Her fatber, old king Leir, this while

With his two daughters staid;
Forgetful of their promis'd loves,

Full soon the same decay'd ;
And living in queen Ragan's court,

The eldest of the twain,
She took from him his chiefest means,

And most of all his train.

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.

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.

Full fast he hies then to her court;

Where when she hears his moan Return'd him answer, that she griev'd

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.

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 Ragan's court;
She will not use me thus, I hope,

But in a kinder sort.

Where when he came, she gave command

To drive him thence away :
When he was well within her court,

(She said) he would not stay. Then back again to Gonorell

The woeful king did hie,
That in her kitchen he might have

What scullion boys set by.

But there of that he was deny'd,

Which she had promis'd 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 beggar's food,

That lately wore a crown.

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.

Which made him rend his milk-white locks,

And tresses from his head,
And all with blood bestain his cheeks,
With

age

and honour spread: To hills and woods and wat'ry founts,

He made his hourly moan, Till hills and woods, and senseless things,

Did seem to sigh and groan.

Even thus possest with discontents,

He passed o'er to France,
In hope from fair Cordelia there

To find some gentler chance :
Most virtuous dame! which when she heard

Of this her father's grief,
As duty bound, she quickly sent

Him comfort and relief.

And by a train of noble peers,

In brave and gallant sort,
She gave in charge he should be brought

To Aganippus' court;

Whose royal king, with noble mind,

So freely gave consent,
To muster up his knights at arms,

To fame and courage bent.

And so to England came with speed,

To repossess king Leir,
And drive his daughters from their thrones

By his Cordelia dear:
Where she, true-hearted noble

queen,
Was in the battle slain :
Yet he, good king, in his old days,

Possest his crown again.

But when he heard Cordelia's death,

Who died indeed for love
Of her dear father, in whose cause
She did this battle

move;
He swooning fell upon her breast,

From whence he never parted ; But on her bosom left his life,

That was so truly hearted.

The lords and nobles when they saw

'The end of these events, The other sisters unto death

They doomed by consents;
And being dead, their crowns they left

Unto the next of kin:
Thus have you seen the fall of pride,
And disobedient sin.

JOHNSON.

LEAK, King of Britain.
King of France.
Duke of Burgundy.
Duke of Cornwall.
Duke of Albany.
Earl of Kent.
Earl of Gloster.
EDGAR, son to Gloster.
EDMUND, bastard son to Gloster.
CURAN, a courtier.
Old Man, tenant to Gloster.
Physician.
Fool.
OSWALD, steward to Goneril.
An Officer, employed by Edmund.
Gentleman, attendant on Cordelia.
A Herald.
Servants to Cornwall.

}

GONERIL,
REGAN, Daughters to Lear.
CORDELIA,
Knights attending on the King, Officers, Messengers,

Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE, Britain.