2^S Reverie, considered as 



ing the time they have lost in dissipation pf 

 thought. 



This is a mistaken economy, and proves no 

 saving of time in the end. He, vv^ho, greedy 

 of knowledge, neglects to accustom himself 

 to regular bodily exercise, will find many of 

 the hours which he has passed at his desk, to 

 be undeserving of being computed with the 

 hours of actual improvement : and will thus 

 become sensible, that if a certain portion of 

 time had been given to exercise, the hours of 

 his actual improvement would have been more 

 in number. When the body has been seden- 

 tary and indolent, the faculties make fruitless 

 attempts to grasp the objects of their study. — 

 This is the case in reading : it is still more so 

 in composition. With great wisdom', there- 

 fore, did the Greeks mingle gymnastic ex- 

 ercises with the study of philosophy. In the 

 morning, after the spirits have been recruited 

 by rest, the mind being (with the body) fresh 

 ajnd vigorous, is not disposed to deviate from 

 the subject presented to it. It was accordingly 

 at this time of the day, that the kings of 

 Egypt transacted all their public business. 



In the evening these circumstances arc 

 altered! . The fatigue and the meals of the 

 day, and the recurrence of the images that 

 have passed before the senses, are inimical to 



