THE DRAMA. 



49' 



was succeeded by diuloguc, and several singers at once r< JIK -nited, or rather 

 intoned, religious scenes, which were called ui'/mi/n' c/mli/rntB, or, as we may 

 translate it, songs intended to be sung in the streets. These may have been 

 theatrical pieces, but it is quite certain that the Church forbade her clergy to 

 taki- part in, or even to witness them. 



Nevertheless there were given in the churches at this period, upon the 

 principal festivals, regular dramatic representations, which appear to have 



Fig. 378. The Parasite and the Soldier. Representative Characters of the Ancient Theatre, from 

 the Comedies of Terence. Manuscript of the Tenth Century. In the National Library, Paris. 



formed an integral part of the service, and the clergy in these representations, 

 which they had the sole charge of, acted the principal episodes in the life of 

 Christ. For instance, at Christmas, the manger, the shepherds, the magi, and 

 even the star which led them to Bethlehem were represented at the mass, and 

 it is in the conversational shape of certain parts of the service celebrated at 

 the festivals of Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost that are to be found the 

 origin of the Mystery-plays and Miracle-plays of the Middle Ages. 



