The fifth after the thirtieth. Thou must not lick thy fingers. He who thrusts his fingers into his mouth cleans them nastily. That man who thrusts into his mouth his besmeared fingers, His fingers are none the cleaner, but rather the nastier. 144 The sixth Courtesy after the thirtieth. If thou hast occasion to speak, speak not with thy mouth full. He who speaks, and he who answers, if he has his mouth full, Scarcely can he chop out a word. 148 After this comes this other: As long as thy companion Has the bowl to his mouth, ask him no questions If thou wouldst address him: of this I give thee notice. Disturb him not: pause until he has drunk. 152 The thirty-eighth is this: Tell no bad news, In order that those who are with thee may not eat out of spirits. As long as the others are eating, give no painful news; But keep silence, or else speak in cheerful terms. 156 The next that follows is this: If thou art eating with others, Make no uproar or disturbance, even though thou shouldst have reason therefor. If any of thy companions should transgress, pass it by till the time comes, So that those who are with thee may not be put out. 160 The next is—If the pain of any ill-health seizes thee, Keep down thy distress as much as thou canst. If thou feelest ill at the board, show not the pain, That thou mayst not cause discomfort to those who are eating along with thee. 164 After that comes this other: Shouldst thou see in the viands Any disagreeable thing, tell it not to the others. Seeing in the viands either a fly or any uncleanliness, Keep silence, that they may not feel disgust, eating at the board. 168 The next is—If thou bringest dishes to the board in serving, Thou must keep thy thumbs on the rim of the dish. If thou takest hold with the thumb on the rim of the dishes, Thou canst set them down in their place without any one else to help thee. 172 The third after the fortieth is—If thou offerest the cup, Never touch with the thumb the upper edge of the bowl. Hold the bowl at the under end, and present it with one hand: He who holds it otherwise may be called boorish. 176 The fourth after the fortieth is—hear who will— Neither frying-pan nor dishes nor bowl should be overfilled. Measure and moderation should be in all things that are: He who should transcend this will not have done courtesy. 180 The next which follows is this: Keep thy spoon, If thy plate is removed for the adding of some viands. If the spoon is in the plate, it puts out the helper. In all courtesies he does well who is heedful.[23] 184