Original: I dare be sworn
Modern: I can swear with confidence

Original: These dangerous unsafe lunes i’ the king,
Modern: These dangerous and unstable moods in the king,

Original: beshrew them!
Modern: curse them!

Original: He must be told on’t, and he shall: the office
Modern: He must be told about it, and he will be: this duty

Original: Becomes a woman best; I’ll take’t upon me:
Modern: Is best suited for a woman; I’ll take it on myself:

Original: If I prove honey-mouth’d let my tongue blister
Modern: If I turn out to be a smooth-talking flatterer, let my tongue get blisters

Original: And never to my red-look’d anger be
Modern: And never again let it serve my red-faced anger as

Original: The trumpet any more. Pray you, Emilia,
Modern: A trumpet anymore. Please, Emilia,

Original: Commend my best obedience to the queen:
Modern: Give my most respectful regards to the queen:

Original: If she dares trust me with her little babe,
Modern: If she’s willing to trust me with her little baby,

Original: I’ll show’t the king and undertake to be
Modern: I’ll show it to the king and promise to be

Original: Her advocate to the loud’st. We do not know
Modern: Her defender as loudly as possible. We don’t know

Original: How he may soften at the sight o’ the child:
Modern: How he might soften when he sees the child:

Original: The silence often of pure innocence
Modern: The quiet presence of pure innocence often

Original: Persuades when speaking fails.
Modern: Convinces people when words fail.

In Act II, Scene 2 of “The Winter’s Tale,” Paulina arrives at the prison where Hermione has been confined and speaks with the Gaoler about visiting the imprisoned queen. The Gaoler is hesitant to allow access, citing the king’s orders, but Paulina persuades him by arguing that she seeks only to speak with Emilia, one of Hermione’s attendants, rather than the queen herself. Emilia emerges from the prison and informs Paulina that Hermione has given birth to a daughter during her imprisonment. The newborn child is healthy and bears a strong resemblance to her father, King Leontes.

Paulina immediately recognizes the significance of this birth and devises a plan to present the infant to Leontes, believing that the sight of his newborn daughter might soften his heart and restore his reason. She asks Emilia to bring the baby to her, arguing that as a free woman, she can legally take the child from the prison. The Gaoler reluctantly agrees to this arrangement, and Paulina departs with the infant, determined to confront the king with his daughter in hopes of ending his destructive jealousy and reconciling him with Hermione.

The Winter’s Tale begins in Sicilia, where King Leontes hosts his childhood friend Polixenes, King of Bohemia. When Leontes asks his pregnant wife Hermione to persuade Polixenes to extend his visit, her success in convincing him to stay triggers Leontes’ sudden and violent jealousy. He becomes convinced that Hermione and Polixenes are having an affair and that her unborn child is illegitimate. Despite protests from his courtiers, Leontes orders Polixenes’ death, but Camillo, the lord commanded to poison Polixenes, instead warns him and they both flee to Bohemia.

Leontes publicly accuses Hermione of adultery and imprisons her. She gives birth to a daughter in prison, and Leontes orders the baby to be abandoned in the wilderness. When Hermione is brought to trial, the Oracle of Delphi declares her innocent, but Leontes rejects this divine judgment. Immediately after, news arrives that their young son Mamillius has died from grief, and Hermione collapses and is reported dead. Stricken with remorse, Leontes vows to spend his life repenting. Meanwhile, the baby is abandoned on the coast of Bohemia, where a shepherd finds and raises her, naming her Perdita.

Sixteen years pass. Perdita, now a beautiful young shepherdess unaware of her royal birth, falls in love with Prince Florizel, son of King Polixenes. Polixenes, disguised with Camillo, discovers his son’s romance with a shepherd’s daughter and angrily forbids the match. The young lovers flee to Sicilia with Camillo’s help, accompanied by the shepherd and his son, who carry the tokens that were left with Perdita as a baby. In Sicilia, these tokens reveal Perdita’s true identity as Leontes’ lost daughter, leading to joyful reunions and Polixenes’ forgiveness when he arrives in pursuit of his son. The play concludes when Paulina, Hermione’s loyal friend, reveals that she has kept a statue of the dead queen. In a miraculous moment, the statue comes to life—Hermione has been hidden away for sixteen years, waiting for her daughter’s return. The royal family is reunited, Florizel and Perdita are betrothed with both fathers’ blessings, and Leontes encourages Paulina to marry Camillo.