deal
“in her command, without her power,”
THE TEMPEST, v. 1. 271.
“Shakespeare, I conceive, had here in his thoughts vicarious
and delegated authorities. He who ‘deals in the command,’ or, in other
words, executes the office of another, is termed his lieutenant or vicegerent; and is
usually authorized and commissioned to act by his superior. Prospero therefore, I think,
means to say, that Sycorax could control the moon, and act as her vicegerent, without
being commissioned, authorized, or empowered by her so
to do”
(MALONE)
.
“[We have here] the original and etymological sense of
power or pouvoir; potestas, not vis; what
we now call authority or legal power”
(WALKER)
. In this passage without her power has been
explained “beyond her power,”—quite
erroneously, I believe.