Chapter iii. 10.  Mais entre les egaux, il est bien a propos en receuant quelqu’vn dans sa maison, de luy donner la place la plus honnorable.  Et celuy a qui l’on fait un si bon accueil, en doit faire quelque refus d’abord, mais a la seconde instance de son amy, il luy doit obeyr.

[Sidenote:  Maxim iii. 8, which says that acceptance of a first place should be accompanied by an acknowledgement of unworthiness, is represented in the last words of Rule 32.]

But amongst equals, it is quite right, in receiving any one into one’s house, to give him the most honourable place; and the person to whom one accords such a good reception ought at first rather to refuse it, but, when his friend insists a second time, he ought to obey him.

33d.  They that are in Dignity or in office have in all places Preceedency but whilst they are Young they ought to respect those that are their equals in Birth or other Qualitys, though they have no Publick charge.

Chapter iii. 12.  A ceux qui out le comandement, & qui sont dans le pouuoir, ou qui exercent les Charges de Judicature, l’on donne tousiours les premieres places en toute sorte de compagnie.  Mais qu’ils scachent eux-mesmes que s’ils sont jeunes, ils sont obligez de respecter ceux qui sont d’aussi noble maison qu’eux, on qui les deuancent de beaucoup en age, & sont honorez du degre de Doctorat; quoy qu’ils n’exercent aucune charge publique; Et bien plus, ils leur doiuent d’abord remettre la premiere place qu’il leur auoient defere, & en suitte auec modestie, receuoir cest honneur comme une grace.

[Sidenote:  The second clause is not in the French Maxims.]

In every company the first place is always given to those in command, or in power, or who exercise judicial charges.  But these, if young, should realise that they ought to respect those who belong to houses as noble as their own, or who are much older, and those honoured with the degree of Doctor, though not exercising any public function; and moreover they ought, at first, to return an offer of the highest place, and afterwards receive that honour modestly, as a favour.

34th.  It is good Manners to prefer them to whom we speak before ourselves especially if they be above us with whom in no Sort we ought to begin.

Chapter iii. 13.  Il est de la derniere ciuilite de parler tousiours mieux de ceux auec qui nous avons a conuerser, que de vous mesmes:  Et particulieremet quad ce sont des personnes eleuees audessus de nous, auec qui il ne faut iamais contester en aucune maniere.

[Sidenote:  Compare the last clause of this Maxim with Rule 40.]

It is the height of politeness always to speak better of those with whom we have to converse than of ourselves.  And particularly when they are persons of a superior rank to ourselves, with whom we ought never to dispute in any fashion.

35th.  Let your Discourse with Men of Business be Short and Comprehensive.