Human Affairs
A Medieval Heartbreaker
“They all had such great merit that she was unable to choose the best, yet she did not wish to lose all three in order to retain just one.” […]
Issues
Violence
Death Before Minor Shame
“Almighty God forbid, and all His angels, that France should lose her fame because of me! I’d much prefer to die than come to shame; for fighting well, the emperor will love us.” […]
History
Cleanliness Goes Before A Fall
“For while he was reading, a spider came down from the ceiling by a thread, hooked itself on to the deacon’s head, and then ran up again. The most observant Charles saw this happen a second and a third time, but pretended not to notice it.” […]
Human Affairs
The Importance of Fashion Sense
“Thord smiled and said, “I have a good solution for this. Make him a shirt with such a wide neck-opening that by wearing it he gives you grounds for divorcing him.”” […]
Britons and Celts
Salvation Through Suffering
“They say that if a person once undergoes these torments because of a penance imposed on him, he will not have to endure the pains of hell – unless he commit some very serious sin.” […]
Viking
The Killings Cancel Out
“Steinthor was at the forefront of his troop, striking on both sides, but the ornamented sword was not much good whenever it hit a shield, and he had to keep straightening it out under his foot.” […]
Britons and Celts
A Cunning King
“Dunvallo found himself still as far as ever from victory. He summoned six hundred of his boldest young men and ordered them to strip the arms from those of their enemies who lay dead around them and then to put those same arms on.” […]
Human Affairs
Wisdom of a Valkyrie
“If you hear foolish words from drunken men, do not dispute with those who are drunk on wine and have lost their wits. To many men such things bring much grief or even death.” […]
Human Affairs
Dangers of Courtship
“t would be less dangerous for a man to court every lady in an entire land than for a lady to remove a single besotted lover from her skirts, for he will immediately attempt to strike back.” […]
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.” […]