The Tempest

Epilogue

Modern spelling. Stage directions omitted.

PROSPERO

Now my charms are all o’erthrown,
And what strength I have’s mine own,
Which is most faint. Now 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.

All of The Tempest

Act 1

Act 1, Scene 1Act 1, Scene 2,

Act 2

Act 2, Scene 1Act 2, Scene 2,

Act 3

Act 3, Scene 1Act 3, Scene 2Act 3, Scene 3,

Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1,

Act 5

Act 5, Scene 1,

Opening and close

Epilogue

Open The Tempest in the 1623 First Folio. See its words in the cloud.

Modern spelling for reading. The edition is public domain in the United States. Edition source.