The storyteller was telling the entertaining stories to people.
The words in bold match to their meanings this way:
- CLOY'D → Overly sentimental.
There are some phrases in the sentence that makes us understand the meaning of CLOY'D in the context, phrases or words such as "high-sorrowful" which indicates the act of showing or feeling terribly sad, unhappy, melancholy. On the other hand, we have "cloyed" which means something about becoming sick. Both words have a meaning that involves sentiments and that is why "overly sentimental" is the best option.
2. HALF IMPAIRED → Partially damaged.
When it says "half", "one shade the more" and "one ray the less" is showing impartiality of something and also when it says "impaired" which is a synonym of damaged and spoiled, lead me to choose the "partially damaged" option.
3. LOTH → Reluctant or unwilling.
The very first sentence which is a question that says "what men or gods are these?" and the next part indicates some confusion but in fact what it wants to do is "to pursuit" something, to go after it. So, according to the context of the excerpt the right option is reluctant or unwilling.
Its either A or B. Because he didn't completely address the subject and he didn't take a position.
