Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/411

 and Sentiments. 39: people, and alk them to undertake an alTault on Bonne-Compagnie and the other guefts of Dinner ; and they content at once, and Supper places them in an ambufcade in his dwelling. Meanwhile the feall ends, and Bonne-Compagnie fays grace, and orders the player on the lute to perform his duty, whereupon " the inftrument founds, and the three men fliall lead out the three women, and Ihall dance whatever dance they pleafe, while Bonne-Compagnie remains feated." Supper and Banquet then prefent themfelves in turn to invite Bonne-Compagnie and her people, and they go firft to Supper, who receives them with extraordinary hofpitahty. But Supper was a wicked traitor ; and the ftage diredions inform us that, while the guefts were enjoying themfelves, his agents, the Difeafes, were to be introduced watching them through a window. As foon as the fublfential viands are eaten. Supper goes to order what was called the iffue, or deffert ; and in his abfence Bonne-Compagnie orders the minftrels to play an air, and they obey. While the deffert is pre- paring. Supper goes to the Difeafes, to alk if they are ready, and they arm and attack the guefts, overthrowing tables and benches, and treating everybody with great cruelty. After fome other fcenes. Banquet comes to announce that his feaft is ready, condoles with the fufferers on the treatment they had received from Supper, though he is meditating ftill greater treachery himfelf, and they go and feaft with him. The Difeafes, ready at his command, make a much more fatal attack upon the guefts. Banquet's feaft forms the fecond compartment of the tapeftry of Nancy in its prefent ftate, and is reprefented in our cut No. ^^^. When compared with the morality, it prefents fome variations. In front. Banquet is ftanding before the table, oppofite to Je-Boy-a-Vous and Je-Pleige-d'Autant, and appears to be replying to Bonne-Compagnie, who is feated between Pafte-Temps and Acouftumance. Further to the left Banquet appears again, with his hand on his fword, addrefling the Difeafes, who are at the entrance of the hall, waiting for his fignal for the attack. At the lower corner on the left we fee Supper, talking with another important perfonage, probably intended to reprefent Dinner. Above, to the right, through a window, we fee Banquet again, with one of his attendants foftening on his armour, while another holds his cafque, which