It is said that the Lombard women, when they were at war, made themselves beards with the hair of their heads, which they ingeniously arranged on their cheeks, in order that the enemy, deceived by the likeness, might take them for men. It is asserted, after Suidas, that, in a similar case, the Athenian women did as much.[[38]] These women were more men than our Jemmy-Jessamy countrymen.
[38]. [Greek: Pogonias], sive de barbâ Dialogus Antonii Hotomanni.
About a century ago the ladies adopted the mode of dressing their hair in such a manner that curls hung down their cheeks as far as their bosom. These curls went by the name of whiskers.[[39]] This custom undoubtedly was not invented, after the example of the Lombard women, to fright the men. Neither is it with intention to carry on a very bloody war, that, in our time, they have affected to bring forward the hair of the temple on the cheeks. The discovery seems to have been a fortunate one: it gives you a tempting, roguish, pleasing look, of which the ladies are very fond at present.
[39]. Servants, and citizens’ wives, who wore whiskers like ladies of fashion, were attacked without mercy. See Trevoux’s dict.
Some wits have made themselves merry at the women’s not having a beard on their chin like the men: they pretended that it was impossible to shave them without bringing blood, because it is very difficult for the fair-sex to keep their tongues silent a moment. This thought has pleased so much that it has been put into Greek, Latin, Italian, and French verse. Here is the French.[[40]]
[40]. See le Menagiana, tom. iv. pag. 206.
Sais-tu pourquoi, cher camarade,
Le beau sexe n’est point barbu?
Babillard comme il est, on n’auroit jamais pu
Le raser sans estafilade.