106 HISTORY OF 



them into ridicule, and did not come ; but he 

 soon obliged them to obey, and, as a punishment, 

 enjoined that they should wait upon the rest at 

 dinner. The whole company of dwarfs amounted 

 to seventy, besides the bride and bridegroom, who 

 were richly adorned, and in the extremity of the 

 fashion. For this little company in miniature, 

 every thing was suitably provided ; a low table, 

 small plates, little glasses, and, in short, every 

 thing was so fitted as if all things had been dwin- 

 dled to their own standard. It was his great plea- 

 sure to see their gravity and their pride ; the con- 

 tention of the women for places, and the men for 

 superiority. This point he attempted to adjust, 

 by ordering that the most diminutive should take 

 the lead ; but this bred disputes, for none would 

 then consent to sit foremost. All this, however, 

 being at last settled, dancing followed the dinner, 

 and the ball was opened with a minuet by the 

 bridegroom, who measured exactly three feet two 

 inches high. In the end matters were so contriv- 

 ed, that this little company, who met together in 

 gloomy pride, and unwilling to be pleased, being 

 at last familiarized to laughter, joined in the di- 

 version, and became, as the journalist has it,* ex- 

 tremely sprightly and entertaining. 



But whatever may be the entertainment such 

 guests might afford, when united, I never found 

 a dwarf capable of affording any when alone. I 

 have sometimes conversed with some of those that 



* Die dench wurdidge. Iwerg. Hockwcit, &c. Lipsioe, 1713, vol. viii. 

 page 102. seq. 



