Page:The Bible of Nature, and Substance of Virtue.djvu/36

Now, then, my lovely youth, to let thee know
That souls and minds are born and mortal too,
(Both words in this dispute express the same:)
So that, for instance, when the soul you find
Prov'd mortal, think I likewise mean the mind,
Since both do make but one, two natures join'd.
And first 'tis plain, that souls are born and grow,
And all by age decay as bodies do.
To prove this truth: In infants, minds appear
Infirm and tender as their bodies are:
In man, the mind is strong; when age prevails,
And the quick vigor of each member fails,
The mind's powers too decrease, and waste apace,
And grave and reverend folly takes the place:
'Tis likely then the soul and mind must die;
Like smoke in air, its scatter'd atoms fly.
Sometimes when violent fevers vex the brains,
The mind grows mad, and raves with equal pains:
Sometimes when dull and death-like lethargy,
And lasting sleep sits heavy on the eye,
The soul is lull'd; and neither knows, nor hears
His friend's kind voice, nor sees the falling tears,
Whilst they with pious care about him weep,
And strive to rouse him from his death of sleep.
Since, then, the limbs' disease affects the mind,
That must be mortal too; for still we find
By thousand instances diseases wait
On death, as the sad messengers of fate.
Besides, when wine's quick force hath pierc't the brain,
And the brisk heat's diffus'd through every vein,
Why do the members all grow dull and weak?
The tongue not with its usual swiftness speak?
The eye-balls swim, the legs not firm and straight,
But bend beneath the body's natural weight;
Unmanly quarrels, noise and sobs deface
The powers of reason, and usurp their place?
How could this be, did not the precious juice
Affect the mind itself, and spoil its use?
Now things that can be thus disturb'd, that cease
From usual actions, by such lets as these,
Would die, suppose the force or strokes increase.