Thence she them brought into a stately Hall, xxvii Wherein were many tables faire dispred, And ready dight with drapets festiuall, Against the viaundes should be ministred. At th’upper end there sate, yclad in red Downe to the ground, a comely personage, That in his hand a white rod menaged, He Steward was hight _Diet_; rype of age, And in demeanure sober, and in counsell sage. And through the Hall there walked to and fro xxviii A iolly yeoman, Marshall of the same, Whose name was _Appetite_; he did bestow Both guestes and meate, when euer in they came, And knew them how to order without blame, As him the Steward bad. They both attone Did dewty to their Lady, as became; Who passing by, forth led her guestes anone Into the kitchin rowme, ne spard for nicenesse none. It was a vaut ybuilt for great dispence, xxix With many raunges reard along the wall; And one great chimney, whose long tonnell thence[741] The smoke forth threw. And in the midst of all There placed was a caudron wide and tall, Vpon a mighty furnace, burning whot, More whot, then _Aetn’_, or flaming _Mongiball_: For day and night it brent, ne ceased not, So long as any thing it in the caudron got. But to delay the heat, least by mischaunce xxx It might breake out, and set the whole on fire, There added was by goodly ordinaunce, An huge great paire of bellowes, which did styre Continually, and cooling breath inspyre. About the Caudron many Cookes accoyld, With hookes and ladles, as need did require; The whiles the viandes in the vessell boyld They did about their businesse sweat, and sorely toyld. The maister Cooke was cald _Concoction_, xxxi A carefull man, and full of comely guise: The kitchin Clerke, that hight _Digestion_, Did order all th’Achates[742] in seemely wise, And set them forth, as well he could deuise. The rest had seuerall offices assind, Some to remoue the scum, as it did rise; Others to beare the same away did mind; And others it to vse according to his kind. But all the liquour, which was fowle and wast, xxxii Not good nor seruiceable else for ought, They in another great round vessell plast, Till by a conduit pipe it thence were brought: And all the rest, that noyous was, and nought, By secret wayes, that none might it espy, Was close conuaid, and to the back-gate brought, That cleped was _Port Esquiline_, whereby It was auoided quite, and throwne out priuily.