Richard II.," i. 3.

Again, in "1 Henry VI." (iv. 2), Talbot says:

"God and Saint George, Talbot and England's right,
Prosper our colours in this dangerous fight!"

The following injunction, from an old act of war, concerning the use of
St. George's name in onsets, is curious: "Item, that all souldiers
entering into battaile, assault, skirmish, or other faction of armes,
shall have for their common crye and word, _St. George, forward_, or,
_Upon them, St. George_, whereby the souldier is much comforted, and the
enemie dismaied, by calling to minde the ancient valour of England, with
which that name has so often been victorious."[654]

[654] Cited by Warton in a note on "Richard III.," v. 3.

The combat of this saint on horseback with a dragon has been very long
established as a subject for sign-painting. In "King John" (ii. 1)
Philip says:

"Saint George, that swing'd the dragon, and e'er since
Sits on his horseback at mine hostess' door."

It is still a very favorite sign. In London alone[655] there are said to
be no less than sixty-six public-houses and taverns with the sign of St.
George and the Dragon, not counting beer-houses and coffee-houses.

[655] Hotten's "History of Sign-boards," 1866, 3d ed., p. 287.

_May Day._ The festival of May day has, from the earliest times, been
most popular in this country, on account of its association with the
joyous season of spring. It was formerly celebrated with far greater
enthusiasm than nowadays, for Bourne tells us how the young people were
in the habit of rising a little after midnight and walking to some
neighboring wood, accompanied with music and the blowing of horns, where
they broke down branches from the trees, which, decorated with nosegays
and garlands of flowers, were brought home soon after sunrise, and
placed at their doors and windows. Shakespeare, alluding to this
practice, informs us how eagerly it was looked forward to, and that it
was impossible to make the people sleep on May morning. Thus, in "Henry
VIII." (v. 4), it is said:

"Pray, sir, be patient: 'tis as much impossible--
Unless we sweep 'em from the door with cannons--
To scatter 'em, as 'tis to make 'em sleep
On May-day morning."

Again, in "A Midsummer-Night's Dream" (i. 1), Lysander, speaking of
these May-day observances, says to Hermia:

"If thou lov'st me, then,
Steal forth thy father's house to-morrow night;