164 DIFFICULTIES STIMULATE MIND. 



whether from climate or other circumstances, 

 favouring rest and indulgence. The Jewish 

 law was promulgated in the Desert, and from 

 Mount Sinai ; the Mahommedan in the arid 

 Arabia; Eome rose to greatness contending 

 with difficulties ; Spain fell off from her great- 

 ness when ease and indulgence took the place 

 of exertion. But does not all history, the rise 

 and fall of every empire and state, tell the 

 same story ? 



AMICUS. I believe so; thankful, therefore, 

 let us be and can we be too thankful ? that 

 England has such a climate, and especially 

 a winter climate, which I trust will always 

 prevent our degenerating, aided, as our climate 

 is, by our field and river sports, so conducive to 

 manly exertion. 



PISCATOK. What you now say reminds me 

 of our favourite sport, and of my promise, when 

 I invited your visit, to take you another ramble 

 through our Lake District. 



AMICUS. I shall be glad to be under your 

 guidance ; and, at this season, I hope to have 

 better sport than last year at a later season, 

 a hope founded on what you told me, that 

 spring is the best time for trout-fishing. 



