Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Retort
I did dislike the cut of a certain courtier’s beard; he sent me word, if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the mind it was: this is called the “Retort Courteous.”
Shakespeare.—As You Like It, Act V. Scene 4. (Touchstone to Jaques.)