Of Ashes

Burnt wood¹ is like unto an army’s rout;
Their forms undone lie scattered all about.
When atoms sharp unbind the flat, then all²
Those loose flat atoms, we do³ ashes call.⁴

1. A marginal note in Cavendish’s 1653 text reads: “Wood is made most of flat atoms.”
2. unbind the flat, then all] flat Atomes unbinde all, 1653
3. do] strait 1653
4. A marginal note in Cavendish’s 1653 text reads: “For several forms are according to the composure of atoms, which forms are undone still by the strongest party.”