Early English Meals and Manners Part 87

[Sidenote: [Fol. 86b.]]

Heete to the Fyre that kan nat but hoote be?

It nedys nouht{e}: therfore, O Babees yynge, My Book only is made for youre lernynge. 28

[Sidenote: and not on aged men expert therein. Why add pain to h.e.l.l, water to the sea, or heat to fire? Babies, my book is for you only,]

-- Therfore I pray that no man Reprehende This lytyl Book, the which{e} for yow I make; But where defaute ys, latte ylke man amende, And nouht{e} deme yt; [I] pray thaym for youre sake. 32 For other mede ywys I kepe noon{e} take But that G.o.d wolde this Book myht{e} yche man plese, And in lernynge vnto yow do{n}ne so{m}me ese.

[Sidenote: and so I hope no one will find fault with it, but only amend it. The only reward I seek is that my book may please all and improve you.]

-- Eke, swete children, yf ther{e} be eny worde 36 That yee ke{n}ne nouht{e}, spyrre whils yee yt ken; Wha{n}ne yee yt knowe, yee mowe holde yt in horde, Thus thurh{e} spyrryng yee mowe lerne at wyse men.

Also thenke nouht{e} to st{ra}ungely at my penne, 40 In this metre for yow lyste to procede, Men vsen yt; therfore on hit take hede.

[Sidenote: If you don't know any word in it, ask till you do, and then keep hold of it. And do not wonder at this being in metre.]

-- But amonge alle that I thenke of to telle, My purpos ys first only forto trete 44 How yee Babees in housholde that done duelle Shulde haue your{e} sylf whe{n}ne yee be sette at mete, And how yee shulde, whe{n}ne men lyste yow Rehete, Haue wordes lovly, swete, bleste, and benyngne. 48 In this helpe me O Marie, Modir dyngne!

[Sidenote: I must first describe how you Babies who dwell in households should behave at meals, and be ready with lovely and benign words when you are spoken to.]

-- And eke, O lady myn, Facecia!

My pe{n}ne thow guyde, and helpe vnto me shewe;

[Sidenote: [Fol. 87.]]

For as the firste off alle lettres ys the A, 52 So Artow firste Modir of alle vertue.

Off myn vnku{n}nynge, swete lady, now Rewe; And thouh{e} vntauht{e} I speke of governau{n}ce, With{e} thy swete helpe supporte myn ygnorau{n}ce. 56

[Sidenote: Lady Facetia, help me! Thou art the Mother of all Virtue. Help the ignorance of me untaught!]

++A, Bele Babees, herkne now to my lore!

Whe{n}ne yee entre into yo{ur} lordis place, Say first, "G.o.d spede;" And alle that ben byfore Yow in this stede, salue with{e} humble Face; 60 Stert nat Rudely; ko{m}me Inne an esy pace; Holde vp youre heede, and knele but on oone kne To youre sovereyne or lorde, whedir he be.

[Sidenote: Fair Babies, when you enter your lord's place, say "G.o.d speed," and salute all there. Kneel on one knee to your lord.]

-- And yf they speke with{e} yow at youre komynge, 64 With{e} stable Eye loke vpon{e} theym Riht{e}, To theyre tales and yeve yee goode herynge Whils they haue seyde; loke eke with{e} alle yo{ur} myht{e} Yee Iangle nouht{e}, also caste nouht{e} yo{ur} syht{e} 68 Aboute the hovs, but take to theym entent With{e} blyth{e} vysage, and spiryt diligent.

[Sidenote: If any speak to you, look straight at them, and listen well till they have finished; do not chatter or let your eyes wander about the house.]

-- Whe{n}ne yee Answere or speke, yee shull{e} be purveyde What yee shall{e} say / speke eke thing fructuous; 72 On esy wyse latte thy Reson{e} be sayde

[Sidenote: [Fol. 87b.]]

In wordes gentyll{e} and also compendious, For many wordes ben riht{e} Tedious To ylke wyseman that shall{e} yeve audience; 76 Thaym to eschewe therfore doo diligence.

[Sidenote: Answer sensibly, shortly, and easily. Many words are a bore to a wise man.]

-- Take eke noo seete, but to stonde be yee preste; Whils forto sytte ye haue in komau{n}dement, Youre heede, youre hande, yo{ur} feet, holde yee in reste; 80 Nor thurh{e} clowyng, yo{ur} flesshe loke yee nat Rent; Lene to no poste whils that ye stande present Byfore yo{ur} lorde, nor handyll{e} ye no thyng Als for that tyme vnto the hovs touching. 84

[Sidenote: Stand till you are told to sit: keep your head, hands, and feet quiet: don't scratch yourself, or lean against a post, or handle anything near.]

-- At eu{er}y tyme obeye vnto youre lorde Whe{n}ne yee answere, ellis stonde yee styl as stone But yf he speke; loke with{e} oon accorde That yf yee se ko{m}me Inne eny p{er}sone 88 Better tha{n}ne yee, that yee goo bak anoone And gyff him place; your{e} bak eke in no way Turne on no wiht{e}, as ferforth{e} as ye may.

[Sidenote: Bow to your lord when you answer. If any one better than yourself comes in, retire and give place to him. Turn your back on no man.]

-- Yiff that youre lorde also yee se drynkynge, 92 Looke that ye be in riht{e} stable sylence With{e}-oute lowde lauht{e}re or Iangelynge, Rovnynge, Iapynge, or other Insolence.

Yiff he komau{n}de also in his presence 96 Yow forto sytte, fulfill{e} his wylle belyve, And for youre seete, looke nat with{e} other stryve,

[Sidenote: Be silent while your lord drinks, not laughing, whispering, or joking. If he tells you to sit down, do so at once.]

-- Whe{n}ne yee er sette, take noon{e} vnhoneste tale;

[Sidenote: [Fol. 88.]]

Eke forto skorne eschewe with{e} alle yo{ur} myht{e}; 100 Latte ay youre chere be lowly, blyth{e}, and hale, With{e}-oute chidynge as that yee wolde fyht{e}.

Yiff yee p{er}ceyve also that eny wiht{e} Lyst yow ko{m}mende that better be tha{n}ne yee, 104 Ryse vp anoon{e}, and thanke him with{e} herte free.

[Sidenote: Then don't talk dirt, or scorn any one, but be meek and cheerful. If your better praises you, rise up and thank him heartily.]

-- Yif that yee se youre lorde or y{o}ure lady Touching the housholde speke of eny thinge, Latt theym alloone, for that is curtesy, 108 And entremete yow nouht{e} of theyre doynge, But be Ay Redy with{e}-oute feynynge At hable tyme to done yo{ur} lorde service, So shall{e} yee gete anoon{e} a name of price. 112

[Sidenote: When your lord or lady is speaking about the household, don't you interfere, but be always ready to serve at the proper time,]

-- Also to brynge drynke, holde liht{e} wha{n}ne tyme ys, Or to doo that which{e} ouht{e} forto be done, Looke yee be preste, for so yee shall{e} ywys In nurture gete a gentyl name ful sone; 116 And yif ye shulde at G.o.d aske yow a bone Als to the worlde, better in noo degre Miht{e} yee desire tha{n}ne nurtred forto be.

[Sidenote: to bring drink, hold lights, or anything else, and so get a good name. The best prayer you can make to G.o.d is to be well mannered.]

-- Yif that youre lorde his owne coppe lyste co{m}mende 120 To yow to drynke, ryse vp wha{n}ne yee it take, And resseyve it goodly with{e} booth{e} youre hende; Of yt also to nne other profre ye make, But vnto him that brouht{e} yt yee hit take 124

[Sidenote: [Fol. 88b.]]

Whe{n}ne yee haue done, for yt in no kyn wyse Auht{e} comvne be, as techis vs the wyse.

[Sidenote: If your lord offers you his cup, rise up, take it with both hands, offer it to no one else, but give it back to him that brought it.]