The Priest and the Mulberries part 1
The Priest and the MulberriesAnonymous: 12th or 13th CenturyPractically nothing is known of the author of this pleasant little Fabliau. Compared with the great majority of surviving stories of its kind, it is remarkably...
The Matron of Ephesus
Petronius (Died 66 A.D.)Gaius Petronius Arbiter was born some time early in the First Century of the Christian era, and committed suicide in the year 66. Writer, government official, dilettante and friend of Nero,...
The Jackal
The Jackal (Anonymous: 14th Century A.D., or earlier)Nothing is known of the author of the Hitopadesa, a manual of didac-tic fables composed—on the basis of the Panchatantra—before the year 1373 A.D.The present story—which has...
Horatius at the Bridge
Ancient RomeIt is a commonplace of literary history that Roman art was largely imitated or derived from the Greek, and in particular that Roman literature contributed little to the world`s store of masterpieces. Yet...
King Rhampsinitus and the Thief
Herodotus (484—424 B.C.)Herodotus, the Father of History, is celebrated as a teller of tales. These he introduced into his History partly for purposes of elucidation and example, but partly also because he enjoyed writing...
Little Briarrose part 3
After long, long years, there came again a kings` son to that country, and heard how an old man told about the briar hedge; that there was a castle behind it, in which a...
Little Briarrose part 2
The king, who wanted to save his dear child from harm, sent out an order that all the spindles in the kingdom should be burned. But in the girl the gifts of the wise...
Little Briarrose part 1
Jakob Grimm (1775 – 1863) Wilhelm Grimm (1776 – 1859)The Brothers Grimm, as they are still affectionately called, were both scholars of high repute, and both professors at the University of Berlin.Though they contributed...
The Fury part 12
She laid the handkerchief in the basket, and also the cross, and closed the lid. But when he looked into her face, he started. Great heavy drops were rolling down her cheeks; she let...
The Fury part 11
She took his hand, that was not able to prevent her, and unbound the linen. When she saw the swelling, she shuddered, and gave a cry:“Jesus Maria!”“It is a little swollen,” he said; “it...