[37]

[Sidenote:  Leaf 7 a.]

And whan [th]^e borde is thynne / as of seruyse
Nought replenesshed with, grete diuersite
[Sidenote:  When there are not many dishes,]
Of mete & dri_n_ke good chere may the[=n] suffise 255
With honest talkyng / and also ought ye
With gladsom chere / thenne fulsom for to be
[Sidenote:  be satisfied with chatting cheerily.]
The poete saith / hou that a poure borde
Men may enriche / with cheerful wil & worde 259

[38]

And one thyng my chylde / ye vnderstonde
In especyall_e_ / for your owne honeste
In the water / wasshe so clene your honde 262
That your towel / neuer enfoyled be
[Sidenote:  Wash your hands clean in the water,
so as to leave no dirt on your towel.]
So fowle / that it be lothsom on to see
Wasshe with water / your hondes so cleene
That in the towel shal no spotte be sene 266

* * * * *

THE ORIEL TEXT.

[39]

Leue not your_e_ spone in your_e_ dissche standyng,
  Ne vppon the brede hit shall not lie;
Lette your_e_ trenchoure be clene for eny thyng, 269
  Yif ye haue no chaunge, yit as honestly
  As ye can, maketh avoydie,
    So that no fragment from your_e_ trenchour_e_ falle;
    Do this, my childe, in chambre and in halle. 273

[40]

Whan Another speketh at the table,
  Be ware ye interrupte[1] not is tale nor langage,
[Sidenote 1:  MS. corruptly has nattiripte.]
For that is a thing discommendable, 276
  And hit is no signe of folkes sage
  To ben of wordis besy and outrage;
    For the wyse man seyth pleinly in sentence,
    ‘He shall be wyse that yevith Audience.’ 280

[41]

Vndre-stondeth ther-for_e_ or than ye speke,
  Printyng in your_e_ mynde clerely the sentence,
He that vseth A mannes tale to breke 283
  Lettyth vncurtesly the Audience,
  And hurtyth hym-sylf for lacke of silence;
    He may not yeue answere convenyent
    That herith not fynally what is ment. 287

[Sidenote:  Hill’s Text.]

P) lete not yo_u_r spone in yo_u_r_e_ disshe stond,
    Ne vpon the table yt shuld not lye; 268
  lete yo_u_r trenchowre be clen_e_ for any thyng,
    & yf ye haue, change yet as honestly
    As ye ca_n_; make avoyde manerly
      So that no fragme_n_t fro yo_u_r tre_n_cher_e_ fall[e]:  272
      Do thus, my child, i_n_ chamber_e_ & i_n_ hall[e].