De Rerum Natura
- 1.329.30
And stiffening frost seeps inward to our bones.
- 1.329.31
Which but for voids for bodies to go through
- 1.329.32
'Tis clear could happen in nowise at all.
- 1.329.33
Again, why see we among objects some
- 1.329.34
Of heavier weight, but of no bulkier size?
- 1.329.35
Indeed, if in a ball of wool there be
- 1.329.36
As much of body as in lump of lead,
- 1.329.37
The two should weigh alike, since body tends
- 1.329.38
To load things downward, while the void abides,
- 1.329.39
By contrary nature, the imponderable.
- 1.329.40
Therefore, an object just as large but lighter
- 1.329.41
Declares infallibly its more of void;
- 1.329.42
Even as the heavier more of matter shows,
- 1.329.43
And how much less of vacant room inside.
- 1.329.44
That which we're seeking with sagacious quest
- 1.329.45
Exists, infallibly, commixed with things-
- 1.329.46
The void, the invisible inane.
- 1.370.1
Right here
- 1.370.2
I am compelled a question to expound,
- 1.370.3
Forestalling something certain folk suppose,
- 1.370.4
Lest it avail to lead thee off from truth:
- 1.370.5
Waters (they say) before the shining breed
- 1.370.6
Of the swift scaly creatures somehow give,
- 1.370.7
And straightway open sudden liquid paths,
- 1.370.8
Because the fishes leave behind them room
- 1.370.9
To which at once the yielding billows stream.
- 1.370.10
Thus things among themselves can yet be moved,
- 1.370.11
And change their place, however full the Sum-
- 1.370.12
Received opinion, wholly false forsooth.
- 1.370.13
For where can scaly creatures forward dart,
- 1.370.14
Save where the waters give them room? Again,
- 1.370.15
Where can the billows yield a way, so long
- 1.370.16
As ever the fish are powerless to go?
- 1.370.17
Thus either all bodies of motion are deprived,
- 1.370.18
Or things contain admixture of a void
- 1.370.19
Where each thing gets its start in moving on.
- 1.370.20
Lastly, where after impact two broad bodies
- 1.370.21
Suddenly spring apart, the air must crowd
- 1.370.22
The whole new void between those bodies formed;
- 1.370.23
But air, however it stream with hastening gusts,
- 1.370.24
Can yet not fill the gap at once- for first
- 1.370.25
It makes for one place, ere diffused through all.
- 1.370.26
And then, if haply any think this comes,
- 1.370.27
When bodies spring apart, because the air
- 1.370.28
Somehow condenses, wander they from truth:
- 1.370.29
For then a void is formed, where none before;
- 1.370.30
And, too, a void is filled which was before.
- 1.370.31
Nor can air be condensed in such a wise;
- 1.370.32
Nor, granting it could, without a void, I hold,
- 1.370.33
It still could not contract upon itself
- 1.370.34
And draw its parts together into one.
- 1.370.35
Wherefore, despite demur and counter-speech,
- 1.370.36
Confess thou must there is a void in things.
- 1.370.37
And still I might by many an argument
- 1.370.38
Here scrape together credence for my words.
- 1.370.39
But for the keen eye these mere footprints serve,
- 1.370.40
Whereby thou mayest know the rest thyself.
- 1.370.41
As dogs full oft with noses on the ground,
- 1.370.42
Find out the silent lairs, though hid in brush,
- 1.370.43
Of beasts, the mountain-rangers, when but once
- 1.370.44
They scent the certain footsteps of the way,
- 1.370.45
Thus thou thyself in themes like these alone
- 1.370.46
Can hunt from thought to thought, and keenly wind
- 1.370.47
Along even onward to the secret places
- 1.370.48
And drag out truth. But, if thou loiter loth
- 1.370.49
Or veer, however little, from the point,
- 1.370.50
This I can promise, Memmius, for a fact:
- 1.370.51
Such copious drafts my singing tongue shall pour
- 1.370.52
From the large well-springs of my plenished breast
- 1.370.53
That much I dread slow age will steal and coil
- 1.370.54
Along our members, and unloose the gates
- 1.370.55
Of life within us, ere for thee my verse
- 1.370.56
Hath put within thine ears the stores of proofs
- 1.370.57
At hand for one soever question broached.
- 1.418.1
But, now again to weave the tale begun,
- 1.418.2
All nature, then, as self-sustained, consists
- 1.418.3
Of twain of things: of bodies and of void
- 1.418.4
In which they're set, and where they're moved around.
- 1.418.5
For common instinct of our race declares
- 1.418.6
That body of itself exists: unless
- 1.418.7
This primal faith, deep-founded, fail us not,
- 1.418.8
Naught will there be whereunto to appeal
- 1.418.9
On things occult when seeking aught to prove
- 1.418.10
By reasonings of mind. Again, without
- 1.418.11
That place and room, which we do call the inane,
- 1.418.12
Nowhere could bodies then be set, nor go
- 1.418.13
Hither or thither at all- as shown before.
- 1.418.14
Besides, there's naught of which thou canst declare
- 1.418.15
It lives disjoined from body, shut from void-
- 1.418.16
A kind of third in nature. For whatever
- 1.418.17
Exists must be a somewhat; and the same,
- 1.418.18
If tangible, however fight and slight,
- 1.418.19
Will yet increase the count of body's sum,
- 1.418.20
With its own augmentation big or small;
- 1.418.21
But, if intangible and powerless ever
- 1.418.22
To keep a thing from passing through itself
- 1.418.23
On any side, 'twill be naught else but that
- 1.418.24
Which we do call the empty, the inane.
- 1.418.25
Again, whate'er exists, as of itself,
- 1.418.26
Must either act or suffer action on it,
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