Providence strangely directed Imogen’s steps to the dwelling of her two brothers, who had been stolen away in their infancy.  Bellarius, who stole them away, was a lord in the court of Cymbeline, and having been falsely accused to the king of treason, and banished from the court, in revenge he stole away the two sons of Cymbeline, and brought them up in a forest, where he lived concealed in a cave.  He stole them through revenge, but he soon loved them as tenderly as if they had been his own children, educated them carefully, and they grew up fine youths, their princely spirits leading them to bold and daring actions; and as they subsisted by hunting, they were active and hardy, and were always pressing their supposed father to let them seek their fortune in the wars.

At the cave where these youths dwelt it was Imogen’s fortune to arrive.  She had lost her way in a large forest, through which her road lay to Milford-Haven (from whence she meant to embark for Rome); and being unable to find any place where she could purchase food, she was with weariness and hunger almost dying; for it is not merely putting on a man’s apparel that will enable a young lady, tenderly brought up, to bear the fatigue of wandering about lonely forests like a man.  Seeing this cave she entered, hoping to find some one within of whom she could procure food.  She found the cave empty, but looking about she discovered some cold meat, and her hunger was so pressing, that she could not wait for an invitation, but sat down, and began to eat.  “Ah!” said she, talking to herself; “I see a man’s life is a tedious one:  how tired am I! for two nights together I have made the ground my bed:  my resolution helps me, or I should be sick.  When Pisanio shewed me Milford-Haven from the mountain-top, how near it seemed!” Then the thoughts of her husband and his cruel mandate came across her, and she said, “My dear Posthumus, thou art a false one!”

The two brothers of Imogen, who had been hunting with their reputed father Bellarius, were by this time returned home.  Bellarius had given them the names of Polidore and Cadwal, and they knew no better, but supposed that Bellarius was their father:  but the real names of these princes were Guiderius and Arviragus.

Bellarius entered the cave first, and seeing Imogen, stopped them, saying, “Come not in yet; it eats our victuals, or I should think it was a fairy.”

“What is the matter, sir?” said the young men.  “By Jupiter,” said Bellarius again, “there is an angel in the cave, or if not, an earthly paragon.”  So beautiful did Imogen look in her boy’s apparel.

She, hearing the sound of voices, came forth from the cave, and addressed them in these words:  “Good masters, do not harm me; before I entered your cave, I had thought to have begged or bought what I have eaten.  Indeed I have stolen nothing, nor would I, though I had found gold strewn on the floor.  Here is money for my meat, which I would have left on the board when I had made my meal, and parted with prayers for the provider.”  They refused her money with great earnestness.  “I see you are angry with me,” said the timid Imogen:  “but, sirs, if you kill me for my fault, know that I should have died if I had not made it.”