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.” […]
Trickery
Greek and Roman
Dangerous Dolls
“Once when Theophilos was infuriated with his wife, and asked the court fool whether “mama” was still kissing her pretty dolls, setting his hand to his lips, the fellow replied: “Hush emperor, hush! Not a word about the dolls!”” […]
Humor
No! Not the Bees!
“But the latter is said to have had at hand many hives of bees, which he broke open and let loose against the duke’s horsemen. The bees tormented the horses with their sings, and made them mad, so that their riders began to be imperiled.” […]
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.” […]
Viking
Boy Vs. Bear
“They had not been there for long when they heard a loud crack from the woods, and suddenly they say an incredibly huge and savage-looking bear. It was a great bear, wolf-grey in color.” […]
Human Affairs
Noble Thieves; Just Deserts
“When Hading came home from his Swedish campaigns he found that the treasury in which he usually stowed the proceeds of his warfare and plundering had been broken into and riffled. He immediately hanged his guard, Glumer, and devised a cunning scheme. ” […]
History
Enemies (and Friends) in Unusual Places
” “Tell me, what have I done to you, Infantes of Carrion? I have kept faith with you and in return you have plotted my death. If I did not forbear for the sake of the Cid, Rodrigo of Vivar, I should exact such vengeance as would startle the world.” […]
Humor
A Spurious Speywife
“When her people indicated that strangers were coming to her, she would lurk in her chamber to hear why they were traveling and where they were coming from and other details which her people astutely asked about.” […]
Britons and Celts
A King Conspires Against Himself
“Elidurus ordered his servants, who had been forewarned of this, to seize each man as he came in and to cut off his head if he would not swear allegiance a second time to his brother Archgallo.” […]
Supernatural
A Violent Brew
“And with this nourishment and [the brothers’] persuasion and everything else, Guttorm became so violent and fierce that he promised to do the deed.” […]