Date: 1597
"My bosom's lord sits lightly in his throne, / And all this day an unaccustomed spirit / Lifts me above the ground with cheerful thoughts."
preview | full record— Shakespeare, William (1564-1616)
Date: 1680
"O, 'tis confess'd; / And howsoe're my Tongue has plaid the Braggart, / She Reigns more fully in my Soul than ever: / She Garrisons my Breast, and Mans against me / Even my own Rebel thoughts, with thousand Graces, / Ten thousand Charms, and new discover'd Beauties."
preview | full record— Lee, Nathaniel (1653-1692)
Date: 1701
"My Reason's conquer'd by more powerful Love, / Who rules as Tyrant in my captiv'd Breast."
preview | full record— Sherburne, Sir Edward (bap. 1616, d. 1702)
Date: 1715
"Love is a generous Volunteer; Lust a Mercenary Slave"
preview | full record— Johnson, Charles (1679?-1748)
Date: 1717
"Against my self my rebel Passions arm; / They bound within my Breast to meet this Victor."
preview | full record— Manley, Delarivier (c. 1670-1724)
Date: February 22, 1723
"If a single thought / Were tinctur'd with disloyalty, this hand / Shou'd pierce my heart to drive the rebel out."
preview | full record— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)
Date: January 10, 1728.
"I knew no Directors, but my Passions, no Master but my Will!"
preview | full record— Cibber, Colley (1671-1757); John Vanbrugh (1664-1726)
Date: 1752
"Assist me, Furies, with your hellish Aid, / Nor let the Tyrant Conscience more invade; / Since I am stain'd with Blood, thro' Blood I'll wade."
preview | full record— Gentleman, Francis (1728-1784)
Date: Performed Dec 1756, published 1757
"Within my bosom reigns another lord; / Honour, sole judge and umpire of itself."
preview | full record— Home, John (1722-1808)
Date: 1761
"Does Conscience, that just Judge, confirm my sentence? / There I am clear."
preview | full record— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)