This week, on Myths and Legends, there are three and a half stories of love and justice from European folklore.

We'll see why you should let that snake vomit in your drink, and why you shouldn't be friends with tyrants.

The creature this time is a cow that brings you free groceries, but only if you don't get greedy.

Thank you. but only if you don't get greedy. This is Myths and Legends, episode 413, justice.

This is a podcast where we tell stories from mythology and folklore.

Some are incredibly popular stories you might think you know, but with surprising origins.

Others are tales that might be new to you, but are definitely worth a listen.

Today, there are three-ish stories of love and justice from ancient medieval Europe.

We'll jump in with a story of the bell of justice,

a bell that will get you justice, if only you're brave enough to ring it.

Okay, everyone, here is a bell, the Lord said, holding up the end of a rope,

for all in the city who could make it out on that particular Thursday morning to see.

I'm all about justice and the rights of you, you people, he said, pacing. Here's the deal.

You ring this bell, you get justice, you get a hearing. No matter the reason, big or small.

I want this to be a town with rights for all, he whispered for his advisor to write that down. That's a good slogan.

Promise you, you won't be mad? One voice yelled out.

Yeah, why would I be mad? The Lord squinted. Who said that? Well, what if it's one of your friends who's mistreating us? One of the common people in the city. Another voice cried out.

The Lord laughed. Well, okay. Assuming the rich and powerful, with their superior bloodlines and all that,

if they would do that, and the rich and powerful abusing their position for the sake of cruelty or personal gain, that's a pretty big if,

yes, he would hear the case with impartiality.

The commoners said, hmm, and asked if they could go back to working themselves to death.

And it should be no surprise.

...