He shaves close, «ad vivum resecat», he cuts to the quick. The phrase is applied to persons too exact in taking what is their due. «The avaricious man», as described by Theophrastus, «though his tenants pay him their rent duly every month, will teaze them for an odd farthing that remained at their last reckoning and is perpetually inculcating to his wife never to lend any thing; for an end of a candle, or an handful of salt or of oatmeal will amount to money at the year's end. He makes the barber shave him to the quick, that it may be the longer before he wants him again». Shylock would abate nothing of the penalty of his bond, though it should cost the debtor his life, but says to those soliciting his forbearance,

«My deeds upon my head: I crave the law,
The penalty and forfeiture of my bond»
(William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Scene 1).

A late chief magistrate of London, on being told by one of his workmen, an old and faith ful servant, what pleasure he had received in seeing his master in his state coach, though pleased with the homage the poor man had paid him, yet nature so far prevailed, that he mulcted him a quarter of a day for time lost in going to see the procession.