I extract in full the stanzas bearing directly upon that which (following the impulsion of Fra Bonvicino) has become our more immediate subject—the Courtesies of the Table. The tone of society which we find here is visibly in advance of the Lombard Friar’s, though the express precepts of the two writers have a good deal of general resemblance: the superiority in this respect is very much the same as in the language. Barberino’s diction seems quite worthy of a Tuscan contemporary of Dante, and his works are still drawn upon as a ‘_testo di lingua_.’ ‘The third point of good manners Which thou art to observe at table Thou mayst receive thus; Thinking out for thyself the other details from these few. And, in entering to table, If he who says to thee “Go in” is a man of distinction, On account of his dignity It behoves thee not to dispute the going. With thine equals, it beseems to decline For awhile, and then to conform to their wish: With superiors, affect Just the least demur, and then acquiesce. With inferiors, keep silence, And take the place which they give thee: and reflect That, by resisting here, Thou, by thy default, wouldst be making _them_ rude. In thine own house, remain Behind, if they are thy superiors or equals: And, if thine inferiors, thou shalt seem No other than correct if thou dost the same. Understand the like, if thou givest To eat to any persons out of thine own home: Also remain behind when it happens That thou art entertaining women. Next consider about placing Each person in the post that befits him. Between relatives it behoves To place others midway sometimes. And, in this, honour the more Those who are strangers, and retain the others by thyself: And keep cheerful Thy face and demeanour, and forbear with all. Now I speak for every one. He who is helping, let him help in equal portions. He who is helped, let him not manœuvre For the best, but take the less good. They must not be pressed; For this is their own affair, and choice is free, And one forces the preference Of him who was abstaining, perhaps purposely. He makes a fool of himself who prematurely lays aside His plate, while the others are still eating; And he who untidily Turns the table into a receptacle for scraps; And he who sneers At what he does not like; and he who hurries; And he who picks and chooses Out of the viands which are in common; And those who seem more hungry At the end than at the beginning; And also he who sets to At fortifying himself,[33] or exploring the bottom of the platter. Nor do I think it looks quite well To gnaw the bone with the teeth, and still worse To drop it into the saucepan;[34] Nor is salt well deposited on the dish. And I think that he does amiss Who carves, being at the table of his superior; For none can perform service If he does not first ask leave.