Asitwereatenderchick，Toseehowtheotherswilllike。’
Thishorribleorderwaspunctuallyexecuted。Atnoontheguestsweresummonedtowashbythemusicofthewaits；thekingtookhisseat，attendedbytheprincipalofficersofhiscourt，atthehightable，andtherestofthecompanyweremarshalledatalongtablebelowhim。Ontheclothwereplacedportionsofsaltattheusualdistances，butneitherbread，wine，norwater。Theambassadors，rathersurprisedatthisomission，butstillfreefromapprehension，awaitedinsilencethearrivalofthedinner，whichwasannouncedbythesoundsofpipes，trumpets，andtabours；andbeheld，withhorroranddismay，theunnaturalbanquetintroducedbythestewardandhisofficers。Yettheirsentimentsofdisgustandabhorrence，andeventheirfears，wereforatimesuspendedbytheircuriosity。Theireyeswerefixedontheking，who，withouttheslightestchangeofcountenance，swallowedthemorselsasfastastheycouldbesuppliedbytheknightwhocarvedthem。
`Everymanthenpokedother；
Theysaid，`Thisisthedevil’sbrother，Thatslaysourmen，andthushemeats！’
Theirattentionwastheninvoluntarilyfixedonthesmokingheadsbeforethem；theytracedintheswollenanddistortedfeaturestheresemblanceofafriendornearrelation，andreceivedfromthefatalscrollwhichaccompaniedeachdishthesadassurancethatthisresemblancewasnotimaginary。Theysatintorpidsilence，anticipatingtheirownfateinthatoftheircountrymen，whiletheirferociousentertainer，withfuryinhiseyes，butwithcourtesyonhislips，insultedthembyfrequentinvitationstomerriment。Atlengththisfirstcoursewasremoved，anditsplacesuppliedbyvenison，cranes，andotherdainties，accompaniedbytherichestwines。