#  The Duenna's Advice on Table Manners 

 



 ##  

  expand\_more  

 
  

 

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

Sort 

**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.