Human Affairs
Rockstar of the Dark Ages
“Inside this tent was the maiden who surpassed in beauty the lily – clad only in her shift. Her body was well formed and handsome. Her side was uncovered, as well as her face, neck and breast.” […]
12th Century AD
Greek and Roman
To Shame a Pope
“But a Christian took away as prey that which no Christian had ever been heard to take.” […]
Eastern Europe
Saint Olga Outwits Her Suitor
“Then the Emperor said, “Olga, you have outwitted me.” He gave her many gifts of gold, silver, silks, and various vases, and dismissed her, still calling her his daughter.” […]
History
The Founding of the Templars
“By persuasion, prayer and every means in his power, he induced all such pilgrims as were men of arms either to surrender themselves for life to the service of the Lord in that place, or at least to devote themselves for a time.” […]
Violence
A Kiss or a Kill
THE SCENE: After the Spanish General El Cid defeated the army of King Bucar of Morocco, he pursued the fleeing monarch to the sea. After cornering Bucar, El Cid offered him one chance at surrender: […]
Britons and Celts
A Poison-Proof Isle
“They found toads brought in by chance in the bottom of the holds. They threw them out still living on to the land; but immediately they turned their bellies up, burst in the middle, and died, while everybody saw and wondered.” […]
Supernatural
The Taxonomy of Magic
“It is not surprising that barbarians yields to their weird hocus-pocus and were led into the rites of a debased religion, since even the intelligent Romans were reduced into worshiping similar mortals with divine honours.” […]
Supernatural
A Supernatural Secret
“Lady,” he said, “in God’s name, have mercy on me! If I tell you this, great harm will come to me. For as a result I shall lose your love and destroy myself.” […]
Greek and Roman
One Family Humbles Two Empires
“The princes hesitated over what to do. Should they abandon a great and costly expedition without hope of recovering their losses? Or should they allow the lord pope, the City and the church be cast into slavery, or rather destroyed?” […]
Eastern Europe
The Old Gods and the New
“Messengers thus came and said to the father, “Since the lot has fallen upon your son, the gods have claimed him as their own. Let us therefore make sacrifice to the gods.”” […]