一首关于莱尔国王和他的三个女儿之死的哀歌。随着《成名时》的曲调。利珥王从前以王权和平统治这地、凡事知足、他的喜乐必加增。在大自然赐予的一切中，他有三个美丽的女儿，显得那么高贵美丽，没有比她更美丽的了。于是，有一次国王提出这样一个问题:他的女儿中，哪一个能对他表示最真挚的爱呢?他说:“我这把年纪，你给我带来了满足，那么请告诉我，你们三个人中，哪一个是最善良的。”“亲爱的父亲，请记住，”她说，“当着你的面，为了给你带来好处，我将用我的血来报答你。为了你的缘故，我那流血的心将在这里被切成两半，在我看到你那可敬的老去之前。“我也会的，”第二个说;“亲爱的父亲，为了你的缘故，我要温柔地承担最恶劣的任务:用勤奋和爱心日夜侍奉殿下;那甜蜜的满足和宁静，可能会被不适带走。年老的国王回答说:“你这样做，使我的灵魂感到高兴。” '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 Than 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. Her father, 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 heard 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 wandred up and down, Being glad to feed on beggars food Than lately wore a crown. And calling to remembrance then His youngest daughters 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 watry founts, He made his hourly moan, Till hills and woods and senseless things Did seem to si