Date: 1715
"And as our Words must be the Product of our Judgment, so they must be temperate and decent, mixed with Curtesie and Civility; for he that hath calmed his Passions, hath nothing to betray them to rash and rude Language, which is a Foam cast up only by the Billows of a turbulent Mind, and can neve...
preview | full record— Bulstrode, Richard, Sir (1610-1711)
Date: 1715-1720
"It seem'd not enough to have taken in the whole Circle of Arts, and the whole Compass of Nature; all the inward Passions and Affections of Mankind to supply this Characters, and all the outward Forms and Images of Things for his Descriptions; but wanting yet an ampler Sphere to expatiate in, he ...
preview | full record— Pope, Alexander (1688-1744)
Date: 1718
"As in a Hive's vimineous Dome, / Ten thousand Bees enjoy their Home; / Each does her studious Action vary, / To go and come, to fetch and carry: / Each still renews her little Labor; / Nor justles her assiduous Neighbour."
preview | full record— Prior, Matthew (1664-1721)
Date: 1719
"There are some secret moving Springs in the Affections, which when they are set a going by some Object in View, or be it some Object, though not in View, yet render'd present to the Mind by the Power of Imagination, that Motion carries out the Soul by its Impetuosity to such violent eager Embrac...
preview | full record— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)
Date: 1719
"I was not so much surpriz'd with the Lightning, as I was with a Thought which darted into my Mind as swift as the Lightning it self: O my Powder!"
preview | full record— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)
Date: 1720
"His Fancy still awake; the roving Guest / Usurps the Throne of Reason in his Breast: / Forms great Ideas, and religious Schemes, / A busy mime, and floats in golden Dreams."
preview | full record— Amhurst, Nicholas (1697-1742)
Date: First performed February 17, 1720.
"My vital Flame / There, like a Taper on the holy Altar, / Shall waste away; till Heav'n relenting hear / Incessant Pray'rs for thee and for my self, / And wing my Soul to meet with thine in Bliss."
preview | full record— Hughes, John (1678?-1720)
Date: 1723
"Can'st say what diff'rent Turns the Spirits take, / When they of diff'rent Kinds Impressions make; / What vital Springs those Spirits in their Flight / Strike to cause Torment, what to give Delight."
preview | full record— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Date: 1723
"Say, can your Mind to Heav'n direct her Flight / In ardent Anhelations?"
preview | full record— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)
Date: February 22, 1723
"Yes, and Cæsar sat / Pensive and silent; in his anxious breast / Perhaps revolving that of all his train, / Who proudly wanton in his mounted rays, / Gay flutt'ring insects of a summer-noon, / How few wou'd bear the wintry storms of fate!"
preview | full record— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)