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¶ Un sage honme de grant valour, Qe longement vesqui en honour, Urban estoit apelee. En son temps molt fust amee. De son enfant molt se purpensa E son bon sen ly mostra.    E dit, “Ben fiz, ore escotez. Ce qe je dy sy l’entendez. Noreture vous vueil aprendre Tant come vous estes d’age tendre, Quar, pur verité, le vous dy, Celi est hony que n’est nory. Ore escotez, mon chere fitz, Coment je vueil que seiez noris.    “Je vueil, tot al premour, Que sages seiez e plein de douçour, Seiez debonere e corteis, E qeu vous sachez parler fraunceis, Quar molt est langage alosee De gentil honme, e molt amee.    “Vous devez amer Dieu puissant, Tenyr sa ley e son comaunt, Volenters alez a mostier, Si escotez le Dieu mestier, Quar de le service Dieu oyr Ne puet nul mal avenyr. Seiez de grant debonereté E touz jours gardez verité, Mes jamés a vostre voil Ne seiez vencu d’orgoil. Quar celi qu’est orguillous Yl del tot est a rebours. Que unqe ly noble Rodlaund Ne valsist le demy tant, Come il fet, a son quider, E si ne valt il mye Olyver. E plus quide estre beals Qe Absolon ly juvenceals, Ou Ypomedes estoit, Qe tote beautés avoit, E plus estre corteis e seyn Que ne fust sire Gaweyn Ou que nul autre ne fu, E si est ledement desçu.    “Apré, vueil que seiez sage E qe ne facez nul outrage, Ne procurez nulli de malfere, Ne losenge ne mensonge crere. De tote rien que fere devez, A comencement vous purpensez A quel chief vous le poez trere: Si il est bon, bien fet a fere; S’il est mavois, le lessez, E de mieu fere vous penez. De yveresse vous gardez auxi, Quar ly yvres sachez de fy, S’il eit mal vice al cors, Meintenant le mettreit hors. Ce ne creyint mie plusours.    “Si vous volez aver mes amours, Seiez totdis bon cristien E amez Dieu sur tote rien. Dotez Dieu e seinte Eglise, Si vous delitez en son service. A tote gentz fetes honours — Le mieux vous avendra touz jours — E a femmes, nomément. Ce est droit afeytement, Quar, ce, prent um molt agree, E ce vous serra molt alowee. De femmes vienent hautesses, Honours, e moltz proesses — Les bienz joies, a un mot. Dont me semble il est sot Qe de eux se fet hayer — Ja ly ne verrez bien chever.    “Mes de une chose vous gardez, E si frez que senez: Prendre femme tost ne hastez, Ne ja femme ne pernez Pur sa valour ou son pris Santz consail de vos amys. Si par tei meismes prise l’averez, De lur aie bien faudrez. Ne pernez nulle pur sa beautee, Ne qe soit en lyvre lettree (Quar sovent sunt decevables, E relement sunt estables), Mes pernez une que soit sage, Sauntz malice ou outrage. E si fis engendrez, Touz mester les apernez. Ceux que a mester mis sunt Relement a hounte vount. Ta femme espousé ben amez, En nul autre ne delitez, Quar de Dieu hay serrez, E de ton prome poi amez.    “Amez sen e leaulté; Lessez folie e pecchié; E si ne parlez une trop, Quar ganglour en tenu sot. Quant vous devez parler E vostre resoun mostrer, Veiez que vous eiez resoun, Santz mesdire e tençoun. Ensi serrez plus preysez Qe si touz jours ganglez. Acointez vous a bone gent, E parlez debonerement. Servez petitz e grauntz. Apernez les noun sachanz. Entre les bonz partot alez, E corteysement vous portez, Quar jamés, ce vous affy, Ne serrez de un court bien norry.    “Amez armes e chivals Si les eiez bons e beals, E les donez sivilement Cum s’il valsissent nyent. Mes si terre devez doner, Pensez de le bien emploier. Metez cet un vostre cuer: Apernez richement a doner. Vous dorrez a comencement Manger e beyvre leement A touz ceux de le pais. Issi crestra vostre pris. Ce que um vous doine ne le obliez, Mes de le rendre purpensez. E, pur Dieu, vous gardez bien Que vous ne promettez rien Que vous ne volez fere ou doner, Quar ce fet le fol conforter E si est ce grant vileynye, Grant pecchié, e grant folie. E hounte de molt promettre E la promesse en obli mettre. Qy tiele chose ad en us Serra faus sovent tenus.    “Gardez qe ne seiez losengour Vers amy ne seignour, E s’il desirent lur deshonour Ou lur mal com font plusour, E vous savez lur penser E les devez counsiler, Ne pensez mie de eux payer Pur lur gree donqe aver, Ne pur nully pleyser. Ne lur devez losenger, Mes, a mieux que vous savez, Lel counsail lur donez. E si, a cele foiz, corocer Se vueillent ou tempester, Autre foiz vous saverount gree Pur vostre fei e lealtee, Ou Dieu, qe ne oblye rien, Le vous guerdonera bien.    “Pur Dieu, ne vous acostumez D’escharnyr nul que vous veiez, Tot seit il povre ou bosoynus, Ou il ne seit si bel com vous, Si riche ne si avenaunt, Si corteis ne si sachant. Pur ce ne ly escharnyes, Mes molt bel le salvez, Quar pur escharn, ce sachez, Ne serrez ja bien alosez, Mes serra al chief de tour, Escharny ly escharnisour.    “Si ascun honme vous velt mesdire, Ne sailez mie, pur ce, en yre. Lessez ly dire ces volenteez, Quar mieux vencre ne ly poez. E quant il avera tot tencee, Yl serra pur fol clamee E vous sage tenuz, Le mieux amé e cremuz.    “Quant vous passez par le pais, Le vel chemyn tenez totdis. Amez vostre viel compagnoun. E ce tieng je greyndre resoun De un amy tener Qe de dis gayner.    “De nulle rien vous avauntez, Mes tot coy vous tenez, Que tous ceux del pays Parlent bien de vos dys. Vos meynz, vos piés, en parlant, Ne les movez tant ne quant, Mes la lange soulement. Respoigne molt cortoisement, Que nully ne eyt poer De vous en nul point blamer Ne vous dire vyleynye, Mes tote corteysie.    “Entre les bonz sovent alez, E mavois fuer devez, Quar des bons bienz vendrount, E de mavois mals serrount. De ta viaunde ne seiez escars, Mes cortois seiez de tote partz. Donez a ceux que bien vous fount E que ton doun bien rendrount. Je ne di mie que dorrez a tous, Mes a ceux que fount pur vous. E si le vostre ferm tenez, D’autrui doun rien averez.    “A autry table, ne janglez trop, Que tu ne seiez tenu pur sot: Quant ton congié avez pris, Escharny serrez pur vos dys; Pur fol serrez ileque tenu, E dirront vous estes en bu.    “Si tu soiez enchiminaunt E encontrez petit ou grant, Volenters li salvez: Le mieux serras de li amez. S’il vous salve a premour, Responce donez en douçour. Si vous ne fetez en cele manere, Donqe dirra le fitz al piere, ‘Le Deable ly dust salver — Yl ne velt respounz doner!’    “S’il avient a chef de tour Que vous seiez grant seignour, Ne seiez trop simple a tes gentz, Ne soffrez trop lur talentz. Si trop ount lur volentee, A vous ne tornera a bountee. Ne seiez trop simple ne trop haut, Ne trop nice ne trop baud.    “Si entre gestes servyr devez, Gardez qe soiez avisez. Ore vous dirroi de servise: Quant le nap serra mise, Metez salers, esquilers, Pus trenchours e payns enters, E pus vin ou cervoise, E priez qe se facent a eysé. Queiqu’il eient a manger, Sovent lur devez conforter. Par gruschure ne servez Que tu ne seiez mauloseez. Confortez petitz e grantz, E apernez les noun sachantz. C’est le Dieu comandement D’aprendre non sachaunte gent. Si nul mesfet, petit ou grant, Ne li tencez tant ne quant, Mes diez ly privément, ‘Ce su malfet devant gent. Autrefoiz seiez garny, Qe tu ne seiez de gent hony.’ Cely diez entre vous deus; Ne ly facez autre maus Pur estranges que ileque sunt, Que mal los ne vous porterunt Quant ton congié devez prendre.    “Je vous faz bien entendre, Si robe vous doint ou cointise Cel jour pur vostre service, Volenters le recevez E molt al seigneur merciez; Pus la donez ov bel semblant A ascun tuen serjant. Son doun ne refusez mie E ne le metez en oblie, Qu’il ne pust aillours dire, ‘C’est un estout syre. De noreture siet il rien Ne corteysie plus que un chien.’ E, pur Dieu, vous purpensez Que yvres ne seiez.    “Bon enfant a manger Devant son seignur deit ester Bone aprise escoter, Sa vewe bien garder. Al pareie ne deit muser. A post ne se doit puer. Sa nue char ne deit grater. Ne doit ryre n’eschyner. Ne a nully mosker. Meurement se doit porter. Issi porra seignours payer.    “Si clerc seiez, com bien puet estre,      Totdis amez vostre mestre. Lessez puteynz e hasardrie. La taverne ne hauntez mie. Si l’em vous doint petit ou grant, Le recevez en merciant.    “Quant vous estes avauncé, Pensez de humilité, Honorez ceux que fyrent vous, E lur fetes tous honours. Honorez piere e mere, Vostre suere e vostre frere, E les autres de vostre lyn. Si en averez bon fyn.    “Si um vous mesdit de nule part, Gardez bien cet art: Respounce a ly ne donez, Mes la place voidez. Si vous responez al janglour, Le pis averez, saunz retour.    “Pur vostre pais combatez En tous lyws ou vous serrez. N’oiez de ly si bien noun, Que tu ne le defendez par resoun. Si counter devez a nully, Quant il sa resoun ad fyny, Responez amiablement Sanz mesdire e serement. Piés ne meynz ne movez Quant resoun parler devez. Tot eiez vous la victorie.    “Eiez ce en memorie: A nully devez manacer, Ne malfere ne mauparler. Mon ami, je vous defent. Ne diez rien derere gent Si vous ne le poez avower E a bon fyn torner. N’encusez nully par derere. N’est pas tot leals que lange lere. Desouz cel, n’a tresoun sy fere Com faus lang ov bele chere.    “Pernez femme de honours E que soit de bons mours, E veiez qe ele seit sage, Que tei ne peyse la mariage. Seiez de bele porture E cortois saunz ordure. Queique vostre femme vous die, Trop ne la creyez mye Si ele ne seit profitable Saunz mensonge ou fable.    “Je vous defend, sur tote rien: Jamés ne serez autrui chien, Quar le chien, a qy qu’il soit, Poez feryr mal en froit.    “Amenez ensi vostre vie Qe vous ayme le fitz Marie, E priez Dieu omnipotent, Qe soffry peyne e torment, Qe vous eiez l’amour de ly E de sa douce mere ansi. E nous doint la sue grace E vewe de sa douce face.”    Amen.

¶ A wise man of great refinement, Who lived a long time in honor, Was named Urbain. In his day he was dearly beloved. He gave much thought to his child And wished to share with him his wisdom.    And he said, “Good son, now listen. Be attentive to what I say. I want to teach you about good breeding While you’re still of tender age, For, in truth, I tell you, Shamed is he who’s not well bred. Now listen, my dear son, To how I want you to be raised.    “I want, first of all, For you to be wise and full of kindness, Gracious and courteous, And that you know how to speak French, For highly is this language praised By noblemen, and much loved.    “You ought to love almighty God, Follow his law and his command, Gladly go to church, And listen to the Lord’s office, For by hearing the Lord’s service No evil can come about. Be very gracious And always maintain truth, But never willingly Be conquered by pride. For he who’s proud Is backward in everything. Thus the noble Roland Was never worth half as much, For all that he did, as he thought, And he isn’t at all as worthy as Oliver. And he who imagines himself more handsome Than was Absolon the young, Or Hippomedes, Who had surpassing beauty, Or more courteous and hale Than Sir Gawain Or anyone else was, Is thus evilly deceived.    “Next, I want you to be wise And commit no excesses, Nor cause anyone to do wrong, Nor believe flattery or lies. In all that you have to do, From the start reflect on The end to which you can bring it: If it’s good, it’s good to do it; If it’s bad, give it up, And apply yourself to do better. Refrain from drunkenness as well, For know indeed that the drunkard, If he has wicked vice in his body, Soon he’ll show it outwardly. Many don’t believe this at all.    “If you want to have my love, Always be a good Christian And love God above everything. Fear God and Holy Church, And take delight in his service. Toward all people be respectful — It will turn out ever the better for you — And toward women, in particular. This is correct behavior, For, in this, people take great pleasure, And it will be highly praised in you. From women come lofty status, Honors, and many noble deeds — In a word, virtuous joys. Thus it seems to me that one is stupid If he makes himself hated by them — You’ll never see him finish well.    “But take heed of something, And thus behave as a wise man: Don’t rush to take a wife immediately, Nor ever to take a wife For her refinement or reputation Without your friends’ advice. If you’ve chosen her on your own, You’ll surely miss their help. Don’t take someone for her beauty, Or because she’s learned in books (For often they’re deceitful And rarely steadfast), But take one who’s wise, Without malice or insolence. And if you beget sons, Teach them all a trade. Those who are put to a trade Rarely come to shame. Love well your wedded wife, And don’t delight in any other, For you’ll be hated by God, And little loved by your relatives.    “Love wisdom and loyalty; Give up folly and sin; And also don’t speak too much, For a chatterer is held a fool. When you must speak And show your reasoning, Be sure that you’re correct, Without slander or animosity. Then you’ll be esteemed more Than if you chatter constantly. Acquaint yourself with good people, And speak graciously. Give service to small and great. Teach the ignorant. Go everywhere among the virtuous, And courteously conduct yourself, For, as I affirm to you, you’ll never Be well cared for at court.    “Love arms and horses If you have good and fair ones, And give them away nonchalantly As if they’re worth nothing. But if you must give away land, Think to put it to good use. Put this in your heart: Learn to give richly. Give from the start Food and drink cheerfully To all those of the countryside. Thus will your reputation grow. Don’t forget what one gives you, But plan on repaying it. And, for God’s sake, take good care That you not promise anything That you don’t want to do or give, For this encourages the fool And is thus great rudeness, Great sin, and great foolishness. And [it’s] shameful to promise much And forget the promise. He who makes a practice of such things Will often be thought false.    “Take care not to be a flatterer Of friend or lord, And if they desire their own dishonor Or what’s bad for them, as many do, And you know their thinking And must advise them, Don’t think at all of pleasing them To have their favor later, Nor of satisfying anyone. Nor should you flatter them, But, as best as you know how, Give them trustworthy advice. And if, at that time, they grow angry Or want to fly into a rage, Later they’ll feel grateful For your faith and loyalty, Or else God, who forgets nothing, Will thereafter reward you well for it.    “For God’s sake, don’t make it a habit To mock someone you see, However poor or needy he may be, Or if he isn’t as handsome as you, As rich or as pleasing, As courteous or as knowledgeable. Don’t mock him for this, But greet him quite graciously, For, know this, because of that mockery You’ll never be well praised, But in the end, The mocker will be mocked.    “If anyone wants to slander you, Don’t at all, because of this, start in anger. Let him say what he wants, For you cannot defeat him in a better way. And when he’s finished complaining, He’ll be proclaimed a fool And you considered wise, The better loved and feared.    “When you pass through the countryside, Hold always to the old path. Love your old companion. And I hold it more sensible To keep one friend Than to gain ten.    “Don’t boast about anything, But keep yourself wholly silent, So that all those of the countryside Speak well of your remarks. Your hands, your feet, when speaking, Don’t move them at all, But only your tongue. Answer very courteously, So that none will be able To blame you in any way Or speak evil about you, But only courtesy.    “Associate often with the good, And you must avoid the bad, For from good things will come good, And from bad things there’ll be bad. Be not stingy with your food, But be courteous on all sides. Give to those who treat you well And who’ll return your kindness. I’m not saying that you ought to give to all, But only to those who act on your behalf. And if you cling firmly to what’s your own, You’ll have nothing from others.    “At another’s table, don’t chatter too much, Lest you be taken for an idiot: When you’ve taken your leave, You’ll be mocked for your words; You’ll be considered there a fool, And they’ll say you were drunk.    “If you’re traveling And meet someone small or great, Gladly greet him: You’ll be better loved by him. If he greets you first, Give a response with kindness. If you don’t act in this manner, Then son will say to father, ‘The Devil ought to greet him — He doesn’t care to answer!’     “If it should happen in the end That you become a great lord, Don’t be too familiar with your people, Nor grant too much their desires. If they have their will too much, It won’t turn to your profit. Don’t be too familiar or too aloof, Nor too silly or too merry.    “If among guests you’re obliged to serve, Take care that you’re well informed. Now I’ll tell you about the service: When the tablecloth’s been spread, Put out saltcellars, spoons, Then carving knives and whole loaves, And then wine or beer, And ask that they make themselves comfortable. Whatever they’ve had to eat, You ought to encourage them often. Do not serve while grumbling Lest you be little praised. Encourage the small and the great, And teach the ignorant. It’s God’s commandment To teach ignorant people. If anyone acts badly, small or great, Don’t scold him at all, But say to him privately, ‘This was done poorly in front of people. Next time, be advised, Lest you be shamed by people.’ Say this between the two of you; Don’t cause him other troubles Because of the strangers present there, So that they not bear ill report of you When you must take your leave.    “I’d have you know well, If one gives you a cloak or elegant thing That day for your service, Gladly receive it And thank the lord very much; Then give it with a smile To one of your servants. Do not at all refuse his gift And do not forget it, So that he can’t say elsewhere, ‘That’s an arrogant lord. He knows no more of manners Or courtesy than a dog.’ And, for God’s sake, take care That you not get drunk.    “A good child eating Before his lord ought to be Well taught to listen, To control well his sight. He ought not stare at the wall. He ought not lean on the post. He ought not scratch his bare skin. He ought not laugh or grimace, Or mock anyone. He ought to carry himself maturely. Thus can he please lords.    “If you’re to be a cleric, as well may be, Always love your master. Avoid prostitutes and gambling. Don’t frequent the tavern at all. If one gives you something small or great, Receive it with thanks.    “When you’re promoted, Give thought to humility, Honor those who made you, And do them all honors. Honor father and mother, Your sister and your brother, And the others of your line. Thus shall you have a good end.    “If someone slanders you in any place, Keep well this practice: Do not give him a response, But leave the place. If you answer a slanderer, You’ll be worse off, without fail.    “Fight for your country In every place you may be. Hear only what’s good of it, Lest you fail to defend it justly. If you must argue with someone, When he’s ended his argument, Answer in an amiable way Without slander or swearing. Move neither feet nor hands When you must present your argument. You’ll quickly have the victory.    “Hold this in memory: You ought not threaten anyone, Nor do or speak evil. My friend, I forbid you. Say nothing behind people’s backs If you cannot swear to it And convert it to good purpose. Don’t accuse anyone behind his back. What the tongue lets slip isn’t always loyal. Under heaven, there’s no treason so fierce As a false tongue with a kind face.    “Take an honorable wife Who has good morals, And see that she’s wise, So that marriage doesn’t weigh on you. Be of gracious bearing And courteous without impurity. Whatever your wife tells you, Don’t believe her too much Unless she’s prudent Without falsity or lying.    “I forbid you, above all: Never be another’s dog, For a dog, whoever he belongs to, You can kick into the cold.    “Lead thus your life So that Mary’s son may love you, And pray to omnipotent God, Who suffered pain and torment, That you may have love from him And from his sweet mother too. And may he give us his grace And the sight of his sweet face.”    Amen.

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