Date: 1773

Philosophers hold the soul to be of no sex

— Kenrick, William (1729/30-1779)

Date: 1774

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

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1774

"The nymph, who in my bosom reigns, / With such full force my heart enchains, / That nothing ever can impair / The empire she possesses there."

— Dibdin, Charles (bap. 1745, d. 1814)

Date: 1775

The mind may be "weak and sickly"

— Gray, Thomas (1716-1771)

Date: 1775

A heart may glow with pure Julian fire

— Gray, Thomas (1716-1771)

Date: 1775

Love and fear may dry up "soft springs of pity" in the heart and freeze them

— Gray, Thomas (1716-1771)

Date: 1775

One's thought may ache at someone

— Gray, Thomas (1716-1771)

Date: 1775

An "unquenchable" spark may glow within the breast and blaze into freedom

— Gray, Thomas (1716-1771)

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)

Date: February 15, 1776

"George, steel your heart, steel your heart, you Rogue."

— Cowley [née Parkhouse], Hannah (1743-1809)