The Gay Icon Classics of the World

by Robert Joseph Greene

  The court also had an official royal messenger named Bartoner. He was a local farmer’s son from the countryside. One day, he had to stay late since the court sessions ran long. It was well past midnight when it was finally turn to give the reports of the harvests and their progress. He was so tired that he knew he’d never make it back to the farm that night. He decided to secretly sleep in the royal stables.

  He was awoken by stirring from within the stable. As he turned, he witnessed firsthand Clovis performing favors on the Prince.When the prince left to relieve himself, Bartoner took it upon himself to warn Clovis.

  “I’ve seen these actions before,” said Bartoner, “the field hands indulge in your pleasure.” Clovis was infuriated by such spying and by such a commoner as Bartoner, the farm hand. “How dare you address me!” Said Clovis“Tomorrow I shall tell the prince and have you flogged.”

  “Pray pity on you Clovis; I only come to heed you warning that the prince is to marry. I heard of it today.”

  “Nonsense” said Clovis as he stormed from the stable.

  However, the next day, it was announced that a grand feast to mark the courtship of the Prince was announced. Simultaneously, Clovis was banished by royal command to the kitchen until after the wedding.

  During the royal reception, the prince requested raspberry tarts from the kitchen. It was reported that no raspberries were available. The prince used this news to publicly beat poor Clovis for failure to work in the kitchen. Clovis saw this outrage and from that point forward had nothing but hatred for the prince. Frustrated and humiliated, Clovis ran to the stables and cried.

  Bartoner was returning from royal court when he heard Clovis crying in the stables. He asked Clovis what was wrong. Clovis explained everything to him and admitted that Bartoner was right about the prince. Bartoner told Clovis not to worry and to go into town to have fresh berry tarts made by one of the cooks at the monastery. When the prince was presented the desserts, he accused Clovis of stealing them. However, Bartoner was present and stepped forward before the Prince. “It is I who brought these tarts, and therefore, I should be punished”

  “Very well,” said the prince.

  Bartoner was branded a knave and stripped of his duties. He collected his belongings from the farm where he lived, but had nowhere to go.

  So grateful was Clovis that his heart realized his shame, and he asked Bartoner to live with him and his father as an apprentice in the pantry. Bartoner agreed that they would both study the profession together, and all were happy except the Prince.

  Upon receiving his new bride to be, he realized he could not love her, for Clovis was his true heart’s desire. Years later, upon the king's death, the prince summoned Clovis to a place in his court. Clovis, whose father had also passed on, was now co-pastry chef with his true love, Bartoner. Clovis refused the new king in order to remain at Bartoner’s side, leaving the new king to be utterly miserable for life.

  And this is why we have the word Barton for the meaning of “farm hand”.

  THE END

  The Love of Falleron and Ibsen – Greece (during the Roman Era)

  By Robert Greene

  Falleron came from a farming village in central Greece. It was considered rural and the people simple. As a child, he was happy and free. His long, curly locks of hair contrasted with his masculine demeanor, which gave him an angelic appeal. Falleron was quick-witted, agile, and moody, although popular among kids his age. Falleron was selective about the children with whom he played. Only through sheer loneliness did he develop a tolerance for a local neighbor’s boy named Ibsen. Ibsen’s characteristics were quite opposite to Falleron's: Ibsen was very tall, strong, dim witted, and jovial. Ibsen found Falleron to be a boy genius and followed him everywhere. Ibsen knew him to be mentally challenged at learning skills. “Falleron you lazy son with big dreams, you must learn to work the farm with me,” Falleron’s father would often say while scolding Falleron’s refusal to help him. Falleron, as sharp as he was, convinced Ibsen to help his father in exchange for friendship. Ibsen obeyed, and all were happy.

  Falleron and Ibsen shared everything together. They watched the procession of Roman army men pass their village on the way to battle. Falleron and Ibsen snuck under the army tent, hid behind boxes, and watched the splendor of their ceremonies. They stayed for hours because Falleron insisted; he was enraptured by it all. Perhaps, they stayed a little longer than they should have, because as the night wore on the liquor flowed heavily and an orgy began to take hold on the hedonistic foreigners. Ibsen and Falleron weren’t naïve to such playful enjoyments, but to see it on such a massive scale was impressive.

  “Falleron what are you doing?” said Ibsen as he watched him emerge from the shadows into the lascivious crowd. Falleron strolled among the intertwined bodies until a plump, balding, naked man took him by the hand and led him into the orgy. Falleron was stripped of his clothing and devoured by all who were around him. Ibsen watched in horror. It was well into dawn when Falleron emerged to a patiently waiting Ibsen. Falleron was never the same again. The taste of noble pleasures was now the desire that ate at Falleron.

  For months afterwards, Falleron treated Ibsen poorly. He was even demeaning to the poor, loyal, dumb Ibsen. He teased Isben about his stutter and would often ask questions that would confuse him. It hurt Ibsen, but still he stayed loyal. To Ibsen, Falleron was pure beauty and intelligance, he was everything Ibsen wasn’t. Although Ibsen quickly developed during puberty into his own manly beauty, this was often overshadowed by his lack of intelligence. Ibsen went to Falleron to solve every complexity that crossed his path, even though to anyone else the solutions would have been simple. Falleron grew tired of this responsibility and would yell at Ibsen for being so stupid.

  By 16 years of age, Ibsen had developed into a striking, chiseled Adonis. He was the tallest and strongest man in the village. Falleron's beauty, although striking, paled in comparison to Ibsen’s.

  Greek village life grew tiring for Falleron. He wanted to shake such notions of himself as a simple Greek farmer’s son and quickly applied himself to lessons which would get him accepted for study in Rome. Coming from a poor family, Falleron knew he would need to be creative in finding the funds needed. The opportunity fell into his path with the next visit of Roman nobles. Falleron knew that moment in the tent would be repeated again by the pedophilic nobles wanting to taste innocent youth. However, this time his entry was blocked by a guard. “Peasant boy, stay away,” flashed the guard with his sword. “I've only come with a message to your lord,” said Falleron, angered by the guard's denial. Falleron knew he had to get someone from inside the tent to hear him so to overrule the guard. “ Tell him that I can bring him a man of great endowment and physique,” Falleron shouted hoping to be overheard by a courtier inside. It was heard by the right set of ears, but from behind him the town mayor know an opportunity when he saw it. “Ah yes, Falleron, you come with pleasure for our guests?” said the local mayor. Falleron knew the mayor was a greedy thief that would take any opportunity away from him, but Falleron was desperate. “Yes,” said Falleron, “Ibsen has many wonders which I think would delight this crowd.””

  “Then I shall wait here while you bring him to me, and we shall all go in as my guest. But remember, Falleron, you are a member of my party and shall follow my lead.” Falleron rushed back and found Ibsen in the field, working as Falleron should have been. “Come and make haste,” Falleron shouted. He was already annoyed with Ibsen and did not know why. Ibsen said a pleasant hello and obediently dropped what he was doing, can followed his companion. When they arrived, Falleron presented Ibsen to the waiting mayor. “Feast your eyes on this,” said Falleron and, without notice, tore away Ibsen’s loincloth to reveal a large flaccid penis whose proportions were large even in its relaxed state. Ibsen, embarrassed and confused, quickly grabbed his cloth to cover himself. “He shall more than do, Falleron. Good job,” said the mayor as he started to escort them into the tent. Ibsen recalled their c
hildhood foray into such a tent years ago and refused to go. Falleron, angry beat Ibsen furiously until he cried. “You shall do as I say or our friendship shall be no more! “ Falleron yelled. Ibsen wiped his face and, as always, obeyed

  As the mayor was announced to the noble, Ibsen took center stage. “My fair Roman nobles and statesmen, I bring you a man of such exquisite endowment that you’ll think I have dressed a stallion as a human.’ The crowd, once boisterous, looked at the simple mayor in wonderment. Just then, Falleron pushed a sobbing Ibsen to the Mayor. “Feast your eyes and mouths on this!” the mayor said. Taking his cue, Falleron pulled the loincloth once again from the sobbing Ibsen and revealed his treasure. The crowd gasped and immediately became aroused upon being touched, but only in action, not emotion, and the crowd fell into sexual excitement in which Ibsen inactively was a part of even to the point of ejaculation. Ibsen did not like it and didn’t want any of this to happen.

  Falleron, too, fell into the crowd but with a distinct mission of finding someone who would be more than useful to him. From that orgy, he had found a rich old merchant named Laudius who wanted to take him back to Rome as his lover. Under the guise of study, Falleron was released into the possession of the merchant and left for Rome immediately.

  Ibsen knew nothing of this deal as he saw Falleron on a cart leaving the village. “Falleron!, Falleron!” cried Ibsen chasing after the cart. “Where are you going?” Falleron looked back and replied “Away, forever!” Ibsen ran to catch up to the cart and finally managed to hang on, only to be tossed by Falleron. “Obey me, Ibsen. Don’t try and find me. Make a life for yourself for once!”

  If Falleron thought his life would be happy and complete in Rome with his new lover Laudius, he was sadly mistaken. Laudius was married to an ugly shrew of a woman who gave Laudius reason for his frequent travels. The villa was much smaller than Falleron had anticipated but his biggest problem was Laudius’ wife who ruled their home with an iron fist. Falleron was banished to the slave quarters, which had lower standards than Falleron had at home.

  Falleron made the best with what he had and focused on his studies. He quickly made a name for himself at the gymnasium and study halls. His wit and talents were talk about by many scholars, writers, and philosophers. He was often invited to parties and gatherings and, of course, he included Laudius in these functions. He knew not to bite the hand that fed him. The one key advantage Falleron had was that Laudius’ wife conscious of her limited beauty and even more limited demeanor, never ventured from the villa, giving Laudius the luxury of taking Falleron. Falleron and Laudius were the toast of Rome. Falleron even ventured to match wits at gala functions with such poets as Martial and Ovid, to the amusement of others.

  Life became idyllic and dreamlike for Falleron and, dare it be said, love and admiration grew between Laudius and Falleron. Some years later, Laudius’ wife died of what we know now as lead poisoning, but was then an unknown causes. Rumours spread that Falleron had killed her; Falleron joked that some concoction was created to make unfavoring wives favorable by death.

  Falleron quickly moved into the main villa and was able to throw his own lavish parties. Yes, all went well for at least a decade. Falleron was never mentioned without Laudius. Falleron saw Laudius, despite his lack of beauty, for what freedom and grandeur he had brought to Falleron's life. Laudius was given the honor of preferred merchant.

  All this came to a sad end upon Laudius’ sudden death. Falleron had fallen into a deep, deep, sorrowful mourning, unheard of by anyone. At the entombment of Laudius next to his wife in the valley of nobles, Falleron’ wailing and crying echoed from the burial chamber throughout the city. When the crowds had parted and the burial ceremony had ended, Falleron stayed at the foot of the tomb inconsolable. Servants from the home would bring food, but Falleron refused to eat. He refused to wash. He fell into a delirium for days. At the top of the Valley of Nobles, Roman soldiers were making nooses to hang several Christians. They heard the wailing below, but continued with their duties. The Christians were hung without ceremony; however, the footmen were under orders to leave the corpses to hang and rot. The juries knew that their Christian victims would become Martyrs to other followers, and therefore wanted to deny these bodies a burial. Soldiers were to guard the hanging corpses day and night from those who would try to recover the bodies for burial.

  The guards worked in rotation and one night, a guard heard a feeble, ghostly voice from below. At first, the guard was able to ignore it but something in the voice seemed so familiar. Keeping an eye on his duties, the guard scaled down the wall to the valley of Nobles to see a semi-conscious, filthy boy near death. The guard cleared away the dirt with a rag and spit and saw it to be Falleron. The guard was Ibsen. Ibsen stared into the glazed eyes of Falleron as he poured him wine from his travel sac. Throughout the night, he brought Falleron to consciousness with words from their past. Falleron asked for some food, and Ibsen, obedient as before, scaled the tall wall back to his post to retrieve some.

  He returned to see Falleron wailing once again at his lost love. Ibsen fed Falleron and held him until daylight came upon them. They reconnected in a way that previously evaded them in their youths, with equal respect and understanding. Ibsen had spent all his life serving the army but made no great name for himself. He was still quite simple minded, but he was happy.

  As the time passed, and unbeknownst to Ibsen, the Christians were attempting to take down their hanging brethren, but Falleron was noticed one of their shadows in the sunlight and screamed out. Ibsen scrambled up the hill but it was too late. One of the three corpses was cut from the noose. Ibsen fell like a baby onto the floor and cried, knowing that he would be put to death once his relief captain found out that Ibsen had failed him. To his astonishment, he felt the hand of Falleron. Ibsen explained his failure to Falleron and that he would surely be put to death. Ibsen returned to crying on the floor in the fetal position. Falleron sat next to Ibsen and thought a minute. Ibsen called out to Falleron, breaking his thought and angering him. “What is it?” Ibsen said. “Falleron, all my life I have obeyed you, but my one final request is for once, you obey me.” Ibsen asked for a kiss. The request was so out of context and so childlike that Falleron knew that Ibsen’ love was pure unchanged and unaltered after all these years. Falleron refused. Falleron did have a plan, but he knew Ibsen wasn’t smart enough to think of it. He and Ibsen scaled down the hillside back to Laudius’ tomb. Together, they pushed the heavy tomb cover open to reveal the rotting corpse of Laudius. They dragged the body to the hilltop and strung it up to replace the missing Christian corpse.

  The replacement guard knew nothing of the switch and relieved Ibsen of his watch duty. Ibsen followed Falleron back to this villa. Ibsen was amazed at such grandeur. Falleron upon entry, turned to Ibsen and said “Now, Ibsen, this is your home and I will obey you just as you have obeyed me forever” Falleron did as he was told and placed a kiss on the lips of Ibsen. “ Rome leaves bad memories for both of us, I want us to return to Greece,” said Ibsen. The two returned to Greece and remained happily together forever.

  Halo’s Golden Circle – Judaea (Israel)

  Niac, eleven generations descended from Abraham, looked upon earth and beast, and saw them as his own. Two strong sons were born to Niac, Halo and Marr. When these two had come of age, Niac divided his estate between his sons, and so it was for them to work land and to work beast. To Halo went the soil, to furrow, plant, and harvest, and to Marr went beasts of burden. The family fed well as both brothers prospered in their labours.

  Both sons strove harder and harder in their works, each struggling to win the praise of their father. One night, a vision came to each brother. To Halo came a dream of a great feast after the fall harvest, and Niac shouted his praises to all those gathered there, for the bounty Halo had brought in was great. To Marr came a vision of the same autumn banquet, except Niac sang the praises of Marr, and not of Halo, for Marr had brought in 400 fatted calves, and twice as many lambs, with m
ore besides. Each brother thus sought to compete with the other, in order that he might gain the greater glory. However, no such praise came from Niac, and so the brothers’ competition continued.

  Before long, Marr felt that managing his beasts of burden was far more trying than Halo’s task of tilling the fields, and Marr resented his father’s gift, boiling with jealousy over Halo. Marr then wooed the beautiful Aliesha, hoping that her beauty would bring him the favour of Niac. But still no praise came from Niac. This made Marr very angry, and in his anger he forced the innocent Aliesha to perform his labours, and to manage the beasts of burden. Thus this marriage became founded upon disdain, and not love.

  Halo, upon seeing such a lovely girl be so subjugated, felt sadness in his heart, and often brought her fruit and water to nourish her while toiling in the dry, hot grazing fields. “Oh Halo,” Aliesha would weep, “You are so kind and gentle. I am a fool. I should have married you instead of your brother. I know that one day your heart will be won, and the one who wins it will be the luckiest of all.”

  As Halo consoled Aliesha, Marr’s anger grew even greater. Marr wanted to punish Halo, and so after both Halo and Aliesha had left the fields, Marr yoked his beasts of burden. Whipping the animals mercilessly, he drove them over all of Halo’s fields, trampling or scattering all that was on the field, leaving it desolate. So Marr cruelly destroyed his brother’s harvest, a week and a day before the great autumn feast.

  On the eve of the feast, Marr presented to Niac a thousand freshly slaughtered lambs, and five hundred fatted calves. This was even more bountiful than the vision from his dreams, and he was confident that he would earn his father’s praise. Halo presented his father with only four bushels of wheat and two sacks of potatoes, but nothing else had he to offer for the feast. This puzzled his father, and he asked Halo, “How hast thou produced such poor yield, my son?”