Date: 1711

"Thy subtile Sons, O Rome, to recompense / Their Loss of Pow'r, did Means succesful find / To found a wider Empire o'er the Mind."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

Popes, "Who, as erroneus, Nature's Light asperse; / The Judgment, which our Senses pass, reverse; / And by th' usurp'd Authority of Heav'n / Repeal the just Decrees by Reason given: / Who Schemes of new Religion have enjoined, / Impos'd Belief, enslav'd the free-born Mind, / And artful by the man...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Know, hardy Atheists, who insulting say / Some populous Realms to Gods no Homage pay, / And therefore Nature's universal Law / Imprints not on the Mind Religious Awe; / That those, who no superior Being own, / Are more from Beasts by Shape, than Reason known."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"The scorcht and pathless Desarts of the Brain, / Want proper Caves and Cells to entertain / A Crowd of airy Forms and long Ideal Train."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"These active Liquors, which Admission find / Thro' the strait Paths, and leave the coarse behind, / Swift to the inmost Rooms their Passage beat, / And crowd around the Soul's Imperial Seat."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Of subtile Matter form'd, refin'd and bright, / As Light'ning sprightly, and serene as Light, / Watching their Soveraign's Nod, they ready stand / Apt to perform the Mind's supream Command."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Such noble Vital Instruments are fit / For Reason's Works, and beauteous Turns of Wit. / With finer Strokes they move the tender Strings / Tun'd in the Brain, whence clear Perception springs."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"When Fancy makes superior Flight her Aim, / Wing'd with this vig'rous, clear seraphick Flame, / She ranges Nature's universal Frame; / Bright Seeds of Thought from various Objects takes, / Whence her fair Scenes and Images she makes: / Spirits so swift, so fine, so bold, so strong, / Gave Milton...

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Obdurate, rarely in your yielding Breast, / You entertain the Beatifick Guest."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1711

"Your Hearts, as barren as your Rocks and Sand, / Her Charms and pow'rful Influence withstand; / Whose heav'nly Rays defeated thence recoil, / Like Sun-Beams wasted on unfruitful Soil."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)