By default, \"mysql\" returns query output in text table format. If you want to receive query output in HTML format, you need to use the \"-H\" command option. Here is a good tutorial exercise:
>cd mysqlbin
>mysql -u root -H test
mysql> SELECT * FROM links;
<TABLE BORDER=1><TR><TH>id</TH><TH>name</TH></TR>
<TR><TD>1</TD><TD>www.rnbold.com</TD></TR>
<TR><TD>10</TD><TD>www.rnbold.com</TD></TR></TABLE>
2 rows in set (0.00 sec)