And quhat wul ze leive to zour ain mither deir, Edward, Edward? And quhat wul ze leive to zour ain mither deir? My deir son, now tell me, O. The curse of hell frae me sail ze beir, Mither, mither: The curse of hell frae me sail ze beir, Sic counseils ze gave to me, O. KING LEIR & HIS THREE DAUGHTERS King Leir once ruled in this land With princely power and peace; And had all things with hearts content, That might his joys increase. Amongst those things that nature gave, Three daughters fair had he, So princely seeming beautiful, As fairer could not be. So on a time it pleas'd the king A question thus to move, Which of his daughters to his grace Could shew the dearest love: For to my age you bring content, Quoth he, then let me hear, Which of you three in plighted troth The kindest will appear. To whom the eldest thus began; Dear father, mind, quoth she, Before your face, to do you good, My blood shall render'd be: And for your sake my bleeding heart Shall here be cut in twain, Ere that I see your reverend age The smallest grief sustain. And so will I, the second said; Dear father, for your sake, The worst of all extremities I'll gently undertake: And serve your highness night and day With diligence and love; That sweet content and quietness Discomforts may remove. In doing so, you glad my soul, The aged king reply'd; But what sayst thou, my youngest girl, How is thy love ally'd? My love (quoth young Cordelia then) Which to your grace I owe, Shall be the duty of a child, And that is all I'll show. And wilt thou shew no more, quoth he, Than doth thy duty bind? I well perceive thy love is small, When as no more I find. Henceforth I banish thee my court, Thou art no child of mine; Nor any part of this my realm By favour shall be thine. Thy elder sisters loves are more Then well I can demand, To whom I equally bestow My kingdome and my land, My pompal state and all my goods, That lovingly I may With those thy sisters be maintain'd Until my dying day. Thus flattering speeches won renown, By these two sisters here; The third had causeless banishment, Yet was her love more dear: For poor Cordelia patiently Went wandring up and down, Unhelp'd, unpity'd, gentle maid, Through many an English town: Untill at last in famous France She gentler fortunes found; Though poor and bare, yet she was deem'd The fairest on the ground: Where when the king her virtues heard, And this fair lady seen, With full consent of all his court He made his wife and queen.