that thou hast perceived them: "Kidneys! Oh, ah! I say, G., old
fellow, give us some kidneys." Then will the master of the house be
pleased that he hath provided something to thy liking, and as others
from false shame will fear to do the like thou wilt both obtain that
thy soul desireth, and be looked upon by thy fellows as a bold
fellow and one who knoweth how to make his way in the world, and G.
will say immediately: "Waiter, take this to Mr. Potguts," and he
taketh them, and so on, my son, with all other meats that are on the
table, see thou refrain not from one of them, for a large appetite
well becometh a power, or if not a large one then a dainty one. But
if thine appetite be small and dainty see thou express contempt for
a large eater as one inferior to thyself. Or again, my son, if thou
art not at a banquet but enterest any room where there are many met
together, see thou take the arm-chair or the best seat or couch, or
what other place of comfort is in the room; and if there be another
power in the room as well as thyself see thou fight with him for it,
and if thou canst by any craft get rid of him an he be more thickly
set than thyself, see that thou do this openly and with a noise,
that all men may behold and admire thee, for they will fear thee and
yield and not venture to reprove thee openly; and so long as they
dare not, all will be well. Nevertheless I would have thee keep
within certain bounds, lest men turn upon thee if thy rule is too
oppressive to be borne. And under this head I would class also the
care and tending of the sick; for in the first place the sick have
many delicacies which those who are sound have not, so that if thou
lay the matter well, thou mayest obtain the lion's share of these
things also. But more particularly the minds of men being weak and
easily overpowered when they are in sickness, thou shalt obtain much
hold over them, and when they are well (whether thou didst really
comfort them or not) they will fear to say aught against thee, lest