connected with Literature, 225 



mental vigour may be pronounced an antidote 

 to it. 



Now mental vigour is, in great measure, 

 regulated by the strength of the body ; so that 

 literary persons, who are desirous to preserve 

 their minds in a proper disposition for studying 

 with the greatest benefit, should remember, that 

 with respect to exemption from reverie, it is 

 only " in corpore sano'* that the " Alens sana" 

 is to be found. 



The first remedy accordingly which I shall 

 mention is, frequent and habitual exposure to 

 a pure and bracing atmosphere. The influence 

 of different states of the atmosphere, in sharp- 

 ening or hebetating the powers of the mind, 

 was so well known to the ancients, that to this 

 cause they sometimes ascribed the diversities of 

 national character. " Inter locorum naturas 

 quantum intersit, vidimus. Athenis, tenue 

 caelum j ex quo acutiores etiam putantur 



Attici : crassum Thebis, itaque pingues 



Thebani.*' A sharp and salubrious atmos- 

 phere, by invigorating the frame, will thus 

 render the mind alert and active, and intent 

 upon its employment. 



Another important remedy for habitual 

 reverie is temperate living, equally removed 



Ff 



