38 The Higher Usefulness of Science 



interpretation of Prospero is forced into conformity 

 with my preconceptions, but does not his setting free 

 of Ariel and Caliban, half-natural beings upon whom 

 he had relied for some of his wonder-working, and his 

 abjuring of "this rough magic," and his breaking of 

 "my staff" and burying it "certain fathoms in the 

 earth," as he attains the highest level of forgiveness 

 and well-wishing toward those who had wronged him, 

 mean that only when he became a man and a man only, 

 was he at his best? One of the most useful bits of 

 Shakespearean philosophy I have come upon is con- 

 tained in the advice of Prospero to the King of Naples 

 who is perplexed because there "is more in this business 

 than nature was ever conduct of." 



"Sir, my liege, 



Do not infest your mind with beating on 

 The strangeness of this business ; at picked leisure 

 Which shall be shortly, single I'll resolve you, 

 Which to you shall seem probable, of every 

 These happened accidents ; till then, be cheerful 

 And think of each thing well." 



Before you jump beyond the bounds of nature for 

 the explanation of things that are hard and strange, 

 think well and cheerfully on each item and decide 

 which of the several possible explanations is the one 

 most probable. What more wholesome counsel was 

 ever given! I am sure Socrates never advised more 



