Fa. Well then, if you can’t shew me the Soul, paint it out to me, just as you would the King, whom I never did see.

Eu. I have Aristotle’s Definition ready for you.

Fa. What is it? for they say he was a very good Decypherer of every Thing.

Eu.  The Soul is the Act of an Organical, Physical Body, having Life in Potentia.

Fa. Why does he rather call it an Act than a Journey or Way?

Eu. Here’s no Regard either to Coachmen or Horsemen, but a bare Definition of the Soul.  And he calls the Form Act, the Nature of which is to act, when it is the Property of Matter to suffer.  For all natural Motion of the Body proceeds from the Soul.  And the Motion of the Body is various.

Fa. I take that in; but why does he add of an Organical?

Eu. Because the Soul does nothing but by the Help of Organs, that is, by the Instruments of the Body.

Fa. Why does he say Physical?

Eu. Because Daedalus made such a Body to no Purpose; and therefore he adds, having Life in Potentia.  Form does not act upon every Thing; but upon a Body that is capable.

Fa. What if an Angel should pass into the Body of a Man?

Eu. He would act indeed, but not by the natural Organs, nor would he give Life to the Body if the Soul was absent from it.

Fa. Have I had all the Account that is to be given of the Soul?

Eu. You have Aristotle’s Account of it.

Fa. Indeed I have heard he was a very famous Philosopher, and I am afraid that the College of Sages would prefer a Bill of Heresy against me, if I should say any Thing against him; but else all that he has said concerning the Soul of a Man, is as applicable to the Soul of an Ass or an Ox.

Eu. Nay, that’s true, or to a Beetle or a Snail.

Fa. What Difference then is there between the Soul of an Ox, and that of a Man?

Eu. They that say the Soul is nothing else but the Harmony of the Qualities of the Body, would confess that there was no great Difference; and that this Harmony being interrupted, the Souls of both of them do perish.  The Soul of a Man and an Ox is not distinguished; but that of an Ox has less Knowledge than the Soul of a Man.  And there are some Men to be seen that have less Understanding than an Ox.

Fa. In Truth, they have the Mind of an Ox.

Eu. This indeed concerns you, that according to the Quality of your Guittar, your Musick will be the sweeter.

Fa. I own it.

Eu. Nor is it of small Moment of what Wood, and in what Shape your Guittar is made.

Fa. Very true.

Eu. Nor are Fiddle-Strings made of the Guts of every Animal.