]
[Sidenote 1: MS. inconstaunce]
A waveryng eye, glyddryng but sodenly
From place to place, and A fote[2] variaunte[3] 108
[Sidenote 2: MS. fore.]
[Sidenote 3: MS. variaunce.]
That in no place abydeth stabully--
Thes ben signes,' the wyse man seyth sekerly,
'Of suche a wyght as is vnmanerly nyce,
And is full like dissposed be to vice.' 112

[17]

And wayte, my childe, whan ye stond at the table,
Of souereyne or maister whether hit be,
Applieth you [for] to be seruysable, 115
That no defaute in you may founde be;
Loke who doth best and hym envyeth ye,
And specially vseth attendaunce,
Whiche is to souereyne thyng of gret plesaunce. 119

[Sidenote: _Hill's Text._]

P) And wha_n_ ye speke, loke me_n_ in _th_e face
w_i_t_h_ sobre chere & goodly semblavnce; 100
Caste not eye a-side in no other_e_ place,
ffor _tha_t ys a token of a wanton constavnce
which will[e] apayre yo_ur_ name, & dysavance.
The wyse ma_n_ sayth, 'who hath these thy_ngis_ iij, 104
ys not lyke a good man for to be:'

P) 'In herte,' he sayth, 'who _tha_t ys Inco_n_stavnte,
A waverynge eye, glydyng sodenly
ffro place to place, & a foote varyavnte 108
that in no place a-bydyth stabli,
'Thyse bene _th_e thyng_is_,' _th_e wysma_n_ sayth sekerly,
'Off suche a wayghte _tha_t be vnmanerly nyce,
& be full[e] lykely dysposed vnto vyce.' 112

P) Awayte, my chyld, wha_n_ ye stonde at table,
Off mayster or soverayne whe_ther_ yt be,
Applye you for to be servysable
That no defawte in you fownden be; 116
loke who dothe best, & hym folow ye,
& in especyall[e] vse ye attendavnce
wheryn ye shall[e] yo_u_r selfe best avaunce.

CAXTON'S TEXT.

[15]

And whan ye speke / loke men in the face
[Sidenote: When you speak to men, look 'em in the face.]
With sobre chere / and_e_ goodly semblaunce
Caste not your eye a syde / in other place 101
For that is a token of wantou[=n] inconsta_n_ce
Whiche wil appeyre your name & disaua[=n]ce
The wise ma_n_ saith who hath these thi_n_gis thre
[Sidenote: The wise Man says]
Is not lyke a good_e_ man for to be 105

[16]

[Sidenote: Leaf 3 b.]

In herte he seith / who that is inconsta[=n]te
A wa