Keep guard upon thy mouth lest leak
Therefrom such things as none should speak,
But labour to forget. Both base
And mean are slanderous tongues.
[. . .]
But be thou careful to possess
Thy soul in gentleness and grace,
Kindly of heart and bright of face
Towards all men, be they great or small.
And when thou passest from the hall
Along the street, have care that thou
Salute men first with courteous bow
Roman de la Rose, v. 2173-6, 2184-90
(Trans. by F. S. Ellis)
Keep guard upon thy mouth lest leak
Therefrom such things as none should speak,
But labour to forget. Both base
And mean are slanderous tongues.
[. . .]
But be thou careful to possess
Thy soul in gentleness and grace,
Kindly of heart and bright of face
Towards all men, be they great or small.
And when thou passest from the hall
Along the street, have care that thou
Salute men first with courteous bow
Roman de la Rose, v. 2173-6, 2184-90
(Trans. by F. S. Ellis)
