Author: Poems and Fancies Research Assistant

The rays are not so hot as is the sun,
Because they do more loose and scattered run.¹
For when within a glass those beams unite,²³
They pierce, and sharp through everything do bite.⁴
But being separate, they weak become,⁵                              5
And then like cowards several ways they run.⁶

Those splendent beams which forth the sun doth spread
Are loose sharp atoms, rangèd long like thread.
If streaming they on¹ porous bodies fall²
They pierce into, which touch we “heat” do call.³

¹
If that² the sun so³ like a candle is⁴
That all the air doth take a light from his—⁵
Not by⁶ reflection, but by kindling all
That part, which we our hemisphere do call—
If so, the⁷ air whereon his light is cast⁸                                 5
Would ne’er go⁹ out, unless that substance¹⁰ waste.
Or ’less¹¹ the sun extinguishers should¹² throw
Upon the air, to cause light out to go.¹³
But sure the sun’s reflection gives the light, ¹⁴
For when he’s gone, to us it is dark night.                           10
And why?¹⁵ The sun is atoms sharp entire,
Which wedged in round, do make¹⁶ a wheel of fire.¹⁷
About this¹⁸ wheel continually do flow
Sharp streaming atoms, which like flame do show.
And in this flame¹⁹ the Earth itself²⁰ doth see,                               15
As in a glass, as clear as e’er²¹ may be.
But²² when the Earth doth turn aside its²³ face,
It is not seen, but darkness doth take²⁴ place.²⁵
Or when the moon doth come betwixt that light,
Then is the Earth shut up as in dark night.²⁶                     20

The sun is of the sharpest atoms made,
Close knit together, and exactly laid.
Its fabric is just like a wheel made¹ round,
And in the midst of all, the planets found.
And as the planets² move about the sun,                          5
Their motions make³ the loose sharp atoms run.

Loose and sharp atoms,¹² which do rove³ about,
To porous atoms stick and draw them⁴ out
From those⁵ more close, for these⁶⁷ do highest lie:
Thus vapor’s drawn toward⁸ the region high.
But since they of an equal weight are all,⁹                             5
For want of strength they cause them back to fall.¹⁰

¹
Some atoms sharp thrust from the Earth some round,
And then a pearlèd dew lies on the ground.
But if on their sharp points they bear them² high,
They,³ being raised, a mist make in the sky.⁴
On the circumference of the⁵ Earth there lies                    5
The loosest atoms, which are⁶ apt to rise;
Though not so high as them the sun may burn,⁷
For being dull, they back to Earth return.
As water, which is shoved with force of strength
Is not so apt to move, as run at length.                               10

¹
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:²
For atoms there are like to pincers small,                            5
By which they do attract, and pull³ withall.⁴
When motion from the poles shoots them about,
Mixing with porous bodies when they’re out.
And with those pincers small those bodies nip,⁵
So close and hard, they cannot from them get,⁶                  10
Unless some sharp and fiery atoms get⁷
Betwixt those pincers small, and so do set⁸
Those bodies free, just⁹ like an awl that bores,
Or like a picklock, which doth open doors.
For when they’re opened by those fiery awls,                      15
Let go their holds,¹⁰ which men¹¹ a thaw straight calls.
If not, they pinch those bodies close together,
And then we¹² say it is hard¹³ frosty weather.

¹
The² atoms round,³ ’tis not their numbers⁴ great
That put out fire,⁵ quenching both light and heat.
But being wet, they loosen and unbind
Those sharp dry atoms, which together joined.
For when they are dispersed, their power is⁶ small,        5
Nor give they light nor heat if single all.
Besides, those⁷ atoms sharp will smothered be,
Having no vent, nor yet vacuity.
For if that fire⁸ in a place lies⁹ close,
Having no vent, but stopped, straight out it¹⁰ goes.         10
There is no better argument to prove
A vacuum, than to see how fire doth move:¹¹
For if fire should not have the¹² liberty
To run about, how quickly would it die?

¹
’Tis not that atoms sharp have alterèd²
Their form when fire’s put out, but motion’s fled.³
Which being⁴ gone,⁵ sharp atoms cannot prick,
Having no force in any thing to stick.
For as the sun, if⁶ motion moved it not,                                     5
Would⁷ neither shine, nor be to us so hot,
Just so, when creatures die, their form’s not gone,⁸
But motion, which gave life, away is flown.⁹¹⁰
For animal spirits, which we life do call,
Are only of the sharpest atoms small.                                        10
Thus life is atoms sharp, which we call fire;
When those are stopped or quenched,¹¹ life doth expire.

A spark of fire is¹ like a mouse,² doth eat
Into a cheese, although both hard and great.
Just so a spark, although it³ be but small,
If once those points can fasten, pierce⁴ through all.