Human Affairs
King Before Concubine
“Can we guess what affection for his monarch burned in this soldier, who reckoned it better to risk his safety in obvious danger rather than save himself for pleasure.” […]
Genre
Human Affairs
The Disrespect of Marie de France
“But just because spiteful tittle-tattlers attempt to find fault with me, I do not intend to give up.” […]
Britons and Celts
Ever Dance with the Devil in the Pale Moonlight?
“And constantly, for three days thereafter, there was a great bee come to her. And upon one morning, when she was changing her shirt, it did sit down upon her shoulder (she being naked) where she had one of the marks.” […]
Greek and Roman
There’s no Escaping Fate
“Cambyses bitterly lamented the cruelty of his lot, and when the Persians saw the king in tears, they tore their clothes, and showed their sympathy by a great deal of crying and groaning.” […]
Violence
When It Shall be OK to Torture
“What a splendid deed! The plunderers themselves were plundered and the torturers tortured with the same or even more pain than they had used to torture others.” […]
Viking
Hard Fighting Aboard Ship
“Herraud seized a large beam from the deck and smashed him in the nose, so that his helmet visor was driven into his face, his nose broken and all his teeth knocked out.” […]
Eastern Europe
The Death of the Old Gods
There was joy in heaven and upon earth to behold so many souls saved. But the devil groaned, lamenting, “Woe is me! How am I driven out hence! For I thought to have my dwelling-place here.” […]
History
All Hail King Doggy
“Now the dog was, by witchcraft, gifted with three men’s wisdom; and when he barked, he spoke one word and barked two.” […]
Supernatural
A God-Given Double
“He himself was amazed, unconscious as he was of having earned praise, and in the end with difficulty realized that the Lord had supplied him with a substitute.” […]
Greek and Roman
The Strongest Emperor of Them All
“Thereupon Maximinus threw sixteen attendants with so great ease that he conquered them one by one without taking any rest by pausing between the bouts.” […]