"THE BEARD-BLOWN GOAT:' 



Goats possess the great advantage over sheep of having 

 beards. This should be especially in their favour with the 

 poets, for the beard makes the animal romantic — it becomes, 

 in Tennyson, the " beard-blown goat " — and gives it that air 

 of the nide and shaggy which Dr. Syntax assures us is the 

 soul and essence of the picturesque. 



Bearded is always a favourite epithet with the poets, when 

 they wish to convey an idea of rugged strength or venerable 

 wisdom. Thor, with all his presence, could hardly spare 

 that red torrent from his chin ; Peru's dignity and strength 

 lies in his thunder-black beard. Remember Schaibar. He 

 was a dwarf, and a dreadful ogre at that But he trailed 

 thirty feet of beard, ^^^len the wind blew he looked forth 

 as from a mist of flame. Regiments of guards fell flat 

 before him as he walked. Kings upon their thrones 

 shivered in their golden sandals at the sight of the much- 

 bearded brother of the Peri Banou. How better describe 

 the grim earl than to call him " Hakon Grizzle-beard ? " 

 The portrait is authentic at once. From the beard we 

 straightway deduce the complete man. Barbarossa stands 

 out from the page forthwith. 



Conversely, disrespect attaches to the shabby beard ; as 

 Don Quixote, admonishing Sancho on the manner of his 

 life when he should come to be s;overnor of an island or an 



