The Tempest

Act 5, Epilogue

Spoken by PROSPERO

Spoken by PROSPERO

PROSPERO

Now my charms are all o’erthrown,

And what strength I have’s mine own,

Which is most faint. Now, ’tis true,

I must be here confined by you,

Or sent to Naples. Let me not,

Since I have my dukedom got

And pardoned the deceiver, dwell

In this bare island by your spell,

But release me from my bands

With the help of your good hands.

Gentle breath of yours my sails

Must fill, or else my project fails,

Which was to please. Now I want

Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,

And my ending is despair,

Unless I be relieved by prayer,

Which pierces so that it assaults

Mercy itself and frees all faults.

As you from crimes would pardoned be,

Let your indulgence set me free.

PROSPERO

Now my spells are all broken,

And the only power I have is my own,

Which is very weak. Now you all

Have got the power to keep me prisoner here,

Or send me off to Naples. Please don’t

Keep me here on this desert island

With your magic spells. Release me

So I can return to my dukedom

With your help. The gentle wind

You blow with your applause

Will fill my ship’s sails. Without applause,

My plan to please you has failed.

Now I have no spirits to enslave,

No magic to cast spells,

And I’ll end up in despair

Unless I’m relieved by prayer,

Which wins over God himself

And absolves all sins.

Just as you’d like to have your sins forgiven,

Indulge me, forgive me, and set me free.

Exit

He exits.