Actual Activities

During the meeting, when turned, the mouth is half open, making it appear as if speaking. If the image of the speaker is sitting, it should seem to be about to rise and move towards the audience: the head should tilt forward toward the assembly. If standing, the speaker should bend slightly, both in the face and the entire body, towards the crowd to whom the address is made. Leaning forward and resting on the elbow when addressing an entire assembly is often practiced but, in our opinion, demonstrates a masterful arrogance. Those who behave this way seem to lack regard for the audience they are addressing. Those who are wiser and attentive will not easily make this mistake here. If customs were permissible for us to criticize, one might ask, what dignity or propriety it lends that a messenger, called to announce something significant to a community, would perform his duties laying down as if his attire were beyond his touch? Indeed, a dignified servant or good messenger should always present himself alert and ready at his post, considering whom he addresses and not allowing looseness and irreverence regardless of the place where respectful matters are handled. This causes listeners to, after observing the speaker, lie comfortably down and eventually fall asleep. Moreover, one should always observe speaking images working within the scenes and speaking with other images present there.

Translation Notes:

- Aangesigt: the face or countenance, referring to expressions and gestures.

- Beeld: image or depiction, possibly relating to a painting or sculpture in context.