Viking
The Most Famous Last Stand of All
“They attacked harder than every, thrusting at Gisli with their spears until guts spilled out. Gisli gathered the guts up together in his shirt, and bound them with a cord.” […]
13th Century AD
Britons and Celts
The Hairy Men of Ireland
“It had the human shape, however, in every detail, both as to hands and face and feet; but the entire body was covered with hair as the beasts are, and down the back it had a long coarse mane like that of a horse.” […]
Human Affairs
A Model Viking Wife
“I want to make a deal with you, Aud,” he said. “You tell me where Gisli is and I will give you three hundred pieces of silver, which I have received as the price on his head. In addition, I will arrange a marriage for you that will be superior in every way to this one.” […]
Britons and Celts
The World’s Gone Upside Down
“The site, too, was overturned, so that those parts of the earth which had formerly pointed downwards were now turned upward; and all the houses and halls were turned town into the earth and thus it has been ever since.” […]
Humor
A Bumbling Spy
“At that very moment, Thorgerd returned and Helgi turned round quickly and fell off the partition. Thorgerd asked him what he was doing climbing up the rafters instead of lying still. He said he was so racked with pains in his joints that he could not lie still.” […]
Human Affairs
Respect Thy Elders
“It is always a great comfort to me that I shall leave much wealth for my own true son to enjoy after my days but should scarcely regard him as a son, though I had begotten him, if he were a fool.” […]
Humor
A Shrew Saves the Day
” They continued to search the place even so, but not as carefully as they might have done if they had not had to suffer such a torrent of abuse from the farmer’s wife. Having found nothing, they left and wished the farmer well.” […]
Britons and Celts
The Bodies Keep Piling Up
THE SCENE: In this passage, King Hakon IV of Norway describes to his son the wonders of the undead residents of Ireland. THE TEXT: There is a little island in Ireland. Which the natives call […]
Greek and Roman
The Downsides of Kingship
At night he entered the bed-chamber, and beheld a very superb couch, full of sharp razors. “What!” exclaimed he, “am I to sleep in this bed?” “Even so, my lord,” replied the attendants; “for in this bed all our kings have laid, and have perished.” […]
Medieval Mentality
The Land of Beer Abundance
It is told about this spring, or the water flowing from it, that it tastes exactly like ale and is very abundant. It is also said that if drunk to excess, it goes into one’s head.” […]