Fa. Nay, but they say, Plants that have been transplanted and grafted, lose their wild Nature, and produce better Fruit.

Eu. But not as soon as ever they peep out of the Ground, good Madam.  There will come a Time, by the Grace of God, when you will send away your young Son from you out of Doors, to be accomplish’d with Learning and undergo harsh Discipline, and which indeed is rather the Province of the Father than of the Mother.  But now its tender Age calls for Indulgence.  And besides, whereas the Food, according as it is, contributes much to the Health and Strength of the Body, so more especially it is essential to take Care, with what Milk that little, tender, soft Body be season’d.  For Horace’s Saying takes Place here. Quo semel est imbuta recens servabit odorem Testa diu.  What is bred in the Bone, will never out of the Flesh.

Fa. I don’t so much concern myself as to his Body, so his Mind be but as I would have it.

Eu. That indeed is piously spoken, but not philosophically.

Fa. Why not?

Eu. Why do you when you shred Herbs, complain your Knife is blunt, and order it to be whetted?  Why do you reject a blunt pointed Needle, when that does not deprive you of your Art?

Fa. Art is not wanting, but an unfit Instrument hinders the exerting it.

Eu. Why do they that have much Occasion to use their Eyes, avoid Darnel and Onions?

Fa. Because they hurt the Sight.

Eu. Is it not the Mind that sees?

Fa. It is, for those that are dead see nothing.  But what can a Carpenter do with an Ax whose Edge is spoiled?

Eu. Then you do acknowledge the Body is the Organ of the Mind?

Fa. That’s plain.

Eu. And you grant that in a vitiated Body the Mind either cannot act at all, or if it does, it is with Inconvenience?

Fa. Very likely.

Eu. Well, I find I have an intelligent Person to deal with; suppose the Soul of a Man was to pass into the Body of a Cock, would it make the same Sound it does now?

Fa. No to be sure.

Eu. What would hinder?

Fa. Because it would want Lips, Teeth, and a Tongue, like to that of a Man.  It has neither the Epiglottis, nor the three Cartilages, that are moved by three Muscles, to which Nerves are joined that come from the Brain; nor has it Jaws and Teeth like a Man’s.

Eu. What if it should go into the Body of a Swine?

Fa. Then it would grunt like a Swine.

Eu. What if it should pass into the Body of a Camel?

Fa. It would make a Noise like a Camel.

Eu. What if it should pass into the Body of an Ass, as it happened to Apuleius?

Fa. Then I think it would bray as an Ass does.