OF VITAL MOTION. 143 



of the immediate and positive influence of mind upon 

 a second person. 



We might show also the influence of one mind upon 

 another in the motives and springs of mental auction, 

 as well as in the actions themselves, and many illus- 

 trations might be cited. But one will suflice. 

 During the performance of Hamlet, for example, the 

 will is resigned to the genius of the poet and his 

 representative, and intellect, reason, imagination, and 

 every faculty of the mind is afiected in turn. With 

 Hamlet himself the loftier and sterner thoughts of the 

 soul are stirred into life, and we rise above humanity ; 

 with Ophelia the tenderer sentiments of nature come 

 into play, and we suffer with her as she yields to 

 her fate ; with the Gravedigger we leave that which 

 is high and endearing, and become ordinary men 

 the true gravediggers of soul. We change with the 

 changes of the play, and because of these changes ; and 

 our mental faculties are undoubtedly ruled for the 

 time by the outward impulse. 



But it is idle to multiply instances to show the 

 extra- corporeal presence of mind. It is the experience 

 of every moment to feel and prove it. Imagination 

 is constantly tinctured by the addition of foreign 

 fancies. Conscience is not shut up to our own 

 hearts, for her dictates are sensibly biased by asso- 

 ciation. In the strictest sense of the word, will is 

 not our own, for this energy is continually influenced 



