CORDELIA

the king's youngest daughter in Shakespeare's tragedy King Lear. Although Cordelia refuses to compete with her sisters Goneril and Regan in their false and extravagant professions of love and devotion to their father, it is only she who truly loves him. This is evident in their tender and emotional reunion, when she cries, Was this a face To be opposed against the warring winds? To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder In the most terrible and nimble stroke Of quick cross lightning? To watchpoor perdu! With this thin helm? Mine enemy's dog, Though he had bit me, should have stood that night Against my fire; and wast thou fain, poor Father, To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn In short and musty straw? Alack, alack! 'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once Had not concluded all.