Page:Stories from Old English Poetry-1899.djvu/206

184 Regan against taking her sister’s part; but when he found his words did not move her, and that she was even more harsh and unyielding than Goneril, he burst out into ravings of despair. To add to his misery, Goneril came then to Regan’s court, attended by a train more numerous and grand than had attended Lear in the days of his magnificence; and he saw Regan, who had refused him welcome, embrace and kiss this wicked daughter. At this sight he was convinced that they were leagued against him, and that he should find no pity there. He declared that he would quit them both; that the elements would be more kind than such vipers as these; and so rushed madly from the chamber, through the court, outside the court-yard gates.

When Lear thus fled from the luxurious palace-hall in which he had held this last meeting with his daughters, it was beginning to grow dark, and a terrible storm was coming on. Already they heard the loud roll of thunder and saw the sharp flashes of lightning. But though some nobles in Regan’s court, more tender hearted than these stony women, pleaded for the king, and besought them not to let him go out into a night when even beasts ought to be sheltered, they alone were pitiless. They helped to drive their poor old father forth, and locked after