Pagina 659 van 788

"With your permission, honoured gentlemen and guests, those

persons whom you see there in countless numbers represent the

progress of a Polish district diet, its consultations, voting,

triumphs, and disputes; I myself guessed the meaning of this

scene, and I will explain it to the company.

"There on the right may be seen a numerous assembly of gentry:

they have evidently been invited to a banquet, preceding the

diet; the board is waiting ready set, but no one is showing the

guests their seats; they are standing in groups, and each group

is deep in discussion. Notice that in the centre of each group

stands a man from whose parted lips, wide-open eyes, and restless

hands you may see that he is an orator and is expounding

something, that he is explaining it with his finger and marking

it on his palm. These orators are recommending their candidates

with various success, as may be seen from the bearing of the

brother gentlemen.