Date: 1664

"[B]ut when the difficulty of artful rhyming is interposed, where the poet commonly confines his sense to his couplet, and must contrive that sense into such words, that the rhyme, shall naturally follow them, not they the rhyme; the fancy then gives leisure to the judgment to come in; which seei...

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1667, 1710

"And there are very few that have any true Kindness for it, and thou knowest not the Worth of that Jewel, thy Soul; but here, here's a Friend, if thou wilt but leave it with him, he will take care of it, it shall not be marted away for nothing."

— Janeway, James (1636?-1674)

Date: 1667, 1710

"If therefore thou hast any Love for thy poor Soul, if thou settest any Price upon that precious Thing within thee; in a word, if thou wouldst have thy Soul do well in another World, O strike in here, close with these Tenders, listen to the Counsel of him who offers you the best Advice in the Wor...

— Janeway, James (1636?-1674)

Date: 1669, 1694

"I say this is a Spanker Madrigal, and newly minted in my Brain."

— Boyle, Roger, 1st Earl of Orrery (1621-1679)

Date: 1675

"Our Poet hope's you'll not expect to day, / T'have all his down-right thoughts drest up so gay, / If his Coyn chinks too much, you'll doubt allay."

— Fane, Sir Francis (d. 1691)

Date: 1677

"I have a Mint in my Brain, and I'l coin so much for you both presently."

— Ravenscroft, Edward (c.1650- c.1700)

Date: 1683

"Invention, Memory, and Wit, should stay; / And all their Treasures in this Turrit lay."

— Shipman, Thomas (1632-1680)

Date: 1684

"Sad Frailty howere both Body, Mind display, / That brighter Coin bad Mixture does Allay."

— Harington, John (1627-1700)

Date: 1684 [1685]

"Would I could coin my very heart to gold!"

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1689, 1716

Honor is "The richest Treasure of a generous Breast, / 'That gives the Stamp and Standard to the rest."

— Montagu, Charles, 1st Earl of Halifax (1661-1715)