立功自赎 meaning in English

perform meritorious services to atone for one's crime

If my offence be of such mortal kind that nor my service past , nor present sorrows , nor purposed merit in futurity , can ransom me into his love again , but to know so must be my benefit ; so shall i clothe me in a forced content , and shut myself up in some other course , to fortune ' s alms
假如我果然罪大恶极，无论过去的微劳、现在的悔恨或是将来立功自赎的决心，都不能博取他的矜怜宽谅，那麽我也希望得到一个明白的答覆，我就死心塌地向别处去乞讨命运的布施了。