The Duenna's Advice on Table Manners

(from Romance of the Rose (Jean de Meun's Continuation, late thirteenth century)

	She should behave her when at table
	In manner fit and convenable;
	But should, ere yet she takes her place,
	'Fore all the household show her face,
	To let those present understand
	That she much business hath in hand.
	Hither and thither should she flit
14100	And be the last of all to sit,
	Making the company await
	While scanneth she each dish and plate;
	And when at last down sitteth she,
	On each and all her eye should be.

	Before the guests should she divide
	The bread and see each one supplied.
	Then let her know the heart to win
	Of some one guest by putting in
	His platter dainty morsels, or
14110	A wing or leg of fowl before
	Him sets she, with choicest slice,
	Of pork or beef will she entice
	His appetite, or savory fish,
	If of the day that be the dish.
	No stint she makes, if he permits,
	To ply his taste with choicest bits.

	'Tis well she take especial care	Do Not Dip Fingers
	That in the sauce her fingers ne'er	Too Deeply in the Sauce
	She dip beyond the joint, nor soil
14120	Her lips with garlick, sops, or oil,
	Nor heap up gobbets and the charge
	Her nouth with pieces overlarge,
	And only with the finger point
	Should touch the bit she'd fain anoint
	With sauce white, yellow, brown or green,
	And lift it towards her mouth between
	Finger and thumb with care and skill,
	That she no sauce or morsel spill
	About her breast-cloth.

	Then her cup	Do Not Spill Wine
14130	She should so gracefully lift up
	Towards her mouth that not a gout
	By any chance doth fall about
	Her vesture, or for glutton rude,
	By such unseemly habitude,

	Might she be deemed.

	Nor should she set
	Drink neatly and Moderately
	Lips to her cup while food is yet
	Within her mouth.	Wipe Upper Lip
	And first should she	Before Drinking
	Her upper lip wipe delicately,
	Lest, having drunk, a grease-formed groat
14140	Were seen upon the wine to float.
	She should not take one long-breathed draught,
	Whether from cup or hanap quaffed,
	But gently taste with sipping soft
	Now and again, but not too oft,
	Though thirst impels, at large should drink,	Do Not
	Lest those around perchance should think	Drink Too Much
	Or say, if she the cup should clutch
	With eager haste: She drinks too much;
	Therefore should she the tempting tide
14150	Resist, nor grip the goblet's side
	Like some of that fat matron crew,
	So gluttonous and boorish, who
	Pour wine adown their cavernous throats
	Enough to fill a horseman's boots,
	Till lastly are their gullets full,
	And all their senses drowned and dull.
	She should avoid all such excess
	As leadeth on to drunkenness,
	For drunken folk no secrets keep,
14160	And if a woman drinketh deep
	She leaves herself without defence,	Drunken Woman
	And jangles much with little sense.	Is Defenceless
	To any man she falls a prey
	When thus her wits she casts away.

	She should not at the table close
	Her eyes in sleep, nor even doze,	No Dozing at Table
	For many a strange untoward thing
	Hath happed to dames thus slumbering
	Such places are not made for sleep,
14170	Tis wiser far good watch to keep,
	For often folk mishaps have known
	Thus sleeping: many have tumbled down
	Supine, or prone, or on the side,
	And greivous hurt sustained, or died:
	She should, who feels disposed to wink,
	Of Palinurus' ending think,
	Who governed well AEneas' helm	Palinuus, AEneas' Steersman
	Until he fell within the realm
	Of Morpheus, then straight toppled he
14180	From off the ship, and in the sea
	Was drowned before his comrades' eyes,
	Who mourned his watery obsequies.

From

The Romance of the Rose

by W. Lorris and J. Clopinel, Englished by F.S, Ellis. London, 1900 [Lamont PQ 1528 A24], Vol 2 (of three); side notes added.