#A translation of the C code posted
html_table := proc(str)
   local char;
     printf("<table>\n<tr><td>");
     for char in str do
         if char = "\n" then
            printf("</td></tr>\n<tr><td>")
         elif char = "," then
          printf("</td><td>")
         elif char = "<" then
          printf("&lt;")
         elif char = ">" then
          printf("&gt;")
         elif char = "&" then
            printf("&amp;")
         else
          printf(char)
         end if;
    end do;
    printf("</td></tr>\n</table>");
end proc;

html_table("Character,Speech
The multitude,The messiah! Show us the messiah!
Brians mother,<angry>Now you listen here! He's not the messiah; he's a very naughty boy! Now go away!</angry>
The multitude,Who are you?
Brians mother,I'm his mother; that's who!
The multitude,Behold his mother! Behold his mother!");