But none of these impressed me with so much horror, as the paintings in fresco under the grand portico. There were here servants who strangled their master to obtain his money; children who assassinated their father, to come more speedily into possession of his property; subjects who kill their king, after having pronounced his condemnation; a woman who poisons her husband; and a mistress who does the same to her lover, to revenge his infidelity. In the middle of this gallery, was a colossal figure, representing Ingratitude, and elevated upon a pedestal; the relief of which presented on the one side Cruelty, on the second Infidelity, on the third Interest, on the fourth Ambition. The base was ornamented with sculptural emblems of sporting cupids, satyrs, lions, and cats. After having traversed the whole extent of this apartment, Death entered into a grand and magnificent hall; the sable hangings of which were sown with white drops, like the ornaments commonly seen on monuments in burying places. In this hall stood a throne composed of dead men’s bones, and which appeared like ivory: four leg bones formed the supporters; two arms, with their hands, the arms of the seat; a spinal bone, with those of the thighs, composed the back part; the two pommels above were two sculls, and the seat was of other bones. It was ascended by four steps, the first of which was called _infancy_, the second _youth_, the third _manhood_, and the fourth _old age_. Death being seated, the whole medical corps ranged themselves on either side, the others being seated at their feet. Death spake for some time upon the limits of life, and of the grandeur of her empire: she finished her discourse by observing that there was but one way of coming into existence, but many ways of quitting it. She then gave a general order for the dead to appear, and all at once I saw them fall from the wainscot, and come from the walls and pavement. “Speak,” said the queen, “each in turn.” The first who commenced, said, “I am Romulus, first king of Rome; my ministers not being able to tolerate my government, wished to change it; they caused me to be assassinated, and a report spread, that I had, in their presence, been translated to heaven.” “I am,” said another, “Cæsar, first emperor of the Romans: the senate caused me to perish by the hand of my adopted son.” A third, “I am the emperor Claudius, poisoned by my wife.” A fourth, “I am Alexander the great; I died in the very bosom of a debauch.” A fifth, “I am Codrus, king of the Athenians; I died for my country.” “And I,” exclaimed a sixth, “am _Charles the fifth_, whose bones my son exhumed, and burnt.”