The philosophy of beards : a lecture : physiological, artistic & historical / by T.S. Gowing.
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presented his in a golden box, set with jewels, to the Capi- toline Jupiter.* Shaving in token of grief was the custom of the early Kornans ; when, however, that which had been considered a deprivation became a general fashion, the Beard was allowed to grow in time of sorrow, to denote personal neglect. bold warrior,) speak thus of Antony, under the fascination of Cleopatra:— Lep. " Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your Captain To soft and gentle speech." Enob. " I shall entreat hhn To answer like himself: if Caesar move him, Let Antony look over Caesar's head, And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, Were I the wearer of Antonius' Beard, I would not shave't to day." This passage evidently associates the Beard with manly determi- nation, and shaving with the want of it, for subsequently Enobai-- bus speaks of Antony's effeminacy in these words:— " Our courteous Antony, Whom ne'er the word of No woman heard speak, Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast, And for his ordinary pays his heart For what his eyes eat only." * Arcite in Chaucer's Knight's Tale thus devotes his Beard to Mars:— " And eke to this avow I wol me bind, My Berd, my here that hangeth low adoun, That never yet felt non oft'ensioun Of rasour, ne of shere, I wol thee yeve."