《李尔王》的故事来源于英国的古代传说，以此为题材的诗歌和散文甚多，莎士比亚在故事蓝本的基础上加入了悲剧结局、这也是这部剧本的看点之一。
第一幕
ACT I
SCENE I. King Lear's palace.
肯特进，说：“the king is coming .”(李尔和三女儿跟着进来，其他人随后有大女儿，二女儿)
KING LEAR ：Attend the lords of France and Burgundy(叫法兰西国王和。。。上) 肯特：I shall, my liege.
Exeunt GLOUCESTER and EDMUND
KING LEAR (手里拿着条儿，不用背了)
Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.(现在我要跟你说明我的心事) Give me the map there.(肯特送上地图)
Know that we have divided in three our kingdom (告诉你们吧，我已将我的国土划分为三部分)
and 'tis our fast intent To shake all cares and business from our age; Conferring them on younger strengths(我因为自己年纪老了，决定摆脱一切事物的萦绕，把事物交给年轻力壮之人)
May be prevented now.
The princes, France and Burgundy, Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, And here are to be answer'd.(法兰西王和。。。 正在争夺我女儿的爱，这儿他们就可以得到答复)
Tell me, my daughters,-- Which of you shall we say doth love us most?(告诉我，你们中间哪一个最爱我?)
That we our largest bounty may extend Where nature doth with merit challenge.(我要看看谁最有孝心，最贤惠，然后我将给她最大的恩惠)
Goneril(高娜里尔), Our eldest-born, speak first.
GONERIL
Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter;(sir，我对你的爱，不是言语所能表达的)