And if the soul is prior to the body, then the things of the soul are prior to the things of the body.

In other words, opinion, attention, mind, art, law, are prior to sensible qualities; and the first and greater works of creation are the results of art and mind, whereas the works of nature, as they are improperly termed, are secondary and subsequent.

'Why do you say "improperly" ?' Because when they speak of nature they seem to mean the first creative power.

But if the soul is first, and not fire and air, then the soul above all things may be said to exist by nature.

And this can only be on the supposition that the soul is prior to the body.
Shall we try to prove that it is so?
'By all means.' I fear that the greenness of our argument will ludicrously contrast with the ripeness of our ages.