Date: 1653

"When we of childish toys do think, a fair / May be in th' brain, where crowds of fairies are, / And in each stall may all such knacks be sold, / As rattles, bells, or bracelets made of gold; / Pins, whistles, and the like may be brought there, / And thus within the head may be a fair."

— Cavendish, Margaret (1623-1673)

Date: 1653

"When we have cross opinions in the mind, / Then we may them in Schools disputing find;"

— Cavendish, Margaret (1623-1673)

Date: 1653

"When we of childish toys do think, a fair / May be in th' brain, where crowds of fairies are, / And in each stall may all such knacks be sold, / As rattles, bells, or bracelets made of gold"

— Cavendish, Margaret (1623-1673)

Date: 1653

"And when our brain with amorous thoughts is stayed, / Perhaps there is a bride and bridegroom made; / And when our thoughts all merry be and gay, / There may be dancing on their wedding day."

— Cavendish, Margaret (1623-1673)

Date: 1653

"And when our thoughts all merry be and gay, / There may be dancing on their wedding day."

— Cavendish, Margaret (1623-1673)

Date: 1723

"For, trust me, Love (that Inmate of the Mind) / Is very much mistaken by Mankind / For which too often is misunderstood / The sudden Rage and Madness of the Blood."

— Amhurst, Nicholas (1697-1742)

Date: 1755

"Of sorriest fancies your companions making, / Using those thoughts which should indeed have died / With them they think on."

— Shakespeare [from Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language]

Date: 1799

In Fancy's "filial train," inspiration rides foremost and "Myriads of spruce ideas crowd the rear."

— Grainger, James (1721-1766)