Catherine the Great's rules of behavior for the Small Hermitage-

Catherine the Great's rules of behavior for the Small Hermitage

Catherine the Great created the Small Hermitage in order to escape the rigid court protocol of the Winter Palace. She wrote rules of behavior for her Hermitage guests, which were displayed in the gallery connecting the Winter Palace to the Small Hermitage. Breaking the rules meant a culprit had to drink a glass of cold water, recite lines from a poem or learn a verse by heart. The original rules, left, are displayed in the exhibition, and this handy translation on the right is printed on a tea towel you can buy in the Exhibition shop.

 

The rules read:

1. All RANKS shall be left behind at the doors, similarly HATS and particularly SWORDS.

2. Orders of PRECEDENCE and HAUGHTINESS, and anything of such like which might result from them, shall be left at the DOORS.

3. Be MERRY, but neither SPOIL nor BREAK anything, nor indeed GNAW at anything.

4. Be SEATED, STAND or WALK as it best pleases you, regardless of others.

5. Speak with MODERATION and not too loudly, so that others have not an EARACHE or HEADACHE.

6. Argue without ANGER or PASSION.

7. Do not SIGH or YAWN, neither BORE nor FATIGUE others.

8. Agree to PARTAKE of any INNOCENT ENTERTAINMENT suggested by others.

9. Eat well of good things, DRINK in MODERATION so that each should be able always to find his LEGS on leaving these DOORS.

10. All DISPUTES must stay behind closed doors; and what goes in one EAR should go out the other before departing through the DOORS.

1. 官階帽劍放門後
2. 尊卑倨傲丟門前
3. 樂而知禮勿毀物
4. 行坐佇立由君心
5. 語高調低恰適中
6. 論辯有節戒怒激
7. 怨艾疲累莫擾人
8. 來之安之戲童真
9. 雅宴小飲無醉客
10. 清議隻留此門中

        勸君謹記守十戒，破之罰飲涼水杯。或背小詩隻一首，記默經文也可脫。 

   ：））））