BULL, SIMMONS & CO., PUBLISHERS AND LIBRARIANS, 9, WIGMORE STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE. KING LEAR. CHAPTER I. THE tale I am going to tell you is a very sad one, but it is also very interesting and instructive, for it will show you what a grievous thing it is to be an undutiful child. A long time ago there was in Britain a king whose name was Lear. When he had reigned for many years, he began to feel the affairs of his kingdom too heavy for him; so he determined to give up reigning, and hoped to enjoy the remainder of his days in quietness and peace. He had three daughters. The two eldest were already married; Goneril to the Duke of Albany, and Regan to the Duke of Cornwall. The youngest daughter, Cordelia, who was the king's darling, was yet unmarried, but there were two suitors for her hand-the King of France was one; the Duke of Burgundy was the other. I fear the old king was not a very wise man, for when he had assembled |