Sir, Goneril. I love you more than word can wield the matter, Beyond what can be valu'd, rich or rare, No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour, As much as child e'er lov'd or father found; A love that makes breath poor and speech unable; Cordelia. What shall Cordelia speak? Love and be silent. Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line. to this, With shadowy forests and with champaigns rich'd, What says our second daughter, Our dearest Regan, wife of Cornwall? 57. wield manage, express. 58. space: space in general; as liberty is the freedom to enjoy it. (Schmidt.) 61. found: experienced. 62. poor... unable: powerless to express. 63. so much: a quoted measure of extent; the meaning is: love you beyond all limit. 65. Lear points out upon the map (39) the bounds of Goneril's portion. 66. champaigns: open plains. rich'd enriched. 60 65 70 The elder daughters understand their father's nature, and seek to satisfy him with protestations of affection. He sees nothing unnatural in their extravagant comparisons; and their words of flattery need not of necessity be interpreted in evidence of insincerity. The fact of their real affection, or lack of it, is aside from the question here. In either case they would say the same thing, though, under the circumstances, their words sound peculiarly unworthy as if indeed they were seeking to bid for their father's promised reward. It is this which particularly offends Cordelia who resolves, in a passion for sincerity, to say nothing, lest she also appears to be striving for reward. She must, however, be supposed to know something of her sisters' real characters and hence to be able to read in their words an insincerity not at first clearly apparent to others. Regan. I am made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart I find she names my very deed of love; Only she comes too short: that I profess Which the most precious square of sense professes, And find I am alone felicitate In your dear Highness' love. 75 Cordelia. Then poor Cordelia ! And yet not so, since I am sure my love 's More ponderous than my tongue. 80 Lear. To thee and thine, hereditary ever, Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom, No less in space, validity, and pleasure, 71. self metal: same substance. 72. I hold myself to be equally worthy. An indirect play upon the word metal appears in this reference to value. The point of value in question is that of affection. 73. deed of love: describes my love in very deed 74. that: in that. 76. square of sense: The square is a figure of complete symmetry; and this expression may be taken as equivalent to complement of all the senses. professes: professes to bestow or to secure for its possessor. 77. felicitate: made happy. 80. ponderous: opposite of light or fickle. (Schmidt.) 83. validity: value. As between the elder sisters, Goneril takes the initiative and exercises a compelling influence over Regan. This is evidenced throughout the play, though in point of bitterness Regan often excels. They are women of strong passions, like their father in that particular; but their passions have all been centered upon self to such a degree as to render them heartless and, in that sense, passionless. Their similarity is so great that they are not easily individualized, but find their distinction rather in the divergent characters of the men to whom they are married. Their treatment of their father is lacking in all true regard as to how it may affect him. Their pleasing flattery tends only to increase the mental disease which has begun its deadly work upon him; and their later cruelty breaks his heart; but of one as of the other they are utterly regardless. Now, our joy, 85 Although our last and least, to whose young love Strive to be interest', what can you say to draw A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. Cordelia. Nothing, my lord. Lear. Nothing? Cordelia. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing. Speak again. Cordelia. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty According to my bond; no more nor less. 86. vines... milk: vineyards and pastures as represented by their noble owners. 87. interest': contracted form of interested. 92. An allusion, in translation, to the old saying: Ex nihilo nihil fit. 95. According to my bond: as is my duty. 90 95 |