Part 5

The seventeenth afterwards is this: When thou dost sneeze, Or if a cough seizes thee, mind thy lips: Turn aside, and reflect that that is courtesy, So that no saliva may get on the table. 72

The eighteenth is this: When a man feels himself quite comfortable, Let him not leave bread over after the victuals. He who has a taste for meat, or for eggs, or for cheese, Even though he should have a residue, he should not on that account waste it. 76

The nineteenth is this: Blame not the dishes When thou art at entertainments, but say that they are all good. I have detected many men erewhile in this vile habit, Saying ‘This is ill cooked,’ or ‘this is ill salted.’ 80

And the twentieth is this: Attend to thine own sops; Peer not into those of others, unless perchance to apprize The attendant if anything is wanting. He must look well all round: Things would go much amiss if he were not to attend. 84

The twenty-first is this: Do not poke about everywhere, When thou hast meat, or eggs, or some such dish. He who turns and pokes about on the platter, searching, Is unpleasant, and annoys his companion at dinner. 88

The twenty-second is this: Do not behave rudely. If thou art eating from one loaf in common with any one, Cut the loaf as it comes, do not go cutting all about; Do not go cutting one part and then another, if thou wouldst not be uncouth. 92

The twenty-third. Thou must not dip bread into wine If Fra Bonvesino has to drink out of the same bowl with thee. He who will fish in the wine, drinking in one bowl with me, I for my own liking, if so I could, would not drink with him. 96

The twenty-fourth is—Set not down right before thy companion Either pan or pot, unless there be great reason therefor. If thou wantest to introduce either pan or pot, Thou must set it down at thine own side, before thyself. 100

The twenty-fifth is—One who may be eating from a platter with women, The meat has to be carved for himself and for them. The man must be more attentive, more prompt in honouring, Than the woman, in reason, has to reciprocate. 104

The twenty-sixth is this: Count it as a great kindness When thy good friend eats at thy table. If thou carvest meat, or fish, or other good viands, Thou must choose of the best part for him. 108

The twenty-seventh is this: Thou must not overmuch press Thy friend in thy house to drink or to eat. Thou must receive thy friend well, and make him welcome, And heartily give him plenty to eat and enjoy himself with. 112

The twenty-eighth is this: Dining with a great man, Abstain from eating so long as he is drinking. Dining with a Bishop, so long as he is drinking from the cup, Right usage requires thou shouldst not be chewing with the mouth. 116

The twenty-ninth is this: If a great man is beside thee, Thou must not drink at the same time with him, but give him precedence. Who may be beside a Bishop, so long as he is drinking Or pouring out, must not raise his bowl. 120

And the thirtieth is this: He who serves, let him be cleanly. Let him not make in presence [of the guests] any spitting or nastiness: To a man as long as he is eating, this is all the more offensive. He who serves at an entertainment cannot be too nice. 124

Next after the thirtieth is this: Every courteous donzel Who wants to wipe his nose, let him embellish himself with a cloth. He who eats, or who is serving, must not blow through the fingers. Be so obliging as to clean yourselves with the foot-cloths. 128

The next that comes is this: Let thy hands be clean. Thou must not put either thy fingers into thine ears, or thy hands on thy head. The man who is eating must not be cleaning By scraping with his fingers at any foul part. 132

The third after the thirtieth. Stroke not with hands, As long as thou eatest at the board, cat or dog. A courteous man is not warranted in stroking brutes With the hands with which he touches the dishes. 136

The next is—As long as thou art eating with men of breeding, Put not thy fingers into thy mouth to pick thy teeth. He who sticks his fingers in his mouth, before he has done eating, Eats not, with my good-will, on the platter with me. 140

The fifth after the thirtieth. Thou must not lick thy fingers. He who thrusts his fingers into his mouth cleans them nastily. That man who thrusts into his mouth his besmeared fingers, His fingers are none the cleaner, but rather the nastier. 144

The sixth Courtesy after the thirtieth. If thou hast occasion to speak, speak not with thy mouth full. He who speaks, and he who answers, if he has his mouth full, Scarcely can he chop out a word. 148

After this comes this other: As long as thy companion Has the bowl to his mouth, ask him no questions If thou wouldst address him: of this I give thee notice. Disturb him not: pause until he has drunk. 152

The thirty-eighth is this: Tell no bad news, In order that those who are with thee may not eat out of spirits. As long as the others are eating, give no painful news; But keep silence, or else speak in cheerful terms. 156

The next that follows is this: If thou art eating with others, Make no uproar or disturbance, even though thou shouldst have reason therefor. If any of thy companions should transgress, pass it by till the time comes, So that those who are with thee may not be put out. 160

The next is—If the pain of any ill-health seizes thee, Keep down thy distress as much as thou canst. If thou feelest ill at the board, show not the pain, That thou mayst not cause discomfort to those who are eating along with thee. 164

After that comes this other: Shouldst thou see in the viands Any disagreeable thing, tell it not to the others. Seeing in the viands either a fly or any uncleanliness, Keep silence, that they may not feel disgust, eating at the board. 168

The next is—If thou bringest dishes to the board in serving, Thou must keep thy thumbs on the rim of the dish. If thou takest hold with the thumb on the rim of the dishes, Thou canst set them down in their place without any one else to help thee. 172

The third after the fortieth is—If thou offerest the cup, Never touch with the thumb the upper edge of the bowl. Hold the bowl at the under end, and present it with one hand: He who holds it otherwise may be called boorish. 176

The fourth after the fortieth is—hear who will— Neither frying-pan nor dishes nor bowl should be overfilled. Measure and moderation should be in all things that are: He who should transcend this will not have done courtesy. 180