Mahomet in his life was subject to what we call in these days the mesmeric trance, as was Socrates. He would often be suddenly arrested, fall prostrate upon the earth, and in this attitude and in these trances he professed to receive his revelations. Here are evidently the mesmeric phenomena which in some form always accompany the presence and invasion of demons. Mr. Miles has introduced these, and described them with great spirit, truth, and propriety, in the opening scene of his tragedy. The time is the night of Al Kadir, the place is the Cave of Hara, three miles from Mecca, where Mahomet was accustomed to resort and spend much time alone. Mahomet is seen prostrate upon the slope of a rock, resembling a rude pedestal, his face concealed by his turban. He is visited by Cadijah, his affectionate and beloved wife. To her he seems asleep. She calls him, she approaches him, she embraces him, and tries to awaken him. All in vain. Finding her efforts fruitless, she exclaims, “Alas, this is not sleep! Some evil spirit O’ershadows thee.” When finally the vision departs, and Mahomet awakes, he breaks out, “Gone! gone! celestial messenger, Angel of light! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Yes—’twas there—’twas there The angel stood, in more than mortal splendor, Before my dazzled vision!—I have heard thee, Ambassador from Allah to my soul, Have heard and will obey.” To the question of Cadijah, “What mystery is this?” he answers, “Ah! the tremendous recollection bursts So vividly upon me, that my tongue Grows cold and speechless. I was here alone, Expecting thee, when, suddenly, I heard My name pronounced, with voice more musical Than Peri warbling in my ear. Ravish’d, I turned, and saw upon that rock, Resplendent hovering there, an angel form; I knew ’twas Gabriel, Allah’s messenger. Celestial glories compassed him around; Arched o’er his splendid head, his glistening wings Shed light, and musk, and melody. No more I saw—no more my mortal eye could bear. _Prone on my face I fell_, and, from the dust, Besought him quench his superhuman radiance. ‘Look up,’ he said; I stole a trembling glance; And then, a beauteous youth, he stood and smiled. Then, as his ruby lips unclosed, I heard—‘Go teach what mortals know not yet,—THERE IS NO GOD BUT ONE—MOHAMMED IS HIS PROPHET!’ E’en as he spoke, his mantling glories burst With such transporting brightness, that, o’erawed, I sunk in dizzy trance, which still might thrall My inmost soul, had not those impious names, Breathing of hell, dispelled it.”[8] ----- Footnote 8: