the King of France were both
suitors for the hand of Cordelia, his youngest daughter.

Lear called his three daughters together, and told them that he proposed
to divide his kingdom between them. "But first," said he, "I should like
to know much you love me."

Goneril, who was really a very wicked woman, and did not love her father
at all, said she loved him more than words could say; she loved him
dearer than eyesight, space or liberty, more than life, grace, health,
beauty, and honor.

"I 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 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?"

"Nothing, my lord," answered Cordelia.

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

And Cordelia answered, "I love your Majesty according to my duty--no
more, no less."

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

"I am your daughter," she went on, "and you have brought me up and loved
me, and I return you those duties back as are right and fit, obey you,
love you, and most honor you."

Lear, who loved Cordelia best, had wished her to make more extravagant
professions of love than her sisters. "Go," he said, "be for ever a
stranger to my heart and me."

The Earl of Kent, one of Lear's favorite courtiers and captains, tried
to say a word for Cordelia's sake, but Lear would not listen. He divided
the kingdom between Goneril and Regan, and told them that he should only
keep a hundred knights at arms, 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, "Thy dowerless daughter, King, is Queen of us--of ours,
and our fair France."

"Take her, take her," said the King; "for I will never see that face of
hers again."

So Cordelia became Queen of France, and the Earl of Kent, for having
ventured to take her part, was banished from the kingdom. The King now
went to stay with his daughter Goneril, who had got everything from her
father that he had to give, and now began to grudge even the hundred
knights that he had r