The Christmas masque at Gray's Inn, in 1594, was on a magnificent scale. 1 In addition to the merry disports of the Lord of Misrule, there were various revels. It is worthy of note that the festive doings of the Inns of Court, in days gone by at Christmas-tide, were conducted on the most extravagant scale. On February 2, 1601–2, as Manningham tells us in his "Diary" (Camden Society, 1868, ed. Of like tone is the play, and to this," says Mr Lloyd, 2 "it apparently owes its title." The play, it appears, was probably originally acted at the barristers’ feast at the Middle Temple, The season has from time immemorial been one of merriment, "the more decided from being the proper close of the festivities of Christmas, when games of chance were traditionally rife, and the sport of sudden and casual elevation gave the tone of the time. Twelfth-Day.-There can be no doubt that the title of Shakespeare's play, "Twelfth-Night," took its origin in the festivities associated with this festival. 2), Shakespeare alludes to these "children-players." 1 Rosencrantz says, in the conversation preceding the entry of the players, in reply to Hamlet's inquiry whether the actors have suffered through the result of the late inhibition, evidently referring to the plague, "Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace but there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically clapped for ’t these are now the fashion, and, so berattle the common stages-so they call them-that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come hither." Then, too, there were the "Children of the Revels," a company who performed at Blackfriars Theatre. Uttering such dulcet and harmonious breathĪnd certain stars shot madly from their spheres, 1), Prospero remarks to Ferdinand and Miranda, after Iris, Ceres, and Juno have appeared, and the dance of the nymphs is over:. Shakespeare has not omitted to give a good many scattered allusions to the old superstitions and popular usages associated with the festivals of the year, some of which still survive in our midst.Īlluding to the revels, there can be no doubt that Shakespeare was indebted to the revel-books for some of his plots. During the present century the popular celebrations of the festivals have been gradually on the decline, and nearly every year marks the disuse of some local custom. Thus, for instance, Shakespeare tells us, with regard to the May-day observance, that it was looked forward to so eagerly as to render it impossible to make the people sleep on this festive occasion. In years gone by the anniversaries connected with the calendar were kept up with an amount of enthusiasm and merrymaking quite unknown at the present day.
Sacred Texts Shakespeare Index Previous Nextįolk-lore of Shakespeare, by T.F.
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