《李尔王》是莎士比亚创作的四大悲剧之一，其中的精彩剧情更适用于英文剧本的创作。

　　 KING LEAR

　　 Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.

　　 Give me the map there. Know that we have divided

　　 In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent

　　 To shake all cares and business from our age;

　　 Conferring them on younger strengths, while we

　　 Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,

　　 And you, our no less loving son of Albany,

　　 We have this hour a constant will to publish

　　 Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife

　　 May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,

　　 Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,

　　 Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn,

　　 And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters,--

　　 Since now we will divest us both of rule,

　　 Interest of territory, cares of state,--

　　 Which of you shall we say doth love us most?

　　 That we our largest bounty may extend

　　 Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,

　　 Our eldest-born, speak first.

　　 GONERIL

　　 Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;

　　 Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;

　　 Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;

　　 No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour;

　　 As much as child e'er loved, or father found;

　　 A love that makes breath poor, and speech unable;

　　 Beyond all manner of so much I love you.

　　 CORDELIA

　　 [Aside] What shall Cordelia do?

　　 Love, and be silent.

　　 LEAR

　　 Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,

　　 With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,

　　 With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,

　　 We make thee lady: to thine and Albany's issue

　　 Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,

　　 Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.

　　 REGAN

　　 Sir, I am made

　　 Of the self-same metal that my sister is,

　　 And prize me at her worth. In my true heart

　　 I find she names my very deed of love;

　　 Only she comes too short: that I profess

　　 Myself an enemy to all other joys,

　　 Which the most precious square of sense possesses;

　　 And find I am alone felicitate

　　 In your dear highness' love.

　　 CORDELIA

　　 [Aside] Then poor Cordelia!

　　 And yet not so; since, I am sure, my love's

　　 More richer than my tongue.

　　 KING LEAR

　　 To thee and thine hereditary ever

　　 Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom;

　　 No less in space, validity, and pleasure,

　　 Than that conferr'd on Goneril. Now, our joy,

　　 Although the last, not least; to whose young love

　　 The vines of France and milk of Burgundy

　　 Strive to be interess'd; what can you say to draw

　　 A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.

　　 CORDELIA

　　 Nothing, my lord.

　　 KING LEAR

　　 Nothing!

　　 CORDELIA

　　 Nothing.

　　 KING LEAR

　　 Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.

　　 CORDELIA

　　 Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave

　　 My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty

　　 According to my bond; nor more nor less.

　　 KING LEAR

　　 How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,

　　 Lest it may mar your fortunes.

　　 CORDELIA

　　 Good my lord,

　　 You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I

　　 Return those duties back as are right fit,

　　 Obey you, love you, and most honour you.

　　 Why have my sisters husbands, if they say

　　 They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,

　　 That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry

　　 Half my love with him, half my care and duty:

　　 Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,

　　 To love my father all.

　　 KING LEAR

　　 But goes thy heart with this?

　　 CORDELIA

　　 Ay, good my lord.

　　 KING LEAR

　　 So young, and so untender?

　　 CORDELIA

　　 So young, my lord, and true.

　　 KING LEAR

　　 Let it be so; thy truth, then, be thy dower:

　　 For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,

　　 The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;

　　 By all the operation of the orbs

　　 From whom we do exist, and cease to be;

　　 Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

　　 Propinquity and property of blood,

　　 And as a stranger to my heart and me

　　 Hold thee, from this, for ever. The barbarous Scythian,

　　 Or he that makes his generation messes

　　 To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom

　　 Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved,

　　 As thou my sometime daughter.