Through the Ages

Introduction

“Through the Ages” is a story that delves into the past lives and loves of the narrator, who recounts various incarnations and encounters with women across different historical periods and cultures. The narrative spans from ancient times to the early modern era, highlighting the varied and often tumultuous relationships the narrator experienced. Unfinished, 800 words.

Summary

The story opens with the narrator reflecting on the women he has known through various lifetimes. He describes these women as ranging from pure and gentle to deceitful and dangerous. His experiences span different eras and cultures, illustrating a cycle of love, conflict, and sometimes violence.

In the earliest memory, the narrator is a primitive man in the forest of Ohk, capturing a fierce, black-haired woman and taking her to his cave. Her resistance and wild nature make taming her a significant challenge.

As a slave in ancient Egypt, the narrator falls in love with a gentle Berber girl. When an officer of Ramses tries to take her, the narrator kills the officer and flees with her to Nubia, showing his willingness to fight for love despite his lowly status.

In Assyria, the narrator is a powerful lord who captures a Midianite woman. Despite his efforts, he cannot break her spirit, and she remains defiant until he eventually tires of her and gives her to one of his captains.

During the sack of Rome by Brennus, the narrator captures a Vestal Virgin who cleverly escapes him through a secret door, highlighting the cunning and resilience of some of the women he encounters.

In the sack of Corinth, a black-eyed Greek woman stabs the narrator, demonstrating the lethal risks he faces in his romantic pursuits.

In medieval England, the narrator is a Saxon churl whose wife is seduced and taken by his feudal lord. In revenge, he burns the castle and eventually becomes a wandering, enslaved man.

Joining Alaric the Goth, the narrator participates in another sack of Rome, finding his sister captive and subsequently driven to a frenzy of violence. He later captures a Roman girl who eventually returns his kindness with love, showing a rare instance of mutual affection.

As a hermit-monk in medieval France, the narrator kidnaps a peasant girl, leading to a confrontation with the villagers. He writes a book about his experience, blaming the devil for his actions, reflecting his internal struggle with guilt and desire.

Sailing with the pirate Morgan, the narrator captures and then sells a Spanish girl, only to realize his love for her after selling her. He kills her new owner to reclaim her, displaying his intense and conflicting emotions.

While serving as the mate of the pirate L’Ollonnais, the narrator becomes involved with a sinful Italian girl. Their relationship is marked by violence and jealousy, culminating in him killing her in a fit of rage.

In the court of the Plantagenets, the narrator’s affair with the king’s mistress leads to both their executions, illustrating the peril of aiming too high in love.

Leading a horde down the Khyber Pass, the narrator’s invasion is halted by his infatuation with an Indian princess, showing how love can divert even the most determined warrior.

Characters

  • Narrator: The central figure who recounts his experiences across different lifetimes and cultures, reflecting on the various women he has known.
  • Black-haired woman from the forest of Ohk: A fierce and wild woman whom the narrator captures and tries to tame.
  • Berber slave girl: A gentle-eyed maiden in ancient Egypt who inspires the narrator to violent rebellion.
  • Midianite woman: A defiant captive in Assyria who never yields to the narrator’s will.
  • Vestal Virgin: A clever woman who escapes the narrator during the sack of Rome by Brennus.
  • Greek woman from Corinth: A black-eyed beauty who wounds the narrator.
  • Narrator’s Saxon wife: A passionate young woman taken by a feudal lord, prompting the narrator’s vengeful actions.
  • Sister of the narrator (during Alaric the Goth’s sack of Rome): A captive whose plight drives the narrator to a frenzy.
  • Roman girl: A captive who eventually returns the narrator’s kindness with love.
  • Peasant girl (during the narrator’s time as a hermit-monk): A young girl kidnapped by the narrator, leading to a confrontation with villagers.
  • Spanish girl: A proud beauty captured and sold by the narrator, who later kills to reclaim her.
  • Italian girl: A young but sinful woman involved with the narrator while serving L’Ollonnais, ultimately killed by him.
  • King’s mistress (Plantagenet court): The narrator’s lover whose affair leads to their execution.
  • Indian princess: A captive who turns back the narrator’s horde, defeating him with her influence.

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