Читать книгу Psalms of Gratitude and Prayer - John J. Brugaletta - Страница 18

Remember always that you do not own the house.

If this fact causes you to be less careful

with its structure or its contents,

you will not be looked upon favorably.

While you may at decent intervals suggest wiser behavior

on the part of other guests, it is not your role to expel them.

The Emperor has better ways of doing so than you do.

When you are first seated at table,

your manners will be crude and offensive to other guests,

as well as to His Majesty.

This should not throw you into despair,

but it should shame you enough to learn better behavior.

Among other things,

this means never taking food from your neighbor’s plate,

or drinking from her cup,

or throwing your bones in his direction.

If the servants are negligent in serving hungry guests,

you are expected to rise,

even from a place of honor,

and fetch their food yourself.

Do not be surly in this,

for the task is a higher honor than the place you rose from.

Avoid at all costs

the grave error of

accepting the Emperor’s hospitality

without giving it a thankful thought.

It was given you freely,

and your freely-given gratitude

will be a sign of your soul’s health.

Speak little of yourself.

There are many others

better than you who remain silent.