Britons and Celts
The Man Who Farted
On his return the queen welcomed him home and said, “My lord, I had forgot the fart”. […]
Humiliation
Humor
When Wooing Goes Wrong
“When the last of the men had left, the queen got up. She shaved off all his hair and smeared him with tar. Next, she took a leather sack made for sleeping and placed some clothes in it. After that she grabbed hold of the king and stuffed him into the sack. ” […]
Humor
Talking Back to the Boss
“These three men are all drunkards! When they are intoxicated, nobody can make them turn their iron daggers away from an adversary.” […]
Humor
A Strangely Insulting Gift
“The Dalmacians, knowing that the Saxons were ready for them, threw them a very fat dog as a gift.” […]
Uncategorized
To Humble the Great and Mighty
“The third annoyance was this, that free license was given, upon that day of triumph, to utter the most galling reproaches, and the most cutting sarcasms, against the victor while enjoying his triumph.” […]
Humor
A Fate Worse Than Death
“He turned him over to a hundred comrades, the best and worst together, from the kitchen. These men plucked out his beard and moustache, and each one hit him four times with his fist.” […]
Humor
A Bullying Bishop
“Then he snatched the head-covering from his captive and cried to the people: “Lo and behold, all ye people: this lazy fellow is red-headed.”” […]
Humor
Brave as a Lion… or Not
“The Cid leaned on his elbow and rose to his feet, and leaving his cloak over his shoulder he walked towards the lion. When the lion saw him, it was so taken aback that it hung its head and nosed the ground. Don Rodrigo took it by the neck, let it along with his right hand and put it in the net.” […]
Human Affairs
A Icelandic Marital Spat
“You have a choice – either you take me in and act as if nothing has happened or I will call witnesses this minute, divorce you and have my father reclaim my bride-price and my dowry. Then you wouldn’t have to worry about my taking up room in your bed ever again.” […]
Viking
A Clumsy Assassin
“He had tasseled shoe-laces, as was the custom then, and one of the laces had become untied so that the tassel trailed along the ground.” […]