University of Virginia Library

THE SHAVEN AND THE UNSHAVEN

Marc Antony was a steady patron of the shop, and a stickler for a close shave, being "barbered ten times o'er" prior to a call upon Cleopatra." I could not endure a husband with a beard," said Beatrice, whereon Benedick hiked to the shop, and the "old ornament of his cheek" went to stuff tennis-balls.

For the most part, Shakespeare's characters were well-groomed in this respect, but some of them exhibited a marked antipathy to razors and shears. There is no evidence that Sir Andrew Aguecheek, whose excellent head of hair hung like flax from a distaff, was ever tonsured. Pericles, too "swore never to wash his face nor comb his hairs," nor must we forget our old military friend, "the soldier, bearded like the pard," who was so busy seeking bubbles that he had little time to think of a barber.

Another was a certain lover whose "browny locks did hang in crooked curls," while a most persistent offender was Young Gobbo, who sported "more hair on his chin than Dobbin had on his tail."

In his own shop Shakespeare was urbane and obliging to every patron, and so generous that he would not "quarrel with a man that hath a hair more or a hair less in his beard." This would be high praise for a journeyman working by the day, but when it can be said of an artist doing piece-work it is strong evidence to show that the confidence of the ages in Shakespeare's nobility of mind has not been misplaced. And in this respect what a marked contrast between the poet and the impatient Hotspur, who stood ready to meet all comers, even to cavil over the ninth part of a hair."

We may rest serenely confident that Master Will Shakespeare had a good and lucrative business. As for his customers, he could say, with Marie, in "Twelfth Night":