Please help !

[catoidtang]

Don't quite understand the following sentence. Could anyone help

"Amongst other things they spoke of the middle ages: some praised that period as far more interesting, far more poetical than our own too sober present; indeed Councillor Knap defended this opinion so warmly, that the hostess declared immediately on his side, and both exerted themselves with unwearied eloquence."

[Raymott]

Don't quite understand the following sentence. Could anyone help

"Amongst other things, they spoke of the middle ages: some praised that period as far more interesting, far more poetical than our own too sober present; indeed Councillor Knap defended this opinion so warmly, that the hostess declared immediately on his side, and both exerted themselves with unwearied eloquence."

Divide the sentence up, and try to analyse smaller pieces of it. I think "middle ages" should be "Middle Ages", that is, the period of history ~500 -1400 AD.
Write out the bits you do understand.
I'll start you off: They talked about the Middle Ages, among other things.
...

[catoidtang]

Then, what's "exerted themselves with unweared eloquence"?

[Raymott]

Then, what's "exerted themselves with unweared eloquence"?

"they chatted a lot"
They put a lot of effort into untiring, fancy discussion.