Yf he speke fyrst opon the pore, Syn God has left the tonge to speke; Speke never unhonestly of woman kynde, Also a wyfe be falle of ry3t, To worschyp hyr husbonde bothe day and ny3t, To his byddyng be obediente, 255 260 265 And hym to serve withouten offence. Yf two brether be at debate, 270 Loke nother thou forther in hor hate, But helpe to staunche hom of malice, Be curtasye and let hym have the way, 275 280 Nother in fylde, wode, nother launde, Be not the thryd felaw for wele ne wo; Thre oxen in plowgh may never wel drawe, zif thou be profert to drynk of cup, In what part of the bedde he wylle lye; Als on nyzt thou take thy rest, And byde the day as tru mannes gest. ffor those be folke that ar to drede. Yf any thurgh sturnes the oppose, 285 290 295 300 305 310 Onswere hym mekely and make hym glose, But glosand wordys that falsed is, fforsake and alle that is omys. Also yf thou have a lorde, And stondes byfore hym at the borde, While that thou speke kepe well thy honde, His curtasé nede he most breke, Stirraunt fyngurs too when he shall speke. ffyr ne negh, logh ne hegh; Let not the post becum thy staf, Ne delf thou never nose thyrle With thombe ne fyngur, as 3ong gyrle; 315 320 325 Rob not thy arme ne nozt hit claw, Ne bogh not done thy hede to law; 330 Whil any man spekes with grete besenes, By strete or way yf thou shalle go, ffro thes two thynges thou kepe the fro,— Nother to harme chylde ne best, 335 With castyng, turnyng west ne est ; Ne chaunge thou not in face coloure, 340 With hondes unwasshen take never thy mete, Where tho est commaundys or ellis tho wyf. But thou be beden to sitt therin. 345 350 THE THIRD BOKE. DE OFFICIARIIS IN CURIIS DOMORUM. Now speke we wylle of officiers Of court, and als of her mestiers. ffoure men ther be that zerdis schall bere, Porter, marshalle, stuarde, usshere; The porter schalle have the lengest wande, The marshalle a shorter schalle have in hande; A fyngur gret, two wharters long, To reule the menne of court ymong. 355 360 DE JANITORE. THE porter falle to kepe tho zate, 365 |