Here is the line-by-line paraphrase of Hermione’s monologue from The Winter’s Tale:

Original: Since what I am to say must be but that
Modern: Since what I have to say can only be something

Original: Which contradicts my accusation and
Modern: That goes against the charges made against me, and

Original: The testimony on my part no other
Modern: The only evidence I can offer in my defense

Original: But what comes from myself, it shall scarce boot me
Modern: Is what comes from my own words, it will hardly help me

Original: To say ‘not guilty:’ mine integrity
Modern: To say ‘not guilty.’ My honesty and virtue

Original: Being counted falsehood, shall, as I express it,
Modern: Are being called lies, so whatever I say

Original: Be so received. But thus: if powers divine
Modern: Will be taken as lies too. But here’s the thing: if God

Original: Behold our human actions, as they do,
Modern: Watches over human actions, as He does,

Original: I doubt not then but innocence shall make
Modern: Then I have no doubt that innocence will make

Original: False accusation blush and tyranny
Modern: False accusations feel ashamed, and tyranny

Original: Tremble at patience. You, my lord, best know,
Modern: Shake with fear at patient endurance. You, my lord, know best—

Original: Who least will seem to do so, my past life
Modern: Though you’ll be the last to admit it—that my past life

Original: Hath been as continent, as chaste, as true,
Modern: Has been as pure, as faithful, as honest

Original: As I am now unhappy; which is more
Modern: As I am now miserable—and that’s more virtue

Original: Than history can pattern, though devised
Modern: Than any story could show, even if it were written

Original: And play’d to take spectators. For behold me
Modern: And performed to impress an audience. Just look at me—

Original: A fellow of the royal bed, which owe
Modern: A partner in the royal marriage, who owns

Original: A moiety of the throne a great king’s daughter,
Modern: Half the throne, a great king’s daughter,

Original: The mother to a hopeful prince, here standing
Modern: The mother of a promising prince—standing here

Original: To prate and talk for life and honour ‘fore
Modern: Having to beg and plead for my life and honor before

Original: Who please to come and hear. For life, I prize it
Modern: Anyone who wants to come and listen. As for my life, I value it

Original: As I weigh grief, which I would spare: for honour,
Modern: Only as much as I value sorrow, which I’d rather avoid. But honor—

Original: ‘Tis a derivative from me to mine,
Modern: That’s something I pass down to my children,

Original: And only that I stand for. I appeal
Modern: And that’s the only thing I’m fighting for. I ask

Original: To your own conscience, sir, before Polixenes
Modern: You to search your own conscience, sir—before Polixenes

Original: Came to your court, how I was in your grace,
Modern: Came to your court, how much you favored me,

Original: How merited to be so; since he came,
Modern: How much I deserved that favor. Since he arrived,

Original: With what encounter so uncurrent I
Modern: What strange behavior have I shown

Original: Have strain’d to appear thus: if one jot beyond
Modern: That forced me to appear like this? If I went even one bit beyond

Original: The bound of honour, or in act or will
Modern: The limits of honor, either in action or in thought,

Original: That way inclining, harden’d be the hearts
Modern: If I was tempted in that direction, then let the hearts be hardened

Original: Of all that hear me, and my near’st of kin
Modern: Of everyone who hears me, and let my closest family

Original: Cry fie upon my grave!
Modern: Curse my grave when I’m dead!

In Act III, Scene 2 of “The Winter’s Tale,” Leontes presides over Hermione’s public trial for adultery and treason. The scene opens in a court of justice where Hermione is brought before Leontes and his lords to face the charges against her. An officer reads the formal indictment, accusing the queen of committing adultery with Polixenes and conspiring with Camillo to take the king’s life. Hermione delivers a powerful defense of her innocence, acknowledging that while she honored Polixenes as befitted her husband’s friend and her own royal upbringing, she never loved him inappropriately. She challenges Leontes to provide evidence beyond his suspicions and declares that her integrity means more to her than her life.

The trial takes a dramatic turn when Cleomenes and Dion return from the Oracle at Delphi with Apollo’s pronouncement. The Oracle declares Hermione chaste, Polixenes blameless, Camillo a true subject, Leontes a jealous tyrant, and states that the innocent babe Perdita is indeed Leontes’ daughter. The Oracle further warns that Leontes shall live without an heir if that which is lost is not found. Leontes initially rejects the Oracle’s judgment, but immediately after his defiance, a servant arrives with news that Prince Mamillius has died. Hermione faints upon hearing of her son’s death, and Paulina soon returns to announce that the queen has also died. Overcome with remorse and finally recognizing the truth of the Oracle’s words, Leontes vows to spend the rest of his days in penitence for his jealous actions.

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.