Supernatural
Saint Durable
” He replied to the Emperor somewhat sternly, and was cast to the beasts but was unhurt by them. Then he was cast into the midst of a fiery oven, but the flames were put out by an angel and he emerged unhurt.” […]
Western Europe
Supernatural
The Currency of God’s Esteem
“Narses the patrician of Italy came to the city with many treasures, and there in his dwelling he secretly dug a great cistern in which he deposited many thousand centenaria of gold and silver. And when all who knew of the matter had been killed, he entrusted these to the care of one old man only, exacting from him an oath.” […]
Human Affairs
Sports With Deadly Stakes
“They went out onto the field. Walter took a stone that weighed 2 ship-pounds, and he threw it 9 feet. Then Detsleff threw 10 feet. So Walter threw 13 feet. Detsleff threw 14 feet. Then Walter didn’t want to play that game any more.” […]
Human Affairs
Race and Color in the 16th Century
“How many there are in the world who run from others because they do not see themselves in them.” […]
Humor
Who Cares What the Crows Think?
“These crows are hardly four years old, while I have campaigned against the Saracens for more than twenty years and know the science and means of warfare better than them.” […]
Human Affairs
#BeggarHacks
“Speaking of the good there was in my blind man, your Honour must know that since God created the world He has not made a being more astute and sagacious.” […]
Medieval Mentality
Tricks of a Charlatan Priest
“My master raised his hands to heaven, and turned his eyes up until scarcely anything could be seen but the whites. He prayed to the Lord not to require the death of the sinner, but rather to give his life back.” […]
History
The Awkward Priest
“Soon the most kind king, thinking that he did not know how to sing it all, ordered them to help him. When the others sang and the wretched man could not learn the verse from anyone, having sung the responsory he began to chant the Lord’s Prayer in an elaborate way.” […]
Human Affairs
The Life and Doings of a Degenerate Priest
“That night the pardoner and the constable, after supper, sat down to play at cards, and they began to quarrel over the game, and make use of bad language. The pardoner called the constable a thief, and the constable called him a liar.” […]
Violence
Death with Honor
“Now, at the urging of King Attila, they seized Hogni and cut out his heart. Hogni’s strength was so immense that he laughed while he suffered this torture.” […]