M. But when thou didst worship in thy body, as thy companions would have thee, thou wouldst not sing; neither wouldst thou follow a banner as thou dost now.
W. Thou wilt not complain, when thou seest a reform in my customs. I was not what I now am. When I saw my error, I was willing to forsake it. Wilt thou do likewise?
M. I am not in favor of new things, till I have tried them.
W. Art thou willing to try them?
M. I am willing, when I can see and know their utility.
W. How canst thou know the utility of a thing, till thou receivest it? when thou wilt know, thou must know for thyself; and when thou wilt know for thyself, thou must take to thyself what thou desirest to know, so that thy experience may teach thee the utility of what thou hast received.
M. Am I not permitted to receive the experience of another?
W. When thou wilt receive the experience of thy friends, thou wilt not have thy own experience. Beside, thou knowest that the experience of thy friends differs. How canst thou decide the difference without thy own experience? When I was in the body, I had not experience in music. Wouldst thou have considered me a competent judge of that which I knew nothing about, by my own experience?
M. I would not receive a wrong to add to my experience.
W. When thou condemnest what thou dost not know, art thou justified in thy condemnation?