Small atoms of themselves a world may make,
For, being subtle, every shape they take.1
And as they dance about, they2 places find;
Such forms as3 best agree make every kind.
For when we build a4 house of brick or5 stone, 5
We lay them even, every one by one:
And when we find a gap that’s big or small,
We seek out stones to fit that place withal.
For when as they6 too big or little be,
They fall away and cannot stay, we see. 10
So atoms as they dance find places fit;
They there remain, lie close, and fast will stick.7
Those which not fit,8 the rest that rove about
Do never leave, until they thrust them out.
Thus by their several motions, and their forms,9 15
As several workmen serve each other’s turns.10
And so11 by chance12 may a new world create,
Or else, predestinate, may work by13 Fate.
Author: Poems and Fancies Research Assistant
Death’s Endeavor to Hinder and Obstruct Nature
When Death did hear what Nature did intend,
To hinder her he all his force did bend.
But finding all his forces were too weak,
He always strives the thread of Life to break,
And strives14 to fill the mind with black despair, 5
Lets it not rest in peace, nor free from care.
And since he cannot make it die, he will
Send grief and sorrow to torment it still.
With grievous pains the body he displeases,
And binds it hard with chains of strong diseases. 10
His servants Sloth and Sleep he doth employ
To get half of the time before they die:
But Sleep, a friend to Life, oft disobeys
His master’s will, and softly down her lays
Upon her15 weary limbs, like birds in nest, 15
And gently locks her16 senses up in rest.
Nature Calls a Counsel, which is Motion, Figure, Matter, and Life, to Advise about Making the World.
16
When Nature first the world’s foundation laid,17
She called a counsel how it might be made.18
Motion was first, who19 had a subtle wit,
And then came Life, and Form, and Matter fit.
First Nature spake:20 “My friends, if we agree, 5
We can and may do a fine work,” said she,
“Make some things to adore us,21 worship give,
Whereas now we but to22 ourselves do live.
Besides, it is my nature things to make,
To give out work, and23 you directions take. 10
Wherefore if you will pleasure have therein,24
You’ll25 breed the Fates in housewif’ry to spin,
And make strong Destiny to take some26 pains,
Lest she grow idle, let her27 link some chains.
Inconstancy and Fortune turn a wheel, 15
Since both are28 wanton, cannot stand, but reel.
And as for moisture, let it water give,29
Which heat suck up, to make things grow and live,30
And let sharp cold stay things that run about,
And drought stop holes, to keep the water out. 20
Vacuum and darkness they will domineer
If Motion’s power make no31 light appear;
Wherefore produce a light, the world to see,32
My only child from all eternity—
Beauty, my love, my joy and dear delight— 25
Else darkness rude will cover her with spite.”
“Alas!” said Motion, “all pains I can take33
Will do no good, Matter a brain must34 make,
And Figure35 draw a circle, round, and small,
Where in the midst must stand a glassy ball, 30
Without convex, but inwardly36 concave,
And in its middle37 a round small hole must have,
That species may thorough pass, and Life38
May view all things as through a prospective.”39
“Alas!” said Life, “whatever we do make, 35
Death, my great enemy, will from us take:
And who can hinder his strong,40 mighty power?
He with his cruelty doth41 all devour,
And Time, his agent, brings42 all to decay:
Thus neither Death nor Time will you obey. 40
He cares for none of your commands, nor will
Obey your laws, but doth what likes him43 still.
He knows his power far exceedeth ours,
For whatsoe’er we make, he soon devours.
Let me advise you ne’er to take44 such pains 45
A world to make, since Death hath all the gains.”
Figure’s opinion did agree with Life,
“For Death,” said she, “will fill the world with strife.
What Form soever I do turn into,
Death finds me out: that Form he doth undo.” 50
Then Motion spake: “None hath such cause as I
For to complain, for Death makes Motion die.
’Tis best to let alone this work, I think.”
Says Matter, “Death corrupts, and makes me stink.”
Says Nature, “I am of another mind: 55
If we let Death alone, we soon shall find
He wars will make, and raise a mighty power,
If we divert him not, may us devour.
He is ambitious, will in triumph sit,45
Envies my works, and seeks my State to get.46 60
And Fates, though they upon great Life attend,
Yet fear they Death, and dare not him47 offend.
Though two be true, and spin as Life them bids,
The third is false, and cuts short the long threads.48
Let us agree, for fear we should do worse, 65
And make some work for to employ49 his force.”
Then all rose up: “We do submit,” said50 they,
“And51 Nature’s will in every thing obey.”
First Matter she materials in did bring,52
And Motion cut, and carved out every thing. 70
And Figure, she did draw the forms and plots,
And Life divided all out into lots.
And Nature, she surveyed, directed all,
And with four elements53 built the world’s ball.
The solid earth she as foundation54 laid; 75
The waters round about as walls were raised,55
Where every drop lay close, like56 stone or brick,
Whose moisture like to57 mortar made them stick.
Air, as the ceiling, keeps all close within,58
Lest some materials out of place might spring. 80
And presses down the seas, lest59 they should rise
And60 overflow the Earth, and drown the skies.
For as a roof is61 laid upon a wall,
To keep it steady, that no side may62 fall,
So Nature in that place air wisely stayed,63 85
And fire, like tile or slate, the highest laid64
To keep out rain, or wet, else it would rot:
So65 would the world corrupt if fire were not.
The planets, like as weather-fans, turn round;
The sun a dial in the midst is found, 90
Where he doth give so just account of time66
And67 measures all, though round, by even line.
But when the Earth was made, and seed did sow,68
Plants on the Earth, and minerals down grow,69
Then creatures made, which Motion did give70 sense, 95
Yet reason none to give71 intelligence.
But Nature found, when she to make Man came,72
It was more difficult than worlds to frame;73
For she did strive to make him long to last,
And so into eternity him74 cast. 100
Who75 in no other place could be kept76 long,
But in eternity, that castle strong.
There she was sure that Death she could keep77 out,
Although he is a warrior strong and stout.
Man she would make, but not like other kind:78 105
Though not in body, like a God in mind.
Then she did call her counsel once again,
Told them the greatest work did79 yet remain.
“For how,” said she, “can we ourselves new make?80
Yet Man we must like to ourselves create,81 110
Or else he never can82 escape Death’s snare;
To make this work requires83 both skill and care.
But I a mind will mix84 as I think fit,
With knowledge, understanding, and with wit.
And Motion, you your servants85 must employ, 115
Which Passions are, to wait still in the eye,
To dress, and clothe this86 mind in fashions new,
Which none knows better how to do87 you,
That, though his body die,88 this mind shall89 live,
And a free will we must unto it give. 120
But Matter, you from Figure form must take,
And Man from other creatures different90 make.
For he shall upright go;91 the rest shall not.
And Motion, you in him must tie a knot
Of several motions, there to meet in one. 125
Thus Man like to himself shall be alone.
You, Life, command the Fates a thread to spin,
From which small thread the body shall begin.
And while the thread doth last, not cut in twain,
The body shall in motion still remain. 130
But when the thread is broke, he92 down shall fall,
And for a time no motion have at all.
But yet the mind shall live and never die;
We’ll raise the body too for company.
Thus, like ourselves, we can93 make things to live 135
Eternally, but no past times can give.