Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/199

Rh the part of the oppressor, Their radiant black eyes glistened with hatred or sparkled with anger, but they never softened with pity or tenderness.

But Cordelia, blue-eyed, golden-haired little Cordelia, had a heart full of tenderness and goodness. Her sisters disliked her because she was so meek and gentle, just as ugly spirits always dislike that which is pure and beautiful; so she kept out of their way as much as possible, and sat in her chamber, with her maidens, little heeded and little known by the court or people. She had heard so many loud, false speeches from the tongues of her sisters, that she had learned to distrust noisy vows and protestations, and had grown very reserved and modest in her speech. Sometimes, when she tried to tell the emotions which lay warm and deep in her heart, an impulse, half of shame, would check her,a feeling as if these things were too sacred to be talked about.

Thus these three sisters lived in the court until Lear became an old, old man. Then he began to imagine he was weary of all the trouble of his state affairs, and resolved he would divide his kingdom into three parts, and give to each of his daughters an equal portion of his realm to govern. For,this purpose he assembled one day all the principal officers of his kingdom, all his