396 The Folklore of Shakespeare.
The Calendar.
The subject may be concluded by some notice of Shake- speare's Folk-lore of the various holy and famous days of the year.
Bottom is very anxious for a calendar, and cries :
" Look in the calendar, find out moonshine."
M.N.D. iii. I. 54.
Richard III. asks for a calendar, demanding:
" Who saw the sun to-day? "
K. Richard III. v. ;5. 276. Macbeth wishes
" this pernicious hour Stand aye accursed in the calendar."
Macbeth, iv. i. 133.
" 'Tis a lucky day, boy, and we'll do good deeds on it."
Winter s Tale, Act iii. Sc. iii. Brutus asks :
" Is not to-morrow, boy, the ides of March ? Lucius. I know not, sir. Brutus. Look in the calendar, and bring me word."
The most important of these references is in Kii/g John (iii. i. 83) :
" CoTisiatice. A wicked day and not a holy day!
^^^^at hath this day deserv'd ? what hath it done, 'J'hat it in golden letters should be set Among the iiigh tides [time] in the calendar? Nay, rather turn this day out of the week ; This day of shame, oppression, perjury."
In the various plays all the months, with the exception of the autumn ones (September, October and November) are specially alluded to. Shakespeare has also written something on most of the famous days, but many of these he has passed over lightly.
