bien au cotraire si tels discours se trouuent entamez par quelqu’autre, faites vostre possible pour en detourner adroictement la suitte. ne contez iamais vos songes qu’a de vos confidents, & encore que ce soit pour profiter de leur interpretation; vous gardant bien d’y donner aucune croyance.

[Sidenote:  Walker says—­’nor tell your dreams when perhaps your best waking actions are not worth the reciting.’]

When talking with learned and clever men, do not introduce trifles, and do not bring forward too advanced conversation before ignorant people which they cannot understand nor easily believe.  Do not always begin with proverbs, especially among your equals, and still less with your superiors.  Do not speak of things out of place, or of such as may shock your hearers.  At banquets and on days of rejoicing do not bring up sorrowful news or accounts of sad calamities, no filth, nothing improper, nothing afflicting.  On the contrary, if such conversation is begun by any one else, do your best adroitly to turn the subject.  Never relate your dreams except to your confidants, and then only to profit by their interpretation, taking care not to put the least belief in it.

62d.  Speak not of doleful Things in a Time of Mirth or at the Table; Speak not of Melancholy Things as Death and Wounds, and if others Mention them Change if you can the Discourse tell not your Dreams, but to your intimate Friend

(The substance of Rule 62 is in the French Maxim quoted under the previous Rule (61), beginning with the third sentence, ’Ne parlez point, etc.’) 63d.  A Man ought not to value himself of his Atchievements or rare Qua[lities, his Riches, Tit]les Virtue or Kindred[; but he need not speak meanly of himself.]

Chapter vii. 2.  Vne personne bien nourrie ne s’amuse iamais a faire parade de ses belles actions, de son esprit, de sa vertu, & de ses autres bonnes & loueables qualitez, au cotraire il ne faut iamais s’entretenir auec les autres de sa haute naissance, ou de la Noblesse de ses parents, de ses richesses, ny de ses grandeurs, si l’on n’y est contrainct.  II ne faut pas aussi se raualler entierement.

A well-bred person never makes parade of his good actions, wit, virtue, and other good and praiseworthy qualities; on the contrary, one ought never to speak with another about his high birth, the nobility of his parents, his wealth or dignities, unless obliged to do so.  But one need not efface himself altogether.

64’th Break not a Jest where none take pleasure in mirth Laugh not aloud, nor at all without Occasion, deride no man’s Misfortune, tho’ there seem to be Some cause