Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 27, 1916.djvu/430

 402 The Folklore of Shakespeare.

June. " He was but as the cuckoo is in June, Heard, not regarded." i Henry IV. iii. 2. 75.

24. Midsunuiier day and Midsiivuner eve (the latter also known as St. Johns eve) had their special associations with the lighting of bonfires and meetings of the Midsummer Watch. Midsummer has been supposed to be a favourable season for madness. Malvolio's absurd conduct is described by Olivia as "Very midsummer madness" {Tzvelfth Night, iii. 4. 61).

Mv. " He makes a July's day short as December."

IVi/ifer's Tale, i. 2. 169.

The dog-days during July and part of August, named after the rising and setting of Sirius, called the dog-star, but popularly supposed to be connected with the madness of dogs.

" Twenty of the dog-days now reign."

Henry VIII. v. 5. 43.

25. St. James the Great (oj Compostela). The patron saint of Spain. Helena writes to the Countess at Rousillon:

" I am Saint Jacques' pilgrim, thither gone : Ambitious love hath so in me offended."

AlFs Well, iii. 4. 4.

The next scene is at Florence, where Helena enters disguised like a pilgrim. The widow asks whither she is bound :

^^ Helena. To Saint Jacques le grand.

Where do the palmers lodge, I do beseech you ? "

This has puzzled the commentators, and Staunton suggests the possibility of some local Italian saint being intended, but there seems to be no reason for such a sug- gestion as St. James the Great is clearly referred to. Santiago de Compostela was evidently intended, although Shakespeare found it more convenient to locate this shrine