[18]
A[s] ye be comaundyd, so ye do algate,
Beth not wyth-oute cause from the tabul absent;
Hit is plesaunce vnto the gret astate 122
To se theyr_e_ saruaunt about them p_re_sent;
Haunteth no halkes, for then ye woll be schent.
Lette maner and Mesure be your_e_ guydes twey,
So shall ye best please, I dare well sey. 126
[19]
Rewarde all-way the loke and countenaunce
Of your_e_ master, or of your_e_ souereine,
Ther shall ye best preue what is plesaunce, 129
And what displesaunce; this is the soth serteyne,
The chere discureth often tyme both twayne,
And eke the chere may some tyme you addresse
In thyng that langage may not þan expresse. 133
[20]
And what ye here there, loke ye kepe hit secre,
Besy report of mystrust is cheff norice;
Mekell langage may not all fautles be; 136
Than doth, my childe, as teicheth you the wyse,
Whiche vnto you this wysdome dothe devise,
'Here and see, be still in euery prees,[1]
[Sidenote 1: MS. 'in euery place and in prees.' _Place_ was to have
been the last word; _and in prees_ was carelessly _added_, instead of
striking out _place_.--Sk.]
Passe forth your_e_ way in silence and in pees.'
[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._]
¶ As ye be co_m_avnded, so do ye algate; 120
be not cavseles fro _th_e table absente;
yt ys a grete pleasure to _th_e high estate[1]
[Sidenote 1: noble, lord.]
To se his s_er_vaunttes abowte hy_m_ presente.
havnte no halke, for the_n_ ye will[e] be shente; 124
lette maner_e_ & mesure be yo_u_r gydes twayne;
so shall[e] ye best please, I dare savely sayne.
¶ Reward also thy loke & contenavnce,
Off yo_u_r master or of yo_u_r soverayne, 128
so shall[e] ye best p_re_ve what ys his plesavnce
or ell_is_ his dysplesavnce: this ys s_er_tayne,
The chere discovereth oftyn both[e] twayn,
& eke the chere su_m_tyme may yow addresse 132
In thyn_gis_ the langage may not the_n_ expresse.
[Sidenote: ffl C lxj, back.]
¶ And _tha_t ye here, loke ye kepe always secre;
besy reporte, of myschefe ys chese noryse;
Mykyll[e] langage may not all[e] fawtles be; 136
The_n_ do, my chyld, as techeth you _th_e wyse
whiche vnto you _th_is lessu_n_ doth devyce:
here & see, & be styll[e] in eu_er_y prees,
passe forthe yo_u_r way i_n_ scilence & i_n_ pees. 140