cillors and secretaries appointed by the prince, the tables were set in order. When the preparations for dinner were made, and the prince, his brothers, and the councillors, already seated, upon our being shown into the banqueting-room, the councillors and all the others immediately arose in deference to us; and we, in our turn, having been informed of their habits, before they sat down, offered our thanks to them by bowing on all sides, and took a place at the table which the prince himself indicated to us with his hand. The tables were arranged around the banqueting-room. In the middle stood a table laden with a variety of gold and silver goblets. At the table at which the prince sat, a space was left at each side of him, as wide as he could reach with his hands extended, beyond which it is the custom for his brothers to sit, if any are present, the elder on his right hand, and the younger on his left; at a somewhat greater distance from the brother, is the seat of the elder knesi and councillors, who take precedence according to the place which each holds in the prince's favour. We sat at another table opposite the prince, with our friends and attendants at a small distance from us; opposite whom, on the other side, sat those who conducted us from our hotel to the palace. At the lower tables, on both sides, sat those whom the prince had invited as a special favour, in which number the stipendiaries are occasionally included. On the tables were placed vessels, some filled with vinegar, some with pepper, and others with salt, which were all arranged along the length of the table, so that every fourth guest had each of these three articles before him. Then came in the servers, dressed in magnificent robes, and walking round the centre table, stood opposite the prince.
Meantime, when all were seated, the prince called one of his servants to him, and giving him two long pieces of bread, said: "Give this to Count Leonhard, and this to Sigismund." The servant taking the interpreter with him accordingly
