Fa. If the Body be the Habitation or House of the Soul, I see a great many whose Mind is very illy seated.
Eu. It is so, that is to say, in Houses where it rains in, that are dark, exposed to all Winds, that are smoaky, damp, decay'd, and ruinous, and such as are filthy and infected: and yet Cato accounts it the principal Happiness of a Man, to dwell handsomly.
Fa. It were tolerable, if there was any passing out of one House into another.
Eu. There's no going out before the Landlord calls out. But tho' we can't go out, yet we may by our Art and Care make the Habitation of our Mind commodious; as in a House the Windows are changed, the Floor taken up, the Walls are either plaistered or wainscotted, and the Situation may be purified with Fire or Perfume. But this is a very hard Matter, in an old Body that is near its Ruin. But it is of great Advantage to the Body of a Child, to take the Care of it that ought to be taken presently after its Birth.
Fa. You would have Mothers and Nurses to be Doctors.
Eu. So indeed I would, as to the Choice and moderate Use of Meat, Drink, Motion, Sleep, Baths, Unctions, Frictions, and Cloathings. How many are there, think you, who are expos'd to grievous Diseases and Vices, as Epilepsies, Leanness, Weakness, Deafness, broken Backs, crooked Limbs, a weak Brain, disturbed Minds, and for no other Reason than that their Nurses have not taken a due Care of them?
Fa. I wonder you are not rather a Franciscan than a Painter, who preach so finely.
Eu. When you are a Nun of the Order of St. Clare, then I'll be a Franciscan, and preach to you.
Fa. In Truth, I would fain know what the Soul is, about which we hear so much, and talk of so often, and no Body has seen.
Eu. Nay, every Body sees it that has Eyes.