The End

Act 5, 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 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.

I think this is a reference to Prospero's earlier statement about how life is like a play and we are all actors. I think Shakespeare incorporated that quote earlier in the play so that he could end the play this way. Im glad he apologized for his faults and asked the audience to consider their faults when he asks them to forgive him.