Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/296

 276 Hip; or y of 'Domejlic Manners to boaft or talk too much of him. She was not to expofe her body- uncovered out of vanity, as her breaft, or her legs, or her fides, nor to undrefs in the prefence of men. She was not to be too ready in accepting prefents from the other fex. The ladies are particularly warned againfl; fcolding and difputing, againfi: fwearing, againft eating and drinking too freely at table, and againft getting drunk, the latter being a pra6tice from which much mifchief might arife. A lady was not to cover her face when fhe went in public, as a handfome face was made to be feen, and it was not good manners to remain with the face covered before a gentleman of rank. An exception, however, is made in the cafe of ugly or deformed faces, which might be covered. There was another exception to the counfel juft mentioned. " A lady who is pale-faced, or who has not a good fmell, ought to breakfafl; early in the morning 5 for good wine gives a very good colour; and fhe who eats and drinks well muft heighten her colour." One who has bad breath is recommended to eat anifeed, fennel, and cumin to her breakfafl, and to avoid breathing in people's faces. A lady is to be very attentive to her behaviour in church, rules for which are given. If llie could fing, Ihe was to do fo when alked, and not require too much preffing. Ladies are further recommended to keep their hands clean, to cut their nails often, and not to fulfer them to grow beyond the finger, or to harbour dirt. In pafiing other people's houfes, ladies were not to look into them ; " for a perfon often does things privately in his houfe, which he would not wifli to be feen, if any one fhould come before his door." For this reafon, too, when a lady went into another perfon's houfe, flie is recommended to cough at the entrance, or to fpeak out loud, fo that the inmates might not be taken by furprife. The direftions for a lady's behaviour at table are very particular. " In eating, you muft avoid much laughing or talking. If you eat with another {i. e., in the fame plate, or of the fame mefs), turn the niceft bits to him, and do not go picking out the fineft and largeft for yourfelf, which is not courteous. Moreover, no one lliould eat greedily a choice bit which is too large or too hot, for fear of choking or burning herfeif. .... Each time you drink, wipe your mouth well, that no greafe may go into the wine, which is very unpleafant to the perfon who drinks after you.