Britons and Celts
The Fate of the Dog-Monkeys
“Again in our time a bitch near here had a litter by a monkey and produced puppies which were ape-like in front but more like a dog behind.” […]
Regions
Supernatural
Odin Strikes Out
“But no services could assuage the wrath of Rinda; when he was fain to kiss her she cuffed him. For this stubborn-hearted maiden never doubted that the crafty old man was feigning generosity in order to seize an opening to work his lust.” […]
Medieval Mentality
Wisdom Wins the Day
“The twelve tall trees, each of which had thirty branches, are the twelve months of the year; twelve times the moon is renewed in her place, like a new king seated on his thrones, and each month has thirty days; this is how time passes.” […]
Britons and Celts
A Heroic Last Gamble
“. The duke spurred on his horse, and aimed a blow at him, but he stooped, and so escaped the stroke; then jumping on one side, he lifted his hatchet aloft, and as the duke bent to avoid the blow, the Englishman boldly struck him on the head, and beat in his helmet, though without doing much injury.” […]
Eastern Europe
Kill or Be Killed
“But this captain was not able to burn it on account of resistance from the villagers, and then he came back to Dracula and said: ‘I wasn’t able to carry out what you ordered me to do.'” […]
Greek and Roman
The Wrath of Odysseus
“Incensed for the dead Odysseus speared him straight through one temple and out the other; punched the sharp bronze point and the dark came swirling thick across his eyes – down he crashed, armor clanging against his chest.” […]
Greek and Roman
Crappy Medicine
“So first, take wolf droppings, preferably from a wolf who has eaten bones; enclose them in an earthenware vessel and bind it on the right arm or shoulder.” […]
Greek and Roman
Undone by a Bull of his own Making
“The king highly applauded the invention, and said, “Friend, the value of thy industry is yet untried: more cruel even than the people account me, thou thyself shalt be the first victim.”” […]
History
The Role of a King
“Nevertheless, a king must be allowed to seek diversion now and then, either with hawks, hounds, horses, or weapons, so that his health and agility at arms or in any form of warfare may be preserved.” […]
Humor
Destroyed with a Tablet
Why do you not write me any letters, why do you not send me any oral message? Isn’t it in reality because people might say: “Perhaps that one [i.e. the writer of this letter] is higher in rank than she.” […]