Date: w. 1748, 1762

"Vain is alike the Joy we seek, / And vain what we possess, / Unless harmonious Reason tunes / The Passions into Peace."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: w. 1748, 1762

"To temper'd Wishes, just Desires, / Is happiness confin'd, / And deaf to Folly's Call, attends / The Music of the mind."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"Till then the hope, by Damon's vows betray'd, / And wand'ring long on Passion's stormy seas, / By his unerring guidance safely led, / Shall fix her anchor on the rock of Peace."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: w. 1741, 1762

"Thou restless fluctuating Deep, / Expressive of the human Mind, / In thy for ever varying Form, / My own inconstant Self I find."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: w. 1741, 1762

"Blest Emblem of that equal State, / Which I this Moment feel within: / Where Thought to Thought succeeding rolls, / And all is placid and serene."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"To me how tasteless ev’ry Scene of Joy, / The vacant Heart by happy Impulse feels / While mine, which Thoughts of genuine Grief employ, / From chearful Crowds to drear Retirement steals."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"While Night in solemn Shade invests the Pole, / And calm Reflexion soothes the pensive Soul; / While Reason undisturb'd asserts her Sway, / And Life’s deceitful Colours fade away: / To Thee! all-conscious Presence! I devote / This peaceful Interval of sober Thought."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"If by the Day's illusive Scenes misled, / My erring Soul from Virtue’s Path has stray'd; / Snar'd by example, or by Passion warm'd, / Some false Delight my giddy Sense has charm'd, / My calmer Thoughts the wretched Choice reprove, / And my best Hopes are center'd in thy Love."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"But ah! how oft' my lawless Passions rove, / And break those awful Precepts I approve!"

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"Oft' when thy better Spirit's guardian Care / Warn'd my fond Soul to shun the tempting Snare, / My stubborn Will his gentle Aid represt, / And check’d the rising Goodness in my Breast, / Mad with vain Hopes, or urg'd by false Desires, / Still'd his soft Voice, and quench'd his sacred Fires."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)