History
Swindled by a Starving Man
“When his companions met him and realized what he had done, some of his friends began to laugh at him, while other censured him, but all agreed that he was out of his mind.” […]
Trickery
Human Affairs
Choosing Greed Over Victory
“You would have gazed stupefied at the loathsome nature of their greed, this extravagant exhibition of rapacity.” […]
Human Affairs
Beware Vikings at Play
“They kept pushing the other players around, hitting out at some and knocking them flat. In the evening three had broken arms, and a good many others were bruised and maimed. The Earl’s men felt they’d been given a rough time of it.” […]
Humor
Viking Gallows Humor
“At that very moment he pulled his head away sharply so that the blow fell on the man who was holding the hair and cut off both arm at the elbows.” […]
Britons and Celts
An Anglo-Saxon Riddle
“Allowed to become proud, however, he proves ungrateful.” […]
Greek and Roman
Medieval Lie Detector
“Then, in a careless tone, adverting to the person whom she was presumed to love, her pulse immediately quickened to a surprising degree, and acquired a feverish heat.” […]
Supernatural
High-Stakes World of Smith Apprenticeship
“If the dwarfs want to murder you before I come back, take the sword and defend yourself with it, and let me find out that I have a son and not a daughter.” […]