Original: Sleep, thou hast been a grandsire, and begot
Modern: Sleep, you’ve been like a grandfather who created

Original: A father to me; and thou hast created
Modern: A father for me, and you also created

Original: A mother and two brothers: but, O scorn!
Modern: A mother and two brothers—but how cruel!

Original: Gone! they went hence so soon as they were born:
Modern: They’re gone! They disappeared as soon as they appeared,

Original: And so I am awake. Poor wretches that depend
Modern: And now I’m awake. Poor people who rely

Original: On greatness’ favour dream as I have done,
Modern: On the favor of powerful people dream like I just did—

Original: Wake and find nothing. But, alas, I swerve:
Modern: They wake up and find nothing. But wait, I’m getting off track:

Original: Many dream not to find, neither deserve,
Modern: Many people don’t even dream of success and don’t deserve it either,

Original: And yet are steep’d in favours: so am I,
Modern: And yet they’re showered with good fortune—just like me,

Original: That have this golden chance and know not why.
Modern: Someone who has this amazing opportunity but has no idea why.

Original: What fairies haunt this ground? A book? O rare one!
Modern: What magical spirits are at work here? A book? What a treasure!

Original: Be not, as is our fangled world, a garment
Modern: Don’t be like our superficial world—just fancy packaging

Original: Nobler than that it covers: let thy effects
Modern: That’s better than what’s inside. Let your actual contents

Original: So follow, to be most unlike our courtiers,
Modern: Live up to your appearance, and be totally unlike our court people

Original: As good as promise.
Modern: By being as good as you promise to be.

Original: ‘When as a lion’s whelp shall, to himself unknown,
Modern: “When a lion’s cub, without knowing his own identity,

Original: without seeking find, and be embraced by a piece of
Modern: Shall find without searching, and be embraced by something made of

Original: tender air; and when from a stately cedar shall be
Modern: Gentle air; and when from a majestic cedar tree there shall be

Original: lopped branches, which, being dead many years,
Modern: Cut-off branches that have been dead for many years,

Original: shall after revive, be jointed to the old stock and
Modern: Which will come back to life, be reconnected to the old trunk, and

Original: freshly grow; then shall Posthumus end his miseries,
Modern: Grow fresh again; then Posthumus will end his suffering,

Original: Britain be fortunate and flourish in peace and plenty.’
Modern: And Britain will be blessed and thrive in peace and prosperity.”

Original: ‘Tis still a dream, or else such stuff as madmen
Modern: This is still a dream, or else the kind of nonsense that crazy people

Original: Tongue and brain not; either both or nothing;
Modern: Say without thinking; it’s either completely real or completely meaningless;

Original: Or senseless speaking or a speaking such
Modern: Either words without sense, or words so confusing

Original: As sense cannot untie. Be what it is,
Modern: That logic can’t unravel them. Whatever it is,

Original: The action of my life is like it, which
Modern: My own life’s story is just as strange as this prophecy, so

Original: I’ll keep, if but for sympathy.
Modern: I’ll keep it, if only because we have that in common.

In Act V, Scene iv of “Cymbeline,” Posthumus Leonatus finds himself imprisoned and awaiting execution for his perceived crimes. While sleeping in his cell, he is visited by the ghosts of his deceased family members: his father Sicilius Leonatus, his mother, and his two brothers, all of whom died before Posthumus was born or when he was very young. These spirits circle around the sleeping Posthumus and appeal to Jupiter, king of the gods, lamenting the harsh treatment their descendant has received despite his noble nature and the suffering he has already endured in life. They plead with Jupiter to show mercy and intervene on behalf of Posthumus, arguing that he has been punished enough.

Jupiter descends from the heavens, seated upon an eagle and throwing thunderbolts, responding to the ghosts’ petitions. He rebukes them for daring to question divine will and assures them that he has not forgotten Posthumus, declaring that the young man’s fortunes will improve and that he will be reunited with Imogen and reconciled with Cymbeline. Jupiter leaves a tablet upon Posthumus’s chest containing a cryptic prophecy before ascending back to the heavens with the spirits. Posthumus awakens, discovers the mysterious tablet, and reads its riddling verses which he cannot fully comprehend. When the jailer arrives to summon him to his execution, Posthumus seems at peace and even welcomes death, though he remains puzzled by his strange dream and the prophecy he has received.

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.