Greek and Roman
A Ban on Good Hair
“So he published an edict that everywhere men should cut their hair close to the skin and that no Roman should be permitted to wear his hair below the neck.” […]
Genre
Humor
A Bullying Bishop
“Then he snatched the head-covering from his captive and cried to the people: “Lo and behold, all ye people: this lazy fellow is red-headed.”” […]
Human Affairs
An Everyday Killing
“Gudrun was wearing a tunic with a tight-fitting woven bodice, and a tall head-dress, and round her waist she had tied a fringed sash with dark blue stripes. Helgi Harbeinsson went up to her and took one end of the sash and wiped the blood off the spear with which he had run Bolli through.” […]
Britons and Celts
My Boyfriend is a Lion
“Soothing him with a woman’s tricks, she led him wherever he wanted and changed all his fury immediately into love.” […]
Supernatural
A Quickly Dispatched Dragon
“The dragon was returning to its cave after quenching its thirst as Frothi’s weapons struct, but its hard prickly exterior made light of it.” […]
Humor
An Annoying Devil
“The Pope crossed himself before taking meat, and at that moment Doctor Faustus did blow hard into his face. Every time the Pope crossed himself, Faustus would blow into his face again.” […]
Britons and Celts
Stubbornness of a Virgin King
“Constrained rather than overcome by the entreaties of his mother, that he might not distress her, he yielded a seeming compliance. Joyously attending on her son when he had retired to bed, she placed by his unresisting side a beautiful and noble virgin.” […]
Viking
A Tense Standoff
“Then Bjorn made a clever move, taking the knife and walking quickly over towards them. With one hand he grabbed Snorri’s cloak-sleeve when he came up to them, and with the other he grasped the knife and held it as if he were ready to plunge it into Snorri’s chest if he felt like it.” […]
Humor
Brave as a Lion… or Not
“The Cid leaned on his elbow and rose to his feet, and leaving his cloak over his shoulder he walked towards the lion. When the lion saw him, it was so taken aback that it hung its head and nosed the ground. Don Rodrigo took it by the neck, let it along with his right hand and put it in the net.” […]
Human Affairs
Facial Hair Diplomacy
“The adult men of the land of Gog and Magog are beardless. When a man with a full beard enters their country, the king, who is of the line of Gog and Magog, orders his beard plucked out.” […]