On the Consideration of the Quintessence

For the life of man is to be lamented as fantastical and vain. It remains, therefore, to seek a thing that might be so effective concerning this life of mine that it could preserve my body without corruption and cure it, when healthy and infirm, in such a way as to restore lost reputation until voluntary death arrives, being so effective. As for what kind of death you speak of, I say that regarding that, it is not in my power, just as against lightning and setting; having considered this above regarding honor. Therefore, it now remains to speculate concerning the death which, for its part, willingly? and conformably and concordantly agrees and is consistent with the various gospels. Let reason say that the corruptible body desires to preserve that which it keeps invincible and incorruptible, [to remedy] their defect. Subjected to fate is the corruptible [body]; to heal the deceased and the infirm, and to make the infirm and the base beautiful, the value is faith, [but it] is fantastical and vain. Therefore, the root of life is rest; let it make the thing of itself, let it make my [body] incorruptible. Man remains [as] a thing joined to himself, and if he might hold his spirit in the flesh incorrupt, then he gives [it] by lot, and the spirit changes, augments, and restores, for it digests every raw thing.