Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/200

178 priests and nobles, and‘ sitting in the midst of them in grand state upon his throne, overhung by canopies of brilliant cloth, he sent for his three daughters to appear before him.

They came at his bidding. First the proud Goneril, with her husband, the Duke of Albany; then the haughty Regan, with her cruel-looking lord, the Duke of Cornwall; last of all came Cordelia, blushing and half afraid at appearing before so many people. Cordelia had two lovers visiting her father’s court, both Frenchmen; for although she had lived so quietly in the palace, the neighboring princes did not forget that Lear had a daughter yet unmarried, and all foreign nations were eager to form an alliance with so mighty a prince.

When they were all arranged in state, Lear told the court of his purpose to divide the kingdom among his three daughters, and declared that he should spend the rest of his days in turn with each of them. His wisest lords shook their heads doubtfully when he said this; but all knew his temper so well that not one dared object.

Lear called on Goneril first to declare how much she loved him, that he might requite her love by a portion of his kingdom. To this Goneril answered that she loved him beyond her eye-sight, her freedom, her life itself. She