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Before the guests should she divide

The bread and see each one supplied.

Then let her know the heart to win

Of some one guest by putting in

His platter dainty morsels, or

A wing or leg of fowl before

Him sets she, or with choicest slice

Of pork or beef will she entice

His appetite, or savoury fish,

If of the day that be the dish.

No stint she makes, if he permits,

To ply his taste with choicest bits.

’Tis well she take especial care

That in the sauce her fingers ne’er

She dip beyond the joint, nor soil

Her lips with garlick, sops, or oil,

Nor heap up gobbets and then charge

Her mouth with pieces overlarge,

And only with the finger point

Should touch the bit she’d fain anoint

With sauce, white, yellow, brown, or green,

And lift it towards her mouth between

Finger and thumb with care and skill,

That she no sauce or morsel spill

About her breast-cloth.

Then her cup

She should so gracefully lift up

Towards her mouth that not a gout

By any chance doth fall about

Her vesture, or for glutton rude.

By such unseemly habitude,