Page:A History of Domestic Manners and Sentiments in England During the Middle Ages.djvu/349

 ajjd Senti?nents. 329 and it was feldom refufed. In the country every man's door was open to the ftranger who came from a diftance, unlels his appearance were fufpicious or threatening. In this there was a mutual advantage; for the gueft generally brought with him news and information which was highly valued at a time when communication between one place and another was fo flow and uncertain. Hence the firft queftions put to a ftranger were, whence he had come, and what news he had brought with him. The old romances and tales furnifli us with an abundance of examples of the widefpread feeling of hofpitality that prevailed during the middle ages. Even in the middle and lower clalfes, people were always ready to fhare their meals with the ftranger who aiked for a lodging. The denial of fuch hofpitality was looked upon as exceptional and difgraceful, and was only met with from mifers and others who were regarded as almoft without the pale of fociety. The early metrical ftory of " The Hermit," the foundation of Parnell's poem, gives us examples of the difterent forts of hofpitality with which travellers met. The hermit and his companion began their travels in a wild country, and at the end of their firft day's journey, they were obliged to take up their lodgings with another hermit, who gave them the beft welcome he could, and fliared his provifions with them. The next evening they came to a city, where everybody fliut his door againft them, becaufe they were poor, till at length, weary and wet with rain, they fat down on the ftone fteps of a great manfion: but the hoft was an ufurer, and refufed to receive into his houfe men who promifed him fo little profit. Yet at length, to efcape their importunities, he allowed them to enter the yard, and fteep under a ftaircafe, where his maid threw them fome ftraw to lie upon, but neither oftered them refreftiment, except fome of the refute of the table, nor allowed them to go to a fire to dry their clothes. The next evening they fought their lodging in a large abbey, where the monks received them with great hofpitality, and gave them plenty to eat and drink. On the fourth day they came to another town, where they went to the houfe of a rich and honeft burgher, who alfo received them with all the marks of hofpitality. Their hoft waftied their feet, and gave them plenty to eat and drink, and they were comfortably lodged for the night. u u It