Ev'n thus posses'd with discontents,145
He passed o'er to France,
In hopes from fair Cordelia there
To find some gentler chance.
Most virtuous dame! which, when she heard
Of this her father's grief,150
As duty bound, she quickly sent
Him comfort and relief.
And by a train of noble peers,
In brave and gallant sort,
She gave in charge he should be brought155
To Aganippus' court;
Whose royal king, [with noble] mind,
So freely gave consent
To muster up his knights at arms,
To fame and courage bent.160
And so to England came with speed,
To repossess King Leir,
And drive his daughters from their thrones
By his Cordelia dear.
Where she, true-hearted, noble queen,165
Was in the battel slain;
Yet he, good king, in his old days,
Possess'd his crown again.
But when he heard Cordelia's death,
Who died indeed for love170
Of her dear father, in whose cause
She did this battel move,
He swooning fell upon her breast,
From whence he never parted;
But on her bosom left his life175
That was so truly hearted.
The lords and nobles, when they saw
The end of these events,
The other sisters unto death
They doomed by consents;180
And being dead, their crowns they left
Unto the next of kin:
Thus have you seen the fall of pride,
And disobedient sin.
[76] deny'd.
[157]. whose noble.