Date: 1761

"Why then I thank thee, Nature, / That when you made this frame of such frail stuff, / So sensible of harm, so ill array'd / To combat sharp Misfortune, yet you cas'd / My Heart in temper'd steel, and made it proof / Against the soft compunctious stroke of Pity, / Bidding it laugh at all that Fat...

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1761

"But know to thy confusion, not the Winds, / That sweep the Scythian desart, are more deaf, / Than are thy fancied Deities; nor Rocks, / That shake those Winds from off their icy sides, / More hard, or more unfeeling than my heart."

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1762

"A Scythian's heart is steel'd 'gainst panic terrors."

— Cradock, Joseph (1742-1826)

Date: 1762

"Gods, steel my injur'd heart!"

— Cradock, Joseph (1742-1826)

Date: 1767

"Seamen have hearts of gold, sir, / Peace or in war, alike we show / Englishmen stout and bold, sir."

— Stevens, George Alexander (1710?-1784)

Date: 1767

"We were free, we're bold, we're true hearts of gold"

— Stevens, George Alexander (1710?-1784)

Date: 1767

"Love has made me stout and strong; /Has given me a charm, / Will not suffer me to fall; / Has steel'd my heart, and nerv'd my arm, / To guard my precious all."

— Garrick, David (1717-1779)

Date: 1772

"Oh! if my fate depends upon her looks, they must be iron hearts that can withstand 'em."

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1774

"Oh, there's been precious doings with the Hearts of Steel"

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1775

"But, O, my brother! if thou hast a heart / That is not steel'd with stoic apathy / Against the magic of all-conqu'ring love, / Beware of beauty's pow'r; for she has charms / Wou'd melt the frozen breast of hoary age, / Or draw the lonely hermit from his cell / To gaze upon her."

— Francklin, Thomas (1721-1784)