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. 官阶帽剑放门后
2. 尊卑倨傲丢门前
3. 乐而知礼勿毁物
4. 行坐伫立由君心
5. 语高调低恰适中
6. 论辩有节戒怒激
7. 怨艾疲累莫扰人
8. 来之安之戏童真
9. 雅宴小饮无醉客
10. 清议只留此门中

        劝君谨记守十戒，破之罚饮凉水杯。或背小诗只一首，记默经文也可脱。 

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