The boke of Curtasye.
HEre begynnethe þe fyrst boke of curtasye. [folio 12]
Qwo so wylle of curtasy lere,
In this boke he may hit here!
Yf thow be gentylmon, ȝomon, or knaue,
The nedis nurture for to haue.
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When thou comes to a lordis ȝate,
The porter þou shalle fynde ther-ate;
Take hym thow shalt þy wepyn tho,
And aske hym leue in to go
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¶ To speke with lorde, lady, squyer, or grome.
Ther-to the nedys to take the tome [Toom or rymthe. Spacium, tempus, oportunitas. P. Parv.] ;
For yf he be of loghe degre,
Than hym falles to come to the;
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¶ Yf he be gentylmon of kyn,
The porter wille lede the to hym.
When thow come tho halle dor to,
Do of thy hode, thy gloues also;
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¶ Yf þo halle be at the furst mete,
This lessoun loke thow noȝt for-ȝete:
Þe stuard, countroller, and tresurere,
Sittand at de deshe, þou haylse in fere.
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¶ Within þe halle sett on ayther side,
Sitten other gentylmen as falles þat tyde;
Enclyne þe fayre to hom also,
First to the ryȝht honde þou shalle go,
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