University of Virginia Library

I. Part I.

Nature calls a Council, which is Motion, Figure, Matter, and Life, to advise about making the World.

Death's endeavour to hinder and obstruct Nature.

VVhen Death did hear what Nature did intend,
To hinder her, he all his Force did bend;
But finding all his Forces were too weak,
He always strives the Thread of Life to break,
And seeks to fill the Mind with black despair,
Lets it not rest in peace, nor free from care;
And since he cannot make it Dye, he will
Send Grief and Sorrow to torment it still:
With grievous pains the Body he displeases,
And binds it hard with Chains of strong Diseases.
His Servants, Sloth and Sleep, he doth imploy,
To get half of the time before they Dye:
But Sleep, a friend to Life, oft disobeys
His Masters will, and softly down her lays
Upon her weary Limbs, like Birds in Nest,
And gently locks her Senses up in rest.

A VVorld made by Atomes.

Small Atomes of themselves a World may make,
For being subtile, every Shape they take;
And as they dance about, they places find,
Of Forms, that best agree, make every Kind.
For when we Build an House of Brick or Stone,
VVe lay them even, every one by one,
And when we find a Gap that's big, or small,
VVe seek out Stones to fit that place withall;
For when as they too big, or little be,
They fall away, and cannot stay, 'we see;
So Atomes, as they dance, find places fit,
And there remaining close and fast will knit.
Those, which not fit, the rest, that rove about,
Do never leave, untill they thrust them out;
Thus by their Forms and Motions they will be,
Like work-men, which amongst themselves agree;
And so by chance may a new World create,
Or else predestinate may work by Fate.

Of the four Principal sorts of Atomes.

Atomes by Sympathy are fixed so,
As past some Principles they do not go,
Which Principles, if you in every kind
Of all their works do count, you few will find;
For when they do dissolve new Forms to make,
They still to their first Principles do take:
All Creatures howsoe're they may be nam'd,
Are of Long, square, flat, or sharp Atomes fram'd.

Of the Sympathy of these four Principal Figur'd Atomes.

In every Figure is such Sympathy,
As it makes every sort together fly;
As for example, Earth, Air, Water, Fire,
Which make each Element to be intire;
Not, but Loose Atomes stray like Sheep about,
And go to several places in and out,
And some, as Sheep and Goats do joyn together,
And when they mix, 'tis several change of weather;
But Motion as their Shepheard drives them so,
As not to let them out of Order go.

The four Principal Figur'd Atomes make the four Elements.

The Square flat Atomes as dull Earth appear,
The Atomes round do make the Water clear;
The Long streight Atomes like as Arrows fly,
Mount next the Sharp, and make the Airy Skie;
The Sharpest Atomes into Fire do turn,
And by their peircing quality do burn:
That Figure makes them Active, active Light,
VVhich makes them get above the rest in flight;
And by this Figure they stick fast, and draw
Up other Atomes which are Round and Raw.
But Water is round drops, though ne're so small,
VVhich shews its Figure to be Sphærical;
That Figure makes it Spungy, spungy Wet,
And being hollow, softness doth beget,
And being soft, it makes it run about;
More solid Atomes thrust it in or out;
But sharper Atomes force it cannot shun,
For Cold doth nip it, and Heat makes it run.
Flat Atomes, they are heavy, dull, and slow,
And sinking downwards to the bottom go:
These Figur'd Atomes are not Active, Light,
Whereas the Long are like the Sharp in flight;
For as the Sharp do pierce, and get on high,
So do the Long shoot streight and evenly.
The Round are next the Flat, the Long next Round,
Those which are Sharp are still the highest found;
The Flat turn all to Earth, and lye most low,
The Round to Water clear, and Liquid flow;
The Long to Air, from whence the Clouds do grow,
The Sharp to Fire do turn, which hot doth glow.
Thus these four Figures th'Elements do make,
And as their Figures do incline, they take,
For they are perfect in themselves alone,
Not taking any Shape, but what's their own;
And whatsoever Form is elsewhere found,
Must take from Long, or Square, or Sharp, or Round:
For those that are like to Triangles cut,
Part of three Figures in one Form is put;
And those that bow, and bend like to a Bow,
Like to the Round and joyned Atomes shew;
In those that Branch'd, or those which Crooked be,
You may the Long and both sharp Figures see.
Thus several Figures several Tempers make,
But what is Mixt doth of the Four partake.

Of Aiery Atomes.

Long Atomes, which the streaming Air do make,
Are Hollow, Air from them doth softness take;
This makes that Air and Water near agree,
Because in Hollowness alike they be.
We Aiery Atomes to a Pipe compare,
And Watery Atomes round like Cymbals are;
Although the one is Long, and th'other Round,
Yet in the midst a Hollowness is found;
This makes us think that VVater turns to Air,
And Air runs often into VVater fair;
And like two Twins they are mistaken oft,
Because their Hollowness makes both them soft.

Of Air.

The reason, why Air is so equal spread,
Is Atomes long, at each end ballanced:
For being Long, their ends alike withall,
Make th'Air as VVeights into just Measures fall;
And let it move, joyn to what Form it will,
Yet lies in every Line that Figure still:
For Atomes long, their Forms as thread are spun,
And like a Cobweb interwoven run;
And thus Air being thin, so subtile grows,
That into every empty place it goes.

Of Earth.

VVhy's Earth not apt to move, but slow and dull?
Flat Atomes have no Vacuum, but are full;
That Form admits no empty place to bide,
All parts are fill'd, having no hollow side ;
And where no Vacuum is, there's Motion slow,
Having no empty places for to go.
Though Atomes all are small, as small may be,
Yet by their Forms doth Motion disagree:
For Atomes sharp do make themselves a Way,
Cutting through other Atomes as they stray;
But Atomes flat will dull and lazy lye,
Having no Edge nor Point a way to try.

The weight of Atomes.

Though Atomes are as small, as small can be,
Yet they in Bulk of Matter all agree;
And if this Bulk be right, each Atome must
Be needs of such a Weight that's like and just:
Thus Quantity, Weight, Quality, do all
Together meet in every Atome small.

The Bigness of Atomes.

I mean by Atomes small, as small can be,
They do in Quantity, Weight, Quality agree,
Not in their outward Figure: for some may
Shew Bigger, and some others Less than they;
Take Water fluid and Ice, and you will see,
They do in Weight but not in Bulk agree.
So Atomes some are soft, others more knit,
According as each Atome's Figure's fit;
Atomes whose Form is Hollow, Long, and Round,
Bend more than Flat, or Sharp, wch close are bound,
And being Hollow, they are spread more thin
Than other Atomes, which are close within;
And Atomes which are thin, are softer much,
When Atomes close are of an harder touch.

Of Loose Atomes.

In every Brain there do Loose Atomes lye,
Those which are sharp, from them do Fancies fly;
Long Aiery Atomes nimble are and free,
But Round and Square ones dull and sleepy be.

Change is made by several Figur'd Atomes, and Motion.

If all the Atomes of one Matter be,
As Fire, Air, VVater, Earth, and these agree,
Then must their several Figures make all Change
By Motion's help, which orders, as they range.

Of Sharp Atomes.

Motion the Sharpest Atomes doth mount high,
And like to Arrows swift doth make them fly,
And being Sharp and Swift, so deep they fall,
As they pass through all those they meet withall;
By their swift Motion to bright Fire they turn,
And being Sharp, they peirce, which we call Burn.

Of Atomes that make Flame.

Those Atomes wch are Long, sharp at each end,

These Atomes are half Aiery Atomes, and half Fiery.

Stream forth like Air, in Flame, wch Light doth send;
For Flame doth shew as if it fluid were,
Which shews part of that Figure is like Air:
Thus Flame is joyn'd, two Figures into one;
But Fire without a Flame is Sharp alone.

Of Fire and Flame.

Although we at a distance stand, if great
A Fire there be, the Body through 'twill heat,
Yet those Sharp Atomes we do not perceive,
How they fly out, nor how they to us cleave;
Neither do flame, nor shine, they clear and bright,
When they fly out, and on our Bodies light;
The reason is, they loose and scatter'd fly,
And not in Troups, nor do they on heaps lye.
Like small dust rais'd, and scatter'd all about,
We see it not, nor doth it Light keep out;
But gather'd up thick to a Mountain high,
We then see, they in solid Earth do lye:
Just so do Atomes sharp look clear and bright,
When heaped up, or in a streaming flight.

Of Fire in the Flint.

The reason, Fire doth lye in Flint unseen,
Is, other Figur'd Atomes stick between:
For being bound, and over-power'd by
A Multitude, they do in Prison lye;
Unless Motion do come, and set them out,
With a strong power, and then they fly about.
But if that Flint be beat to Powder small,
The Grossest to divide, releas'd are all;
And when they once are out, they ne're come back,
But seek about another Form to make.

VVhat Atomes make Fire Burn, and what Flame.

VVhat makes a Spark of Fire to burn more quick
Than a great Flame? because 'tis small to stick;
For Fire it self is in its nature dry,
Falls into parts, as crowds of Atomes lye.
The Sharpest Atomes keep the Body hot,
To give out Heat some Atomes forth are shot.
Sometimes the Sparks for anger fly about,
Or want of room do thrust the VVeakest out,
They are so Sharp, that what they meet devour,
If other Atomes them not over-power:
As Ants, though small, will eat up a dead Horse,
So Atomes sharp use Bodies of less force;
And being Sharp, grow sharper by degrees,
As Stings in Flies are not so sharp as Bees;
And when they meet a Body, solid, flat,
The Weakest fly, the Sharpest work on that.
Those that are not so Sharp do fly about,
And seek to eat some lighter matter out,
Thus lighter Atomes Air do turn to Flame,
Because more Thin and Porous is the same;
And being light and weak fast hold to take,
Hotter a Burning Coal than Flame do make.
The Sharpest into Firmest Bodies fly,
But if their Strength be small, they quickly Dye:
Or if their Number be not great, but small,
The Blunter Atomes beat and quench out all.

Of a Spark of Fire.

A Spark of Fire, 'tis like a Mouse doth eat
Into a Cheese, although both hard and great:
For Sparks of Fire, although they be but small,
Yet where those Points take hold, they peirce through all.

Of a Burning Coal.

The cause, a Coal doth set an House on Fire,
Is, Atomes sharp are in that Coal entire,
Which being arm'd with Points quite thorow go,
And those flat Atomes with their Forms undo;
And Atomes sharp, whose Form is made for flight,
If Loose, do run to help the rest in fight:
Like unto Souldiers, which are of one side,
Seeing their Friends ingag'd, to rescue Ride;
But Atomes flat, where Motion is but slow,
They cannot Fight, but strait to Ashes go.

Of Ashes.

Burnt wood is like unto an Armies rout ,
Their Forms undone, lye scatter'd all about;
When Atomes sharp unbind the Flat, then all
Those Loose flat Atomes we do Ashes call .

The Power of Fire.

Like as a Bee or Wasp hurts with her sting,
So Fire hath strength and power on every thing;
For all it meets, it doth fast to it stick,
Bee't ne're so close, hard, solid, strong and thick,
All things it doth dissolve, or bow, or break,
Keeping its strength by making others weak.

Of Burning, why it causes Pain.

The reason, why Fire burns, and burning smarts,
Is, that it hath so many little parts,
Which parts are Atomes sharp, and wound more fierce,
If they so far into our Skins do peirce;
And, like a Porcupine, do shoot about
Their fiery Quils, if nothing quench them out.
Their Figure makes their Motion nimble & quick,
And being Sharp, they do like Needles prick;
If they do peirce too deep , our Flesh will ake,
If they but touch the Skin , we pleasure take;
That kind of Pain we do a Burning call.
These Atomes numerous are, and very small,
And make from Needles points a different touch,
Which Points are gross, and numbers not so much,
And cannot lye so close, nor spread so thin,
All at one time to enter through our Skin.

The Increasing, and Decreasing of Visible Fire.

Fire being kindled, first appears but small,
But growing strong, it wasts and burns up all;
Just like a Crow, that on a dead Horse lights,
When other Crows perceive it in their flights,
They strait invite themselves unto that Feast,
And so from one to Numbers are increast:
So Atomes sharp which singly fly about,
Joyn with the rest to eat the Fuel out;
And as the Fuel doth increase, so they,
And as it wasts, so they do fly away.

When there is no Substance left for Sharp Atomes to work upon, they disperse, for they seek to undo the Composure of all other Atomes.

Fire compared to Stings.

Nothing is so like Fire as a Flies sting,
If we compare th'Effect, which both do bring:
For Flies, when they do sting, no blood they draw,
But Blisters raise, and make the Flesh all raw;
Were there as many Stings, as points in Fire,
They would consume each Body, that's entire;
Thus we find Flies do carry every where
Fire in their Tails, yet do their Breech not fear.

Flame compared to the Tide of the Sea.

Like as the Tide, so Flame doth ebb and flow:
For it will sink, and then strait higher grow;
And if supprest, it in a Rage breaks out,
Spreading it self in several parts about.
Some think Salt is the cause the Sea doth move;
If so, then Salt in Flame the like may prove;
And if it be that Salt all Motions makes,
Then Life, the chief, from Salt its Motion takes.

Of Quenching out Fire.

It is not Atomes round their Number great,
That put out Fire, quenching both light and heat,
But being Wet, they loosen and unbind
Those sharp dry Atomes, which together joyn'd;
For when they are dispers'd, their power is small,
Nor give they Light nor Heat, if single all.
Besides, these Atomes sharp will smother'd be,
Having no Vent, nor yet Vacuity:
For Fire if in a place it doth lye close,
Having no vent, but stop'd, strait out it goes.
There is no better Argument to prove
A Vacuum, than to see how Fire doth move;
For if Fire should not have the Liberty
To run about, how quickly would it Dye?

The Quenching out, and Smothering of Heat and Light, doth not change the Propriety nor Shape of sharp Atomes.

'Tis not, that Atomes sharp have altered
Their Form, when Fire's put out, but Motion's fled ,
Which being gone, sharp Atomes cannot prick,
Having no force in any thing to stick:
For as the Sun, if Motion mov'd it not,
Would neither Shine, nor be to us so Hot;
Just so, when Creatures dye, their Form's not gone ,
But Motion which gave Life, away is flown:
For Animal Spirits, which we Life do call,
Are only of the sharpest Atomes small.
Thus Life is Atomes sharp, which we call Fire,
When those are stopt or quench'd, Life doth expire.

The reason Water quenches Fire.

The reason, Fire by Water is quench'd out,
Is, that Round Atomes do put to a rout
The Sharp; for when a House on Fire is set,
Then Atomes sharp are in great Armies met,
Where they themselves range into ranks and files,
And strive always to havock and make spoils,
Running about as nimble as may be,
From side to side, as in great Fires we see;
But Atomes round, lest Sharp should more increase,
Do like a rescue come , and make them cease;
For being separate they have no force;
Like to a Troop or Regiment of Horse,
Which, when great Canon-bullets are shot through,
They disunite, and quite their strength undo;
So Water that is thrown on flaming Fire,
Doth separate and make that strength expire.

Of the Sound of Water, Air, and Flame.

VVhen Crowds of Atomes meet, not joyned close,
By Motion quick they give each other blows ;
When they do strike, do make the greatest Sound;
Not that there's any thing that moves therein,
To make Rebounds, but that their Form's more thin ;
For being thin, they larger are and wide,
Which makes them apt to strike each others side.
In larger Bulks encounters are more fierce,
When they do strike, though not so quick to peirce:
This is the reason, Water, Air, and Flame,
Do make most noise when Motions move the same;
For Atomes loose are like to People rude,
And make great Noise, when in a Multitude.

The Agility of Water.

VVater is apt to move, since round like Balls,
Not points it hath, but trundles as it falls;
This makes the Sea, when like to Mountains high
The Waves do rise, it cannot steddy lye,
But falls again into a Liquid plain,
When Winds disturb it not, there to remain:
Thus watery Balls they are not intermixt,
But stick so close, as nothing is betwixt.

The reason of the Roaring of the Sea.

All waters Sphærical, when Tides do flow,
Beat all those Sphærical drops as they go;
So Winds do strike those Watery drops together,
Which we at Sea do call Tempestuous weather;
And being Sphærical and Cymbal like,
They make a Sound when each 'gainst other strike.

What is Liquid.

All that doth Flow, we cannot Liquid name,
Or else would Fire and Water be the same;
But that is Liquid which is moist and wet;
Fire that propriety can never get:
Then 'tis not Cold that doth the Fire put out,
But 'tis the Wet, that makes it dye, no doubt.

Of Fire and Moisture.

If Hay be not quite dry, but stack'd up wet,
That Moisture will in time a Fire beget;
This gives a proof that Fire from Moisture grows,
But we have none, that from Fire Moisture flows;
Besides it shews Fire in it self is free,
No other Element in it can be:
For Fire is pure, and still doth keep the same;
Where oyly Moisture's not, no Fire can flame.

Air begot by Heat and Moisture.

When Heat & Moisture joyn with equal merit,
They get a Body thin of Air or Spirit,
Which is a Smoak or Steam begot from both;
If Mother Moisture rule, 'tis full of sloth;
But if the Father Fire predominates,
Then it is active, quick, and Elevates:
This Aiery Child is sometimes good, or bad,
According to the Nourishment it had.

The Temper of the Earth.

The Earth, we find, is very cold and dry,
And must therefore have Fire and VVater nigh,
To wash and bathe, then dry her self without,
Else she would useless be without all doubt.

VVhat Atomes make Vegetables, Minerals, and Animals.

The Branched Atomes form each planted thing,
The hooked points pull out & make them spring,
Sharp Atomes do give heat, the Round give juice,
And these do Flowers, Herbs, and Fruits produce.
Those that are Square and Flat, not rough withall,
Make those which Stone and Minerals we call;
But in all Stones and Minerals (no doubt)
Sharp points do lye, which Fiery sparks strike out.
Thus Vegetables and Minerals do grow,
According as the several Atomes go.
In Animals all Figures do agree,
But in Mankind the best of Atomes be.
And thus for ought we know, the World's whole frame
May last unto Eternity the same.

What Atomes make Life.

The pointed Atomes they to Life do tend,
Whether all pointed or but at one end,
Or whether they be set round like a Ring,
Or whether long, and roul'd as on a String;
Those which are pointed, streight, quick Motion give,
But those that bow and bend, more dull do Live;
Wherefore according as sharp Atomes be,
You will Life either dull or merry see:
And thus the only Cause why things do Dye
Or Live, is as the mixed Atomes lye.

What Atomes make Death.

Life is like as a Fire, that burns full hot,
But when round, wat'ry Atomes power have got
On it, then do they quench Life's Atomes out,
Blunting their Points, and kill their Courage stout.
Thus they sometimes thrust out each other quite,
When equal mixt, do quietly unite;
The only cause why things do live and dye,
'S according as the mixed Atomes lye.

What Atomes cause Sickness.

When sick the Body is, and well by fits,
Atomes do fight, but none the better gets;
If they agree, then Health returns again,
And lasts as long as they in Peace remain.

What Atomes make a Dropsie.

When Atomes round do joyn into one Ball,
Then they swell high and grow Hydropical;
And joyning thus, they do so powerfull grow,
As they all other Atomes overflow.

What Atomes make a Consumption.

Sharp Atomes when they meet, do get such Heat,
Power, and Strength, as they all others beat;
And being hot, become so very dry,
Drink up Life's Moisture and make Motion dye.

What Atomes make the Wind-colick.

Long Aiery Atomes when they are combin'd,
Do spread themselves abroad and cause a Wind,
Making a length and breadth that extends so,
As all the rest can neither stir nor go;
Which since they cannot in their places lye,
As press'd too hard, Man in great pain doth Dye.

What Atomes make a Palsie, or Apoplexie.

VVhen dull flat Atomes do together joyn,
And with each other in a heap combine,
This Body thick doth stop all passage so,
Keeps Motion out, and makes the Body grow
Numb'd; for sharp Atomes in which heat doth live,
Being close and smother'd up no heat can give;
But if these Atomes flat meet in the Brain,
The Spirits are choak'd, and can no heat obtain.

In all other Diseases Atomes are mixed, taking Parts and Factions.

In all other Diseases they are mix'd,
And not in one united Body fix'd,
But do in Factions part, and when they rise,
Striving to beat each other out, Man dyes.

All things are Govern'd by Atomes.

Thus Life and Death, and Young and Old,
Are, as the several Atomes hold;
Wit, Understanding in the Brain,
Are, as the several Atomes reign;
And Disposition good, or ill,
Are as the several Atomes still;
And every Passion which doth rise,
Is, as each sort of Atomes lies:
Thus Sickness, Health, and Peace and Warr,
Are, as the several Atomes are.

A Warr betwixt Atomes.

Some Factious Atomes 'mongst themselves combine,
And strive some formed Body to disjoyn;
Round Atomes do beat out the Sharp; the long
With flat Atomes do Fight; thus all go wrong.
Those which make Motion General in their Warr,
By his Directions much stronger are.

Atomes and Motion fall out.

When Motion and all Atomes disagree,
Thunder i'th' Air, and Sickness in Men be;
Earth-quakes & Winds, which make disorder great,
Are, when as Motion doth all Atomes beat;
And they great Noise in this confusion make,
For Motion lets them not their places take:
Like frighted Flocks that do together keep,
Which Motion worries, as a Woolf doth Sheep.

An agreement of some Kind of Motion with some Kind of Atomes.

Some Motion with some Atomes doth agree,
Fitting them to their place, just as may be,
Where they by Motion's help so strong do grow,
As it shall hardly them again undo:
Motion's Inconstancy oft gives such power
To Atomes, as they may it self devour.

Motion directs while Atomes Dance.

Atomes will in just Measures dance, and joyn
All one by one in a round Circle line,
Run in and out, as we do dance the Hay,
Crossing about, yet keep just time and way,
Whilst Motion doth direct; and thus they dance,
And meet all by consent, not by meer chance:
This Consort's Health, which Life depends upon,
But when 'tis out, 'tis Death; So Dancing's done.

The difference of Atomes and Motion in Youth and Age.

In all young Creatures Motion swiftly goes,
But moving long 'tis tyr'd, and stiffer grows;
For Atomes are in Youth more nimble and strong
Than in old Age, when apter to go wrong.
Thus Youth by false notes, and wrong steps doth dye,
In Age, Atomes and Motion weary lye.
The ease of Motion's change, for soon it will
Grow tyr'd if in one Figure it goes still.

Motion makes Atomes a Bawd for Figure.

Motion makes Atomes by his subtile Skill,
His Bawds, to get new forms him to his will;
For they would still, as they themselves had plac't,
Be in one Figure, and so for ever last:
But Motion, he perswades new Forms to make,
Because he doth in Change great pleasure take;
And makes all Atomes run from place to place,
That Figures young he might have to imbrace.
For some short time he loves to make a stay,
But after he is tyr'd, hee'l run away;
And by his Change most Figures are undone,
For Young take place of th'Old when they are gone;
Yet 'tis but like a Batch of Bread, which still
Is of the same Flower and Seed. Thus will
Inconstant Motion a new Figure bake,
Only that he may have a new hot Cake.

Motion is according to the Figure.

A Figure Sphærical hath Motion round,
In streight ones is a darting Motion found;
As several Figures in small Atomes be,
So several Motions are, if we could see;
When to the making of new Forms they go,
Then Motion alters as the Figures do;
In Bodies great, and of much weightiness,
Is Motion slow, and all his weight grows less:
Out of a Shuttle-cock a Feather pull,
And flying strike it, as when it was full,
The Motion of it alters, which seems strange,
When th'Motion of the hand doth no ways change.
Motion and Matter can new Figures find,
And the Substantial Figures turn and wind;
Thus several Figures several Motions take,
And several Motions several Figures make;
But Figure, Matter, Motion, all is one,
Can ne're be separate nor be alone.

Of the Subtilty of Motion.

Could we the several Motions of Life know,
The subtile windings, and the ways they go,
We should of unknown things dispute no more,
How they be done, but the great God adore.
But we with Ignorance about do run,
To know the Ends, and how they first begun,
Spending that Life which God in us did raise
To Worship him, and in his Works to praise,
With fruitless, vain, impossible pursutes,
In Schools, Lectures, and Quarrelling disputes;
We never give Him thanks that did us make,
But proud, as petty Gods, our selves do take.

Motion is the Life of all things.

As Darkness a privation is of Light,
That's when the Optick Nerve is stopt from sight;
So Death is even a Cessation in
Those Forms and Bodies, wherein Motions spin;
As Light which cannot shine but in the Eye,
So Life doth only in a Motion lye:
Thus Life is out, when Motion leaves to be,
Like as an Eye that's shut, no Light can see.

Of the Motion of the Sea.

If, as we see, the Sea doth run about
The Earth, it leaves a space where first came out
The Tide, for Water, if't as much as Land
In Compass had, it would not stirr but stand;
Wch shews, that though the Water doth go round,
Yet is there still more Land than Water found.
But say, the Air, that's moveable without,
And thin, doth give it leave to run about;
Or as a VVheel doth make the VVater go,
So Air may cause the Sea to move and flow:
But, truly, if Air had not room to move,
It could not any other Body shove;
Besides, what drives, its strength must needs extend
Above what's driven, or else 'twere to no end;
If so, then Infinites of Strengths must lye
In Motion's power, to move Eternally.
But say, all things run in a Circle line,
And every part doth to another joyn,
They can out of their places where they are,
Not stir, unless some places be left bare:
For stop a VVheel's Circumference without,
Its Center too, it cannot turn about;
If Breadth and Depth were full, leaving no space,
Nothing could stir nor move out of its place.

Of the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea.

The Sea which always constant Ebbs and Flows,
Is like the Hammer of a Clock that goes;
For as it, coming to the Notch, doth strike,
So VVater where 'tis empty doth the like:
For VVater when it Flows, is cast out still,
And when it Ebbs, runs back, that place to fill.

Of Vacuum.

Some think the World would fall, and not hang so,
If it had any empty place to go.
One cannot think that Vacuum is so vast,
That the great VVorld should in that Gulf be cast;
But Vacuum is like to a porous Skin,
Where Vapour doth go out, and Air comes in;
And since that Vapour fills those places small,
VVe cannot think but they were empty all:
For were they all fill'd up, they could not make
Room, for succeeding Atomes place to take.
Wherefore if Atomes pass and repass through,
They needs must empty places have to go.

Vacuum in Atomes.

If all the Atomes, long, sharp, flat and round,
Be only of one sort of Matter found,
The hollow Atomes must all empty be,
For there is nought to fill Vacuity;
And being several Bodies, though but small,
Betwixt those Bodies there is nought at all:
For as they Range about from place to place,
Between their Bodies there is left a space,
Else joyning close, and without space betwixt,
They'd seem as one great Lump together mixt;
Nor could they move into each other's room,
Unless there were some where a Vacuum:
For though like Time their Matter's Infinite,
Yet they must fix, if they all do unite.
And were all Matter fluid, as some say,
It could not move, having no empty way;
Like VVater that is stopt close in a Glass,
It cannot stirr, having no way to pass:
Nor could the Fishes swim in VVater thin,
Were Vacuum not to crowd these VVaters in;
For as they crowd, those Waters driv'n up high,
Must to some places rise that empty lye:
For though the Water's thin, wherein they move,
Yet none could stir, if Water did not shove.

Of Contracting and Dilating, whereby Vacuum must needs follow.

Contracting and Dilating of each part,
These are the chiefest works of Motion's Art;
But Motion can't Dilate, nor yet Contract
A Body, which is close, firm, and compact,
Unless at first an empty place be found,
Wherein to spread those compact Bodies round;
Neither can Matter fluid contract so close,
But by Contracting it some place must lose.

What Atomes the Sun is made of.

The Sun is of the sharpest Atomes made,
Close knit together, and exactly laid;
Its Fabrick is just like a Wheel made round,
And in the midst of all the Planets found;
Which Planets as they move about the Sun,
Their Motion makes the loose sharp Atomes run.

Of the Rays of the Sun.

The Rays are not so hot as is the Sun,
Because they do more loose and scatter'd run:
For when within a Glass those Beams unite,
They peirce, & sharp through every thing do bite ;
But being separate, they weaker grow,
And then like Cowards several ways do go.

Of the Beams of the Sun.

Those Splendent Beams wch forth the Sun doth spread,
Are loose sharp Atomes ranged long like thread;
If streaming they on porous Bodies fall,
They peirce into, which touch we Heat do call.

The cause of the Breaking of the Sun-beams.

If porous Atomes by the Sharp are found,
They're born away on points, as Prisoners bound;
But as they mount, Atomes of their own Kind,
If chance to meet, strait help them to unbind:
For porous Atomes being soft and wet,
When numbers meet, do close together get,
And being glut, they joyn together, all
By one consent do pull, and backward fall;
If they be Round, in showring drops they joyn,
And so return, as Beads strung on a Line;
But if their Figures different be from those,
Then like a thick and foggy Mist it shows.

Whether the Sun doth set the Air on a Light, as some Opinions hold.

Some do the Sun just like a Candle make,
From which, they say, Air all its Light doth take,
Not by Reflection, but by Kindling all
That part, which we our Hemisphere do call;
If so, the Air whereon his Light is cast,
Would ne're go out, unless that Air did waste,
Or else the Sun Extinguishers did throw
Upon the Air, to cause Light out to go:
But sure the Sun's Reflection gives the Light ,
For when he's gone, to us it is Dark night.
And why? the Sun is Atomes sharp intire,
Which wedg'd in round do make a Wheel of Fire;
About this Wheel continually do flow
Sharp streaming Atomes, which like Flame do show,
And in this Flame the Earth it self doth see,
As in a Glass, as clear as e're may be;
But when the Earth doth turn aside its face,
It is not seen, but Darkness doth take place;
Or when the Moon doth come betwixt that Light,
Then is the Earth shut up as in Dark night.

Of the Motion of the Sun.

Sometimes we find it Hot, and sometimes Cold,
Although the Sun equal degrees doth hold;
And in a Winters day more Heat is found,
Than Summer, when the Sun should parch the ground;
Wherefore if Heat doth make him gallop fast,
'T must ever equal be or stay his haste;
If so, then Seas which send up Vapour, may
His fiery Courage cool in the mid-way;
Besides, the middle Region which is Cold,
And full of Ice, will of his strength take hold:
Then 'tis not Heat that makes him run so fast,
But this fast running Heat on Earth doth cast;
And Earth sends Vapours cold to quench and break
His fiery strength, which makes his Beams so weak.

Of the Sun's Weakness.

The Sun doth not to the Earth's Centre go,
He cannot shoot his Beams so deep and low;
For a thick Wall will make his Arrows weak,
So that his Heat must needs against it break;
And Earth hath Arms so thick, to keep out all
His fiery Darts, which He on Her lets fall.

What Atomes make the Sun and the Sea go round.

The pointed Atomes all to Fire do turn,
And being Sharp, do peirce, which we call burn;
But by their Driness they become so light,
As they do get above the rest in Flight,
Where by consent a Wheel of Fire they make,
Which being Sphærical doth round Motion take,
This Motion makes round Atomes turn about,
Which Atomes round are VVater without doubt,
And makes the Sea go like a Water-mill;
For as the Sun, so Water turns round still.

The Traffick betwixt the Sun and the Earth.

'Tis thought an unctuous Matter from the Sun
Doth stream in Beams, wch Earth doth feed upon,
And that the Earth by them, when they ascend,
Unto the Sun a Nourishment doth send,
And so each Beam the Sun doth make a Chain,
Which brings down Food, and draws Food back again;
Or we may well those Beams to Ships compare,
Where each is Laden with the Richest ware,
For it is fraught with Heat, through Air it Sails,
And brings this Heat to th'Earth, which never fails
By Trafficks Laws equal returns to make,
And sends instead of Heat moist Vapour back:
But those Gilt Ships such Fates do often find,
They sink with too much Weight, or split with Wind.

The Sun is Nurse to all the Earth bears.

Although the Earth to all gives Form and Feature,
Yet is the Sun the Nurse to every Creature;
For none could Live, unless the Sun give Heat,
Which is to them as Nourishing as Meat:
Just like a Child that's got and born of Man,
It must be Fed, or 'twill soon Dye agen.

Of the Attraction of the Sun.

When all those Atomes which in Rays do spread,
Are ranged long like to a slender thread,
They do not scatter'd fly, but joyn in length,
And being joyn'd, though small, add to their strength;
The further forth they stream, the more they waste
Their strength, though to the Sun they're tied fast:
For all those Rays, which Motion down doth send,
Sharp Atomes are, which from the Sun descend;
And as they flow in several Streams and Rays,
They stick their Points in all that stop their ways:
Like Needle points, whereon doth something stick,
No way they make, having no force to prick,
And being stopt, they straight ways back do run,
Drawing those Bodies with them to the Sun.

Of the Attraction of the Earth.

Why Earth draws like the Sun, if you intend
To know the cause, Earth doth sharp Atomes send
From its Circumference, like Bees they rise,
When from a Swarm, dispers'd apart each flies;
Often with duller Forms they meet, and then
Having stuck in their Points go back agen:
For like a Bee that's Loaden on each thigh,
Hath a great weight, and cannot nimbly fly;
So when their Points are Loaden, then they grow
Heavy, can peirce no more, but backward go;
And, as their Hives, to Earth return again;
Thus by their Travel they the Earth maintain.

Of the Attraction of the Poles, and of Frost.

The North and South do with the Sun agree,
For in them all contracting Motions be;
The Sun as he with scorching Heat doth burn,
So Cold is sharp, where North and South-pole turn:
For Atomes there are like to Pincers small,
By which they do attract and pull withall,
When Motion from the Poles shoots them about,
Mixing with porous Bodies when they're out;
And with those Pincers they do nip so close
Those Bodies, as they can no ways get loose,
Unless some Sharp and Fiery Atomes get
Betwixt those Pincers small, and so do set
Those Bodies free, just like an Awl that bores,
Or like a Pick-lock which doth open Doors;
For when they're open'd by those fiery Awls,
They let them loose, which Man a Thaw strait calls,
If not, they pinch those Bodies close together,
And then we say 'tis Cold and Frosty weather.

Of Vapour.

Loose and sharp Atomes which do rove about,
To porous Atomes stick, and draw them out
From the more close, for they do highest lie;
Thus Vapour's drawn towards the Region high:
But since they of an equal weight are all,
For want of strength they cause them back to fall.

Of Dews and Mists coming from the Earth.

Some Atomes sharp thrust from the Earth some round,
And then a Pearled dew lies on the ground;
But if on their sharp Points they bear them high,
They being rais'd a Mist make in the Skie.
On the Circumference of th'Earth there lies
A number of loose Atomes, apt to rise,
Though not so high, as them the Sun may burn,
For being dull, they back to Earth return:
As water which is shov'd with force of strength,
Is not so apt to move as run at length.

Wind is made in the Air, not in the Earth.

How can we think Winds come from th'Earth below,
When from the Sky they down upon us blow?
If they came from the Earth, they must ascend,
And back again their strength against it bend;
They cannot freely blow, lest Earth were made
Like to a Bowling-green, and Level laid;
But there are Rocks, and Hills, and Mountains great,
Which stop their ways and make them soon retreat:
Then sure it is, the Sun draws Vapour out,
And makes it thin, then blows it all about;
By Heat condens'd it turneth into Rain,
And by Its Weight falls to the Earth again.

Of Cold Winds.

As water Rarified doth make Winds blow,
So winds when Rarified do Colder grow;
For if they much be Rarified, than they
Do further Blow, and spread out every way;
So Cold they are as they like Needles prick;
Through thinness they do break, and cannot stick,
But into Atomes fall, whose Figures be
Sharp, and peirce porous Bodies, as we see.
Yet some will think, if Air were parted so,
The winds could not have such strong force to blow:
True, Atomes could not peirce, if they were found
To be all Dull, Flat, Heavy, Blunt or Round;
But by Dividing they so Sharp do grow,
Shat through all porous Bodies they do go;
But when the Winds are soft, they intermix
As Water doth, and in one Body fix;
They rather wave than blow, as Fans are spread,
Which Ladies use to cool their Cheeks when red:
Or like as Water drops, that disunite,
Feel harder, than when mixt they on us light,
Unless such Streams upon our heads do run,
As we a shelter seek, the VVet to shun;
But when a Drop congealed is with Cold,
As Hail-stones are, then it more strength doth hold;
For Flakes of Snow may have more quantity
Than Hail-stones, yet they've no such force thereby;
They fall so Soft that they scarce strike our touch,
Hail-stones we feel and know their weight too much.
But Figures that are Flat are dull and slow,
Make weak Impressions wheresoe're they go;
For let ten times the quantity of Steel
Be beaten small, no hurt by that you I feel;
But if that one will take a Needle small,
Whose point is sharp, and prick the Flesh withall,
Strait it shall hurt, and put the Flesh to pain,
Which greater strength doth not of what is plain;
For though you press it hard against the Skin,
'T may heavy feel, but cannot enter in:
And so the VVind that's thin and rarifi'd
May press us down, but never peirce the side.
Or take a Blade that's Flat, though strong and great,
And with great strength upon ones Head it beat,
You'l break the Skul, but not knock out his Brains;
Which Arrows sharp soon do, and with less pains.
Thus what is small, is subt'ler and more quick;
For all small Points in porous Bodies stick.
VVinds broken small to Atomes, when they blow,
Are Colder much than when they streaming flow:
For all that's joyned and united close,
Is stronger much, and gives the harder Blows.
This shews what's closest in it self to be,
Although an Atome in its small degree;
Take Quantity for Quantity alike,
And Union more than Mixture hard shall strike.

Thunder is a VVind in the Middle Region.

VVho knows, but Thunders are great Winds, which lie
Within the middle Vault above the Skie?
Which Winds the Sun by Moisture cold begot,
When he was in his Region Cancer hot.
This Child is thin and subtile, made by heat,
Its Voice is strong, and makes a Noise that's great;
Its thinness makes it Agile, agile Strong,
And by its force doth drive the Clouds along,
And when the Clouds do meet, they each do strike,
Flashing out Fire, as Flints do, or the like.
Thus in the Summer Thunder's caus'd by wind,
For Vapour drawn up high, no way can find
To pass; In Winter time, when Clouds are loose,
Then doth the VVind on Earth keep Rendezvous.

Of Stars.

VVe find that i'th' East-Indies Stars there be,
Which we in our Horizon ne're did see,
Yet we do take great pains in Glasses clear,
To see what Stars do in the Skie appear;
But yet the more we search, the less we know,
Because we find our Work doth endless grow:
For who knows but those Stars we see by Night,
Are Suns, which to some other Worlds give Light?
But could our outward Senses pace the Skie,
As our Imaginations thither fly,
If we were there, we might as little know,
As those which stay, and never up do go.
Then let no Man in fruitless pains Life spend,
The most we know is, Nature Death will send.

Of the Centre of the World.

In Infinite no Centre can be laid ,
But if the World has Limits, Centre's made:
For all that with Circumference is fac'd,
A Centre in the midst must needs have plac'd;
This makes each Form that's limited and bound
To have a Centre and Circumference round,
And is the cause the World goes like a Bowl,
Because it doth about its Centre rowl;
The Centre's small, the Compass big without,
Which by the VVeight doth make it turn about.

All sharp Atomes do run to the Centre, and those that settle not, by reason of the straightness of the place, fly out to the Circumference. Sharp Atomes running to the Centre make the Sun.

All Atomes sharp to every Centre fly,
And in the midst of th'Earth and Planets lye,
And in those Planets there are Centres too,
Where the sharp Atomes with quick Motion go,
And to the Centre of the Earth they run,
There gathering close, and so become a Sun.
This is the Ax whereon the Earth turns round,
And gives the Heat, which in the Earth is found,
A world of Fire; Thus may we guess the Sun,
If all sharp Atomes to the Centre run:
For why, the Sun amongst the Planets round,
Just as a Centre in the midst is found;
And fixed Stars, which give a twinkling Light,
Are Centre worlds of Fire, which do shine bright.

A Fire is in the Centre of the Earth.

As Heat about the Heart always keeps nigh,
So doth a Fire near the Earth's Centre lye;
And as that Heat is through the Body round
Dispersed, but when gone, no Life is found;
So this Heat makes all things to bud and bear,
Although the Sun's hot Beams do ne're come there;
Yet doth the Sun nourish all things without,
Though Fire within the Earth gives Life no doubt:
Thus Heat within begets with Child the Earth,
And Heat without is Midwife to her Birth.

In the Centre Atomes never separate.

Just in the Centre is a point that's small,
Those Atomes that are there, are wedg'd in all,
They lye so close, and do so firmly bind,
As them no Form nor Motion can unwind;
For they are wreath'd so hard about that point,
As they become a Circle without joynt .

If Infinite Worlds, there must be Infinite Centres.

If Infinites of VVorlds, they must be plac'd
At such a distance, as between lies waste;
If they were joyned close, Moving about,
By justling they would push each other out;
And if they Swim in Air, as Fishes do
In VVater, they would meet as they did go.
But if the Air doth every VVorld inclose
And compass all about, as VVater flows,
It keeps them equal in their proper seat,
That as they Move shall not each other beat:
Or if like VVheels which turn by VVater round,
So Air about these Worlds is running found,
Then by that Motion they do turn about,
No further, than that Motion's strength runs out;
Like to a Bowl, which will not further go,
But runs according as that strength did throw.
And thus like Bowls the Worlds do turn and run,
But still the Jack and Centre is the Sun .

Of Infinite Matter.

If Matter be no more, than we do see
This World, I pray, what must beyond it be?
For sure this World is limited and bound,
And like a Ball is made in Compass round;
But Matter, out of which the World is made,
If Infinite, then more Worlds may be said;
Nay, Infinites of Worlds there may be found,
If Infinite of Matter has no bound.

A World made by four Kinds of Atomes.

Sharp Atomes make Fire subtile, quick, and dry,
The Long like shafts still into Air do fly,
The Round do turn to Water, which is wet,
The Square to Earth, a Figure firmly set;
Sharp Atomes, they hard Minerals do make,
Soft Vegetables of round Atomes take;
In Animals none singly lie alone,
But all four sorts do meet and joyn as one:
And thus these four the Substance are of all,
And with their Figures make a worldly Ball.

Of the Elements.

Some hold four perfect Elements there be,
Which do surmount each other by degree;
And some Opinions think that One is all,
The rest from that and to that One do fall;
And that this Element it self doth turn
To several qualities, as Fire to burn,
Then Water moist to quench that heat, and then
To subtile Air, and so to Earth agen:
Like fluid Water, which when turn'd with Frost
To Snow or Ice, its outward form has lost,
But when as Heat doth melt that Icy chain,
Then into Water it doth turn again;
Or like as Vapour thick, which doth ascend
From th'Earth, and to thin Air it self doth spend,
Or else it self condenseth into Rain,
And by its weight falls to the Earth again;
So what is very Thin, doth Subtile grow,
Turns into Fire and a bright Flame doth show;
But what is Dull, Heavy, and Slow to move,
Of a Cold quality doth often prove.
Thus by Contracting and Dilating parts,
Is all the Skil of Nature's working Arts.

The Joyning of several Figur'd Atomes make other Figures.

When several Figur'd Atomes, well agreeing,
Do joyn, they give an other Figure being;
For as those Figures joyn in several ways,
So they the Fabrick of each Creature raise.

What Atomes make Change.

'Tis several Figur'd Atomes that make Change,
When several Bodies meet, as they do range;
For if they Sympathize, and do agree,
They joyn togeth'r and as one Body be;
But if they meet, like to a Rabble rout,
Without all Order running in and out,
Then Disproportionable things they make,
Because they did not their right places take.

What Atomes make Heat and Cold.

Such kind of Atomes as make Heat make Cold,
Like Pincers sharp that nip and do take hold;
For sharply pointed Atomes thorow go,
And Atomes which are Sharp and Hookt pull to;
Yet all must into pointed Figures turn;
For Atomes blunt will never freeze nor burn,
Because to a soft Form blunt Figures bend,
And soft doth unto Wet or Liquid tend.

All things last or dissolve according to the Composure of Atomes.

Atomes , which loosely joyn, do not remain
So long, as those, which closeness do maintain;
Those make all things i'th' VVorld to ebb and flow,
According as the moving Atomes go;
Others in Bodies they do joyn so close,
As in long time they never stir nor loose;
And some will joyn so close, and knit so fast,
As if unstirr'd they would for ever last.
Loose Atomes in small Vegetables lye,
Which is the reason, they so quickly Dye;
In Animals much closer they are laid,
Which is the cause, their Life is longer staid.
Some Vegetables and Animals do joyn
In equal strength, if Atomes so combine;
But Animals, where Atomes close lye in,
Are stronger, than some Vegetables thin;
And Vegetables, wherein Atomes fast
Do stick, as in strong Trees, they longer last.
In Minerals they so together cleave,
As they not any space for Motion leave,
Being pointed all the closer they do lye,
Which makes them not like Vegetables dye.
Those Bodies which loose Atomes most move in,
Are Soft and Porous and many times thin,
And those soft Bodies never do Live long,
Why so? loose Atomes never can be strong;
For Motion's power tosseth them about,
And from their places keeps; so Life goes out.

Of Light.

Some think no Light would be without the Eye;
'Tis true, a Light our Brain could not descry:
But if the Eye makes Light, it may be said
As well, that burning Fire by touch is made.

Of Light and Sight.

Some Learned men, which think to reason well,
Say Light and Colour in the Brain do dwell;
That Motion in the Brain all Light doth give,
And if no Brain the World in dark would Live;
But be it, that the Brain hath Eyes to see,
Then Eyes and Brain would make the Light to be;
If so, poor Donn was out, when he did say,
If all the World were Blind, 'twould still be Day:
Say they, then there no Light i'th' Air would reign,
Unless you'l grant, the World were one great Brain.
Some Age in some Opinions doth agree,
The next doth strive to make them false to be;
For what is New doth all so pleasing sound,
That reasons Old are as meer Non-sense found:
But all Opinions are by Fancy fed,
And truth lies under those Opinions Dead.

Of the Sound and Eccho.

Eccho seems nothing, yet a while it Lives,
And like a wanton Ladmock-answers gives,
Not like the Souls, that from the Bodies go,
For Eccho's Body is of Air, we know;
But strange it is, that Sounds so strong and clear,
Resisting Bodies have, and not appear;
Yet Air, which Subtile is, encounter may;
Thus Words as Sounds may with Self-Eccho play.
But they grow weary soon, hold not out long,
Seem out of Breath, and faulter with the Tongue.

What makes Eccho.

That Motion, which doth from the Mouth proceed,
Runs through the Air and doth an Eccho breed;
As several Letters in one Word do joyn,
So several Figures through the Air combine.
The Air is Wax, Words Seal and give the Print,
And so an Eccho in the Air do mint;
And while those Figures last, they Life maintain,
When Motion wears them out, is Eccho slain:
As Sugar in the Mouth doth melt with taste,
So Eccho in the Air it self doth waste.

VVhat makes Eccho rebound.

When two hard Bodies 'gainst each other move,
And cause Rebounds, they must resisting prove;
For yielding Bodies which do bow or break,
Can ne're Rebound, nor like an Eccho speak:
Wherefore each Word i'th' Air is like a Ball,
And every Letter like a Ball doth fall;
Words are condensed Air, which heard, do grow
As Water, which by Cold doth turn to Snow;
And like as Snow, when press'd, hard Balls doth make,
So Words as Balls their course do backwards take.

Of Shadow and Eccho.

Pale Shadow once in Love fell with bright Light,
Which makes Her still walk always in His sight,
And when He's absent, then, poor Soul, she Dies,
But when He shews himself, Her Life revives.
She Sister is to Eccho loud and clear,
Whose Voice is heard, no Body doth appear;
She hates to see or shew Her self to men,
Unless Narcissus could revive agen:
But these two Souls (for they no Bodies have)
Do wander in the Air to seek a Grave;
Silence would Bury one, the other Night,
But was denied by Repercussion's spight;
And both are subject to the Eye and Ear;
For one we see, and th'other we do hear.

The Objects of every Sense are according to their Motions in the Brain.

We should those Men think Mad, which us should tell
That they did see a Sound, or taste a Smell:
Yet reason proves a Man doth not err much,
When as he says his Senses all are Touch.
If Actions in a Picture lively told,
The Brain strait thinks the Eye doth them behold;
When hungry Folks their Noses meat do smell,
Their Brains do think that smell the Tongue tasts well;
If we a Thief do see, and do him fear,
We strait do think, breaking of Doors we hear.
Imaginations just like Motions make,
That every Sense is struck with a mistake.

According as the Motions of the Heart or Brain are, such Passions are produced.

The Eights in Musick, when they equal are,
If one be struck, the other seems to jarr:
So the Heart-strings, if equally all stretch'd,
Like those of Musick, Love from thence is fetch'd;
For when one's struck, the other moves just so,
And with delight as Evenly doth go.

The Motion of Thoughts.

The reason why the Thoughts are only in the Head.

Each Sinew is a small and slender string,
Which to the Body all the Senses bring,
And they like Pipes or Gutters hollow be,
Where Animal Spirits run continually;
Though small, yet they such Matter do contain,
As in the Skul doth lye, which we call Brain;
That makes, if any one doth strike the heel,
The thought of that Sense in the Brain doth feel;
It is not Sympathy, but all one thing,
Which causes us to think, and pain doth bring;
For had the Heel such quantity of Brain,
As doth the Head and Skul therein contain,
Then would such Thoughts, wch in the Brain dwell high,
Descend into our Heels, and there would lye.
In Sinews small Brain scatter'd lies about,
It wants both Room and Quantity no doubt;
For if a Sinew so much Brain could hold,
Or had so large a Skin it to Infold,
As hath the Skul, then might the Toe or Knee,
Had they an Optick Nerve, both hear and see;
Had Sinews room Fancy therein to breed,
Copies of Verses might from th'Heel proceed.

Of the Motion of the Blood.

Some by their Industry and Learning found,
That all the Blood like to the Sea runs round;
From two great Arteries it doth begin,
Runs through all Veins, and so comes back again.
The Muscles like the Tides do ebb and flow,
According as the several Spirits go;
The Sinews as small Pipes come from the Head,
And they are all about the Body spread,
Through which the Animal Spirits are convey'd
To every Member, as the Pipes are laid;
And from those Sinews pipes each Sense doth take
Of those pure Spirits, as they us do make.

Of many Worlds in this World.

Just like as in a Nest of Boxes round,
Degrees of Sizes in each Box are found;
So in this World may many others be,
Thinner and less, and less still by degree;
Although they are not subject to our Sense,
A World may be no bigger than Two-pence.
Nature is curious, and such works may shape,
Which our dull Senses easily escape:
For Creatures, small as Atomes may be there,
If every one a Creature's Figure bear.
If four Atomes a World can make, then see,
What several Worlds might in an Ear-ring be:
For millions of those Atomes may be in
The head of one small, little, single Pin.
And if thus small, then Ladies may well wear
A World of Worlds as Pendents in each Ear.

A World in an Ear-ring.

An Ear-ring may well a Zodiack be,
Wherein a Sun goes round, which we not see,
And Planets seven about that Sun may move,
And he stand still, as Learned men would prove;
And fixed Stars, like twinkling Diamonds plac'd
About this Ear-ring, which a World is vast;
That same which doth the Ear-ring hold, the hole,
Is that, we call the North and Southern-pole;
There nipping Frosts may be, and Winters cold,
Yet never on the Ladies Ear take hold;
And Lightning, Thunder, and great VVinds may blow
Within this Ear-ring, yet the Ear not know;
Fish there may swim in Seas, which ebb and flow,
And Islands be wherein do Spices grow;
There Crystal Rocks hang dangling at each Ear,
And Golden Mines as Jewels may they wear;
Earth-quakes may be, which Mountains vast down fling,
And yet ne're stir the Ladies Ear nor Ring;
Meddows may be, and Pastures fresh and green,
And Cattel feed, and yet be never seen;
And Gardens fine, and Birds, which sweetly sing,
Although we hear them not, in an Ear-ring:
There may be Night and Day, and Heat and Cold,
As also Life and Death, and Young and Old;
And Youth may spring, and several Ages dye,
Great Plagues may be, and no Infection nigh;
Great Cities there may be, and Houses built,
Whose inside Gay and finely may be Gilt;
Churches may they've, wherein Priests teach and sing,
And Steeples too, yet hear the Bells not Ring;
From thence may pious Tears to Heav'n up run,
And yet the Ear not know, which way they're gone:
Markets may be, where things are bought and sold,
Though th'Ear not knows the price their Markets hold.
There Governours may rule, and Kings may reign,
And Battels may be fought, and many slain,
And all within the Compass of this Ring,
Whence they no Tidings to the Wearer bring.
Within this Ring wise Counsellours may fit,
And yet the Ear not one wise word may get;
There may be Dancing all Night at a Ball,
And yet the Ear be not Disturb'd at all:
Rivals may Duels fight, where some are slain,
And Lovers mourn, yet hear them not complain;
And Death may dig a Lover's Grave, Thus were
A Lover dead in a fair Ladies Ear;
But when the Ring is broke the World is done,
Then Lovers are into Elysium gone.

It is hard to believe that there may be other Worlds in this World.

Nothing doth seem so hard to Nature's Eyes,
As to believe Impossibilities;
Not that they're not, but that they do not clear
Unto our Reason, and to Sense appear:
For Reason cannot find them out, since they
Seem wrought beyond all Nature's course and way;
But many things our Senses do escape;
For they're too Gross to know each Form and Shape;
As that another World in this may be,
Which we do neither touch, nor hear, nor see,
Nor taste, nor smell; What Eye's so clear, that saw
Those little Hooks, that in the Load-stone draw
Hard Iron? or what Brain can reason, why
The Needle's point still in the North will lye?
As for example, Atomes in the Air
We ne're perceive, although the Light be fair:
For whatsoever can a Body claim,
Though ne're so small, Life may be in the same;
And what hath Life may Understanding have,
Though 't be to us as Buried in a Grave.
Then probably may Men and Women small
Live in the World, which we not know at all;
May Build them Houses to dwell in, and make
Orchards and Gardens where they pleasure take;
Have Birds which sing, and Cattel in the field,
And plowed Grounds, which them small Corn may yield;
They may have Common-wealths, and Kings to reign,
Make Warrs and Battels, where are many slain;
And all without our Hearing, or our Sight,
Or any of our other Senses light;
And other Stars, and Suns, and Moons may be,
Which our dull Eyes shall never come to see.
But we are apt to Laugh at Tales so told;
For our gross Senses Reason back do hold:
Yet things which are 'gainst Nature, we think true,
That Spirits change, and can take Bodies new;
That Life may be, yet in no Body live,
For which no Sense nor Reason we can give;
And Incorporeal Spirits Fancy feigns,
Yet Fancy cannot be without some Brains;
And if it without Substance cannot be,
Then Souls are more than Reason well can see.

Several Worlds in several Circles.

There may be many VVorlds like Circles round,
And many more in After-ages found;
If we by Art of Shipping could into
Each Circle slip, we might perhaps it know.
This VVorld compar'd to some may be but small,
No doubt, for Nature made degrees of all;
If not, Drake ne're had made so quick a skip
About the largest Circle with his Ship:
But some may be so Big, as none can swim,
Had they the Life of Old Methusalem;
Or had they Lives to number with each day,
They would want Time to compass half the way:
But if that Drake had liv'd in Venus's Star,
His Journey might have shorter been by far.

The Clasp.

When I did write this Book, I took great pains;
For I did walk, and think, and break my Brains;
My thoughts run out of breath, then down did lye,
And panted with short Wind, like those that Dye;
When time had given them but some ease and strength,
Then up they'ld get and run another length;
Sometimes I kept them to a stricter Diet,
And made them Fast with ease, and rest, and quiet,
That they might run again with swifter speed,
And by this course new Fancies they did breed:
But I do fear they're not so Good to please;
Yet now they're out, my Brain is more at ease.

The Circle of the Brain cannot be Squared.

A Circle round divided in four parts
Hath been great Study 'mongst the Men of Arts;
Since Archimed's or Euclid's time, each Brain
Hath on a Line been stretch'd, yet all in vain;
And every Thought hath been a Figure set,
Doubts Cyphers were, Hopes as Triangles met;
There was Division and Substraction made,
And Lines drawn out, and Points exactly laid,
But none hath yet by Demonstration found
The way, by which to Square a Circle round:
For while the Brain is round, no Square will be,
While Thoughts divide, no Figures will agree.
And others did upon the same account,
Doubling the Cube to a great number mount;
But some the Triangles did cut so small,
Till into equal Atomes they did fall:
For such is Man's curiosity and mind,
To seek for that, which hardest is to find.

The Circle of Honesty Squared.

VVithin the Head of Man's a Circle round
Of Honesty, in which no end is found;
Some think it fit this Circle should be squar'd,
Though to make Honesty take sides is hard;
Yet try, do Fortitude and Prudence take,
Justice and Temperance, four Lines they make;
If Temperance do prove too short a Line,
Then do the Figure of Discretion joyn,
Which Wisdome's point draw up, and you will find
Them make an even Line, when well Combin'd;
'Twixt Fortitude and Prudence Truth must point
Justice's Line towards that Corner-joynt
Of Fortitude, which Line do make agree
With Prudence, Temperance must also be
Of equal length with Justice, both must stand
'Twixt Fortitude and Prudence on each hand.
At every Corner must a Point be laid,
Where Lines do meet, that Angles may be made,
And when those Points too high or low do fall,
Then must the Lines be stretch'd to make them all
Even; And thus the Circle round, you'l find,
Is Squar'd with the four Virtues of the Mind.

The Arithmetick of Passions.

VVith Numeration Moralists begin
Upon the Passions, putting Quotients in;
Numbers divide with Figures, and Substract,
And in their Definitions are exact;
As for Substracting, take but one from three,
Add it to four, and it makes five to be:
Thus the odd Numbers to the even joyn'd,
Will make the Passions rise within the Mind.