4QO 



THE DRAMA. 



From the seventh to the tenth century are to be found in contemporary 

 document's two kinds of scenic representations the one nomad and popular, 

 the other religious and permanent ; the former connected more or less with 

 the traditions of paganism, the second betokening vague aspirations of a new 

 and essentially Christian art. The nomad and popular representations were 

 given by histrions, who exchanged this name of reproach first for that of 

 chantcurs, and afterwards for that of jugglers (jongleur*), which was given 

 them by the public, and which they retained throughout the Middle Ages. 



Fig. 377. The Old Man and the Maid-servant. Representative Characters of the Ancient 

 Theatre, from the Comedies of Terence. Manuscript of the Tenth Century. In the National 

 Library, Paris. 



Mounted upon common trestles, and surrounded by buffoons, mimics, and 

 musicians, who accompanied their utterances with gestures, grimaces, and 

 wind or stringed instruments, they declaimed or sang it can scarcely be said 

 acted serious or comic plays. About the ninth century, however, as far as 

 can be ascertained from certain passages in historians of that time, the 

 performances of the jugglers, who mostly took their repertory from the 

 legends of the saints, assumed a certain dramatic character. Plain narrative 



