George Washington's Rules of Civility: Traced to their Sources and Restored by Moncure D. ConwayWashington, George
History
George Washington's Rules of Civility: Traced to their Sources and Restored by Moncure D. Conway
Washington, George
Etiquette
Chapter viii. 38. C'est chose peu loüable & presque aujourd'huy
hors d'vsage, d'inuiter la compagnie à manger, principalement trop
souuent & auec importunité, car il semble qu'on luy osté la
liberté. Beaucoup moins deuez-vous boire à autruy toutes les fois
que vous boiuez: que si l'on boit à vous, vous pouuez le refuser
modestement, remerciant de bonne grace, & confessant de vous
rendre; ou bien essayez vn peu le vin par courtoisie,
principalement auec gens qui sont accoustumez. à cela, & prennent
le refus à iniure.
It is not commendable, and now almost out of fashion, to call on
the company to eat, especially to invite them too often and
urgently, for it appears to take away their freedom. Much less
should you drink to others every time you drink: if one drinks to
you, it is permissible to decline modestly, thanking him
gracefully, and acknowledging your response; or you may well sip a
little wine for courtesy, especially with people who are accustomed
to it, and who are offended by refusal.
103d. In Company of your Betters be not [longer in eating] than they are
lay not your Arm but ar[ise with only a touch on the edge of the table.]
Chapter viii. 42. Quand les autres ont acheué de manger, despechez
vous aussi, & ne tenez pas les bras sur la table, mais posez les
mains seulement sur le bout.
When the rest have finished eating, you should do the same quickly;
do not hold your arms on the table, but only place your hands on
the edge of it.
104th. It belongs to y'e Chiefest in Company to unfold his Napkin and
fall to Meat first, But he ought to begin in time & to Dispatch with
Dexterity that y'e Slowest may have time allowed him
Chapter viii. 45. C'est à faire au plus honnorable de la compagnie
de déplier le premier sa seruiette, & toucher aux viandes: &
partant les autres doiuent attendre paisiblement sans mettre la
main à chose aucune deuant lui.
46. Et au contraire il doit estre soigneux de commencer en son
temps, de pouruoir à tout, d'entretenir les conuiez, & finir le
tout auec telle addresse; qu'il donne temps aux plus tardifs de
manger à leur aise, s'entretenant, s'il est de besoin, à gouster
legerement des viandes, ou quand il est loisible de discourir à
table; entremesler auec le manger quelque petit discours, afin que
les autres puissent auec loisir d'acheuer.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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