Humor
An Annoying Devil
“The Pope crossed himself before taking meat, and at that moment Doctor Faustus did blow hard into his face. Every time the Pope crossed himself, Faustus would blow into his face again.” […]
Trickery
Human Affairs
Forbidden Love and Swan Abuse
“Milun and his beloved maintained this way of life for twenty years. The swan acted as messenger. They had no other intermediary and they starved it before releasing it. Whoever received the swan fed it, of course. They came together on a number of occasions.” […]
Viking
Crazy Beats Good
“He rowed up to the enemy fleet at night, bored the bottoms of their ships with an auger, and to prevent a sudden in-rush of the sea plugged the gaping holes with the pins he had provided, temporarily repairing the damage.” […]
Humor
The Sexual Adventures of a Damned Magician
“He had lain with them naked and was certainly a man in all parts, except that they had not been able to understand his tongue. The wives said he had been very kind to them and had served them masterfully, once or six times–nay, even more often–in a night.” […]
Humor
A Farcical Killing
“Sinfjotli took the horn and said: “There is poison in this drink.” Sigmund answered: “Filter it through your mustache, son.” Sigmund was quite drunk, and therefore he talked in this way. Sinfjotli drank and at once fell to the ground. Sigmund rose and his sorrow was almost his death.” […]
Britons and Celts
An Assassin in the Family
“As she passed in front of Brian, he immediately recognized her. He called to her in a low voice, bursting into tears as he did so.” […]
Humor
A Scoundrel of the Highest Order
“He nervously toiled and schemed how he might enter the castle, taking various disguises as sometimes on horse, sometimes on foot, he pretended to be a jongleur or prostitute.” […]
History
The Revenge of a Doomed Man
“Rightly am I made odious to all men”, replied Iring, “because I have obeyed your treachery, but before I take my departure I will wipe out this guilt of mind by avenging my lord”. […]
Humor
A Vulgar Guessing Game
“May it roast in the fires of Hell!
You’ve grabbed your wiener, I surmise.” […]
Viking
A Killer in the Dark
“Gisli then pulled the bedclothes off them with one hand, and with the other he plunged his spear through Thorgrim so that he stuck fast in the bed.” […]