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Poems, and phancies

written By the Thrice Noble, Illustrious, And Excellent Princess The Lady Marchioness of Newcastle [i.e. Margaret Cavendish]. The Second Impression, much Altered and Corrected

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Of Contracting and Dilating, whereby Vacuum must needs follow.

Contracting and Dilating of each part,
These are the chiefest works of Motion's Art;

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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.