Part 6

Look you be true in word and deed, the better shall you prosper; for truth never works a man shame, but rather keeps him out of sin. The ways to Heaven are twain, mercy and truth, say clerks; and he who will come to the life of bliss, must not fail to walk therein.

Make no promise save it be good, and then keep it with all your might, for every promise is a debt that must not be remitted through falsehood.

Love God and your neighbour, and thus may ye say without fear or dread that you keep all the law.

Uncalled go to no council, scorn not the poor, nor hurt any man, learn of him that can teach you, be no flatterer or scoffer, oppress not your servants, be not proud, but meek and gentle, and always walk behind your betters.

When your better shows his will, be silent; and in speaking to any man keep your hands and feet quiet, and look up into his face, and be always courteous.

Point not with your finger at anything, nor be lief to tell tidings. If any man speak well of you or of your friends, he must be thanked. Have few words and wisely placed, for so may you win a good name.

Use no swearing or falsehood in buying or selling, else shall you be shamed at the last. Get your money honestly, and keep out of debt and sin. Be eager to please, and so live in peace and quiet.

Advise you well of whom you speak, and when and where and to whom.

Whenever you come unto a door, say, “God be here,” ere you go further, and speak courteously, wherever you are, to sire or dame or their household.

Stand, and sit not down to meat until you are told by him that rules the hall; and do not change your seat, but sit upright and mannerly where he bids, and eat and drink and be fellowly, and share with him that sits by you—thus teaches Dame Courtesy.

Take your salt with a clean knife.

Be cool of speech and quarrel not, nor backbite a man who is away, but be glad to speak well of all. Hear and see and say nothing, then shall ye not be put to proof.

Hold you pleased with the meat and drink set before you, nor ask for better. Wipe your mouth before you drink lest it foul the edge of the cup; and keep your fingers, your lips and your chin clean, if you would win a good name. When your meat is in your mouth, do not drink or speak or laugh—Dame Courtesy forbids. Praise your fare, wheresoever you be, for whether it be good or bad it must be taken in good part.

Whether you spit near or far, hold your hand before your mouth to hide it.

Keep your knife clean and sharp, and cleanse it on some cut bread, not on the cloth, I bid you; a courteous man is careful of the cloth. Do not put your spoon in the dish or on the edge of it, as the untaught do, or make a noise when you sup as do boys. Do not put the meat off your trencher into the dish, but get a voider and empty it into that.

When your better hands you a cup, take it with both hands lest it fall, and drink yourself and set it by; and if he speaks to you, doff your cap and bow your knee.

Do not scratch yourself at the table so that men call you a daw, nor wipe your nose or nostrils, else men will say you are come of churls. Make neither the cat nor the dog your fellow at the table. And do not play with the spoon, or your trencher, or your knife; but lead your life in cleanliness and honest manners.

This book is made for young children that bide not long at the school. It may soon be conned and learned, and will make them good if they be bad. God give them grace to be virtuous, for so may they thrive.

Amen! quoth Kate.

STANS PUER AD MENSAM

MY dear son, first thyself enable With all thine heart to virtuous discipline; Afore thy sovereign, standing at the table, Dispose thou thyself, after my doctrine, To all nurture thy courage to incline. First, let all recklessness in speaking cease, And keep both hands and fingers still at peace.

Be simple of cheer, cast not thy look aside, Gaze not about, nor turn thy sight over all; Against the post let not thy back abide, Neither make thy mirror of the wall. Pick not thy nose, and most in speciál, Be well aware and set hereon thy thought: Before thy sovereign nor scratch nor pick thee nought.

Whoso speak to thee in any manner place, Lumpishly cast not thy head adown, But with sober cheer look in his face; Demurely walk through streets while in the town. And take good heed of wisdom and renown, That by no wanton laughing thou do no offence, Before thy sovereign, while he is in presence.

Pare clean thy nails, and wash thy hands also, Before thy meat and when thou dost arise; Sit in that place thou art assignéd to, Press not too high in any manner wise. And when thy dinner served before thee lies, Be not too hasty upon thy bread to bite, Lest men of greediness should thee indict.

Grinning and mowing at the table eschew; Cry not too loud; honestly keep silence. To stuff thy jaws with bread it is not due, With full mouth speak not, lest thou do offence. Drink not with bridle for haste or negligence Keep clean thy lips from fat of flesh or fish; Wipe fair thy spoon, nor leave it in thy dish.

Of bitten bread with thy teeth no sops think thou to make; Loud for to sup gainsays all gentleness. With mouth imbrued thy cup thou must not take, In ale, in wine, with hand leave no fatnéss; Nor foul the napery through recklessness. Beware that at the meat thou begin no strife. Thy teeth at table pick not with no knife.

Of honest mirth let be thy dalliance, Swear no oaths and speak no ribaldry; The best morsels—have this in remembrance— Wholly thyself to take do not apply. Part with thy fellows, for that is courtesy. Heap not thy trencher high with many morséls, And from blackness alway keep thy nails.

Of courtesy it is against the law With rudeness, son, to make cause of offence; Of old forfeits upbraid not thy fellow; Toward thy sovereign do reverence. Play with no knife—take heed to my sentence. At meat and at supper keep thee still and soft; Eke to and fro move not thy feet too oft.