[225-7] Müller, Annal. Saxon, 68. Several examples in Sckweinichen's Leben von Büsching, I, 320 seq. Krünitz, Enclycopædie, Bd. 82, 84 ff. The wedding of the niece of Ottakar II. in 1264, has long been considered a most brilliant event in the history of medieval luxury. (Palacky, Gesch. von Böhmen, II, 191 ff.) Even yet, in Abyssinia, on the occasion of royal feasts, only meat and bread are eaten and mead drunk; but not only the great, but even common soldiers are entertained one after the other. (Ausland, 1846, No. 79.) Magnificent as was the table of a West Indian planter, it was in some respects very simple. A large ox was slaughtered for the feast, and everything had to be prepared from that: roast beef, beef steaks, beef pies, stews, etc. (Pinckard, Notes on the W. Indies, II. 100 ff.)
[225-8] Spittler, Geschichte Hanovers, I, 381.
[225-9] Tacitus, Germ., 21 Leg., says of the Germans: Convictibus et hospitiis non alia gens effusius indulget. Quemcunque mortalium arcere tecto, nefas habetur. Diem noctemque continuare potando, nulli probrum.
[225-10] Entirely the same among the ancient Romans: Valer. Max., II, 5. Compare per contra, Euripid., Herc. fur., 304 seq.
[225-11] Think of nomadic races especially, where the rich can employ their wealth only to increase the number of their partisans, for war purposes, etc.
[225-12] Ferguson, Hist. of Civil Society, VI, 3; Adam Smith, Wealth of Nat., IV, ch. 4. Compare Contzen, Politicorum, 1629, 662. As to how in the lower stages of civilization, guests are used to supply the place of the post-office service, see Humboldt, Relation hist., II, 61.
LUXURY IN BARBAROUS TIMES.
The luxury of that uncivilized age shows itself for the most part on particular occasions, and then all the more ostentatious, while in the periods following it, it rather permeates the whole of life. Even J. Möser excuses our forefathers for their mad celebration of their kirmesses and carnivals: dulce est desipere in loco, as Horace says, and that they sometimes carried it to the extent of drowning reason.[226-1] Among ourselves, the common man drinks brandy every day; in Russia, seldom, but then, to the greatest excess.[226-2] The well known peculiarity of feudal castles, that, besides one enormous hall, they were wont to have very small and inconvenient rooms for every day life, is accounted for in part by the great importance to them of festal occasions, and in part by the cordiality of the life led in them, in which lord and servants constituted one family. Nothing can be more erroneous than to ascribe great temperance in general to people in a low stage of civilization. Their simplicity is a consequence of their ignorance rather than of their self-control. When nomadic races have once tasted the cup of more delicate enjoyment, it is wont to hurry them to destruction.[226-3]
[226-1] Möser, Patr. Ph. IV, 7. On the feast of fools and the feast of asses of the middle ages, compare Dutillet, Mémoire pour sevir à l'Histoire de la Fête des Fous; D. Sacchi, Delle Feste popolari del medio Evo. During the latter half of the 16th century, the first Hannoverian minister received only 200 thalers salary and pieces of clothing, while the wedding of a certain von Saldern cost 5,600 thalers. (Spittler, Gesch. Hannovers, I, 333.)