44

1806

Sidney
May 25
Sunday.

with all our boast of intellect & the superiority of our
nature to that of other animals what a [merely?]
physical being is man! The temperature of the
air, the nature of his food, a due proportion of meat,
of exercise, of sleep, all are incidents which affect not
only his body but his mind, & the health & [vigour?] of the
one is not more [deleted]affected[deleted] dependant on them, than the activity
& cheerfulness of his mind. Is there no way of making
the mind more independant of the body, no way of
securing a perpetual sunshine of soul or at least of
raising it above the influence of merely physical
causes. Why when the circumstances of life remain
the same, should the changing of the wind, or the passing
of a cloud have the power in one moment, of [casting?]
a gloom over the mind that was in the enjoyment
of animation & joy to this general, or am I [pecularly?]
subject to these [sensations?]? Oh how delightful
that temperature of mind I now enjoy, such content-
-edness, cheerfulness, tranquility, self-complacency, such
animation & activity of mind, such a willingness
to perform every duty. Why oh why cannot
I feel always thus & not be subject to such
sad [?]. There was a time when [Sunday?]
was the most [welcome?] day of the week to me,
when I [?] dreaded its arrival & it is not