Early English Meals and Manners Part 81

[Sidenote: Then bow to him, look him in the face, and answer sensibly, not staring about or laughing, but audibly and distinctly, your words in due order, or you'll straggle off, or stutter, or stammer, which is a foul crime.]

[Sidenote: [sign. C. ii.]]

Low obeisaunce makyng, lokinge him in the face, 672 Tretably speaking, thy wordes see thou place.

with countinaunce sober thy bodie vprighte 676 Thy fete iuste to-gether, thy handes in lyke plight; Caste not thyne eies on neither syde. 680 when thou arte praised, therin take no pryde.

In tellynge thy tale, neither laugh nor smyle, 684 Such folly forsake thou, banish and exyle; In audible voice thy wordes do thou vtter, 688 Not hie nor lowe, but vsynge a measure.

Thy wordes se that thou p.r.o.nounce plaine, 692

[Headnote: HOW TO CARRY A MESSAGE.]

[Text note: [C _orig._ thai]]

[Sidenote: [sign. C. ii.b.]]

And that [C] they spoken Be not in vayne; In vttryng wherof Kepe thou an order, 696 Thy matter therby thou shalte much forder; whiche order yf thou Do not obserue, 700 From the purpose nedes must thou swarue.

And hastines of speche wyll cause thee to erre, 704 Or wyll thee teache to stut or stammer.

To stut or stammer is a foule crime, 708 Learne then to leaue it, take warnyng in tyme; How euyll a chylde it doth become, 712 Thy selfe beynge iudge, hauinge wisedome;

[Sidenote: [sign. C. iii.]]

And sure it is taken by custome and vre, 716 whyle yonge you be there is helpe and cure.

This generall rule yet take with the, 720

[Sidenote: Always keep your head uncovered.]

In speakynge to any man Thy head vn-couered be.

The common prouerbe remember ye oughte, 724

[Sidenote: Better unfed than untaught.]

"Better vnfedde then vn-taughte."

[Sidenote: _How to take a Message._]

-- How to order thy selfe being sente of message.

Cap. viii.

++If of message forthe thou be sente, 728

[Sidenote: Listen to it well; don't go away not knowing it.]

Take hede to the same, Geue eare diligente; Depart not awaye and beyng in doute, 732

[Sidenote: [sign. C. iii.b.]]

Know wel thy message before thou pa.s.se out;

[Sidenote: Then hurry away, give the message; get the answer, return home, and tell it to your master exactly as it was told to you.]

with possible spede then hast thee right sone; 736 If nede shall requirr it so to be done.

After humble obeisaunce, the message forth shewe 740 Thy wordes well placinge in vttringe but fewe As shall thy matter serue to declare. 744 Thine answere made, then home againe repare, And to thy master therof make relacion 748 As then the answere shall geue thee occasion.

[Sidenote: Socra.]

Neither adde nor deminish any thynge to the same, 752 Lest after it proue to thy rebuke and shame,

[Sidenote: [sign. C. iiii.]]

But the same vtter so nere as thou can; 756 No faulte they shall fynde to charge thee with than, In most humble wyse loke done that it be, 760 As shall become beste a seruantes degre.

[Sidenote: _Against Anger, &c._]

-- A-gainste Anger, Enuie, and malice.

Cap. ix.

[Sidenote: The slave of Anger must fall.]

++If thou be subiecte and to anger thrall, 764 And reason thee rule not, nedes must thou fall.

[Sidenote: Pericles.]

Conquer thy wyll and subdue thy l.u.s.te, 768 Thy fansy not folowing, thy cause though be iuste;

[Sidenote: Anger's deeds are strange to wise men.]

For anger and furie wyll thee so chaunge 772

[Sidenote: [sign. C. iiii.b.]]

That thy doynges to wise men wyll appear straunge.

Thine anger and wrath seke then to appeace, 776

[Sidenote: Plato.]

For wrath, saith Plato, Leades shame in a leace.

[Sidenote: Isocra.]

The hastie man wantes neuer trouble, 780

[Sidenote: A hasty man is always in trouble.]

His mad moody mynde his care doth double.