"If a man demand a question of thee, In thine answer-making be not too hasty; Weigh well his words, the case understand, Ere an answer to make thou take in hand; Else may he judge in thee little wit, To answer to a thing and not hear it. Suffer his tale whole out to be told, Then speak thou mayst, and not be controlled; Low obeisance making, looking him in the face, Treatably speaking, thy words see thou place, With countenance sober, thy body upright, Thy feet just together, thy hands in like plight; Cast not thine eyes on either side. When thou art praised, therein take no pride. In telling thy tale, neither laugh nor smile; Such folly forsake thou, banish and exile. In audible voice thy words do thou utter, Not high nor low, but using a measure. Thy words see that thou pronounce plaine, And that they spoken be not in vain; In uttering whereof keep thou an order, Thy matter thereby thou shalt much forder [further]; Which order if thou do not observe, From the purpose needs must thou swerve, And hastiness of speed will cause thee to err, Or will thee teach to stut or stammer. To stut or stammer is a foul crime; Learn then to leave it, take warning in time; How evil a child it doth become, Thyself being judge, having wisdom; And sure it is taken by custom and ure [use], While young you be there is help and cure. This general rule yet take with thee, In speaking to any man thy head uncovered be, The common proverb remember ye ought, 'Better unfed than untaught.'" Though this may be very poor poetry, it is very good advice; and so is this which follows, on "how to order thyself being sent of message":-- "If of message forth thou be sent, Take heed to the same, give ear diligent; Depart not away and being in doubt, Know well thy message before thou pass out; With possible speed then haste thee right soon, If need shall require it so to be done. After humble obeisance the message forth shew, Thy words well placing, in uttering but few As shall thy matter serve to declare. Thine answer made, then home again repair, And to thy master thereof make relation As then the answer shall give thee occasion. Neither add nor diminish anything to the same, Lest after it prove to thy rebuke and shame, But the same utter as near as thou can; No fault they shall find to charge thee with than [then]." [Illustration: ANNE HATHAWAY'S COTTAGE] Similar counsel is added "against the horrible vice of swearing": "In vain take not the name of God; Swear not at all for fear of his rod. * * * * *