Caxton's Book of Curtesye eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 77 pages of information about Caxton's Book of Curtesye.

Caxton's Book of Curtesye eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 77 pages of information about Caxton's Book of Curtesye.

Lose not your gyrdel / sittyng at your mete
[Sidenote:  Don’t undo your girdle at table;]
For that is a tacche / of vncurtesye
But yf ye seme / ye be embraced streite 199
[Sidenote:  if it’s tight, let it out before you sit down.]
Or then ye sytte / amende it secretly
So couertly that no wight you espye
Beware also / no bret[=h] fro you rebounde
[Sidenote:  Don’t break wind up or down.]
Vp ne dou[=n] / leste ye were shameful founde 203

* * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT.

[30]

Beth huste in chambre, cilent in the halle,
  Herkenyth well, yeueth good audience;
Yef vsher or marchall for eny romour calle, 206
  Putting Ianglers to rebuke and cilence,
  Beth mylde of langage, demure of eloquence;
    Enforcith you to them confourmyde be,
    That can most good and haue humanyte. 210

[31]

Touche not wyth mete salt in the saler,
  Lest folke Appoynt you of vncunnyngnesse,
Dresse hit apparte vppon a clene tranchere; 213
  Force not your_e_ mouth to fulle for wantannesse,
  Lene not vppon the table, that is but rudesse,
    And yf I shall to you so playnly say,
    Ouer the table ye shull not spette convey 217

[32]

Yif ye be seruid wyth metis delicate,
  Departith wyth your_e_ fellowys in gentyl wyse,
The clarke seith, ’nature is content and saciate 220
  Wyth meane diete, and lytill shall suffice.’ 
  Departyth therfor_e_, as I to you devise;
    Engrosith not vnto your_e_ silven all,
    For gentilnesse will ay be lyberall. 224

[Sidenote:  Hill’s Text.]

P) Be ye husht i_n_ chambre, scylente i_n_ hall[e];
    herkyn well[e], & geve good audyence 205
  yff vsshar or marchall[e] for any rvmowr_e_ call[e];
    putt ye yanglers to rebuke for scilence. 
    Be ye myld of la_n_gage, demvre of eloquence; 208
      Enforce you vnto hy_m_ co_n_formed to be
      that ca_n_ most good, & hathe humanyte.

P) Towch not w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r mete salte i_n_ the saler,
    leest folke apoynte you of vnco_n_nyngnesse; 212
  Dresse yt aparte vpon a clene trensher_e_.
    ffarste not yo_u_r movth to full[e] for wantonesse;
    lene not on the table, for that rvde ys;
      & yff I shall[e] to you playnly saye, 216
      over the table ye shall[e] not spetell[e] co_n_veye.

P) Yff ye be s_er_vede w_i_t_h_ met_is_ delycate,
    Departe w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r felawe i_n_ gentill[e] wyse;
  the clerke seyth, ’nature ys co_n_tent & sacyate 220
    w_i_t_h_ mene dyete, & lytill[e] shall[e] suffyce;’
    Departe therfor, as I you devyce,
      Engrose not vnto yowr_e_ selfe all[e],
      ffor gentylnesse will[e] ay be lyberall[e]. 224

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
Caxton's Book of Curtesye from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.