Part 7

To carve for the ladies.

To give the guests prime cuts.

To make the guests thoroughly welcome, without oppressive urgencies.

To abstain at dinner from stroking cats and dogs.

Not to speak with one’s mouth full.

To abstain from imparting bad news at dinner.

To keep down any symptoms of pain or illness.

To avoid calling attention to anything disagreeable which may accidentally be in the dishes.

The attendants to hold the dishes by their rims.

Not to hand round the bowl by its upper edge.

Not to overload the dishes, goblets, &c.

Not to hurry through with one’s eating, so that others, who are left behind, would feel uncomfortable.

To wash hands and drink the best wine after dinner.

3. Rules equally true and primitive.

Not to tilt one’s legs on the table between-whiles.

To turn aside if one sneezes or coughs.

Not to set down before the guests utensils fresh from the kitchen.

The attendants to be clean—not to spit, &c.

To blow one’s nose on ‘foot-cloths,’ not through the fingers.

Not to scratch at one’s head or elsewhere.

Not to pick one’s teeth with the fingers.

Not to lick one’s fingers clean.

4. Rules which may be regarded as over-punctilious or obsolete.

Not to sit at table with one’s legs crossed.

To offer the cup to others only when they want it. (The rules as to drinking seem throughout to contemplate that two or more guests are using one cup or vessel.)

To use both hands in drinking.

Never to decline the cup when another offers it, but to drink no more than one wishes. (This rule still has its analogue at tables where the custom lingers of requesting ‘the pleasure of taking wine with’ some one else.)

Not to rummage about in the dish from which one is eating along with others.