ACT the SECONDwherein the noble COUNT reccollects old WOUNDS   They overtook the lead elements of the army four miles up the road. The host was crossing the new canal between the Brenta and the Bacchiglione. Here they caught up with the commander of the foot soldiers, Vanni Scornigiani. Called...

THE SHOEMAKER'S SON a Tale of Illyriawherein the HANDSOME KNIGHT discovers true LONGING   Lyons, France1 October, 1316   The banners were so red they might have been made of actual flame. They snaked out, unfurling with a hearty crack before whipping back under the fury of the mighty...

ACT the THIRDwherein the FLEEING KNIGHT finds REFUGE in ART   Bursting through a stand of pines growing at the river’s mouth, Antony considered making a run across the bridge, but caution made him lie down and watch. He’d been running flat out for five minutes and needed to regain his brea...

ACT the SECONDwherein the DARING KNIGHT shows POOR MANNERS   “I’ve got it arranged,â€� murmured Uncle Arnaldo, edging in beside Antony. “The old man’s name is Gremio. Turns out he’s a jilted suitor for this Bianca trollop, and eager to distract himself by making a nice fat profit.â€�...

Capulet: How long is’t now since last yourself and I were in a mask? Old Man: By’r lady, thirty years. Capulet: What, man! ‘tis not so much, ‘tis not so much: ‘Tis since the nuptial of Lucentio, Come Pentecost as quickly as it will, Some five and twenty years; and then we...

I don't want to say too much about this project, as it's something I'll probably get back to at a later date, though perhaps in a very different form. But William Shakespeare's "lost years are a continuing source of puzzlement, so I thought I would have some fun with them. One Lancashire, July ...

Chapter Eight I finished my steak and Kitty brought me another beer and we talked about all kinds of things – the weather, the town, a new horse I was thinking of buying. We’d been talking awhile when one of the two cowboys came over and asked Kitty for a dance. “She’s busy,� I said. “Bu...

Chapter Seven The Texas Trail was along Front Street, down by the Longhorn and the Oasis, kitty-corner to the Allafraganza. I’ve always liked saloons. There’s something very comfortable there. You always know what you’re going to get there - booze, cards, and girls. I suppose as a peace office...

Chapter Six It was about an hour later, and cooling off just a little. There was a breeze. Dust motes floated in the air. “Guess the funeral’s over,� said Chester. “There’ll be others,� I said. “Funny, though,� said Chester. “Now I miss that bell. Awful quiet, ain’t it? It’s ab...

Chapter Four I had a problem. I had to do some investigating. Figuring why the Dutchman had shot Clay wasn’t that hard – the reward – but figuring why Clay had tried to rob the bank in the first place was still eating away at me. Clay was dead, and most would say that ended things. But there w...