The Tempest: Act 5, epilogue
The Tempest
Contents
Characters in the Play
Entire Play
A story of shipwreck and magic, The Tempest begins on a ship caught in a violent storm with Alonso, the king of…
Act 1, scene 1
On board a ship carrying King Alonso of Naples and his entourage, a boatswain directs the crew to fight a…
Act 1, scene 2
Prospero, the former duke of Milan, who has been stranded on a barren island for twelve years with his daughter,…
Act 2, scene 1
King Alonso and his entourage wander the island in search of Ferdinand. Gonzalo tries unsuccessfully to encourage hope in Alonso…
Act 2, scene 2
Having escaped the apparently sinking ship, Trinculo finds Caliban hiding under a cloak, under which Trinculo also crawls to take…
Act 3, scene 1
Ferdinand is visited by Miranda. Prospero observes them unseen as they exchange marriage vows and clasp hands.
Act 3, scene 2
Trinculo and Caliban quarrel, and Stephano takes Caliban’s part. Ariel, invisible, imitates Trinculo’s voice and accuses Caliban of lying, causing…
Act 3, scene 3
King Alonso and his party, weary with searching, are visited by “strange shapes” bringing in a banquet, while Prospero, unseen,…
Act 4, scene 1
Prospero releases Ferdinand and gives him Miranda as his bride-to-be. To celebrate the prospect of their union, Prospero instructs Ariel…
Act 5, scene 1
Prospero releases Alonso and the court party from their charmed state and renounces the further use of his magic. Alonso…
Act 5, epilogue
EPILOGUE,
spoken by Prospero.
spoken by 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,
5 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
10 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,
171
The Tempest
EPILOGUE
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,
20 Let your indulgence set me free.
He exits.
