In the first place, there are the things that are to be avoided because they offend the senses. Coughing, sneezing, or yawning in someone's face, greediness or carelessness in eating, and various sides of our physical life fall within this category. We are not only to avoid indiscretion in such matters, but we are to refrain from mentioning in conversation whatever might be indelicate as a physical act. In the second place, there are other indiscretions that have no such basis in the mere senses, and refer solely to the mental attitude or to the mere personal pride of our neighbours. To read a letter or to fall asleep in company, to turn your back to your neighbour, to be careless about one's way of standing or sitting, to be absent-minded or touchy about trifles, are social sins of this second kind. The art of conversation was the mainstay of social life in the Italian Renaissance, and to it Della Casa naturally, at this point, devotes most of his attention. To be obscene, or blasphemous, or too subtle; to dwell on inappropriate things (as when repeating a friar's sermon to a young lady); to brag or lie; to be too ceremonious or too servile; to tell a story awkwardly or to mention indelicate matters without some polite periphrasis;--these are some of the chief sins against this art of arts. There is very much that is modern in the diatribe against the ceremoniousness that was then creeping into Italy from Spain, for sixteenth century Venice was not unlike nineteenth century England in its preference for ease and simplicity, and a grave and reasonable charm of manner. Finally, there are the details of individual conduct dictated essentially by custom, without apparent regard to the physical comfort or personal pride of those about us; and under this third heading, Della Casa summarizes the various problems of personal apparel, table manners, and the like.