66 JOURNAL OF THE 
the nature of such things as heat and light and of 
thought itself. In fact it is concerning the ‘‘nature of 
things’’ that he writes. 
Let us see first how Lucretius reasons away the diffi- 
culty that his atoms cannot be detected by the sight and 
so brought within the reach of examination. 
Learn now of bodies which you must confess 
Exist in things, but yet nowhere can see. 
First when incited winds o’er ocean sweep, 
Dispersing clouds, o’er whelming mighty ships, 
% * * * 
Thus secret bodies sure exist in winds 
Which sweep the sea, the land, the clouds of heaven. 
* * * * * 
So various odors we perceive in things, 
Yet naught matérial see the organ strike. 
Nor heat, nor cold, nor sounds, can eye discern, 
Though all of corpor’al nature must consist, 
Since they the senses strike; for know, bodies 
Alone can bodies touch or touched be. 
Book 5 p. 46. 
Again he very beautifully impresses the lesson, which he 
himself so imperfectly learned, that we must reason as to 
causes from their visible working. 
Caverns deeply worn, 
Where rocks impend v’er the corroding sea, 
Show not the gnawing Of each breaking wave: 
For Nature acts on atoms hid from sight, 
In secret working, but results reveals. 
Book I p. 47. 
See what proof he offers as to the existence of voids in 
matter. This wasa very essential part of his theory and 
it is easy to see how convincing the phenomena must have 
seemed to such a materalist as Lucretius: 
A void exists in things. 
However solid bodies may appear, 
Void spaces they contain, since water drips 
In caves and grots, and drops ooze out from rocks, 
And ali around with trickling moisture weeps 
Sound traverses closed doors and solid walls 
While stiffening cold strikes piercing through the limbs. 
But were no void how could such bodies pass? 
You needs must see it were impossible. Book 1 p. 48. 
