The second Courtesy. If thou offerest water for the hands, Offer it neatly: see thou be not rude. Offer enough water, not too much, when it is summer-time: In winter, for the cold, in small quantity. 12 The third Courtesy is—Be not too quick To run without a word to sit down at the board. If any one invites thee to a wedding,[15] before thou art seated, Take not for thyself a place from which thou wouldst be turned out. 16 The next is—Before thou takest the food prepared, See that it be signed [with the cross] by thyself or thy better. Too greedy and churlish is he, and he offends against Christ, Who looks about at others, and signs not his dish.[16] 20 The fifth Courtesy. Sit properly at the board, Courteous, well-dressed, cheerful, and obliging and fresh. Thou must not sit anxious, nor dismal, nor lolling, Nor with thy legs crossed, nor awry, nor leaning forward. 24 The sixth Courtesy. When people are at a pause, Be careful not to lean forward on the laid-out table. He who uses the table as a prop, that man is not courteous, When he tilts his legs upon it, or stretches out his arms along it. 28 The seventh Courtesy is—For all people Not to eat too much nor little, but temperately. That man, whoever he may be, who eats too much or little, I see not what good it can be to his soul or his body. 32 The eighth Courtesy is—So may God favour us, Fill not thy mouth too much, nor eat in too great a hurry. The glutton who eats in a hurry, and who eats with his mouth stuffed, If he were addressed, he scarcely answers you. 36 The ninth Courtesy is—To speak little, And stick to that which one has set-to at doing; For a man, as long as he is eating, if he has the habit of talking too much, Scraps may often spurt out of his mouth. 40 The tenth Courtesy is—When thou art thirsty, First swallow down thy food, and wipe thy mouth, and drink. The glutton who drinks in a hurry, before he has emptied his gullet, Makes himself disagreeable to the other who is drinking in his company. 44 And the eleventh is this: Do not offer the cup to another When he can himself reach it, unless he asks thee for it. Let every man take the cup when he pleases; And, when he has drunk, he should set it down quietly. 48 The twelfth is this: When thou hast to take the cup, Hold it with both hands, and wipe thy mouth well. With one [hand] it cannot well be held properly: In order that the wine be not spilled, thou must drink using both hands. 52