-extended earth which thou
everywhere beholdest; the moisture contained in it, thou also knowest
to be a small portion of that mighty mass of waters whereof seas
themselves are but a part, while the rest of the elements contribute,
out of their abundance, to thy formation. It is the soul, then, alone,
that intellectual part of us, which is come to _thee_ by some lucky
chance, from I know not where. If so be, there is indeed no
intelligence elsewhere; and we must be forced to confess, that this
stupendous universe, with all the various bodies contained
therein--equally amazing, whether we consider their magnitude or
number, whatever their use, whatever their order--_all_ have been
produced, not by _intelligence_, but _chance_!"

"It is with difficulty that I can suppose otherwise," returned
Aristodemus, "for I behold none of those gods, whom you speak of as
_making_ and _governing_ all things, whereas I see the artists when at
their work here among us."

"Neither yet seest thou thy soul, Aristodemus, which, however, most
assuredly _governs_ thy body: although it may well seem, by thy manner
of talking, that it is _chance_, and not _reason_, which governs
thee."

"I do not despise the gods," said Aristodemus; "on the contrary, I
conceive so highly of their excellence, as to suppose they stand in no
need of either me or of my services."

"Thou mistakest the matter, Aristodemus; the greater magnificence they
have shown in their care of _thee_, so much the more honor and service
thou owest them."

"Be assured," said Aristodemus, "if I once could be persuaded the gods
took care of man, I should want no monitor to remind me of my duty."

"And canst thou doubt, Aristodemus, if the gods take care of man? Hath
not the glorious privilege of walking upright been _alone_ bestowed on
him, whereby he may, with the better advantage, survey what is around
him, contemplate, with more ease, those splendid objects which are
above, and avoid the numerous ills and inconveniences which would
otherwise befall him? Other animals, indeed, they have provided with
feet, by which they may remove from one place to another; but to _man_
they have also given _hands_, with which he can form many things for
his use, and make himself happier than creatures of any other kind. A
tongue hath been bestowed on every other animal, but what animal,
except man, hath the power of forming words with it, whereby to
explain his thoughts, and make them intell