The Tempest – Epilogue | Modern English Translation

Prospero delivers the epilogue in Shakespeare's The Tempest.

The Tempest Epilogue: Retold in Modern English Verse

"Let your indulgence set me free"

Prospero comes forward alone after the play has ended. His charms are gone and his strength is his own; unless the audience releases him with their applause he must stay confined on the island. He asks them, as they would wish to be pardoned themselves, to let their indulgence set him free.

Characters appearing: Prospero

Key themes: Imprisonment vs Freedom | Revenge and Forgiveness | Magic and Art

SPOKEN BY PROSPERO

Now my charms are all o'erthrown,

My magic powers are on the shelf,

And what strength I have's mine own,

And all my strength I make myself,

Which is most faint: now, 'tis true,

And I’m not strong. So now it’s true,

I must be here confined by you,

I must be locked up here by you,

Or sent to Naples. Let me not,

Or sent to Naples. Let me not –

Since I have my dukedom got

For since I have my dukedom got

And pardoned the deceiver, dwell

And forgave all my foes – remain

In this bare island by your spell;

By magic in this sparse domain;

But release me from my bands

But free me from the ties that be

With the help of your good hands:

And with your help, grant liberty.

Gentle breath of yours my sails

Blow gentle winds upon my sails

Must fill, or else my project fails,

To fill them, else my project fails,

Which was to please. Now I want

Which was to please you. Now I lack

Spirits to enforce, art to enchant,

Spirits, nor have my magic back,

And my ending is despair,

And so I’ll end up in despair,

Unless I be relieved by prayer,

Unless I am helped out by prayer,

Which pierces so that it assaults

Which you receive when I pray strong

Mercy itself and frees all faults.

And pardon all that I’ve done wrong.

As you from crimes would pardoned be,

As from your wrongs you’d pardoned be,

Let your indulgence set me free.

Now let your kindness set me free.