38 KING LEAR.

“Tf you love meas much as this,” said the King, “ I give you a third
part of my kingdom. And how much does Regan love me?”

“TJ love you as much as my sister and more,” professed Regan, “since
I care for nothing but my father’s love.”

Lear was very much pleased with Regan’s professions, and gave her
another third part of his fair kingdom. Then he turned to his youngest
daughter, Cordelia. ‘‘ Now, our joy, though last not least,” he said,
“the best part of my kingdom have I kept for you. What can you
say 2”

“Nothing, my lord,” answered Cordelia.

“ Nothing ?”

“ Nothing,” said Cordelia,

‘Nothing can come of nothing. Speak again,” said the King.

And Cordelia answerel—*I love your Ma esty according to my
<dluty,— no more, no legs.”

And this she said, because she knew her sisters’ wicked hearts, and
was disgusted with the way in which they professed unbounded and
impossible love, when really they had not even a right sense of duty to
their old father.

“Tam your daughter,” she went on, “and you have brought me up
and loved me, and [ return you those duties back as are right fit, obey
you, love you, and most honour you.”

Lear, who loved Cordelia best, had wished her to make more ex-
travagant professions of love than her sisters; and what seemed to him
her coldness so angered him that he bade her begone from his sight.
““Go,” he said, ‘ be for ever a stranger to my heart and me.”

The Earl of Kent, one of Lear’s favourite courtiers and captains,
tried to say a word for Cordelia’s sake, but Lear would not listen. He
divided the remaining part of his kingdom between Goneril and Regan,
who had pleased him with their foolish flattery, and told them that he
should only keep a hundred knights at arms for his following, and would
live with his daughters by turns.

When the Duke of Burgundy knew that Cordelia would have no
share of the kingdom, he gave up his courtship of her. But the King
of France was wiser, and said to her— Fairest Cordelia, thou art most
rich, being poor—most choice, forsaken ; and most loved, despised. Thee