That sweet content and quietness
Discomforts may remove."

5. "In doing so, you glad my soul,"
The aged king reply'd;

"But what sayst thou, my youngest girl, How is thy love ally'd?"

"My love" (quoth young Cordelia then), "Which to your grace I owe,

Shall be the duty of a child,

And that is all I'll show."

6. "And wilt thou show no more," quoth he, "Than doth thy duty bind?

I well perceive thy love is small,
When as no more I find.
Henceforth I banish thee my court,
Thou art no child of mine;
Nor any part of this my realm
By favour shall be thine.

7. "Thy elder sisters' loves are more
Than well I can demand,

To whom I equally bestow

My kingdom and my land,

My pompal state and all my goods,

That lovingly I may

With those thy sisters be maintain'd
Until my dying day."

8. Thus flattering speeches won renown,
By these two sisters here;

The third had causeless banishment,
Yet was her love more dear:
For poor Cordelia patiently

Went wandering up and down,
Unhelp'd, unpity'd, gentle maid,
Through many an English town:

9. Until at last in famous France
She gentler fortunes found;

Though poor and bare, yet was she deem'd
The fairest on the ground:

Where when the king her virtues heard,
And this fair lady seen,

With full consent of all his court
He made his wife and queen.

Grammar.-(1) Analyse first four lines in verse 8. (2) Parse first line in verse 5.

LESSON LII.

KING LEAR AND HIS THREE
DAUGHTERS.-PART II.

decayed, died away.

chiefest means, most of his property or sources of income.

moan, complaint.

scullions, servants for drudgery in the kitchen.

calling to remembrance, bringing to
his mind.
repair, go.

grew frantic mad, became insane
with grief.
bestain, besprinkle.

1. Her father King Lear this while

With his two daughters staid :
Forgetful of their promised loves,
Full soon the same decay'd;

And living in Queen Regan's court,
The eldest of the twain,

She took from him his chiefest means,
And most of all his train.

2. For whereas twenty men were wont
To wait with bended knee :
She gave allowance but to ten
And after scarce to three;

Nay, one she thought too much for him;
So took she all away,

In hope that in her court, good king,
He would no longer stay.

3. "Am I rewarded thus," quoth he,
"In giving all I have

Unto my children, and to beg
For what I lately gave ?
I'll go unto my Gonorell:
My second child, I know,
Will be more kind and pitiful,
And will relieve my woe."

4. Full fast he hies then to her court;
Where, when she heard his moan,
Return'd him answer that she grieved
That all his means were gone:
But no way could relieve his wants;
Yet if that he would stay

Within her kitchen, he should have
What scullions gave away.

5. When he had heard, with bitter tears, He made his answer then :

"In what I did, let me be made

Example to all men.

I will return again," quoth he,

"Unto my Regan's court;

She will not use me thus, I hope,
But in a kinder sort."

6. Where, when he came, she gave command To drive him thence away:

When he was well, within her court
(She said) he should not stay.
Then back again to Gonorell

The woeful king did hie,

That in her kitchen he might have
What scullion boys set by.

7. But there of that he was deny'd
Which she had promised late:
For once refusing, he should not
Come after to her gate.

Thus 'twixt his daughters, for relief
He wander'd up and down;
Being glad to feed on beggars' food,
That lately wore a crown.

8. And calling to remembrance then
His youngest daughter's words,

That said the duty of a child
Was all that love affords :
But doubting to repair to her,
Whom he had banish'd so;

Grew frantic mad; for in his mind
He bore the wounds of woe: