THE SCENE: King Athisl rejoiced to hear the news that King Rolf – who had once stabbed Athisl in the buttocks – had been killed. However, in a cruel twist of fate, Athisl’s archenemy managed to inflict one final defeat on him.
THE TEXT: But Athisl was cut off by an ignominious death. For whilst, in great jubilation of spirit, he was honouring the funeral rites of Rolf with a feast, he drank too greedily, and paid for his filthy intemperance by his sudden end. And so, while he was celebrating the death of another with immoderate joviality, he forced on his own apace.
– Gesta Danorum, Saxo Grammaticus, 12th Century AD
