University of Virginia Library

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.