France.
Cordelia.

Bid farewell to your sisters.

Ye jewels of our father, with wash'd

eyes

Cordelia leaves you. I know you what you are;
And, like a sister, am most loath to call

Your faults as they are nam'd.

father.

Love well our

To your professed bosoms I commit him;
But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewell to you both.

Regan.
Goneril.

Prescribe not us our duties.

Let your study

Be to content your lord, who hath receiv'd you
At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have wanted.
Cordelia. Time shall unfold what plighted cunning

hides;

Who covers faults, at last with shame derides.

Well may you prosper !

France.

270. Ye: The in Folio.

Come, my fair Cordelia.

(Exeunt France and Cordelia.)

wash'd tearful.

271. you what, etc.: redundant object.

274. professed bosoms: the love which had been professed.

276. prefer: commend.

278. us: to us.

289. alms: at the kindness of fortune, as a beggar may receive a worthless gift.

scanted withheld, given small measure of what is due.

270

275

280

Cordelia has an affectionate heart. Anger and family feeling contend within her. Her tears are genuine but of both sorrow and anger. Her sisters, who indeed realize the injustice under which she suffers, have no word of kindness for her. They scorn her truthfulness; and rejoice at her coming absence.

France, who bade Cordelia say farewell, now realizes the severity of the strain upon her emotions, and calls her to leave them. Further words will avail nothing; and her dignity is best preserved in silence.

281. Deserve (are worth) the loss (want) that you have suffered (wanted): both your father's love and the dowry.

282. plighted: folded and hence concealed.

283. derides: The text, as thus given in the Folio, is clearly in error: derides has a passive force, suffers derision.

Goneril. Sister, it is not little I have to say of what 285 most nearly appertains to us both. I think our father will hence to-night.

Regan. That 's most certain, and with you; next month with us.

Goneril.

You see how full of changes his age 290 is; the observation we have made of it hath been little. He always loved our sister most; and with what poor judgment he hath now cast her off appears too grossly.

Regan. 'Tis the infirmity of his age; yet he hath 295 ever but slenderly known himself.

Goneril. The best and soundest of his time hath been but rash; then must we look from his age to receive, not alone the imperfections of long-ingrafted condition, but therewithal the unruly waywardness 300 that infirm and choleric years bring with them.

292. little little in comparison with what we may expect. (Schmidt.)

294. grossly: evidently.

296. slenderly known himself: poorly understood his own mind, been fickle of purpose.

299. imperfections, etc.: qualities of mind confirmed by long habit. (Malone.)

The words of Goneril and Regan reveal a keen but unsympathetic

comprehension of their father's character and mental condition, now with its natural temper intensified by age. They judge aright concerning Lear's treatment of Cordelia, his banishment of Kent, and his contemptuous attitude toward France. This admission of intellectual understanding of what is wise and right deepens the condemnation which they deserve for having taken knowingly the side of the foolish and evil.

Lear loves and hates with the intensity of Celtic passion never brought under self-restraint. Goneril and Regan appear to have inherited none of his warmth of nature.

They are cold and calculating. Cordelia is more tike her father. Such passionate natures are hard to deal with, especially hard for those whose calmer dispositions feel no sympathy; and the elder daughters are not unnaturally troubled at what lies before them.

Regan. Such unconstant starts are we like to have

from him as this of Kent's banishment.

Goneril. There is further compliment of leavetaking between France and him. Pray you let us 305

sit together; if our father carry authority with such disposition as he bears, this last surrender of his will. but offend us.

Regan. We shall further think of it.

Goneril. We must do something, and i' th' heat. 310

(Exeunt.)

302. unconstant: inconstant, capricious.

like: likely.

304. further: in addition to the start of passion with Kent. compliment: (complement in the Folio as at the time the words were not distinguished) courtesy, here used ironically.

306. sit together : take counsel and come to a plan of action.

307. surrender: the giving of his royal authority.

308. offend: do us more harm than good.

310. ' th' heat: at once.