Medieval Mentality
The Remarkable Beasts of The Nile
“The bites which it makes are huge and severe and it lacerates terribly with its claws, and whatever part of the flesh it tears it renders altogether difficult to heal.” […]
Genre
Britons and Celts
A Couple of Poets Get Dirty and Personal
“Cunt-bit, sorry shit, worthless git, hardened hide / Wasted wether, tawdry tether, evil adder: I defy you” […]
Britons and Celts
Everybody’s Heard of Merlin
“Even that rustic prophet Merlin, a marvelous visionary who foretold the whole future of the English, spoke well of him in a mighty proclamation with a fine and truthful style.” […]
Greek and Roman
A “Bone-Deep” Commitment to Rooting out Corruption
“The sentence was immediately executed, and the skin of the culprit nailed upon the seat of judgment, as an awful warning to others to avoid a similar offence.” […]
Britons and Celts
Bloodthirsty Gawain
“Gawain swung round and, with the sword which he brandished, clove him through the helm and head to his chest, bidding him, when he got to hell, to tell Quintillianus that this was why the Britons were so good at boasting and making threats.” […]
Britons and Celts
King Arthur the Barber
“Spoke Arthur, ‘Though you may not remain here, chieftain, you will get whatever boon might be named by your head and your tongue.'” […]
History
A Nefarious Betrayal
“The king had marked Hiarvarth’s arrival with the luxury of a sumptuous feast at which he caroused freely, while his guests, contrary to their habit, avoided excessive drinking.” […]
Greek and Roman
Land of the Winged Snake
“While the male is in the act of procreation and as soon as he has ejaculated his seed, the female seizes him by the neck, and does not let go until she has bitten through.” […]
Greek and Roman
Medieval Lie Detector
“Then, in a careless tone, adverting to the person whom she was presumed to love, her pulse immediately quickened to a surprising degree, and acquired a feverish heat.” […]
Britons and Celts
Plague of Toads
“They chose a tall tree, cut off all its branches and removed all its leaves. Then they hoisted him up to the top in a bag. He was still not safe from his venomous assailants. The toads crawled up the tree looking for him.” […]