Lose not your gyrdel / sittyng at your mete
[Sidenote:  Don’t undo your girdle at table;]
For that is a tacche / of vncurtesye
But yf ye seme / ye be embraced streite 199
[Sidenote:  if it’s tight, let it out before you sit down.]
Or then ye sytte / amende it secretly
So couertly that no wight you espye
Beware also / no bret[=h] fro you rebounde
[Sidenote:  Don’t break wind up or down.]
Vp ne dou[=n] / leste ye were shameful founde 203

* * * * *

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.]

P) 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
      that ca_n_ most good, & hathe humanyte.

P) Towch not w_i_t_h_ yo_u_r mete salte i_n_ the 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 the table, for that rvde ys;
      & yff I shall[e] to you playnly saye, 216
      over the table ye shall[e] not spetell[e] co_n_veye.

P) 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;
  the 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