The Tempest, Epilogue

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 confin’d by you, Or sent to Naples. Let me not, Since I have my dukedom got, And pardon’d 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 reliev’d by prayer, Which pierces so that it assaults Mercy itself, and frees all faults. As you from crimes would pardon’d be, Let your indulgence set me free.

Now my spells are all overthrown, and the only strength I have is my own, which is very weak. Now it's true, I must either be kept prisoner here by you, or sent to Naples. Since I have won back my dukedom and forgiven the man who cheated me, don't make me stay on this bare island under your spell, but set me free from my bonds with the help of your kind hands. Your gentle breath must fill my sails, or else my plan fails, and my plan was to please. Now I lack spirits to command and magic to enchant; and my end is despair, unless I am rescued by prayer, which pierces so deeply that it storms Mercy itself and pardons every sin. As you would want to be forgiven for your own offences, let your kindness set me free.