"I greatly lament the change."
"It is impossible you can have any affection for him as he now is, and I am sure you have never been happy since he first dwindled away."
"I have indeed suffered much vexation. Aristus tells me I should be better satisfied if I were like him; and he is constantly urging me to surrender my body."
"I would not give up my little finger to please him. I am sure you cannot be persuaded to any thing so extravagant."
"I certainly shall not; I am very easy in my body, and shall remain there."
"But I wish to convince you that Aristus is intrinsically dead."
"I can hardly think it: this concealment of him is something very different from the dying in his bed, and my closing his eyes, and weeping, and having a funeral."
"He has not, indeed, passed through all the formal dying, which would have been satisfactory; but, nevertheless, every rational person must think that he is so far dead as to empower you to be a widow. Therefore pray resolve at once to disclaim any farther connection with this reason, or intellect, or whatever else your sound may choose to style itself. I am sure Cleon will be a good husband; and he has wealth, a kind disposition, and a body."
"Still I cannot help preserving a reverence for Aristus."