Original: I false! Thy conscience witness! Iachimo,
Modern: Me, unfaithful? Let your conscience be the judge! Iachimo,

Original: Thou didst accuse him of incontinency;
Modern: You accused him of being sexually unfaithful;

Original: Thou then look’dst like a villain; now methinks
Modern: Back then you looked like a villain; now I think

Original: Thy favour’s good enough. Some jay of Italy,
Modern: Your face looks honest enough. Some flashy Italian woman,

Original: Whose mother was her painting, hath betray’d him:
Modern: Who was more makeup than natural beauty, has seduced him:

Original: Poor I am stale, a garment out of fashion,
Modern: Poor me, I’m like stale bread, a dress that’s out of style,

Original: And, for I am richer than to hang by the walls,
Modern: And since I’m too valuable to just hang unused,

Original: I must be ripp’d; to pieces with me! O!
Modern: I must be torn apart; rip me to pieces! Oh!

Original: Men’s vows are women’s traitors! All good seeming,
Modern: Men’s promises betray women! All appearances of goodness,

Original: By thy revolt, O husband! shall be thought
Modern: Because of your betrayal, oh husband, will now be considered

Original: Put on for villany; not born where ‘t grows,
Modern: Fake and used for evil purposes; not genuine where it exists,

Original: But worn a bait for ladies.
Modern: But worn like bait to trap women.

Original: True honest men being heard, like false Æneas,
Modern: Truly honest men, when they speak, like the deceitful Aeneas,

Original: Were in his time thought false, and Sinon’s weeping
Modern: Were considered liars in his day, and Sinon’s fake tears

Original: Did scandal many a holy tear, took pity
Modern: Made people doubt many genuine tears, stole compassion

Original: From most true wretchedness; so thou, Posthumus,
Modern: Away from real suffering; so you, Posthumus,

Original: Wilt lay the leaven on all proper men;
Modern: Will corrupt the reputation of all good men;

Original: Goodly and gallant shall be false and perjur’d
Modern: Handsome and noble men will be seen as false and lying

Original: From thy great fail. Come, fellow, be thou honest;
Modern: Because of your terrible betrayal. Come, servant, be honest with me;

Original: Do thou thy master’s bidding. When thou seest him,
Modern: Do what your master ordered. When you see him,

Original: A little witness my obedience; look!
Modern: Show him a small sign of my obedience; look!

Original: I draw the sword myself; take it, and hit
Modern: I’m drawing the sword myself; take it, and strike

Original: The innocent mansion of my love, my heart.
Modern: The innocent home of my love, my heart.

Original: Fear not, ‘tis empty of all things but grief;
Modern: Don’t be afraid, it’s empty of everything except sadness;

Original: Thy master is not there, who was indeed
Modern: Your master isn’t there anymore, though he truly was

Original: The riches of it: do his bidding; strike.
Modern: The treasure within it: do what he commanded; strike me.

Original: Thou mayst be valiant in a better cause,
Modern: You might be brave for a better reason,

Original: But now thou seem’st a coward.
Modern: But right now you look like a coward.

In Act III, Scene 4 of Cymbeline, Pisanio and Imogen arrive in Wales, where Pisanio reveals the contents of Posthumus’s letter ordering him to kill Imogen as punishment for her supposed adultery with Iachimo. Imogen is devastated by her husband’s betrayal and initially begs Pisanio to carry out the execution, but Pisanio refuses to believe the accusations against her. He explains that he suspects Iachimo has deceived Posthumus with false evidence, and proposes an alternative plan to protect her while potentially clearing her name.

Pisanio suggests that Imogen disguise herself as a young man and travel to Rome to serve Lucius, the Roman general, which would allow her to get close to Posthumus and possibly expose Iachimo’s deception. He provides her with male clothing and gives her a drug from the Queen, which he believes to be medicinal but is actually a poison that will cause a death-like sleep. Imogen agrees to the plan, takes the name Fidele, and prepares to begin her dangerous journey in disguise. Pisanio promises to write to Posthumus claiming he has killed her, while she ventures forth to reclaim her husband’s love and trust.

Cymbeline tells the story of King Cymbeline of Britain, whose daughter Imogen secretly marries Posthumus Leonatus against her father’s wishes. Cymbeline banishes Posthumus to Rome, where he boasts of Imogen’s virtue and fidelity. The cunning Iachimo wagers that he can seduce Imogen and prove her unfaithful. When his direct attempts fail, Iachimo hides in a trunk in Imogen’s bedchamber, emerges while she sleeps, and steals her bracelet while noting intimate details of her body and room.

Returning to Rome with his false evidence, Iachimo convinces Posthumus that Imogen has been unfaithful. Enraged, Posthumus orders his servant Pisanio to kill Imogen. Instead, Pisanio reveals the plot to Imogen and helps her escape by disguising her as a young man named Fidele. She flees to the Welsh mountains, where she unknowingly encounters her long-lost brothers, Guiderius and Arviragus, who were kidnapped as infants and raised by the banished lord Belarius.

Meanwhile, Cymbeline’s evil Queen (Imogen’s stepmother) plots to poison Imogen and place her own son Cloten on the throne. Cloten pursues Imogen to Wales, where Guiderius kills him in combat. The Queen’s physician Cornelius has secretly given her a sleeping potion instead of poison, but when Imogen takes it believing it to be medicine, she falls into a death-like sleep beside Cloten’s headless corpse, whom she mistakes for Posthumus upon awakening.

The play culminates when Roman forces invade Britain. During the battle, the disguised Imogen serves the Romans while her unknown brothers and Belarius fight for Britain. After Britain’s victory, all deceptions are revealed: Iachimo confesses his lies, the Queen dies after admitting her evil plots, Imogen’s true identity and virtue are established, the royal brothers are restored to their father, and Posthumus and Imogen are reunited. Cymbeline makes peace with Rome and pardons all offenders.