Re: Old Norse (was Re: New to the list)

On Sat, 17 Jun 2000, Oskar Gudlaugsson wrote:

> >But I know they _had_ them, and it seems attached to the house, to
> >boot! But I expect an Icelandic winter night is no time to be
> >wandering about outside searching for the loo.
>
> Actually I'm sure you'll find scenes including the toilet in an Icelandic
> sagas. It's just their kind of humour, say, something were a poor fellow is
> murdered while sitting on the toilet, unable to reach his sword in time ;)
>
> Oskar

And that's why I prefer the Sagas to, say Old English literature, in
whcih no one ever goes to the bathroom, has sex, or insults anyone with
anything worse than "aren't you that foolish Beowulf who with Brecca
contended on the waves . . . ?"

My favorite Old Norse insult, btw, is:  "Every third night you turn into
a mare and are serviced by the giant who lives in the hills."

>
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