the motor power. Le Conte says: "That deepest of all
questions--the nature and origin of natural forces--is a question for
philosophy and not for science." Thought is a natural force; yes, a
dynamic force of the most intense power. It may be a search-light of the
universe, a thunderbolt of destruction, or a messenger of light and love
with healing in its wings. The mantle of Prospero is simply an emblem of
power, and the word is so understood among the Orientals. In Scripture,
when Elijah ascended in his fiery chariot, his mantle fell upon Elisha,
who immediately caused the waters to retreat from its stroke and
continued clothed with his master's power. So Prospero, robing himself
in his mantle or laying it aside, means his exercise or non-exercise of
what are termed supernatural powers.

Victor Hugo says that Shakspere "did not question the invisible world,
he rehabilitated it. He did not deny man's supernatural power, he
consecrated it." There is no reason why man in his higher estate should
not have free intercourse with a world invisible to him in his lower
conditions. Can the grub have the same companionship as the butterfly?

Victor Hugo also says that the "'Midsummer Night's Dream' depicts the
action of the invisible world on man, but 'The Tempest' symbolizes the
action of man on the invisible world. In the poet's youth, man obeys the
spirits. In the poet's ripe age, the _spirits obey man_." This shows a
fine apprehension of the interior revealings of the supreme poetic
genius. Every great and true poet is also a prophet and seer. Then why
should not Shakspere--the supremest in all the "tide of time"--not have
the widest and most far-reaching vision of the wonderful attainments
and powers of the perfected man. He undoubtedly saw and felt the
grandeur of the ages to come, and knew, with divine prescience, that
only the hem of the garment of knowledge had been as yet touched. There
is but one power in the universe, and as Emerson says, "Every man is an
inlet to the whole." Then where is his limitation?

Did not nature obey the Nazarene, and the winds and mountainous waves
lie gently down at His bidding? And did He not say that His disciples
should do greater works than He had done? Then why should not Prospero,
as a typical man, have control over all the forces of nature?

It is interesting to note that Shakspere has given to him almost the
identical powers of the Man of Nazareth! This is not strange, as it is
a