Page:The philosophy of beards (electronic resource) - a lecture - physiological, artistic & historical (IA b20425272).pdf/73

 and then adds—

""The soldier's Beard Doth match in this herd In figure like a spade; With which he will make His enemies quake To think their grave is made.""

In 1610, died Henry IV, of France, whose Beard is said "to have diffused over his countenance a majestic sweetness and amiable openness;" his son Louis XIII, ascending the throne while yet a minor, the courtiers and others, to keep him in countenance, began to shave, leaving merely the tuft called a mouche or royal. Sully, however, the famous minister of Henry, stoutly refused to adopt the effeminate custom. Being sent for to court, and those about the king having mocked at his old-fashioned Beard, the duke indignantly turned to Louis and said, "Sire! when your father of glorious memory did me the honor to hold a consultation on grave and important business, the first thing he did was to order out of the room all the buffoons and stage dancers of his court!" About this