to _mylde_. In most other places it is +_Johan_. The rime shows that the reading _child_ is right, and _Johan_ +is a later adaptation. The Oriel MS. never uses the word _Johan_ at all; +it is always _child_." + +I may remark also, that on the question lately raised by Mr Bradshaw, +'who before Hampole,[1] or after him, used _you_ for the nominative as +well as the correct _ye_,' Hill uses both _you_ and _ye_, see l. 47, 51, +52, &c., though so far as a hasty search shows, Lydgate, in his Minor +Poems at least, uses _ye_ only, as do Lord Berners in his _Arthur of +Lytil Brytayne_, ab. 1530, the Ormulum, Ancren Riwle, Genesis and +Exodus, William of Palerne, Alliterative Poems, Early Metrical Homilies, +&c.[2] + +[Footnote 1: _Pricke of Conscience_, p. 127, l. 4659; and p. xvii.] + +[Footnote 2: Mr Skeat holds that in the various reading _3*ow drieth_ +from the Univ. Coll. Oxford MS. (of the early part of the 15th century) +to the Vernon MS. _[th]ou drui3*est_, l. 25, Passus 1, of the Vision of +Piers Plowman, the 3*ow is an accusative, "exactly equivalent to the +Gothic in the following passage--'_hwana_ [th]aursjai, gaggai du mis, i.e. +_whom_ it may thirst, let him come to me.' John vii. 37. I conclude that +3*ow is accusative, not dative. The same construction occurs in German +constantly, '_es duerstet mich_' = it thirsts me, I thirst."] + +The final _d_, _f_, _t_, of Hill's MS., often have a tag to them. As +they sometimes occur in places where I judge they must mean nothing, I +have neglected them all. Every final _ll_ has a line through it, which +may mean _e_. Nearly every final _n_ and _m_ has a curly tail or line +over it. This is printed _e_ or _[=n]_, though no doubt the tail and +line have often no value at all. The curls to the _r_s are printed _e_, +because _ther_ with the curly _r_, in l. 521, Hill, rimes to _where_ of +l. 519. + +At the end of Caxton's final _d_ and _g_ is occasionally a crook-backed +line, something between the line of beauty and the ordinary knocker. +This no doubt represents the final _e_ of MSS., and is so printed, as Mr +Childs has not the knocker in the fount of type that he uses for the +Society's work. Caxton's _[=n]_ stands for _u_n in the _-aunce_, +_-aunte_, of words from the French. No stops or inverted commas have +been put to Caxton's text here, but the stanzas and lines have been +numbered, and side-notes added. + +"The _Book of Curtesye_," says Mr Bradshaw, "is known from three early +editions. The first, without any imprint, but printed at Westminster by +Caxton ab. 1477-78,[1] the only known copy of which is here reproduced. +The second (with the colophon 'Here endeth a lytyll treatyse called the +booke of Curtesye or lytyll John. Emprynted atte Westmoster') is only +known from a printer's proof of two pages[2] preserved among the Douce +fragments in the Bodleian. It must have been printed by Wynkin de Worde +in Caxton's house ab. 1492. In the third edition it was reprinted at the +end of the _Stans puer ad Mensam_ by Wynkin de Worde ab. 1501-1510. The +Cambridge copy is the only one known to remain of this edition." + +[Footnote 1: In his type No. 2, _Blades_, ii. 63.] + +[Footnote 2: In Caxton's type No. 5, _Blades_, ii. 235 (not 253 as in +Index).] + +I have no more to say: but, readers, remember this coming New Year to do +more than last for what Dr Stratmann calls "the dear Old English." Think +of Chaucer when his glad spring comes, and every day besides; forget +not Langland or any of our early men: + + reporte + & revyue _th_e lawde of the_m_ th_a_t were + famovs i_n_[1] owr_e_ langage, these faders dere, + whos sowles i_n_ blis, god et_er_nall avaunce, + _th_at lysten so[2] owr_e_ langage to enhavnce! + + (_Hill_, l. 430-4.) + +[Footnote 1: Founders of, _Oriel_ MS.] + +[Footnote 2: some, _Hill_; so, _Oriel_.] + + +_3, St George's Square, N.W. + +15 Dec., 1867._ + + + + + +The Book of Curtesye. + + + + + +[The Book of Curtesy.] + + +[_From the Oriel MS. lxxix._] + +[1] + +Lytle childe, sythen youre tendre infancie + Stondeth as yett vndir yndyff[e]rence, +To vice or vertu to moven[1] or Applie, 3 +[Sidenote 1: MS. coorven] + And in suche Age ther is no prouide_n_ce, +Ne comenly no sadde intelligence, + But ryght as wax receyueth printe and figure, + So chylder ben disposed of nature, + +[2] + +Vice or vertu to Folowe and ympresse + In mynde; and therfore, to stere and remeve +You from vice, and to vertu thou[1] dresse, 10 +[Sidenote 1: _Read_ you] + That on to folow, and the other to eschewe, + I haue devysed you this lytill newe + Instrucc_i_on according to your_e_ age, + Playne in sentence, but playner in langage. 14 + + +(_Richard Hill's Commonplace Book, or Balliol MS. 354, ffl C lx._) + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +Here begynnyth lytill[e] Ioh_a_n. + +P) Lytell[e] Iohan, sith yo_u_r tender_e_ enfancye + Stondyth as yet vnder_e_ Indyfference + To vyce or vertu to mevyn or applie, + & in suche age _ther_[1] ys no p_ro_vydence, 4 + Ne come_n_ly no sage Intelygence, + But as wax receyvith prynt or fygure, + So chyldren bene disposed of nature + +[Footnote 1: The _th_ is the same as the _y_.] + +P) Vyce or vertu to folowe, & enpresse 8 + In mynde; & _ther_for to styre & remeve + you frome vice, & to vertu addresse, + That on to folow, & _tha_t o_ther_ to eschewe, + I haue devysed you this lytill[e] newe 12 + Instrucc_i_on[1] accordyng vnto yo_u_r age, + playn In sentence, but playner_e_ In langage. + +[Footnote 1: The mark of contraction is over the _n_: t.i. the _n_ has +its tail curled over its back like a dog's.] + + +[The Book of Courtesye.] + +[_Caxton's Text._] + +[1] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 1 a.] + + Lytyl Iohn syth your tendre enfancye + Stondeth as yet vnder / in difference +[Sidenote: As Infancy is indifferent] +To vice or vertu to meuyn or applye 3 +[Sidenote: whether it follows vice or virtue,] +And in suche age ther is no prouidence +Ne comenly no sad_e_ Intelligence +But as waxe resseyueth prynte or figure +So children ben disposid_e_ of nature 7 + +[2] + +Vyce or vertue to folowe and_e_ enpresse +In mynde / and_e_ therfore / to styre & remeue +You from vice / and_e_ to vertue addresse 10 +That one to folowe / and that other teschewe +I haue deuysed you / this lytyl newe +[Sidenote: I have written this new treatise to draw you from vice, and +turn you to virtue.] +Instrucc_i_on / acordyng_e_ vnto your age +Playne in sentence / but playner in la_n_gage 14 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[3] + +Taketh hede therfore and herkyn what I say, + And yeueth therto hooly your_e_ adu_er_tence, +Lette not your_e_ eye be here and your_e_ hert away, 17 + But yeueth herto your_e_ besy diligence, + And ley aparte alle wantawne insolence, + Lernyth to be vertues and well thewid; + Who wolle not lere, nedely must be lewid. 21 + +[4] + +Afore all thyng, fyrst and principally, + In the morowe when ye[1] shall vppe ryse, +[Sidenote 1: MS. he.] +To wyrship god haue in your_e_ memorie; 24 + Wyth cristis crosse loke ye blesse you thriese, + Youre pater-nosteir seyth in devoute wyse, + Aue maria wyth the holy crede, + Than alle the after the bettir may ye spede. 28 + +[5] + +And while ye be Abouten honestely + To dresse your_e_-self and don on your_e_ aray, +Wyth your_e_ felawe well and tretably 31 + Oure lady matens Avyseth that you say, + And this obseruaunce vseth eu_e_ry day, + Wyth prime and owris, and wythouten drede + The blyssed lady woll graunte you your_e_ mede. 35 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) Take hede _ther_for, & harken what I saye, + & geve _ther_to yowr_e_ good advertence, 16 + lette not yo_u_r ere be here, & yo_u_r herte awaye, + But pute you _ther_to besy delygence, + Laying a-p_ar_te all[e] wanton Insolence, + lernyd to be v_er_tuvs & well[e] thewed; 20 + who will[e] not lerne, nedely he must be lewed. + +P) Afore all[e] thyng, & pryncypally + In the mornyng wha_n_ ye vp ryse, + To worship god haue in memory; 24 + w_i_t_h_ cryst_is_ crosse loke ye blesse ye thryse, + yo_u_r pater_e_ nost_er_ say i_n_ devoute wyse, + Aue maria / w_i_t_h_ the holy crede; + The_n_ all[e] _th_e day the bett_er_ shall ye spede. 28 + +P) And while ye dresse yo_u_r selfe, honestly + To dresse yo_u_r selfe & do on yo_u_r araye, + w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r felowe well[e] & tretably + Owr_e_ lady matens loke _tha_t you say; 32 + And this obs_er_vance vse ye eu_er_y day, + w_i_t_h_ pryme & owers w_i_t_h_-owt drede. + _th_e blessyd lady will quyte you yo_u_r mede. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[3] + +Take hede therfore / and herkne what I saye +[Sidenote: Attend therefore to what I say.] +And_e_ gyue therto / your good_e_ aduertence +Lete not your ere be here & your herte awaye 17 +But put ye therto / besy diligence +Leyng_e_ aparte al wantown Insolence +Lerneth to be vertuous / and wel thewed_e_ +[Sidenote: Learn good manners.] +Who wil not lerne / nedely he must be lewed 21 + +[4] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 1 b.] + +Afore alle thing_e_ / and_e_ principally +In the morenyng_e_ / whan ye vp rise +[Sidenote: On rising,] +To worshipe god_e_ / haue in memorie 24 +With crystes crosse / loke ye blesse you thrise +[Sidenote: cross yourself,] +Your pater noster / saye in deuoute wyse +[Sidenote: say your Pater Noster, Ave, and Creed.] +Aue maria / with the holy crede +Thenne alle the day / the better shal ye spede 28 + +[5] + +And while that ye be aboute honestly +To dresse your self / & do o[=n] your araye +[Sidenote: While dressing,] +With your felawe / wel and tretably 31 +Oure lady matyns / loke that ye saye +[Sidenote: say our Lady's Matins,] +And_e_ this obserua[=n]ce / vse ye every daye +With pryme and ouris / withouten drede +[Sidenote: Prime, and Hours.] +The blessid_e_ lady / wil quyte you your mede 35 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[6] + +Kembe your_e_ hede and loke ye kepe hit clene, + Your_e_ eris twayne suffre not foule to be; +In your_e_ visage wayteth no spotte be sene, 38 + Purge your_e_ nase, let hit not combred be + Wyth foule matiers Ayenst all oneste, + But wyth bare hande no matier from hit feche, + For that is a foule and an vncurtays teche. 42 + +[7] + +Youre handes wassheth, that is an holsom thyng, + Youre nayles loke they be not geet blake, +Suffre hem not to ben ouer long growyng; 45 + To your_e_ aray good hede I warne you take, + That manerly ye seet hit vp and make, + Your_e_ hode, your_e_ gowne, your_e_ hose, and eke your_e_ scho, + Wyth all array longyng your_e_ body to. 49 + +[8] + +Kepeth clene and leseth not your_e_ gere, + And or ye passen oute of your_e_ loggyng, +Euery garment that ye schulle vppon you were, 52 + Awayteth welle that hit be so syttyng + As to your_e_ degre semeth moost on accordyng; + Than woll men sey, 'for soth this childe is he + That is well taught and loueth honeste.' 56 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lx back.] + +P) Kembe yo_u_r hede, & loke you kepe yt clene; 36 + yo_u_r eres twayn suffre not fowle to be; + In yo_u_r wysage loke no spote be sene; + purge yo_u_r nose; lett no ma_n_ in yt se + The vile matter; yt ys none honeste; 40 + Ne w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r bare hond no fylth fro_m_ yt feche, + ffor _tha_t ys fowle, & an vncurtoys teche. + +P) Yo_u_r hond_is_ wasshe; yt ys an holsom thyng; + yo_u_r naylis loke they be not gety blake, 44 + Ne suffre not the_m_ over longe growyng. + To yo_u_r A-raye I warne you good hede take, + Manerly & ffyte loke you yt make; + yo_ur_ hood / gown_e_ / hosen / & eke yo_u_r sho, 48 + w_i_t_h_ all yo_u_r araye longyng yo_u_r body to. + +P) Kepe you clene, & lose not yo_u_r gere; + & or you passe owt of yo_u_r lodgyng, + Eu_er_y garment _tha_t ye shall[e] were, 52 + Awayte well[e] _tha_t yt be so syttyng + & to yo_u_r degre semed accordyng; + Tha_n_ will[e] me_n_ say, "for sothe _th_is child ys he + _tha_t ys well[e] tawght, & loweth honeste." 56 + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[6] + +Kembe your hede / & loke ye kepe it clene +[Sidenote: Comb your head;] +Your eres tweyne / suffre not fowl to be +[Sidenote: clean your ears] +In your visage / wayte no spot be sene 38 +Purge your nose / lete noman in it see +[Sidenote: and nose;] +The vile mater / it is none honeste +Ne with your bare honde / no filth fro it fecche +[Sidenote: don't pick it.] +For that is fowl / and an vncurtoys teche 42 + +[7] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 2 a.] + +Your hondes wesshe / it is an holsom thing_e_ +Your naylis loke / they be not gety blacke +Ne suffre not hem / to be ou_er_ longe growyng 45 +[Sidenote: Wash your hands; don't keep your nails jet-black or too +long.] +To your araye / I warne you good hede take +That manerly ye fytte it vp and make +[Sidenote: Wear fit clothes, that fit well] +Your hood_e_. gowne. hosyn / & eke your sho +With al your aray longyng your body to 49 + +[8] + +Kepe you clene / and lose not your gere +And or ye passe / out of your loggyng_e_ +Euery garment / that ye shal on were 52 +Awayte wel / that it be so syttyng_e_ +As to your degre / semeth accordyng_e_ +[Sidenote: and suit your station;] +The_n_ne wil men saye / forsoth this childe is he +[Sidenote: the men will praise you.] +That is wel taught / and louyth honeste 56 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[12] + +Avise you well Also for eny thyng, + The schirche of prayer is the house and place, +Be ware ther_e_-for_e_ of clappe or Ianglyng, 80 + For in the schirche that is full gret trysspace, + And A token of hem that lacken grace; + Ther beth demur_e_ and kepeth your_e_ sylence, + And serueth god wyth all your_e_ deligence. 84 + +[13] + +To helpe the prest whan he shall sey the masse, + Whan hit shall happen you or be-tyde, +Remeue not ferr_e_ ne from his p_re_sence passe, 87 + Kneleth or stondeth deuoutly hym be-syde, + And not to nyghe; your_e_ tounge mooste be applied + To Answere hym wyth[1] v[o]ice full moderate; +[Sidenote 1: MS. wyth hym wyth.] + Avyse you well, my lityll childe, Algate 91 + +[14] + +To mynystre wyth de-voute Reuerence, + Loke that ye do your_e_ humble obseruaunce +Debonarly wyth [dewe] obideence, 94 + Cyrcum-spectly, wyth eu_er_[y] circumstaunce + Of porte, of chere, demevir_e_ of countenaunce, + Remembryng, the lord aboue is he + Whom to serue is grettest liberte. 98 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) Avyce you well[e] also for any thynge, + The chyrche, of p_ra_yer ys howse & place; + be ware _ther_for of clappe or Iangelynge, 80 + ffor i_n_ the chyrche yt ys a full[e] gret trespas, + & a token of suche as lacketh g_ra_ce. + Ther be ye demvre, & kepe ye scilence, + And s_er_ve ye god w_i_t_h_ all yo_u_r delygence. 84 + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxj.] + +P) To helpe _th_e P_re_est wha_n_ he sayth masse, + wha_n_ yt shall[e] happen you or betyde, + Remeve not fer, ne fro_m_ his p_re_sence passe; + knele or stonde you devovtly hy_m_ besyde, 88 + & not to ny[=g]h: yo_u_r tonge mvst be applyde + To answere hy_m_ w_i_t_h_ woyce moderate. + Avyce you well, my lytill child, algate + +P) To mynyster w_i_t_h_ devout reverence; 92 + loke ye do yo_u_r hu_m_ble observaunce + Debonerly wyth dewe obedyence, + Circu_m_spectly w_i_t_h_ euery circu_m_stavnce + Of poort, & chere of goodly covntenavnce, 96 + Remembryng well _th_e lorde a-bove ys he, + whome to s_er_ve ys grettest lyberte. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[12] + +Auyse you wel also / for ony thinge +The chirche of prayer / is hous and place +Beware therfore / of clappe or Iangelyng_e_ 80 +[Sidenote: Don't chatter,] +For in [th]^e chirche / it is a ful grate trespaas +And a token of suche / as lackyth grace +There be ye demure / and kepe ye scilence +[Sidenote: but be silent, and serve God.] +And serue ye god / with al your diligence 84 + +[13] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 3 a.] + +To helpe the preest / whan he saith masse +[Sidenote: When you help the priest at Mass,] +Whan it shal happen you or betyde +Remeue not fer / ne from his presence passe 87 +Knele or stonde ye / deuoutly hym besyde +[Sidenote: kneel or stand near him,] +And not to nyg[=h] your to_n_ge muste be applide +Tanswere hym / with voys ful moderate +[Sidenote: and answer him in a moderate tone.] +Auyse you wel / my lityl childe algate 91 + +[14] + +To mynystre / with deuoute reuerence +[Sidenote: Minister reverently] +Loke ye do / youre humble obseruance +Debonairly / with due obedyence 94 +Circumspectly / with euery circumstaunce +[Sidenote: and circumspectly.] +Of poort and chere / of goodly counte[=n]ance +Remembryng_e_ wel the lord_e_ / a boue is he +Whom to serue / is grettest liberte 98 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[15] + +And whan ye speke, loketh men in the face[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. visage.] + Wyth sobre chere and goodly semblaunce; +Cast not your_e_ eye asyde in odir place, 101 + For that is a tokyn of wantowne inconstaunce, + Which wolle appeyre your_e_ name, and disauau_n_ce; + The wyse man seyth, 'who hathe this signes thre + Ne is not like a good man [for] to be--' 105 + +[16] + +'Yn hert,' he seyth, 'who that is inconstaunte,[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. inconstaunce] + A waveryng eye, glyddryng but sodenly +From place to place, and A fote[2] variaunte[3] 108 +[Sidenote 2: MS. fore.] +[Sidenote 3: MS. variaunce.] + That in no place abydeth stabully-- + Thes ben signes,' the wyse man seyth sekerly, + 'Of suche a wyght as is vnmanerly nyce, + And is full like dissposed be to vice.' 112 + +[17] + +And wayte, my childe, whan ye stond at the table, + Of souereyne or maister whether hit be, +Applieth you [for] to be seruysable, 115 + That no defaute in you may founde be; + Loke who doth best and hym envyeth ye, + And specially vseth attendaunce, + Whiche is to souereyne thyng of gret plesaunce. 119 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) And wha_n_ ye speke, loke me_n_ in _th_e face + w_i_t_h_ sobre chere & goodly semblavnce; 100 + Caste not eye a-side in no other_e_ place, + ffor _tha_t ys a token of a wanton constavnce + which will[e] apayre yo_ur_ name, & dysavance. + The wyse ma_n_ sayth, 'who hath these thy_ngis_ iij, 104 + ys not lyke a good man for to be:' + +P) 'In herte,' he sayth, 'who _tha_t ys Inco_n_stavnte, + A waverynge eye, glydyng sodenly + ffro place to place, & a foote varyavnte 108 + that in no place a-bydyth stabli, + 'Thyse bene _th_e thyng_is_,' _th_e wysma_n_ sayth sekerly, + 'Off suche a wayghte _tha_t be vnmanerly nyce, + & be full[e] lykely dysposed vnto vyce.' 112 + +P) Awayte, my chyld, wha_n_ ye stonde at table, + Off mayster or soverayne whe_ther_ yt be, + Applye you for to be servysable + That no defawte in you fownden be; 116 + loke who dothe best, & hym folow ye, + & in especyall[e] vse ye attendavnce + wheryn ye shall[e] yo_u_r selfe best avaunce. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[15] + +And whan ye speke / loke men in the face +[Sidenote: When you speak to men, look 'em in the face.] +With sobre chere / and_e_ goodly semblaunce +Caste not your eye a syde / in other place 101 +For that is a token of wantou[=n] inconsta_n_ce +Whiche wil appeyre your name & disaua[=n]ce +The wise ma_n_ saith who hath these thi_n_gis thre +[Sidenote: The wise Man says] +Is not lyke a good_e_ man for to be 105 + +[16] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 3 b.] + +In herte he seith / who that is inconsta[=n]te +A waueryng eye / glydyng sodeynly +[Sidenote: an inconstant man with a wavering eye and a wandering foot] +Fro place to place / & a foot varia[=n]te 108 +That in no place / abydeth stably +These ben [th]^e signes / the wisema_n_ seith sikerly +Of suche a wight / as is vnmanerly nyce +And is ful likely disposid vnto vyce 112 +[Sidenote: will turn to vice.] + +[17] + +Awayte my chylde / whan ye sta_n_de atte table +[Sidenote: When you serve at table,] +Of maister or souerayn / whether it be +Applye you for to be seruysable 115 +[Sidenote: be attentive and tidy,] +That no defaute in you founden be +Loke / who doth best / and hym ensiewe ye +And in especyal / vse ye attendaunce +[Sidenote: specially to well-off men.] +Wherein ye shal your self best auaunce 119 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[18] + +A[s] ye be comaundyd, so ye do algate, + Beth not wyth-oute cause from the tabul absent; +Hit is plesaunce vnto the gret astate 122 + To se theyr_e_ saruaunt about them p_re_sent; + Haunteth no halkes, for then ye woll be schent. + Lette maner and Mesure be your_e_ guydes twey, + So shall ye best please, I dare well sey. 126 + +[19] + +Rewarde all-way the loke and countenaunce + Of your_e_ master, or of your_e_ souereine, +Ther shall ye best preue what is plesaunce, 129 + And what displesaunce; this is the soth serteyne, + The chere discureth often tyme both twayne, + And eke the chere may some tyme you addresse + In thyng that langage may not [th]an expresse. 133 + +[20] + +And what ye here there, loke ye kepe hit secre, + Besy report of mystrust is cheff norice; +Mekell langage may not all fautles be; 136 + Than doth, my childe, as teicheth you the wyse, + Whiche vnto you this wysdome dothe devise, + 'Here and see, be still in euery prees,[1] +[Sidenote 1: MS. 'in euery place and in prees.' _Place_ was to have +been the last word; _and in prees_ was carelessly _added_, instead of +striking out _place_.--Sk.] + Passe forth your_e_ way in silence and in pees.' + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) As ye be co_m_avnded, so do ye algate; 120 + be not cavseles fro _th_e table absente; + yt ys a grete pleasure to _th_e high estate[1] +[Sidenote 1: noble, lord.] + To se his s_er_vaunttes abowte hy_m_ presente. + havnte no halke, for the_n_ ye will[e] be shente; 124 + lette maner_e_ & mesure be yo_u_r gydes twayne; + so shall[e] ye best please, I dare savely sayne. + +P) Reward also thy loke & contenavnce, + Off yo_u_r master or of yo_u_r soverayne, 128 + so shall[e] ye best p_re_ve what ys his plesavnce + or ell_is_ his dysplesavnce: this ys s_er_tayne, + The chere discovereth oftyn both[e] twayn, + & eke the chere su_m_tyme may yow addresse 132 + In thyn_gis_ the langage may not the_n_ expresse. + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxj, back.] + +P) And _tha_t ye here, loke ye kepe always secre; + besy reporte, of myschefe ys chese noryse; + Mykyll[e] langage may not all[e] fawtles be; 136 + The_n_ do, my chyld, as techeth you _th_e wyse + whiche vnto you _th_is lessu_n_ doth devyce: + here & see, & be styll[e] in eu_er_y prees, + passe forthe yo_u_r way i_n_ scilence & i_n_ pees. 140 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[18] + +As ye be comanded_e_ / so do ye algate +Be not causeles / fro the table absent +[Sidenote: Don't absent yourself from table,] +It is a grete plesure / to the hyghe estate 122 +To see his seruantis aboute hym present +Haunte no halke / for the_n_ne ye wil be shente +[Sidenote: or stick yourself in a corner.] +Lete maner & mesure / be your gydes tweyne +[Sidenote: Let Manners and Moderation guide you.] +So shal ye best plese / I dar sauely seyne 126 + +[19] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 4 a.] + +Rewarde also the loke and_e_ contenaunce +Of your maister / or of your souereyne +[Sidenote: Look at your master's face;] +So shal ye best preue what is his plesa[=n]ce 129 +Or els displesaunce / this is soth serteyne +[Sidenote: that'll show whether he's pleased or not.] +The chere discouerith / often bothe tweyne +And eke [th]^e cher_e_ / somtyme may you addresse +In thi_n_gis / [th]^t la_n_gage may not them expresse 133 + +[20] + +And_e_ that ye her loke / kepe alway secree +[Sidenote: Keep secret all you hear.] +Besy reporte / of mischief is chief noryse +Mykyl langage / may not al fawtles bee 136 +Then_n_e do my childe / as techeth you the wyse +Whiche vnto you / this lesson doth deuyse +Here and see / and_e_ be styll_e_ in euery prees +Passe forth your way in scilence & in pees 140 +[Sidenote: Hear, see, and go your way.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[21] + +And yit in Aventure ye, if the caase require, + Ye most speke as hit may doo percace; +[Sidenote 1: MS. precace.] +Seuen condic_i_ons obserue as ye shall hire, 143 + Avise you well what ye sey and in what place, + Of whom, and to whom, in your_e_ mynde compace; + Howe ye shall speke, and whan, taketh good hede, + This couns_e_illeth the wyse man wyth-outen drede. + +[22] + +A wayte, my childe, ye haue you manerly, + Whan at your_e_ mete ye sittyn at your_e_ table; +In euery pres, in euery company, 150 + Disposeth you to be so componable, + That men may you reporte for comendable; + For tristeth well, vppon your_e_ bering + Men woll you blame or yeven you preysing. 154 + +[23] + +And printeth chiefly in your_e_ memorie, For A principalle poynt of +feire norture, Ye depraue no man absent especially; 157 Seint Austyn +Amonishith wyth besy cure, Howe at the table men shull them assure, That +there escapeth them no suche langage, As myght turne other folke to +disparage. 161 */ + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text.] + +P) And yet i_n_ aduenture, yf _th_e caas requyre, + ye may speke, but ye must p_er_caas + Seven[1] co_n_dyc_i_ons obs_er_ve, as ye may here: +[Sidenote: Six they are at p. 358, _Babees Book_, of the Wise Man.] + Avyce ye well[e] what ye say, & i_n_ what place, 144 + Off whom, & to whom, i_n_ yo_u_r mynd co_m_pace; + how ye shall[e] speke, & wha_n_, take good hede: + _th_is cow[n]syled _th_e wyse ma_n_ w_i_t_h_owten drede. + +P) 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. + +P) 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._] + +P) 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 + +P) 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. + +P) 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, 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.] + +P) 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. + +P) 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 + +P) 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._] + +P) 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. + +P) 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. + +P) 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 table,] +And yf I shal to you playnly saye +Ouer the table / ye shal not spetel conueye 217 +[Sidenote: or spit over it.] + +[32] + +Yef ye be serued / with metes delicate +[Sidenote: Share dainties with your fellows:] +Departe with your felowe / in gentil wise +The clerck saith / nature is conte_n_t & saciate 220 +With mene diete / and litil shall suffyse +Departe therfore / as I you deuyse +Engrose not / vnto your self all_e_ +For gentilnes / wil aye be liberall_e_ 224 +[Sidenote: gentleness is liberal.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[33] + +And wan p_er_cace your_e_ seruice is not large, + Grucchith not wyth frownyng countenaunce, +Ne maketh not ther-of to mekell charge, 227 + Disposeth you to goodly sufferaunce, + And what ye haue, take hit for suffisaunce; + Holde you pleased wyth that god hath you sent, + He hath Inough[1] that can hold hym content. 231 +[Sidenote 1: MS. Inought.] + +[34] + +Burnysh no bonys wyth your_e_ tethe, be ware, + That houndis tecche fayleth of curtesie; +But wyth your_e_ knyff make the bonys bare; 234 + Handell your_e_ mete so well and so clenly, + That ye offenden not the company + Where ye be sette, as ferre-forth as ye can; + Remembre well that man_er_ maketh man. 238 + +[35] + +And whan your teeth shall cutte your_e_ mete small, + Wyth open mouth be ware that ye not ete, +But loke your_e_ lippis be closede as a wall, 241 + Whan to &[1] fro ye trauers your_e_ mete; +[Sidenote 1: MS. a.] + Kepe you so close that men haue no conceite + To seyn of you langage of vilonye, + Be cause ye ete your_e_ mete vnma[ne]rly. 245 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) And wha_n_ p_er_caas yo_u_r s_er_vyce ys not large, + Groge not w_i_t_h_ frownynge covntenavnce, + Ne make ther-of not to mykyll[e] charge; + Dyspose you to goodly suffravnce, 228 + & what ye haue, take yt in suffysavnce; + be you plesid w_i_t_h_ suche as god hath you sent; + he ha[=th] ynowgh [th]at ca_n_ hold hy_m_ co_n_tente. + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxij back.] + +P) Burnysshe no bonys w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r te[=th], be ware, 232 + Suche hownd_is_ tacches fallen of vncurtesye, + but w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r knyfe make the bonys bare. + Handle yo_u_r mete so well[e] & so clenly + That ye offende not the company 236 + wher ye be sette, as ferforthe as ye can, + Reme_m_bryng well[e] _th_at maners make man. + +P) And whan _tha_t ye ete yo_u_r mete small[e], + w_i_t_h_ open mowth be ware ye not ete, 240 + but loke / yo_u_r lyppes be closed as a wall[e]; + wha_n_ to & fro ye traverse yo_u_r mete, + kepe you so cloos _tha_t men haue no co_n_ceyte + To saye of you any langage or vylonye 244 + by cavse ye ete yo_u_r mete so vnmanerly. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[33] + +And whan percaas your seruise is not large +Gruccheth not / with frownyng contena_u_nce +[Sidenote: If your helping is not large, don't grumble,] +Ne make therof / not to mykyl charge 227 +Dispose you to goodly suffra_u_nce +And what ye haue / take it in suffysa_u_nce +Be ye plesid with suche as god hath you sent +[Sidenote: but be content.] +He hath ynough / that can hold_e_ hym conte_n_t 231 + +[34] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 6 b.] + +Burnysshe no bones / with your teth / beware +[Sidenote: Don't burnish bones with your teeth.] +Suche houndis tacches / falle of vncurtesye +But with your knyf / make the bones bare 234 +Handle your mete / so wel and so clenly +[Sidenote: Handle your food cleanly,] +That ye offende not the company +Where ye be sette / as ferfort[=h] as ye can +Reme_m_bryng wel / that manners make ma[=n]. 238 +[Sidenote: for Manners make Man.] + +[35] + +And_e_ whan that / ye ete your mete small_e_ +With open mout[=h] / beware ye not ete +[Sidenote: Eat with your lips closed] +But loke your lippea / be closed as a wall_e_ 241 +Whan to and_e_ fro / ye trauerse your mete +Kepe you so cloos / that men haue no co_n_seite +To say of you / ony langage or vilonye +Bicause ye ete your mete / vnmanerly 245 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[36] + +Be ware, my child, of laughing ou_er_ mesure, + Ye shall not Also at the borde your_e_ naylis pare, +Ne pike not your_e_ teth wyth your_e_ knyff, I you ensure, + Ete at your_e_ messe, and odir folkes spare; 249 + A glottou_n_ can but make dissches bare, + And of Inough he taketh neu_er_ hede, + He fedith for lust more than[1] he doth for nede. +[Sidenote 1: MS. that.] + +[37] + +And whan the borde is then [as] of s_er_uice, 253 + Not replenyshide wyth gret diuercite, +Of mete and drincke good chere may than suffice, + Hit is A signe of gret humanite, 256 + Wyth gladsom chere than fulsom for to be; + The poet seyth howe that the poure borde + Men may encrese wyth cherefull wille and worde. + +[38] + +And o thing, my childe, I warne you vndirstonde, + Specially for your_e_ owne honeste, +In the water wasschith so clene your_e_ hande, 262 + That your_e_ towell neuer ensoyled be + So foule that hit be lothely vnto se; + Wasschith wyth watir_e_ till your_e_ handis be clene, + And in your_e_ clothe ther shall no spotte be sene. + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) Beware, my chyld, of laughynge ou_er_ mesure; + Ne at _th_e borde ye shall[e] no nayles pare, + Ne pyke yo_u_r teth w_i_t__h knyf, I you ensure. 248 + Ete at yo_u_r messe, & other_e_ folk_i_s spare; + A gloton ca_n_ but make _th_e bonys bare, + & of ynowgh he takyth never_e_ hede, + he ffedyth more for lust than for nede. 252 + +P) And wha_n_ _th_e borde ys thyn as of s_er_vyce, + Nowght replenysshed w_i_t_h_ gret dyversite + of mete & drynke, gud chere may tha_n_ suffice, + w_i_t_h_ honest talkyng; & also owght ye 256 + w_i_t_h_ gladsu_m_ chere the_n_ fulsome for to be: + The poete seyth how _tha_t 'a powre borde + Me_n_ may enryche w_i_t_h_ cherfull[e] will[e] & worde.' 259 + +P) And on thyng, my child, ye vnderstond, + In especyall[e] for yo_u_r own honeste: + In _th_e wat_er_ wasshe so clene yo_u_r hond + _tha_t yo_u_r towell[e] never ensoyled be + So fowle _tha_t yt be lothsome on to see; 264 + wasshe w_i_t_h_ wat_er_ yo_u_r hond_is_ so clene + _tha_t in _th_e towell[e] shall[e] no spote be sene. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[36] + +Beware my child_e_ / of laughyng ou_er_ mesure +Ne at the borde / ye shall no naylis pare +[Sidenote: Don't pare your nails at table,] +Ne pyke your teth / with knyf / I you ensure 248 +[Sidenote: or pick your teeth with a knife.] +Ete at your messe / and other folkes spare +A gloton can but make the bones bare +And_e_ of ynough / he taketh neuer hede +He fedith more for lust / than for nede 252 + +[37] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 7 a.] + +And whan [th]^e borde is thynne / as of seruyse +Nought replenesshed with, grete diuersite +[Sidenote: When there are not many dishes,] +Of mete & dri_n_ke good chere may the[=n] suffise 255 +With honest talkyng / and also ought ye +With gladsom chere / thenne fulsom for to be +[Sidenote: be satisfied with chatting cheerily.] +The poete saith / hou that a poure borde +Men may enriche / with cheerful wil & worde 259 + +[38] + +And one thyng my chylde / ye vnderstonde +In especyall_e_ / for your owne honeste +In the water / wasshe so clene your honde 262 +That your towel / neuer enfoyled be +[Sidenote: Wash your hands clean in the water, +so as to leave no dirt on your towel.] +So fowle / that it be lothsom on to see +Wasshe with water / your hondes so cleene +That in the towel shal no spotte be sene 266 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[39] + +Leue not your_e_ spone in your_e_ dissche standyng, + Ne vppon the brede hit shall not lie; +Lette your_e_ trenchoure be clene for eny thyng, 269 + Yif ye haue no chaunge, yit as honestly + As ye can, maketh avoydie, + So that no fragment from your_e_ trenchour_e_ falle; + Do this, my childe, in chambre and in halle. 273 + +[40] + +Whan Another speketh at the table, + Be ware ye interrupte[1] not is tale nor langage, +[Sidenote 1: MS. _corruptly has_ nattiripte.] +For that is a thing discommendable, 276 + And hit is no signe of folkes sage + To ben of wordis besy and outrage; + For the wyse man seyth pleinly in sentence, + 'He shall be wyse that yevith Audience.' 280 + +[41] + +Vndre-stondeth ther-for_e_ or than ye speke, + Printyng in your_e_ mynde clerely the sentence, +He that vseth A mannes tale to breke 283 + Lettyth vncurtesly the Audience, + And hurtyth hym-sylf for lacke of silence; + He may not yeue answere convenyent + That herith not fynally what is ment. 287 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) lete not yo_u_r spone in yo_u_r_e_ disshe stond, + Ne vpon _th_e table yt shuld not lye; 268 + lete yo_u_r trenchowre be clen_e_ for any thyng, + & yf ye haue, change yet as honestly + As ye ca_n_; make avoyde manerly + So _th_at no fragme_n_t fro yo_u_r tre_n_cher_e_ fall[e]: 272 + Do thus, my child, i_n_ chamber_e_ & i_n_ hall[e]. + +P) And wha_n_ a-nother ma_n_ spekyth at _th_e table, + be ware ye int_er_rupte not his langage, + for _tha_t ys a thyng on-comendable, 276 + & yt ys not no signe of folk_is_ sage + To be of langage besy & owtrage; + ffor the wyse sayd in his sentence + 'he shuld be bold [& be wyse][1] _tha_t gevyth audyence.' 280 +[Sidenote 1: In a later hand, above the line.] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiij.] + +P) Vnd_er_stond _ther_for or than ye speke; + prynt i_n_ yo_u_r mynde clerly _th_e sentence; + who _tha_t vsyth a ma_n_ys tale to breke, + lettyth vncurteysly all[e] the audyence 284 + And hurteth hy_m_ self for lake of scyence; + he maye not geve answere co_n_venyente + _tha_t heryt[=h] not fynally what ys mente. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[39] + +Lete not your spone / in your disshe sto_n_ding +[Sidenote: Don't leave your spoon in your dish or on the table.] +Ne vpon the table / it shold not lye +Lete your trenchour / be clene for ony thing 269 +[Sidenote: Keep your trencher clean.] +And yf ye haue cha[=n]ge / yet as honestly +As ye can / make a voyde manerly +So that no fragme_n_t / fro your tre_n_cher falle +Do thus my childe / in chambre & in halle 273 + +[40] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 7 b.] + +And whan another man / spekith atte table +Beware ye enterrupte not / his langage +[Sidenote: Don't interrupt man in his talk] +For that is a thinge discomendable 276 +And_e_ it is no signe of folkes sage +To be of langage / besy and_e_ outrage +For the wyse man said_e_ / in his sentence +He shold_e_ be wyse / that gyueth audience 280 + +[41] + +Vnderstonde therfore or than ye speke +Prynte in your mynde / clerly the sentence +[Sidenote: Before you speak, settle in your mind what you have to say.] +Who that vsith / a mannes tale to breke 283 +Letteth vncurteysly / alle the audyence +And_e_ hurteth hym self / for lack of science +He may not gyue answers conuenyente +That herith not fynally / what is mente 287 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[42] + +Be ware Also, my childe, of rehersaille + Of materis whiche ben at the table mevide; +Hit grevith ofte and dothe men disavaylle, 290 + Full many a man that vice hath mysschevide, + Of evill thyng saide is wors often contrivide; + Suche reportis alway loke ye esschewe, + As may of olde frendis make enemyes newe. 294 + +[43] + +Avise you well whan ye take your_e_ disporte, + Honest games that ye haunte and vse, +And suche as ben of violente reporte, 297 + I counsell you, my childe, that ye refuse; + For trustith well ye shall nout you excuse + From berchely fest, yef I may you aspie + Playng at[1] eny game of rebaudie. 301 +[Sidenote 1: MS. or.] + +[44] + +Itt is to A goodly childe well syttyng, + To vse disportis of myrth and plesaunce, +To harpe and lute, or lustely to syng, 304 + And in the pres ryght manerly to daunce; + When men se A childe of suche gouernaunce, + They seyn, 'gladde may this [childes] frendis be + To haue a sone soo manerly as he.' 308 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) But beware, my child, also of rehersayle + Off maters whiche be at _th_e table meved: 289 + It grewet[=h][1] ofte, & dot[=h] me_n_ dysavayle; +[Sidenote 1: The line is over the _th_.] + ffull[e] many a ma_n_ _th_at vyce hathe myscheved; + Off evyll[e] thynke sayd, ys worse co_n_tryved; 292 + Suche reportes alwaye, my child, eschewe, + As may of olde frend_is_ make enmyes newe. + +P) Avyse you well[e] wha_n_ ye take yo_u_r dysporte, + honeste games _th_at ye hawnt & vse; 296 + & suche as bene of vyleyns report, + I cownsell[e] you, my child, _tha_t ye refuse; + ffor truste ye well[e] ye shall[e] you not excuse + ffro_m_ brecheles feste, & I may you espye 300 + Playenge at any game of rebawdrye. + +P) Ytt ys to a goodly child well[e] syttyng + To vse dysportes of myrth & plesavnce, + to harpe, to lute, or lustyly to synge, 304 + Or i_n_ the prees right manerly to davnce. + wha_n_ me_n_ se a child of suche governavnce, + _the_i saye, 'glade may _th_is child_is_ frendys be + To haue a child so manerly as ys he.' 308 + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[42] + +But beware my child_e_ / also of rehersayll_e_ +[Sidenote: Don't repeat what you hear at table.] +Of maters / whiche ben atte table meuid_e_ +It greuith ofte / and_e_ doth men disauayle 290 +Ful many a man / [th]^t vice hath myscheuid_e_ +Of euyl thing_e_ said_e_ / is werse contryuid_e_ +Suche reportis / alway my child_e_ eschewe +As may of olde fre_n_dis / make enemyes newe 294 + +[43] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 8 a.] + +Aduise you wel whan ye take your disporte +Honest games / that ye haunte and_e_ vse +[Sidenote: Play only at proper games.] +And suche as ben of vylayns reporte 297 +I counceyl you my chyld / that ye refuse +For truste ye wel / ye shal you not excuse +From brecheles feste / and I may you espye +Playng_e_ at ony game of Rybawdrye 301 + +[44] + +It is to a godly chyld wel syttyng_e_ +To vse disportes of myrthe & plesa[=n]ce +To harpe or lute / or lustely to synge 304 +[Sidenote: You should harp, lute, sing or dance.] +Or in the prees right manerly to daunce +Whan men se a chyld of suche gouernance +They saye / glad may this chyldis fre_n_dis be +To haue a chylde / so manerly as is he 308 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[45] + +Exersice your_e_-selfe also in redyng + Of bokys enournede wyth eloquence; +Ther shall ye fynde both pleasaunce and lernyng, 311 + And so ye may in eu_er_y good presence + Some [what] fynde and see as in sentence, + That shall accorde the tyme to ocupie, + That ye not nede to stondyn idelie. 315 + +[46] + +Itt[1] is fare to be cominycatyfe +[Sidenote 1: MS. Iit.] + In matires vnto purpoos according, +So that a wight sume not excessyfe, 318 + For trusteth well, hit is tedious thyng + For to here a childe multiplie talkyng, + Yif hit be not to the purpose applied, + And also wyth goodly termys aleyde. 322 + +[47] + +Redith Gower in his writyng moralle, + That au[=n]cient faders memorie, +Redith his bokis clepide 'confessionalle,' 325 + Wyth many anodir vertuous tretie, + Full of sentence sette so frutuously, + That them to rede shall yeue you corage, + So is he fulle of sentence and langage. 329 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) Excersyse also yo_u_r selfe in redyng + Off bokes enorned wit[=h] eloquence, + _ther_ shall[e] ye fynde bot[=h] plesyre & lernynge, + so _th_at ye may in eu_er_y good presence 312 + Some-what fynde as in sentence + _th_at shall[e] accorde the tyme to occupye, + That ye not nede to stonde ydellye. + +P) It ys fayer to be comynycatyfe + In maters vnto purpose accordyng, 317 + So _th_at a wyghte seme exersyfe; + ffor trustyth well[e] yt ys a tedyovs thy_n_g + ffor to here a child multyply talkyng 320 + yf yt be not to _th_e purpose applyed, + & also w_i_t_h_ goodly termes alyed. + +P) Redyt[=h] gover i_n_ his wrytyng morall[e], + That Auncyente ffader of memorye, 324 + Redyt[=h] his bookes called co_n_fessyonall[e], + w_i_t_h_ many a-nother_e_ vertuvs tretye + ffull[e] of sentence sett full[e] fructvously, + That hy_m_ to rede shall[e] geve you covrage, 328 + he ys so full[e] of frute, se_n_tence, & langage. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[45] + +Excersise your self also in redyng_e_ +Of bookes enorned_e_ with eloquence +[Sidenote: Practice reading of eloquent books.] +Ther shal ye fynde / bothe plesir & lernyng_e_ 311 +So that ye may / in euery good presence +Somwhat fynde / as in sentence +That shal acorde / the tyme to ocupy +That ye not nede / to stonden ydelly 315 + +[46] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 8 b.] + +It is fayr / for to be comynycatyf +In maters vnto purpose acordyng_e_ +[Sidenote: It is right to talk pertinently,] +So that a wyght seme excersyf 318 +For trusteth wel / it is a tedyous thyng_e_ +For to here a chylde / multeplye talkyng +Yf it be not to the purpose applyed_e_ +[Sidenote: but a bore if the talk is irrelevant.] +And_e_ also with / goodly termys alyed_e_ 322 + +[47] + +Redeth gower in his wrytyng_e_ morall_e_ +[Sidenote: Read Gower's] +That auncyent[1] fader of memorye +[Sidenote 1: Orig. anucyent.] +Redeth his bookes / called_e_ confessionall_e_ 325 +[Sidenote: _Confessio Amentis_.] +With many another vertuous trayttye +Ful of sentence / set ful fructuosly +That hym to rede / shal gyue you corage +He is so ful of fruyt, sente_n_ce and langage 329 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[48] + +O Fader and Founder of eternate eloquence, + That eluminede all this oure britaigne; +To sone we lost his lauriate presence, 332 + O lusty licoure of that fulsom_e_ fountaigne; + Cursed deth, why hast thou this poete slayne, + I mene Fadir chaucers, mastir Galfride? + Allas! the while, that eu_e_r he from vs diede. 336 + +[49] + +Redith his bokys fulle of all plesaunce, + Clere in sentence, in longage excellent, +Brefly to wryte suche was his suffesaunce, 339 + What-euer to sey he toke in his entent, + His longage was so feyre and p_er_tinent, + That semed vnto mennys heryng, + Not[1] only the worde, but verrely the thing. 343 +[Sidenote 1: MS. But.] + +[50] + +Redith, my child, redith his warkys all, + Refuseth non, they ben expedient; +Sentence or langage, or both, fynde ye shall 346 + Full delectable, for that fader ment + Of all his purpos and his hole entent + Howe to plese in euery audience, + And in our_e_ tou_n_g was well of eloquence. 350 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Sidenote: ff C lxiij back.] + +P) O fader & fownder of ornate eloquence + _tha_t Illumyned hast all[e] owre bretayne! + To sone we loste thy lavreat science, 332 + O lusty lyqvovre of _tha_t fulsu_m_ fontayn_e_! + O cursed det[=h]! why hast _tho_u _tha_t poete slayn_e_, + I mene fader chavucer, mayst_er_ galfryde? + Alas _th_e while _tha_t ever he from vs dyed! 336 + +P) Redyt[=h] his werkes full[e] of plesavnce, + Clere in sentence, I_n_ langage excellente: + Bryefly to wryte, such was his suffysavnce, + What-ever_e_ to say he toke i_n_ his entente, 340 + his langage was so fayer_e_ & p_er_tynente, + yt semet[=h] vnto manys heryng + Not only the worde, but veryly _th_e thyng. 343 + +P) Redyth, my child, redyth his bookes all[e], + Refusith Non, they ben expedyente; + sentence or langage, bot[=h] fynd ye shall[e]; + ffull[e] delectable that good fader mente, + for all[e] his purpose & his hole entente 348 + [was] how to please in eu_er_y audyence, + & In owr_e_ tonge was well[e] of Eloquence. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[48] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 163, back.] + +O fader and founder of ornate eloquence +[Sidenote: and the Father and Founder of Eloquence,] +That enlumened hast alle our bretayne +To soone we loste / thy laureate scyence 332 +O lusty lyquour / of that fulsom fontayne +O cursid deth / why hast thou [th]^t poete slayne +I mene fader chaucer / maister galfryde +[Sidenote: mayster Galfryde Chawcer,] +Alas the whyle / that euer he from vs dyde 336 + +[49] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 9 a.] + +Redith his werkis / ful of plesaunce +[Sidenote: whose works are full of pleasaunce,] +Clere in sentence / in langage excellent +Briefly to wryte / suche was his suffysa[=n]ce 339 +What euer to saye / he toke in his entente +His langage was so fayr and pertynente +It semeth vnto mannys heeryng_e_ +Not only the worde / but verely the thynge 343 +[Sidenote: whose language seems not only words, but truly things.] + +[50] + +Redeth my chylde / redeth his bookes alle +Refuseth none / they ben expedyente +[Sidenote: Read _all_ his books; refuse none:] +Sentence or langage / or bothe fynde ye shall_e_ 346 +Ful delectable / for that good fader mente +[Sidenote: he is delightful.] +Of al his purpose / and his hole entente +How to plese in euery audyence +And in our tunge / was welle of eloquence 350 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[51] + +Beholde Oclyff in his translac_i_on, + In goodly langage and sentence passing wyse, +Yevyng the prince suche exortac_i_on 353 + As to his highnesse he coude best devyse. + Of trouth, peace, of mercy, and of Iustice, + And odir vertuys, sparing for no slouthe + To don his devere, and quiten hym, as trouth 357 + +[52] + +Required hym, anenste his souereyne, + Most dradde and louyd, whos excellent highnesse +He aduertysede by his writing playne, 360 + To vertue p_er_teynyng to the nobles + Of a prince, and berith wyttenesse + His trety entitlede 'of regyment,' + Compyled of most entier true entent. 364 + +[53] + +Loketh Also vppon dan Iohn lidgate, + My mastir_e_, whilome clepid monke of bury, +Worthy to be renownede laureate, 367 + I pray to god_e_, in blis his soule be mery, + Synging 'Rex Splendens,' the heuenly 'kery,' + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all. 371 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) Behold Ocklyf in his transslacion,[1] +[Sidenote 1: transflacion] + In goodly langage & se_n_tence passyng wyse 352 + howe he gewyth his p_ri_nce such exortac_i_on + As to the hyeste he covld best devyse + Off trowt[=h] / pees / m_er_cy / & Iustyse, + & vertu, lettyng for no slowth 356 + To do his devoyre & qvyte hy_m_ his trowth. + +P) Requyre hy_m_ As Agaynst his soverayn_e_, + moste Drade & loved, whose excellent hyenes + he advertysed by his wrytyng playn_e_ 360 + To vertu ap_er_teynyng to nobles + Off a p_ri_nce, as beryt[=h] god wytnes, + hys treatye entytled of regemente, + Compyled of entyer trewe entente. 364 + +P) Loke also than vpon Ioh_a_n lydgate, + My mayrster, whylom monke of bury, + worthy to be renomed As poete lavreate; + I p_ra_y to god in blysse his sowle be mery, 368 + Syngyng / Rex splendens / _tha_t hevenly Kyrye, + Amonge _th_e mvses nyne celestyall[e] + be-fore _th_e hyghest Iubyter of all[e], + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[51] + +Beholde Ocklyf in his translac_i_on +[Sidenote: Read Occleve too,] +In goodly langage / & sente_n_ce passyng wyse +How he gyueth his prynce / suche exortac_i_on 353 +[Sidenote: who gave his Prince such wise advice] +As to the hyest / he coude best deuyse +Of trouthe. pees. mercy. and Iustise +And vertues / leetyng for no slouthe +To do his deuoir & quite him of his trouthe 357 + +[52] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 9 b.] + +Required_e_ hym / as ayenst his souerayne +Most drad_e_ & louyd_e_ / wos excellent hyeues +He aduertysed_e_ / by his wrytyng_e_ playne 360 +To vertu / apperteynyng to nobles +Of a prynce / as bereth good_e_ witnes +His traytye / entitled_e_ of regymente +[Sidenote: in his treatise _De Regimine Principum_.] +Compyled_e_ of entyer trewe entente 364 + +[53] + +Loke also / vpon dan Io[=h]n lydgate +My maister whylome / monke of berye +[Sidenote: John Lydgate, too, my master.] +Worthy to be renomed_e_ / as poete laureate 367 +I praye to god_e_ in blysse his soule be mercy +Syngyng_e_ Rex splendens that heuenly kyrye +[Sidenote: I pray God his soul is singing _Rex splendens_.] +Amonge the muses nyne celestyall_e_ +Byfore the hyest Iubyter of all_e_ 371 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[54] + +I not why deth my mastir_e_ dide envie, + But for he shuld_e_ chaunge his habite; +Pety hit is that suche a man shulde die! 374 + But nowe I trist he be a carmylite; + His amyse blacke is chaunged into white, + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Afore the hieghest Iubiter of all; 378 + +[55] + +Passing the muses all of elicon_e_, + Where is ynympariable of Armonye, +Thedir I trist my mastir-is soule is gon_e_, 381 + The sterrede palays aboue dapplede skye, + Ther to syng 'sanctus' incessantly + Among the muses ix celestiall, + Affore the highest Iubiter of all. 385 + +[56] + +Redith is volumes that ben so large and wyde, + Souereynly sitte in sadnesse of sentence, +Elumynede wyth colouris fresshe on eu_er_y syde, 388 + Hit passith my wytte, I haue no eloquence + To yeue hym lawde aftir his excellence, + For I dare say he lefte hym not on lyue, + That coude his cu_n_nyng suffisantly discreue. 392 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii] 372 + + + + 376 + + +P) Passyng the mvses nyne of elycon, + Wher ys no pareyll[e] of Armonye; 380 + Thyder I trust my Maysters sowle be gon, + The sterred paleys above _th_e dappled skye, + Ther to syng snactus insessavntly 384 + Emonge the mvses nyne celestyall[e], + Before _th_e hyeste Iubyter of all[e]. + +P) Redyth hys volumes _tha_t be large & wyde, + Severyly sette in sadnes of sentence, + Enlumined w_i_t_h_ colovres fresshe on eu_er_y side. 388 +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij.] + Me lakketh wytt, I haue non eloquence, + To geve hy_m_ lawde after his excellence, + ffor I dare saye he lefte hy_m_ not alyve + That covde his cu_n_yng ssufficiently discryve. 392 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[54] + +[Omitted. See Preface, p. ii.] + +374 + + + +378 + +[55] + +Passyng_e_ the muses nyne of Elyco[=n] +Where is non pareyl of armonye +Thider I truste my meistres soule begone 381 +The sterrid_e_ paleys / aboue the dapplyd skye +[Sidenote: in the starred palace above the dappled sky, before the] +There to synge sanctus incessantly +Amonge the muses ix celestyall_e_ +Byfore the hyest / Iubiter of all_e_ 385 +[Sidenote: highest Jupiter of all.] + +[56] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 10 a.] + +Redeth his volumes / that ben large & wyde +[Sidenote: Read his large volumes] +Seueryly set / in sadnes of sentence +Enlumyned with colours fressh on euery side 388 +[Sidenote: illuminated with fresh colours.] +Me lacketh witte / I haue none eloquence +To gyue hym lawde / after his excellence +For I dar saye / he lefte hym not a lyue +That coude his co_n_nyng / sufficiently discriue 392 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[57] + +But his werkys his laude moste nede conquere, + He may neuer oute of remembrance die, +His werkys shall his [name[1]] conuey and bere 395 +[Sidenote: MS. _here repeats_ werkys.] + Aboute the world all-most eternallie; + Lette his owne werkys prayse hym and magnifie; + I dare not preyse, for fere that I offende, + My lewde langage shuld rather appeyre than amend. + +[58] + +Lo, my childe, thes good faders Au[=n]cient + Repide the feldis fresshe of fulsumnesse, +The floures feyre they gadderid vp and hent, 402 + Of siluereus langage the tresoure and richesse; + Who wolle hit haue, my litle childe, doutelesse + Must of hem begge, ther is no more to say, + For of our_e_ toung they were bothe locke and key. + +[59] + +There can no man ther_e_ fames nowe disteyne, + Thanbawmede toung and aureate sentence, +Men gette hit nowe by cantelmele, and gleyne 409 + Here and there wyth besy diligence, + And fayne wolde riche the crafte of eloquence; + But be the glaynes is hit often sene, + In whois feldis they glayned haue and ben_e_. 413 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) But his werkes his lavde must nede co_n_quere; + _the_i may never owt of reme_m_bravnce dye; + hys werkes shall[e] his name co_n_veye & bere + Abowte _th_e world almoste eternelly. 396 + lete his own_e_ werk_is_ p_ra_yse hy_m_, & magnyfye; + I dare not p_ra_yse, leest for fere I offende; + My langage shuld rather_e_ apayer_e_ tha_n_ amend. + +P) Loo, my child, this faders avncyente + Repen _th_e fyldes ffresshe of fulsomnes; 401 + _th_e flowres fresshe thei gadered vp, & hente. + Off syluer langage _th_e greate ryches + who will[e] yt haue, my child, dowtles 404 + Muste of the_m_ bege: ther_e_ ys no more to saye, + ffor of owr_e_ tonge _the_i were both loke & keye; + +P) Ther ca_n_ no ma_n_ _ther_ werkes dysteyne: + The enbamed tonge & avreat sentence, 408 + Me_n_ gete yt now by ca_n_telmele, & glene + here & ther_e_ by besy delygence, + & fayne wold reche _ther_ crafte of eloqvence; + & by _the_ gleyne ytt ys full[e] ofte sene 412 + In whose fylde the gleners haue bene. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[57] + +But his werkis / his laude / must nede co_n_q_ue_re +[Sidenote: His works] +They may neuer / out of remembraunce dye +His werkis shal [=h]is name conueye & bere 395 +Aboute the world_e_ / almost eternely +[Sidenote: shall bear his name about the world almost eternally.] +Lete his owe_n_ werkis preyse hym & magnefie +I dar not preyse / for fere lest I offende +My la_n_gage / shold rather apeyre than amende 399 + +[58] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 10 b.] + +Loo my child_e_ / these faders auncyente +Repen the feldes fresshe of fulsomnes +[Sidenote: These fathers reaped the fields,] +The flours fresh they gadred vp & hente 402 +[Sidenote: and gathered the flowers.] +Of siluer langage / the grete riches +Who wil it haue my lityl childe doutles +Muste of hem begge / ther is no more to saye +[Sidenote: He who wants silver words must beg of them.] +For of our tunge / they were both lok & kaye 406 + +[59] + +Ther can noma[=n] now her werkis disteyne +The enbamed tunge / and aureate sentence +Men gete it now / by cantelmele & gleyne 409 +[Sidenote: Now we only glean,] +Here and there by besy diligence +And fayne wold reche / her craft of eloque_n_ce +And by the gleyne / it is ful oft sene +In whos felde / the gleyners haue bene 413 +[Sidenote: and by the gleaning one sees in whose fields the +gleaners have been.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[60] + +As vnto me Age hath bede good morowe, + I am not able clenly for to gleyne, +Nature is feyne of crafte here eien to borowe, 416 + Me fayleth clerenesse of myn eien tweyne; + Begge I may, I can no gleyn certeyn, + Ther-for that werke I wolle playnly remytte + To folke yong, more p_er_saunt clere of wytte. 420 + +[61] + +And syke also, and in case ye fynde + Suche gleynes fresch as hath some apparence +Of fayre langage, yet take them and vnbynde, 423 + And preueth what they beth in existence, + Coloured in langage, savory in sentence, + And dou[te]th not, my childe, wythoute drede, + Hit woll profite such thyng to se and rede. 427 + +[62] + +Yit eft-sonnys, my child_e_, let us resorte + To the intente of our_e_ fyrst matier_e_ +Digresside, somwhat fulle we wolld reporte, 430 + And reuyue the lawde of them that were + Founders of our_e_ langage, thilke fadyrs dere, + Who-is soulis god [aboue] in b[l]esse inhaunce + That lusten so our_e_ langage to Avaunce. 434 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) And unto my age bot good morowe + I am not able clerly for to gleyne, + Nature ys fayn_e_ of crafte her eyen to borow; 416 + Me lakketh clernes of myn_e_ eyen twayn_e_; + Begge I may / gleyn_e_ I may not c_er_teyn_e_; + _ther_fore _tha_t werke I will[e] playnly remytte + To folk_is_ yong, more passyng clere of wyte. 420 + +P) Seche ye _ther_fore, & in caas ye fynde + suche glenars fresshe as haue su_m_ apparens + Off fayer la_n_gage, yet take the_m_, & vnbynde, + & preve ye what _the_i be i_n_ existence 424 + Colovred i_n_ langage, saverly i_n_ sentence, + & dowte not, my child, w_i_t_h_-owt drede + yt will[e] p_ro_fet to se such thy_n_g_is_, & rede. 427 + +P) Ye, efte-soones, my child, let vs resorte + To _th_e yntent of yo_u_r fyrst matere + Degressed somwhat, for we wolde reporte + & revyue _th_e lawde of the_m_ _tha_t were + famovs i_n_ owr_e_ langage, thise faders dere 432 + who_s_[1] sowles i_n_ blis, god et_er_nall[e] avaunce, +[Sidenote 1: The _s_ is by a later hand.] + _th_at lysten sone owr_e_ langage to enhavnce! + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[60] + +And vnto me / age hath bode good morowe +I am not able clenly / for to gleyne +[Sidenote: I cannot glean,] +Nature is fay[=n] of craft / her eyen to borowe 416 +Me lacketh clerenes / of myn eyen tweyne +Begge I maye / gleyne I can not certeyne +[Sidenote: I can only beg:] +Therfore [th]^t werck / I wil playnly remytte +To folkis yong / more passyng clere of witte 420 +[Sidenote: gleaning I give up to younger folks.] + +[61] + +Seche ye therfore / and in caas ye fynde +[Sidenote: If you find such gleaners,] +Such gleynors fressh as haue so[=m] appare_n_ce +Of fayr langage / yet take hem & unbynde 423 +[Sidenote: unbind their sheaves:] +And preue ye / what they be in existence +Colourd in langage / sauerly in sentence +[Sidenote: their fair speech] +And doubte not my childe / withoute drede +It wil prouffite to see suche thingis & red[e][1] 427 +[Sidenote: will profit you.] + +[Footnote 1: A hole in the paper.] + +[62] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 11 a.] + +Yet eft sones my child_e_ / lete vs resorte +[Sidenote: But let us return to our first subject.] +To thentente of yur first matere +Degressed somwhat / for we wold reporte 430 +And reuiue the laude of hem that were +Famous in our langage / these faders dere +Whos sowles in blysse / god et_er_nel aua_u_nce +That lysten so our langage to enhaunce 434 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[63] + +Than, litle childe, I councelle you that ye + Take hede vnto the norture that men vse, +Newe founden or Auncient whet[h]er hit be, 437 + So shall no man your_e_ curteyse refuse; + The guise and custome shall you, my childe, excuse; + Mennys werkys haue often entirchaunge, + That nowe is norture, sumtyme had ben full straunge. + +[64] + +Thinges whilome vside ben layde aside, + And new fetis dayly ben contryvyde, +Men[nys actes] can in no plight abyde, 444 + They ben chaungeable and oft mevide, + Thing some-tyme alowide is nowe reprevide, + And aftir this shall thingis vppe aryse, + That men sette nowe but [at] litle a prise. 448 + +[65] + +Thus mene I, my childe, that ye shull vse and haunte + The guise of them that don most man_er_ly, +But be ware of vnthrefte ruskyn galaunte, 451 + Counterfetour_e_ vncunnyng of curtesie, + His tecches ben infecte wyth vilonye, + Vngerde, vnblesside, seruyng at the table, + Me semeth hym s_er_u_a_unt full pendable. 455 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text_.] + +[Sidenote: ffl C lxiiij back.] + +P) Then litill[e] Ioh[=n], I co_n_sayle you _tha_t ye + Take hede to _th_e nortvres _tha_t me_n_ vse, 436 + newe fownd or avncyent, whe_ther_ yt be; + So shall[e] no ma_n_ yo_u_r curtesye refuse; + _the_ gyse & custu_m_, my child, shall[e] you excuse. + Menys werkes haue oftyn enterchavnce; 440 + _tha_t now ys norture, so_m_tyme hath be stravnge; + +P) Thyng_is_ whylom vsed be now layd a-syde, + & newe fetes dayly be co_n_tryved: + Menys actes ca_n_ in no plyte abyde, 444 + They be chavngable & ofte meved; + thynges su_m_tym_e_ alowed be now rep_re_ved; + & after this shall thynges vp a-ryse + that me_n_ sett now but at lytill[e] pryse: 448 + +P) This mene I, my child, _tha_t ye shall[e] havnte + _th_e gyse of the_m_ _tha_t do most manerly; + but be ware of onthryft[1] ruskyn gallavnte, +[Sidenote 1: A later hand has added _y_.] + Co_n_terfetter[2] of vnco_n_nyng curtessy, 452 +[Sidenote 2: The _r_ is by a later hand.] + hys taches ben enfecte w_i_t_h_ vylonye; + Vngerte / vnblessed / s_er_vyng at table, + Me semeth hy_m_ a s_er_vavnte no thyng able; + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[63] + +Then_n_e lityl Io[=h]n / I counceyl you that ye +[Sidenote: Little Jack,] +Take hede to the norture / that men vse +[Sidenote: take heed to the manners of your time,] +Newe founde / or auncyent whether it be 437 +So shal no man / your curtoisye refuse +The guyse & custom / my child shal you excuse +Me_n_ys werkis / haue often entercha[=n]ge +[Sidenote: for customs change,] +That nowe is norture / so_m_tyme had be stra[=n]ge 441 + +[64] + +Thingis whilom vsed / ben now leyd a syde +And newe feetis / dayly ben contreuid_e_ +[Sidenote: new ways are invented every day,] +Mennys actes / can in no plyte abyde 444 +They be changeable and_e_ ofte meuid_e_ +Thingis somtyme alowed / is now repreuid +And after this / shal thinges vp aryse +[Sidenote: and will be hereafter.] +That men set now / but at lytyl pryse 448 + +[65] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 11 b.] + +This mene I my childe / [th]^t ye shal haunte +The guyse of them / that do most manerly +But beware of vnthryft Ruskyn gala[=n]te 451 +[Sidenote: Imitate the well-mannered, and beware of ruskyn gallants] +Counterfeter of vnconnyng curtoisye +His tacchis ben enfecte with vilonye +[Sidenote: of bad habits,] +Vngyrte. vnblyssed. seruyng atte table +[Sidenote: serving ungirt,] +Me semeth hym a serua[=n]t nothing able 455 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[66] + +Wynter ne somer to his souerayne + Chappron hardy no bonet lust avale, +For euery worde yeuyng his maister tweyne, 458 + Vaunparlere in euery mannes tale, + Absolon wyth the disculede heres smalle; + Lyke to A presener of seint Malouse, + A sonny bush myght cause hym to goo louse. 462 + +[67] + +O I passe norture! fy! fy! for schame! + I shuld haue seide he myght go hauke and hunt, +For that schuld be A gentilmannys game, 465 + To suche disportis thes gentis folkys be wounte; + I seide to ferre, my langage was to blounte, + But of this galaunte, loo! loke a while & fele, + He feccheth his compace whan he shall bowe or knele, + +[68] + +Braced so straytly th[at h]e[1] may not plie, +[Sidenote 1: MS. the.] + But gaderith hit in by man_er_ of wyndlese, +And 3*if he wrenche aside or lytil wrye, 472 + His gere stonte all in pertous[2] case, +[Sidenote 2: _Read_ perlous?] + The scho, the hose, the point, doublet, and lace; + And if ought breke, som_m_e thing_es_[3] that ben badde +[Sidenote 3: _Read_ toung_es_.] + Shall sey anon, 'a knaue hath broke a ladde.' 476 + + +[Sidenote: _ Hill's Text._] + +P) Wynter & somer to his soverayn_e_ + Capron hardy, no bonet lyst to avayle, 457 + For eu_er_y worde geveyng his mayst_er_ twayn_e_, + avavntp_ar_ler In eu_er_y manys tale, + Absolon w_i_t_h_ disheveld heres smale, 460 + lyke to a prysoner of saynt malowes, + A sonny busshe able to the galowes. + +P) O! I passe nortvre! fy, fy, for sham! + I myght haue said he shuld go havke & honte, 464 + ffor _tha_t shuld be a gentylman[i]s game, + To suche dysport_is_ gentill[e] folk_is_ be wonte; + I sayd to ferre, my langage was but blonte; + but yet, sir gallavnt, wha_n_ ye shall[e] bowe or knele 468 + he got[=h] by co_m_passe rovnd as doth a whele. + +P) Brased so streyte [th]at he may not plye, + but gaderyth yt by maner_e_ of a wyndlas; + & he awght wrench a-side, or a litill[e] wrye, 472 + hys gere stondyt[=h] the_m_ i_n_ full[e] p_ar_lovs caas, + hys sho / his hose / doblet, poynt & laas; + & yff owght breke, su_m_ tonges _tha_t be bade + will[e] moke & say, "A knave hath broke a lade." 476 + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[66] + +Wynter and somer to his souereyne +Capron hardy / no bonet lyste to auale +[Sidenote: not doffing his cap to his master,] +For euery word / gyui_n_g his maister tweyne 458 +Auauntparler / in euery mannys tale +[Sidenote: forward in speech,] +Absolon with disheueld heeris smale +[Sidenote: rough-haired,] +Lyke to a prysoner of seynt malowis +[Sidenote: and lousy-headed,] +A sonny busshe / able to go to the galowis 462 + +[67] + +O I passe norture fy fy for shame +[Sidenote: (though it's hardly good manners to say so.)] +I myght haue said he shold go hauke & honte +For that shold be a gentilmans game 465 +To such disportes / gentil folkes be wonte +I sayd to ferre / my langage was to blonte +But yet sir gala_n_te wha_n_ ye shal bowe or knele +[Sidenote: When he tries to kneel, he works round like a wheel,] +He goth by compace round as doth a whele 469 + +[68] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 12 a.] + +Braced so strayt / that he may not plye +[Sidenote: being braced so tight that he can't bend.] +But gaderith it / by maner of a wyndelas +And he ought wrenche a syde / or a litil wrie 472 +[Sidenote: If he twists, a lace is like to crack.] +His geer stondeth then_n_e / in ful parlo_us_ caas +His sho / his hose / doblet / point & laas +And yf ought breke / som_m_e tu_n_ges [th]^t be bad_e_ +Wil mocke & saie / a knaue hath broke a lad 476 + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[69] + +Lat galaunte go, I mene, recheles ruskyn; + Take hede, my childe, to suche as ben cu_n_nyng, +So shall ye wyrship best conquere and wynne, 479 + Enforsith you in all your_e_ demenyng + To sewe vertu, and[1] from foly declynyng; +[Sidenote 1: _Omit_ and] + And, my childe, that ye loue of honeste. + Which is accordyng wyth humanyte. 483 + +[70] + +That is, to you to vndirstond And knowe, + That your_e_ aray be manerly and resonable, +Not appeissh knawen[1] and to mowe, 486 +[Sidenote 1: _Sic._] + I[n] nyse aray that is not couenable, + Fetis founde be folkys vnp_ro_fitable, + That maketh this world_e_ so pleynly t_ra_nsformate, + That men semen almost effeminate. 490 + +[71] + +Pley not Iakke mAlaperte, that is to sey, + Be ware of p_re_sumpc_i_oun, be ware of pride, +Take not the fyrst place, my childe, be no way, 493 + Till odir be sette manerly abyde, + Presomcion is often sette asyde, + And Avalith f[r]om his highe[1] de-gre, +[Sidenote 1: MS. hight.] + And he sette vppe that hath humanite. 497 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) Lete gallant go! I mene, recheles ruskyn: + Take hede my child to suche as be co_n_nyng, + so shall[e] ye best worship co_n_qvere & wynne; + Enforce you i_n_ all[e] yo_u_r demenyng 480 + To folowe vertu, & fro foly declynnyng; + & weyte well[e] _tha_t ye love honeste + which ys accordyng vnto humanyte. + +[Sidenote: Ihu 1503 per Richard Hill: ffl C lxv] + +P) That ys for you to vnd_er_stond & knowe, + _th_at yo_u_r araye be manerly resonable, 485 + Not apysshe ynto moke ne to mowe; + To nyce araye _tha_t ys not co_m_mendable, + ffetys, newe fonden by foolis vnp_ro_fytable, 488 + _th_at make _th_e worlde so playnly transformate + _th_at me_n_ seme_n_ Almost enfemynate. + +P) Playe not Iacke maleperte, _tha_t ys to say, + be ware of presumpc_i_on, be ware of pryde; 492 + take not _th_e first place, my child, by _th_e waye; + till[e] oder be sette, ryght manerly a-byde, + presumtvous be ofte sette a-syde + & all[e] day avaled, as me_n_ may see, 496 + & he ys sette vp _th_at hat[=h] humylyte. + + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[69] + +Lete galante go / I mene recheles rusky[=n] +[Sidenote: Let Reckless Ruskyn go!] +Take hede my chyld to suche as be connyng +[Sidenote: You follow skilful men,] +So shal ye best worship conquere & wynne 479 +Enforce you in al your demenyng_e_ +To folowe vertu / & fro folye declynyng_e_ +[Sidenote: virtue and] +And waite wel that ye loue honeste +[Sidenote: honesty.] +Whiche is acordynge[1] vnto humanyte 483 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ accrdynge.] + +[70] + +[Sidenote: Leaf 12 b.] + +That is for you / to vnderstonde & knowe +That your araye / be manerly resonable +[Sidenote: Don't dress] +Not apysshe / on to mocken ne to mowe 486 +[Sidenote: apishly] +To nyce araye / that is not commendable +[Sidenote: or foppishly.] +Fetis newe founden[1] by foolis vnp_ro_uffitable +That make [th]^e world so plainly transformate +That men semen almoste enfemynate 490 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ fonuden.] + +[71] + +Playe not Iack malapert / that is to saye +[Sidenote: Don't play Jack Malapert, that is,] +Beware of presump_ci_on / beware of pryde[1] +[Sidenote: don't be presumptuous.] +Take not [th]^e first place my child by the waye 493 +Tyl other be sette / right manerly abyde +[Sidenote: Wait till others are seated.] +Presumptuo_us_ ben often set a syde. +And_e_ alleday aualyd_e_ / as men may see +And he is sette vp / that hath humylyte 497 + +[Footnote 1: _Orig._ pryte.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[72] + +To[1] cu_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take, +[Sidenote 1: MS. The.] + Where ye be sette in right atentif wyse, +Connyng folke cu_n_nyng folke shulde make, 500 + To theire goodnesse ye shalle make your_e_ su_m_mise, + And as thei do, ye mosten deuyse; + For this, my childe, is as the gospell treue, + Whoo wolle be cu_n_nyng muste the cu_n_nyng sewe. + +[73] + +And o thing I charge you speciall[ie], + To womanhode good kepe you take alway, +And them to serue loke that ye haue an eie, 507 + Ther comau_n_dementis, my child_e_, loke ye obey, + Plesaunt wordis to them I warne you saye, + And in all wyse do your_e_ dilligence, + To do them plesur_e_, honoure, and reuerence. 511 + +[74] + +As at this tyme this tretice shall suffice, + Disposeth you to kepe in your_e_ mynde +The doctrines whiche for you I deuyse, 514 + And douteth not, fulle welle ye shall hit fynde; + To youre honoure enrolle hit vp and bynde + Ryght in your_e_ brest, and in your_e_ ryper age + I shall wryten you here-of the surplusage. 518 + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) To co_n_nyng p_er_sones regarde ye take, + wher ye be sette, right i_n_ ententyf wyse; + Co_n_nyng folke co_n_nyng me_n_ shall[e] make; 500 + to _ther_ co_n_nyng ye shall[e] make yo_u_r surmyse, + & as _the_i do, ye must yo_u_r selfe devyse; + ffor this, my child, ys as _th_e gospell[e] trewe, + 'who will[e] be co_n_nyng, he must co_n_nyng sewe.' 504 + +P) And on thyng I warne you specyally: + to woma_n_hede take awe alway, + & the_m_ to s_er_ve loke ye haue an eye, + & _ther_ co_m_avndment_is_ _tha_t ye obeye; 508 + Plesaunt word_is_ I avyse you to the_m_ saye, + & in all[e] wyse do ye yo_u_r delygence + To do the_m_ plesyre and reverence. 511 + +P) And at this tyme _th_is treatise shall[e] suffice; + Do pose you to kepe it in yo_u_r mynde, + _th_e doctryne which for you I devyse; + & dowteth not, full[e] well[e] ye shall[e] yt fynde + To yo_u_r honowr_e_; enrolle yt vp & bynde 516 + Rig[=h]t i_n_ yo_u_r brest, & at yo_u_r ryper age + I shall[e] write you here-of the surplusage. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[72] + +To connynd_e_ perso[=n]s regarde ye take +[Sidenote: Watch knowing folk, and] +Where ye be sette / right in ententyf wyse +Connyng folk / connyng men shal make 500 +To their co_n_nyng ye shal make your surmise +[Sidenote: their skill.] +And as they do / ye muste your self deuyse +For this my child_e_ / is as the gospel trewe +Who wil be co_n_nyng / he must [th]^e co_n_nyng sewe 504 + +[73] + +And one thing / I warne you specyally +To womanhede / take awe alweye +[Sidenote: Specially attend to women, and] +And them to serue / loke ye haue an eye 507 +And theire com_m_andementis that ye obeye +Plesant wordes I auyse you to them seye +[Sidenote: speak pleasant words to them.] +And in alle wyse / do ye your diligence +To do them plesure / and reuerence 511 + +[74] + +And at this tyme this tretye shal suffise +[Sidenote: This is enough for the present.] +Dispose you / to kepe it in your mynde +[Sidenote: Mind you attend to it,] +The doctrine whiche for you I deuyse 514 +And doubteth not / ful wel ye shal it finde +To your honour / enrolle it vp and bynde +Right in your breste / and at your riper age +I shal wryte to you / herof the surplusage 518 +[Sidenote: and when you're older I'll write you the rest.] + + * * * * * + +THE ORIEL TEXT. + +[75] + +Goo, litle childe, and who doth you Appose, + Seying, your_e_ quaire kepeth non accordaunce, +Tell [hym], as yite neyther of ryme ne prose 521 + Ye be experte; pray hym of sufferaunce; + Childer must be of childly gouernaunce, + And they must also entredet[1] be +[Sidenote 1: _Read_ entreted] + Wyth esy thyng, [and not] of subtilte. 525 + +[76] + +Your_e_ lytil quaier su_m_mitteth euery where + To corecc_i_on and beneuolence, +But where enuie is, loke hit come not there, 528 + For eny thing kepith your_e_ trety thense; + Enuie is full of frowarde reprehense, + And howe to hurte liethe eu_er_e in awayte, + Kepeth your_e_ quaier_e_, that hit be not her baite. + +EXPLICIT. + +DOMINE, SALUU_M_ FAC REGEM. + + +[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._] + +P) Go, litill[e] Ioh[=n], & who doth you oppose, + sayenge yo_u_r quayre, kepeth no_n_ accordavnce; 520 + Tell[e] hy_m_ as 3*et neyther_e_ i_n_ ryme ne p_r_ose + ye ben exp_er_te; p_ra_y hy_m_ of suffraunce. + Chyldren[1] muste be of childy gou_er_navnce, +[Sidenote 1: MS. Clyldren.] + & also _the_i muste entreted be 524 + W_i_t_h_ easy thynge, & not w_i_t_h_ subtilte. + +P) Go, lytill[e] quayer, submyte you eu_er_y where + vnder correcc_i_on of benevolence; + & wher envy ys, loke you cu_m_ not ther_e_, 528 + ffor any thyng kepe yo_u_r treatye thens; + Envye ys full of froward reprehens, + & how to hurte lyeth ever i_n_ a-wayte; + kepe yo_u_r quayre _th_at yt be not ther bayte. 532 + + Here endyth A lytyll[e] treatyse + called _th_e boke of curtesy or litill[e] Ioh_a_n. + + +CAXTON'S TEXT. + +[75] + +Go lytyl Io[=h]n / and who doth you appose +[Sidenote: Whoever questions you,] +Sayng your quayer / kepe non accordance +Telle hym as yet / neyther in ryme ne prose 521 +Ye ben expert / praye hym of suffra[=n]ce +[Sidenote: say you are not yet up in rime or prose.] +Chyldren muste be / of chyldly gouerna[=n]ce +And also they muste entretyd_e_ be +With esy thing / and not with subtylte 525 + +[76] + +Go lytil quayer / submytte you euery where +Vnder correct_i_on of benyuolence +[Sidenote: Little book, I submit you to correction:] +And where enuye is / loke ye come not there 528 +[Sidenote: but go not where envy is.] +For ony thing_e_ / kepe your tretye thens +Enuye is ful of froward reprehens +And how to hurte / lyeth euer in a wayte +Kepe your quayer / that it be not ther bayte 532 + +Explicit the book of curtesye. + + + + +INDEX. + + +H. stands for Hill's MS. at the bottom of the pages, O. for the Oriel +MS. on the even pages. Cot. is for Cotgrave's Dictionary. + + +Absolom with dissheveled hair, l. 460. + +Amyse, l. 376, amice. Fr. _amict_, an Amict or Amice, part of a massing +priest's habit. Cot. From L. _amicire_, to throw round; _am_ and +_jacere_. Mahn. + +Annoy no man, l. 170. + +Apayer, l. 399 H., appeyre, O., worsen, impair. + +Apish, don't let your dress be, l. 486. + +Appose, l. 519, question. _See_ Oppose. + +Avale, l. 457, lower, take off. + +Ave Maria, say, l. 27, 77. + +Avoyde, l. 271, emptying. + +Austin, St, tells men how to behave at table, l. 158. + +Author is old, l. 414-18. + +Authors, the right ones to read, l. 323, 335, 351, 365, 393. + + +Bearing, men praised or blamed for their, l. 153. + +Belch not, l. 202. + +Beware of ruskyn, l. 451. + +Birds and beasts, don't throw stones at, l. 64. + +Blow not in your drink, l. 190. + +Brecheles, l. 300, without breeches, of flogging. + +Breth, l. 203, wind. + + +Capron, H., chappron, O., l. 457. O. Fr. _Chaperon_, "habillement de +tete." Roquefort. Provencal, _capayron,_ from Lat. _caput_. Skeat. +_Chaperon_ ... any hood, bonnet ... _Vn Chaperon fait a i'en veux_, A +notable whipster or twigger; a good one I warrant her. Cotgrave. 'Capron +hardy' must then be 'a bold or saucy young scamp.' + +Cantelmele, l. 409, piecemeal: _cantel_, a corner, bit. + +CHAUCER, read his works full of pleasance, l. 335-350. + +Chere, l. 131, face, expression on it. + +Childly, _adj._ l. 523, O., childy, H., fitted for children. + +Children are like wax, l. 6. + +Church, how to behave at, l. 71-98. + +Clappe, l. 80, noise. + +Claw not your visage, l. 194. + +Comb your head, l. 36. + +Communicative, be, l. 316. + +Compace, l. 469. Fr. _compas_, a compasse, a circle, a round. + +Constaunce, l. 102. Fr. _constance_, stabilitie, firmenesse. Cot. + +Couenable, l. 487. Fr. _convenable_, apt, fit, meet for, beseeming, +seemlie, &c. Cot. + +Crede, say it, l. 77. + +Cross yourself on rising, l. 25. + +Cumpenable, l. 151. Fr. _compagnable_, companable, friendlie, sociable. + +Cunning, (knowing) men, take heed to them, l. 478, l. 498-504. + +Cup, soil not yours, l. 186. + + +Dancing, right for a child, l. 305. + +Deprave, l. 157, backbite, run down. Fr. _despraver_, spoyle, marre, +make crooked, wrest, wry to bad purposes. Cot. + +Detraction, the vice of, l. 163. + +Disauayle, l. 290, harm, damage. + +Discreue, l. 392, describe. + +Disculede, l. 460, O., dissheveled. + +Disteyne, l. 407, stain, spot. + +Dogs, don't irritate them, l. 67. + +Dress, to be manerly, l. 47, 52; to be reasonable, l. 485. + + +Ears, clean yours, l. 37. + +Entredet, l. 524, O., entretyde, H., taught. + +Envy, keep clear of, l. 528. + +Estate, l. 122, lord noble. + +Exercyse, excersyf, l. 318, _?_ practised, able to handle a subject. Fr. +_exercer_, to handle, manage. Cot. + +Eye, cast not yours aside, l. 101. + + +Face, have no spots on it, l. 38. + +Farsyone, l. 186, H., stuffing: _farse_ (or _ferce_, 1. 191), to stuff; +_farsure_, stuffing. Cp. Chaucer's _ferthyng_, of the Prioress, _Prol. +Cant. T._, and the Oriel text. + +Fetis, l. 443, O., fashions. Fr. _faict_, feat, pranke, part. Cot. + +Fewe, l. 171, little, few words. + +First place, don't take it, l. 493. + +Follow virtue, l. 481. + +Founders of our language; revive their praise, l. 431. + +Fulsom, l. 257, _?_ full, satisfied; or helpful, A.S. _fylst_, help, +assistance. + +Fulsomnes, l. 401, fulness, plenty. 'Fulnesse or plente (fulsu_m_nesse, +K.H.P.) _Habundancia, copia_.' Promptorium. + + +Games, play only at proper ones, l. 296. + +Girdle, don't loose yours at table, l. 197. + +Glaynes, l. 412, O., gleynes, l. 422, O., gleanings. Fr. _glane_, a +gleaning; also the corne thats gleaned or left for the gleaner. Cot. + +Gluttonous, don't be, l. 180. + +Good cheer, make it serve for a scanty table, l. 253-5. + +GOWER'S moral writings, read them, l. 323; and his _Confessio Amantis_, +l. 325. + + +Halke, l. 124, generally means corner; A.S. _heal_, an angle, a corner; +but another _heal_ is a hall, place of entertainment, inn, which may be +the meaning here. + +Hands, wash yours, l. 43; wash 'em clean at table, l. 262-5. + +Hanging, the servant that deserves it, st. 65, O. + +Harping recommended, l. 304. + +Head, don't scratch it at table, l. 194. + +Holy water, l. 72. + +Humanite, l. 497, Fr. _humanite_, courtesie, ciuilitie, gentlenesse. +Cot. + + +Inhaunce, l. 433, put forward, up. Lat. _in antea_, Prov. _enansar_, to +advance, exalt. Wedgwood. + +Interrupt no man's talk, l. 275, 283. + +Is, l. 386, O., his. + +Iubiter, l. 371, 378, God. + + +Jangelynge, l. 80, chattering. + + +Kery, l. 369, [Greek: kyrie], Lord, [have mercy upon us!] + +Knife, don't put it near your face, l. 192. + + +Ladde, l. 476, O., lade, H., a thong of leather, a shoe-latchet. +Halliwell. + +Language, silver, is to be learnt only from our old poets, st. 58, l. +400-6. + +Lewed (ignorant), he must be who will not learn, l. 21. + +Lips, wipe yours before drinking, l. 186, 189. + +Look men, you speak to, in the face, l. 99. + +Louse, l. 462, catching lice. + +Luting recommended, l. 302. + +LYDGATE, Jo[=h]n, my master, l. 365; read his volumes large and wide, l. +379. + + +Malapert, Jack, don't play, l. 491. Fr. _Mueiere_, malapert, outrageous, +ever doing one mischiefe or other. _Marmiton_, a saucie, malapert, or +knauish fellow. Cot. + +Malouse, l. 461, Malo's. + +Manner & measure should guide you, l. 125. + +Manners make man, l. 238. + +Mass, help the priest at, l. 85. + +Matins, our Lady's, l. 32. + +Mouth, eat with it shut, l. 241. + +Multiply talking, don't, l. 320. + + +Nails, clean yours, l. 44; don't pare them at table, l. 247. + +Norture, l. 436, deportment, manners. + +Nose, clean it, l. 39; don't pick it, l. 41. + + +OCKLYF; read his translation of _De Regimine Principum_, l. 351-64. + +Oppose, l. 518, 'I oppose one, I make a tryall of his lernyng, or I laye +a thyng to his charge, _ie appose_.' Palsgrave. See Towneley Mysteries, +pp. 193-95. Way, in Promptorium. + + We may bi oure law examyne hym fyrst.... ... let me _oppose_ + hym ... + + _T. Myst_, p. 195. + +Outrage, l. 278, outrageous, beyond bounds, too talkative. _See_ +Malapert. + +Owers, l. 34, see _pryme_. + + +Pater noster, say yours, l. 26, 77. + +Pendable, l. 455, O., Fr. _pendable_, hangable, that deserves hanging, +thats fit to be hanged. Cot. + +Poor table, men to be cheerful at, l. 253. + +Presumption, beware of, l. 492. + +Pride, beware of, l. 492. + +Print your words in your mind before you speak them, l. 282. + +Pryme & owers, l. 34. 'The _prime_ and other _hours_ are the services +_Ad primam horam_, _Ad tertiam_, _Ad sextam_, and _Ad nonam_, found in +the Primer, or layman's prayer-book. They are sometimes called the +middle hours, as distinguished from Matins and Vespers.' H. Bradshaw. + + +Quaire, l. 520, 526, 532, quire, pamphlet, treatise. + + +Ravenous, don't be, l. 176. + +Read eloquent books, l. 310. + +Rehersaylle, l. 288, rehearsal, repetition. + +Repeat conversations, don't, l. 288. + +Report (tale-telling) is the chief nurse of mischief, l. 135. + +Reward, l. 127, look at, watch. + +Rising, what to do on, l. 23. + + +Secret, keep what you hear, l. 134. + +Sewe, l. 481, follow, pursue. + +Silence, keep, l. 140; in hall, l. 204. + +Siluerous, l. 403, O., silvern. + +Singing lustily is good for a child, l. 304. + +Speak fair to folks, l. 60. + +Speaking, the conditions to be observed in, l. 143. + +Spoon, don't put it in your dish or on the table, l. 267. + +Surplusage, l. 518, rest, remainder. + +Syttyng, l. 302, fit, suitable. 'Syttyng or convenyent--m. _asseant ... +aduenant_.' Palsgrave. + + +Table, how to wait at, l. 113. + +Tacches, l. 176, tache, l. 198; Fr. _tache_, a spot, staine, blemish. +Cot. + +Taches, H., teches, O., l. 453, manners. + +Teeth, don't pick 'em with your knife, l. 248. + +Terre, l. 67; _tar_, to set on, provoke; O. Fr. _atarier_. They have +_terrid_ thee to ire. Wiclif, Psalms. Sc. _tirr_, to snarl; quarrelsome, +crabbed. Wedgwood. + +Thewed, l. 20, mannered. + +Towel, don't soil it, l. 263, 266. + +Traverse, l. 242, change from side to side. + +Trencher; keep yours clean, l. 269. + +Trety, l. 529, treatise. + +True as the gospel, l. 503. + + +Weyne, l. 166, A.S. _wanian_, to diminish, take away. + +Wind, break not, up or down, l. 202. + +Wise man, the; his marks of a youth likely to be had, l. 104;--his +counsel as to speaking, l. 137, 147. + +Women, always take good heed to them, l. 506. + +Wyndlese, l. 471, windlass. + + +Yanglers, l. 207, chatterers. + +Ydellye, l. 315, idly. + +Ynympariable, l. 380, unequalled, L. _par_, Fr. _pareil_, equal, like. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CAXTON'S BOOK OF CURTESYE*** + + +******* This file should be named 14761.txt or 14761.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/4/7/6/14761 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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