eared to lose it when Lear's safety was the motive; nor
now that Lear was most his own enemy, did this faithful servant of the
king forget his old principles, but manfully opposed Lear, to do Lear
good; and was unmannerly only because Lear was mad. He had been a most
faithful counsellor in times past to the king, and he besought him now,
that he would see with his eyes (as he had done in many weighty
matters), and go by his advice still; and in his best consideration
recall this hideous rashness: for he would answer with his life, his
judgment that Lear's youngest daughter did not love him least, nor were
those empty-hearted whose low sound gave no token of hollowness. When
power bowed to flattery, honour was bound to plainness. For Lear's
threats, what could he do to him, whose life was already at his service?
That should not hinder duty from speaking.

The honest freedom of this good Earl of Kent only stirred up the king's
wrath the more, and like a frantic patient who kills his physician, and
loves his mortal disease, he banished this true servant, and allotted
him but five days to make his preparations for departure; but if on the
sixth his hated person was found within the realm of Britain, that
moment was to be his death. And Kent bade farewell to the king, and
said, that since he chose to show himself in such fashion, it was but
banishment to stay there; and before he went, he recommended Cordelia to
the protection of the gods, the maid who had so rightly thought, and so
discreetly spoken; and only wished that her sisters' large speeches
might be answered with deeds of love; and then he went, as he said, to
shape his old course to a new country.

The King of France and Duke of Burgundy were now called in to hear the
determination of Lear about his youngest daughter, and to know whether
they would persist in their courtship to Cordelia, now that she was
under her father's displeasure, and had no fortune but her own person to
recommend her: and the Duke of Burgundy declined the match, and would
not take her to wife upon such conditions; but the King of France,
understanding what the nature of the fault had been which had lost her
the love of her father, that it was only a tardiness of speech, and the
not being able to frame her tongue to flattery like her sisters, took
this young maid by the hand, and saying that her virtues were a dowry
above a kingdom, bade Cordelia to take farewell of her sisters and of
her fat