Part 30

LAYING THE CLOTH, AND MAKING READY THE TABLE

Be sure to be ready the board to prepare At times as accustomed; with diligent care, The table-cloth first see fairly be spread, Fair trenchers, clean napkins, the salt and the bread. Let glasses be scoured in country guise With salt and fair water, and ever devise The place most convenient where they may stand, The safest from breaking, and nearest at hand.

DEMEANOUR IN SERVING AT THE TABLE

Stand straight upright, and both thy feet together closely standing; Be sure on’t, ever let thine eye be still at thy commanding.

Observe that nothing wanting be which should be on the board. Unless a question movéd be, be careful—not a word.

If thou do fill or give the drink, with duty set it down; And take it back with manlike cheer, not like a rustic clown.

If on an errand thou be sent, make haste and do not stay; When all have done, observe the time, serve God and take away.

When thou hast done and dinéd well, remember thou repair To school again with carefulness; be that thy chiefest care.

And mark what shall be read to thee, or given thee to learn; That apprehend as near as may be; wisdom so doth warn.

With steadfast eye and careful ear, remember every word Thy schoolmaster shall speak to thee, as memory shall afford.

Let not thy brows be backward drawn, it is a sign of pride. Exalt them not, it shows a heart most arrogant, beside.

Nor let thine eyes be glumly down cast, with a hanging look, For that to dreamers doth belong, that goodness cannot brook.

Let forehead joyful be and full, it shows a merry part, And cheerfulness in countenance, and pleasantness of heart.

Nor wrinkled let thy countenance be, still going to and fro, For that belongs to hedgehogs right; they wallow even so.

Nor imitate with Socrates to wipe thy snivelled nose Upon thy cap, as he would do, nor yet upon thy clothes.

But keep it clean with handkerchief provided for the same, Not with thy fingers or thy sleeve; therein thou art to blame.

Blow not aloud as thou shalt stand, for that is most absurd, Just like a broken-winded horse; it is to be abhorred.

Nor practice snufflingly to speak, for that doth imitate The brutish stork and elephant, yea, and the wauling cat.

If thou perforce do chance to sneeze, then backwards turn away From presence of the company wherein thou art to stay.

Thy cheeks with shamefaced modesty dipped in Dame Nature’s dye, Not counterfeit nor pufféd out—observe it carefully.

Keep close thy mouth, for why? Thy breath may hap to give offence, And other worse may be repaid for further recompense.

Nor put thy lips out like a fool, as thou would’st kiss a horse, When thou before thy betters art, and what is ten times worse,

To gape in such unseemly sort, with ugly, gaping mouth, Is like an image picturéd a-blowing from the south.

Which to avoid, then turn about, and with a napkin hide That gaping, foul deformity, when thou art so aside.

To laugh at all things thou shalt hear is neither good nor fit; It shows the property and form of one with little wit.

To bite the lip, it seemeth base, for why? To lay it open, Most base, dissembling doggedness, most sure, it doth betoken.

And so to bite the upper lip doth most uncomely show; The lips set close (as like to kiss), in manner seem not so.

To put the tongue out wantonly and draw it in again, Betokens mocking of thyself, in all the eyes of men.