Greek and Roman
Caesar’s Well-Forecasted Revenge
“Caesar went to Pergamum, took the robbers out of prison, and crucified them all, just as he had often warned them on the island that he would do, when they thought he was joking.” […]
Genre
History
The Sadness of an Impotent King
“The king’s sole remaining function was to sit back on his throne with flowing hair, his beard uncut, satisfied with the name of king and the appearance of ruling.” […]
Orient
A King’s Revenge Against Demons
“The world will not keep faith with you, nor will she show you her true face.” […]
Greek and Roman
The Trouble With Cannibals
“It is said to be their custom that when anyone of their fellows, whether man or woman, is sick, a man’s closest friends kill him, saying that if wasted by disease he will be lost to them as meat.” […]
Viking
Vagn Keeps His Vows
“The blow went over Vagn causing Thorkel to stumble. He lost his grip on the sword which cut the rope and set Vagn free. Vagn sprang up, seized the sword and slew Thorkell.” […]
Violence
Sworn through Sword
“Both lances were broken. They both leapt off their horses and drew their swords. They came together and fought so bravely that neither wanted to flee from the other, not even as far as a foot is wide.” […]
Greek and Roman
Even Herodotus Has His Limits
“The bald men say, but it does not seem to me credible, that the people who live in these mountains have feet like goats.” […]
Human Affairs
Lovestruck on the Battlefield
“Sohrab bore down on her again and snatched her helmet from her head; her hair streamed out, and her face shone like a splendid sun. He saw that his opponent was a woman, one whose hair was worthy of a diadem.” […]
History
Charlemagne the Big-Hearted
“Say, sire, what grief doth your heart oppress?”
“To ask,” he said, “brings worse distress; I cannot but weep for heaviness. […]
History
Throwing Bones in the Court of the King
“They decreed that he should be seated last of all, and pelted with bones at any man’s pleasure.” […]