Leaves not at home his sword and his shield;
No more should a scholar forget then truly
What he at school should need to occupy.
These things thus had, take straight thy way,
Unto the school without any stay.
HOW TO BEHAVE THYSELF IN GOING BY THE STREET AND IN THE SCHOOL
In going by the way, and passing the street,
Thy cap put off, salute those ye meet;
In giving the way to such as pass by,
It is a point of civility.
And thy way fortune so for to fall,
Let it not grieve thee thy fellows to call.
When to the school thou shalt resort,
This rule note well, I do thee exhort:
Thy master there being, salute with all reverénce,
Declaring thereby thy duty and obediénce;
Thy fellows salute in token of love,
Lest of inhumanity they shall thee reprove.
Unto thy place appointed for to sit,
Straight go thou to, and thy satchell unknit,
Thy bokes take out, thy lesson then learn,
Humbly thyself behave and govérn.
Therein taking pain, with all thine industry,
Learning to get, thy book well apply.
All things seem hard when we do begin,
But labour and diligence yet both them win;
We ought not to reckon and count the thing hard,
That bringeth joy and pleasure afterward;
The Babees' Book: Medieval Manners for the Young: Done Into Modern English · The Wunder Library — complete classics, free to read, with narration.