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._]

¶ 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

_tha_t ca_n_ most good, & hathe humanyte.

¶ Towch not w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r mete salte i_n_ _th_e 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 _th_e table, for _tha_t rvde ys;

& yff I shall[e] to you playnly saye, 216

over _th_e table ye shall[e] not spetell[e] co_n_veye.

¶ 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;

_th_e 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

Caxton's Book of Curtesye · 第 23 / 58 题