THE FLEMISH LANGUAGE.—No. 2.
Reading edition
Perhaps our readers may not be unwilling to see a few more specimens of the Flemish language. It should be stated that this book of dialogues, from which our last specimens were taken, contains at the end a kind of manual of good manners, it being the opinion of the writer—“that youth have long been in want of a treatise on manners, which should be based upon our usages, and adapted to the state of our knowledge.”
We give a few of the maxims of this Dutch Chesterfield for the use of those whom they may concern.
Directions for behaviour at table:—
Het zoud neémt men met het punt van het mes, het welk men aen zyn brood moet afvaegen. You must take the salt with the point of your knife, after having wiped it on your bread.
Instead of a literal translation we have given the meaning, marking with Italics a few words which are the most striking in the two languages. But besides those which we have marked, other similarities, such as welk, “whilk or which,” will be detected in this and the following specimen:—
Daer is niets zoo ongemanierd dan iet van de schotel te neémen met het forket waer men mede eét. There is nought so unmannered as to take aught from the dish with the fork wherewith you eat, or, literally, “where man with eats.”
283We think so; and we also say with the Dutch Chesterfield—
Opent den mond niet te wyt als gy eét. Open not your mouth too wide when ye eat.
The reason for this precept is obvious; the Dutch Chesterfield has, however, thought it necessary to tell his countrymen the why and wherefore of it.
Vraegt niet te drinken terwyl gy zup eét; wagt tot dat gy iet anders geëéten hebt. Ask not (for something) to drink the while ye eat soup; wait till that ye somewhat (aught) else have eaten.
And, above all,—
Gaept niet rond ter wyl gy drinkt. Look not (gape) round the while ye drink.
Perhaps these maxims may be enough for one lesson. The original goes on for some length, and, finally, admonishes young folks not to carry off cakes, apples, &c. in their pockets from the table. We cordially concur in this advice.
We shall conclude with directions for sitting at table:—
Als gy zult gezeten zyn, struht u niet uyt op uwen stoel; zet uwe beenen niet overeen; wiegt niet met uwen stoel; maer houd u regt, de voeten op den grond geplaetst. When ye shall be seated, stretch ’o not out upon your seat (stool); set o’ legs (bones) not over (across) one another; rock not with ’o stool; but hold ’o right (straight) the feet placed on the ground.
Directions how to hold hats and reticules in company:—
Eenen jongeling houd zynon hoed op zyne knieën, zonder het binnenste te laeten zien, Eene jonge dogter houd insgelyks haere tassche op haere knieen. A younker holds his hat (hood) upon his knees, but without letting you see the inside (het binnenste.) A young girl (daughter) holds in like manner her bag on her knees.