The twenty-fourth is—Set not down right before thy companion Either pan or pot, unless there be great reason therefor. If thou wantest to introduce either pan or pot, Thou must set it down at thine own side, before thyself. 100 The twenty-fifth is—One who may be eating from a platter with women, The meat has to be carved for himself and for them. The man must be more attentive, more prompt in honouring, Than the woman, in reason, has to reciprocate. 104 The twenty-sixth is this: Count it as a great kindness When thy good friend eats at thy table. If thou carvest meat, or fish, or other good viands, Thou must choose of the best part for him. 108 The twenty-seventh is this: Thou must not overmuch press Thy friend in thy house to drink or to eat. Thou must receive thy friend well, and make him welcome, And heartily give him plenty to eat and enjoy himself with. 112 The twenty-eighth is this: Dining with a great man, Abstain from eating so long as he is drinking. Dining with a Bishop, so long as he is drinking from the cup, Right usage requires thou shouldst not be chewing with the mouth. 116 The twenty-ninth is this: If a great man is beside thee, Thou must not drink at the same time with him, but give him precedence. Who may be beside a Bishop, so long as he is drinking Or pouring out, must not raise his bowl. 120 And the thirtieth is this: He who serves, let him be cleanly. Let him not make in presence [of the guests] any spitting or nastiness: To a man as long as he is eating, this is all the more offensive. He who serves at an entertainment cannot be too nice. 124 Next after the thirtieth is this: Every courteous donzel[21] Who wants to wipe his nose, let him embellish himself with a cloth. He who eats, or who is serving, must not blow through the fingers. Be so obliging as to clean yourselves with the foot-cloths.[22] 128 The next that comes is this: Let thy hands be clean. Thou must not put either thy fingers into thine ears, or thy hands on thy head. The man who is eating must not be cleaning By scraping with his fingers at any foul part. 132 The third after the thirtieth. Stroke not with hands, As long as thou eatest at the board, cat or dog. A courteous man is not warranted in stroking brutes With the hands with which he touches the dishes. 136 The next is—As long as thou art eating with men of breeding, Put not thy fingers into thy mouth to pick thy teeth. He who sticks his fingers in his mouth, before he has done eating, Eats not, with my good-will, on the platter with me. 140