The Traffic betwixt the Sun and the Earth

1

’Tis thought an unctuous matter comes from2 the sun
In streaming3 beams, which Earth doth feed upon,
And that the Earth by them, when they ascend,4
Unto the sun a nourishment doth send.5
And so each6 beam the sun doth make a chain,                         5
Which brings down food and draws food7 back again.
Or we may well those beams to ships compare,8
Where each is laden with the richest ware.9
Each ship10 is fraught with heat; through air it sails11
And brings this heat to th’Earth, which never fails12              10
By traffic’s laws equal returns to make,13
And sends instead of heat moist vapor back.14
Great danger is, if ships be overfraught,15
For many times they sink with their own weight:16
And17 those gilt ships such fate18 do19 often find,                         15
They sink with too much weight or split with wind.

  1. In 1653 this poem is untitled. In the second and third editions of 1664 and 1668, respectively, this poem is sorted among other poems on celestial bodies.
  2. comes from] from 1664, 1668
  3. In streaming] Doth stream in 1664, 1668
  4. them, when they ascend,] those Beames backe doth send 1653
  5. Unto the sun a nourishment doth send.] A Nourishment to the Sun, her good Friend. 1653
  6. And so each] So every 1653
  7. Which brings down food and draws food] To send to Earth, and to draw 1653
  8. Or we may well those beams to ships compare,] But every Beame is like a blazing Ship, 1653
  9. Where each is laden with the richest ware.] The Sun doth trafficke to the Earth in it. 1653
  10. Each ship] For it 1664; For, it 1668
  11. sails] swims, 1653
  12. And brings this heat to th’Earth, which never fails] As to the Earth warme Nourishment it brings: 1653
  13. By traffic’s laws equal returns to make,] And Vapour moist, Earth for that warmth returnes, 1653
  14. instead of heat moist vapor back.]  it in those Ships backe to the Sun. 1653
  15. A marginal note in Cavendish’s 1653 text reads: “When the sun draws up more moisture than it can digest, it turns to rain or wind.”
  16. Great danger is, if ships be overfraught,/ For many times they sink with their own weight:] [not included in 1664 or 1668 editions]
  17. And] But 1664, 1668
  18. fate] Fates 1664, 1668
  19. do] they 1653