Loreena McKennitt
"Prospero's Speech"

Music by Loreena McKennitt
Lyrics by William Shakespeare, arr. by Loreena McKennitt

And now my charms are all o'erthrown,
And what strength I have's mine own;
Which is most faint; now t'is true,
I must here be released by you,

Or sent to Napels. Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got
And pardoned the deceiver, dwell
In this bar 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 your crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free.