Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 27, 1916.djvu/432

 404 'ili(^ Folklore of Shakcspeai'-e.

17. St. Lambert. "At Coventry upon St. Lannbert's Day " {Richard II. i. i. 199).

29. MicJiaelmas. Simple mentions it, but blunders about the date. " Allhallowmas last, a fortnight afore Michael- mas" {Merry TVives, i. i. 212). Theobald thought this was a misprint, and therefore proposed the change of Michael- mas to Martlemass. Johnson approved of the suggestion, but on the whole thought Shakespeare intended the blunder.

October.

25. St. Crispin and St. Crispians Day. Ever memorable in connection with Henry V. and the battle of Agincourt :

"He that shall live this day, and see old age, Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours, And say ' To morrow is Saint Crispian.'

This story shall the good man teach his son ; And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by. From this day to the ending of the Avorld, But we in it shall be remembered."

Henry V. iv. 3. 44.

November.

1. Hallowmas, All Halloivs and All Saints. Richard II. says of his queen :

" She came adorned hither like sweet May, Sent back like Hallowmas or short'st of day."

V. I. 78.

Speed {Two Gentlemen of Verona, ii. i. 27) uses the simile " to speak like a beggar at Hallowmas," which refers to the practice of poor people begging from house to house on this and the following day for " soul-cakes."

Prince Henry likens Falstaff to the renewal of summer in late autumn, " Farewell, thou latter spring ! farewell, All hallovvn summer! " {Henry IV. i. 2. 178).

2. All Sonl's Day. Buckingham, when led to execution {Richard III. v. i), asks the sheriff, "This is All Soul's day,