334 



FABLES. 



APPLICATION. 



THE mind of man is not formed for unremitted 

 attention, nor his body for uninterrupted labour; 

 and both are in this respect like a bow. We can- 

 not go through any business requiring intense 

 thought, without unbending the mind, any more 

 than we can perform a long journey without 

 refreshing ourselves by due rest at the several 

 stages of it. Continual labour, as in the case of 

 the bended bow, destroys the elasticity and energy 

 of both body and mind. It is, therefore, absolutely 

 necessary for the studious man to unbend, and the 

 laborious one to take his rest, or both lose their 

 tone and vigour, and become dull and languid. It 

 is to remedy these extremes, that pastimes and 

 diversions ought to be kept up, provided they are 

 innocent. The heart that never tastes of pleasure, 

 shuts up, grows stiff, and is at last incapable of 

 enjoyment. 



