This difference between popular and tragic religion arises in part because poets are more inclined to attribute evil to their gods, but also because poets, when they assumed their superdivine narrative posture, are in a better position than ordinary people to proffer detailed explanations of individual deaths.

Thankee, said the knight politely, as he took a pinch and sneezed seven times so violently that his head fell off.

Just which buildings survived was partly determined by which ones conformed to Taiwan’s sometimes laxly enforced construction codes.

His personal conduct is above reproach.