Passages whose most notable feature is their humor – whether it is intentional or otherwise.
Britons and Celts
The Man Who Farted
On his return the queen welcomed him home and said, “My lord, I had forgot the fart”. […]
Humor
Humor
Wrestling With Power
” Kjartan plunged into the river and made for this man who was the best swimmer, and forced him under water at once and held him there for a while before letting go of him. No sooner had they come to the surface than this man seized hold of Kjartan and pulled him down, and they stayed under for what seemed to Kjartan a very reasonable time. They surfaced for a second time, and still they exchanged no words.” […]
Greek and Roman
The Emperor in the Bath
“But on another day when several old men were rubbing themselves on the wall to arouse the emperor’s generosity, he ordered them to be called out and to rub each other down in turn.” […]
Humor
When Wooing Goes Wrong
“When the last of the men had left, the queen got up. She shaved off all his hair and smeared him with tar. Next, she took a leather sack made for sleeping and placed some clothes in it. After that she grabbed hold of the king and stuffed him into the sack. ” […]
Greek and Roman
The Gullible Emperor
“But as he bowed his head and brought his mouth near to the mouth of one of the brothers, this one seized him firmly by the hair and the other brother cut off his head.” […]
Humor
An Axe to the Bottle-Back
“. It was very dark and as he was walking down from the boat-shed Thorfinn ran up to him and struck him between the shoulder blades with an axe, which sunk in with a squelch.” […]
Humor
The Honor of Audun Chicken
“The Earl said he had no money with him and asked to be able to pay later. Then Asgrim pressed the point of his spear against the Earl’s chest and told him to pay up at once.” […]
Humor
The Smell of Royalty
And indeed, I was extremely glad when the fragrance of the king wafted towards me and there was a festival every day because I was so glad. Also the entire country was in awe of my lord when it heard about the sweet fragrance and the kind messenger who had come to me. […]
Britons and Celts
A Respectful Difference of Opinion
“It appears that whatever Geoffrey has written either of Arthur, or his successors, or predecessors, is a fiction, invented either by himself or by others, and promulgated either through an unchecked propensity to falsehood, or a desire to please the Britons, of whom vast numbers are said to be so stupid as to assert that Arthur is yet to come.” […]
Humor
Talking Back to the Boss
“These three men are all drunkards! When they are intoxicated, nobody can make them turn their iron daggers away from an adversary.” […]