Margaret Cavendish’s Dancing Atoms

In lines 13-14 the speaker refers to a time after her death when she will be dispersed into atoms, even though she currently does not understand their movements or “dances.” Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, was one of several seventeenth-century writers who used the terminology of dancing atoms, which for her implied an orderly movement of the smallest particles that make up matter. In “A World made by Atomes” she depicts atoms fitting neatly into gaps and spaces in the world, and potentially creating a new world. In “Motion directs, while Atomes dance” atoms dance under the direction of motion, creating a kind of harmony that is good health. When atoms no longer dance together, the result is death.

Margaret Cavendish, A World made by Atomes

Small Atomes of themselves a World may make,
As being subtle, and of every shape:
And as they dance about, fit places finde,
Such Formes as best agree, make every kinde.
For when we build a house of Bricke, and Stone,
We lay them even, every one by one:
And when we finde a gap that’s big, or small,
We seeke out Stones, to fit that place withall.
For when not fit, too big, or little be,
They fall away, and cannot stay we see.
So Atomes, as they dance, finde places fit,
They there remaine, lye close, and fast will sticke.
Those that unfit, the rest that rove about,
Do never leave, untill they thrust them out.
Thus by their severall Motions, and their Formes,
As severall work-men serve each others turnes.
And thus, by chance, may a New World create:
Or else predestinated to worke my Fate.

Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, Poems and fancies (London, 1653), pp. 5-6. EEBO. [original italics are preserved]

Margaret Cavendish,
Motion directs, while Atomes dance

Atomes will dance, and measures keep just time;
And one by one will hold round circle line,
Run in and out, as we do dance the Hay;
Crossing about, yet keepe just time and way:
While Motion, as Musicke directs the Time:
Thus by consent, they altogether joyne.
This Harmony is Health, makes Life live long;
But when they’re out, ’tis death, so dancing’s done.

Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle, Poems and fancies (London, 1653), p. 17. EEBO. [original italics are preserved]