All Sharp Atoms Do Run to the Center, and Those that Settle Not, by Reason of the Straightness of the Place, Fly out to the Circumference. Sharp Atoms Running to the Center Make a Sun.

1

All atoms sharp to every center fly,
And in the midst of th’Earth and2 planets lie,
And in those planets there are centers too,3
Where the sharp atoms with quick motion go.
And to the center of the Earth they run,                 5
There gathering close, and so become a sun.4
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 atoms to the center run.                         10
For why the sun amongst the planets round,
Just as a center, in the midst is found.
And fixèd stars, which give a twinkling light
Are center-worlds5 of fire, which do shine6 bright.

  1. In 1653 this poem is called “All Sharp Atoms Do Run to the Center, and Those that Settle Not, by Reason of the Straightness of the Place, Fly out to the Circumference. Sharp Atoms to the Center Make a Sun.” and in 1664 and 1668 “All Sharp Atoms Do Run to the Center, and Those that Settle Not, by Reason of the Straightness of the Place, Fly out to the Circumference. Sharp Atoms Running to the Center Make the Sun.”
  2. And in the midst of th’Earth and] In midst of Earth, and midst of 1653
  3. A marginal note in Cavendish’s 1653 text reads: “The sun in the midst of the planets, which are sharp atoms.”
  4. A marginal note in Cavendish’s 1664 and 1668 texts reads: “Some opinions hold that there is a sun in the center of the Earth.”
  5. center–worlds] Center Worlds 1653; Centre Worlds 1664
  6. which do shine] that shineth 1653