The Best Way To Speak ShakespeareIt will make you catch your breath.

I read to my son most every night. While reading the Hobbit, I noticed that it was much, much better aloud. I've gone through many of my favorite books. Shakespeare and Milton are absolutely fabulous to the ear, and even more fun off your own tongue. I have to take a brief pause at each line because of a long ago broken nose. It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one to notice how well that works for the Bard.

-- jvjester
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I'd say the line is more nuanced than you propose-- I like both meanings, and I think there is also the sense of "beard" as a sham escort who conceals the true sexual identity of someone. (Which reminds me that people used to refer to Ed Koch and Bess Myerson as The Smith Brothers.)

No doubt the way to play it is in the broad, burlesque manner you suggest, because you should never cut funny. Even so, the brilliance of the line is in the layers of ambiguity.

-- outsidecounsel
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