Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-01-29
AlsxasssIrla 3azftte.
BERTHOLDE THE DWARF.
His Shrcwd Answers at the Court of Al
ho;,, King of the Iombards.


His shrcwd Answers at the Court of AL
boiu. King of the Lombards.
Mary Shears Roberts, in her series
of Historic Dwarfs, contributes
an article on Bertholde to st. Mich
olas. Bertholde was an Italian, and
one day he made his way to the pal
ace of Alboin, king of the Lombards,
at Verona and boldly seated himself
in an empty chair next the throne.
The courtiers were as much sur
prised at his audacity as they were
amazed at his grotesque appearance,
but the Lombard cEieftain smiled
grimly upon the intruder and IN
ouired of him what he was, when
he was born and in what country.
Il am man, replied the dwarf,
whereupon the attendants went off
into fits of laughter. Il was born
when 1 came into the world, and the
world itself is my country. "
King and courtiers now began to
realize that they had shrewd little
imp before them, and they com
menced to ply him with questions
of all kinds. The asking of conun-
drums was a sort of trial of wit to
which sovereigns were much given
at this period of history.
what thing is that which flies
the swiftestl' asked one.
Thought, replied Bertholde
promptly.
What is the gulf that is never
flled2"
The avarice of the miser,'' was
the ready answer of the quick wit
ted dwarf
What trait is the most hateful
in young people1''
self conceit, because it makes
them unteachable. "
"How will you catch a hare run
ning2' inquired the king.
III stay till 1 find her on the
spit.
How would you bring water in a
sieve2'
I'D wait till it was frozen,' an
swered the dwarf readily.
The king was delighted. For so
clever a rejoinder, ," he said, you
shall have from me anything you
may desire.
ooh, MOI" cried Bertholde, with
knocking laugh. Il shall have moth
ing of the sort. You cannot give
me what you do not possess. l am
in search of happiness, of which
you have not a particle. So how can
you give me any2"
Howl exclaimed the king, Am
I not happy on so elevated a
throne2"
Eyes, you are, if the happiness of
a man consists in the height of his
seat. F"
Then Alboin referred to his king
ly power and dignity, and the dwarf
retorted with another hooking
laugh, and when the king called at
tention TO the mobiles and courtlers
about him, Bertholde, with a sheer,
remarked, ooh, yes, they cluster
round your throne; SO do hungry
ants round crab apple, and with
the same purpose-to devour it.
"Well said, "spake the king, keep
ing his temper, but all this does
not prevent me from shining among
them as the sun among the stars. y
True, but tell me, shining sun,
how many eclipses you are obliged
to suffer in year2 For the con
tinual nattering of these men must
now and then darken your under
standing"
For this reason you would not
be a courtier2" inquired his majesty,
whose fingers began to play upon
his sword in q threatening manner.
Miserable as 1 am, should be
sorry to be placed in the rank of
slaves, replied the dwarf. BE
sides, have not the necessary quail
tiles to succeed in this fine employ
ment.
What, then, do you seek at my
courtl" asked the king in an angry
tone.
Something I have not been able
to find there, answered Bertholde.
II was told that a king was as much
above common men as q tower is
above common houses. I find, as /
suspected, that sovereigns are hon
ored more than they deserve. "
This was q little too much. The
king lost his patience and command
ed the dwarf jester to leave the pal
ace Immediately OF he would have
HIM whipped out of court
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