§I
THE cheapening of books has brought many pleasures, but has been the cause of our losing—or almost losing—one pleasant social custom,—the pastime of reciting tales by the fireside or at festivities, which was popular until the end of the manuscript age.
“Men lykyn jestis for to here
And romans rede in divers manere.”
At their games and feasts and over their ale men were wont to hear tales and verses.[437] The tale-tellers were usually professional wayfaring entertainers: “japers and ‘mynstralles’ that sell ‘glee,’ ” as the scald sang his lays before King Hygelac and roused Beowulf to slay Grendel—
“Gestiours, that tellen tales
Bothe of weping and of game.”[438]
Call hither, cries Sir Thopas, minstrels and gestours, “for to tellen tales”—
“Of romances that been royales,
Of popes and of cardinals,
And eek of love-lykinge.” (ll. 2035-40).
Rhymers and poets had these entertainments in mind when they wrote—
“And red wher-so thou be, or elles songe,
That thou be understonde I god beseche,”