History
The Wrath of Louis the Fat
“Thus he humbled the man beneath the powerful arm of God, whose affair it was, and made Drogo subject to the dominion of his will like some bedridden patient.” […]
Duel
Eastern Europe
Warming Up with Some Bull-Killing
“The bull ran past the youth, and he seized the beast’s flank with his hand. He thus pulled off the skin along with as much flesh as he could grasp. Then Vladimir remarked, “You are well qualified to do combat with the champion.”” […]
Human Affairs
Bone Throwing Only Leads to Trouble
“Biarki flung the bone back at the sender, twisting the front of the fellow’s head towards the back and vice versa, so that he punished his crooked nature by giving him distorted features.” […]
Violence
Sworn through Sword
“Both lances were broken. They both leapt off their horses and drew their swords. They came together and fought so bravely that neither wanted to flee from the other, not even as far as a foot is wide.” […]
Human Affairs
Lovestruck on the Battlefield
“Sohrab bore down on her again and snatched her helmet from her head; her hair streamed out, and her face shone like a splendid sun. He saw that his opponent was a woman, one whose hair was worthy of a diadem.” […]
History
Roland’s Mighty Blow
“Down through the saddle with gold inlaid, till sank in the living horse the blade, severed the spine where no joint was found, and horse and rider lay dead on ground.”
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Britons and Celts
Bloodthirsty Gawain
“Gawain swung round and, with the sword which he brandished, clove him through the helm and head to his chest, bidding him, when he got to hell, to tell Quintillianus that this was why the Britons were so good at boasting and making threats.” […]
Orient
One-on-one Demon Combat
“He sprang forward like a maddened elephant and slashed with his sharp sword at the demon’s trunk. The force of his blow severed a leg at the thigh, but the wounded demon attacked him, and the two locked together like an elephant and a lion.” […]
Viking
Starkad Chooses His Death
“When the severed head struck the ground, it is said to have bitten the earth; thus the fury of the dying lips declared the fierceness of the soul.” […]