unless i be relieved by prayer, which pierces so that it assaults mercy itself and frees all faults

[lemorttoussaint]

I've had The Tempest on the brain lately, for perfectly valid reasons I don't really want to go into here.  For the record, I shall state that I wanted to like Prospero the first time I read the play, but ended up really creeped out instead--the first time Wishbone ever let me down.  I'm posting The Epilogue Speech mostly because I've had Loreena McKennitt's version of it stuck in my head for two weeks and thought I should share.

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 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 relieved 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 .
-Shakespeare, The Tempest