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: 1680

"'Tis an Error as groundless as Vulgar, to think that there goes no more to the furnishing a Poet, than a Wind-mill in the Head, a Stream of Tattle, and convenient Confidence; whereas no Exercise of the Soul requires a more compos'd Thought, more sparingness of Words, more Modesty and Caution in ...

— Tate, Nahum (c. 1652-1715)

Date: 1692

"I wou'd suspect, the Devil in her heart had stampt the sign of Vertue in her looks, that she might cheat the world, and sin more close"

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1696

"Tho' she be / A Slave, her Mind is free, and shou'd consent."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1696

"Nay, then it must be she: it is Imoinda: My Heart confesses her, and leaps for joy, / To welcome her to her own Empire here."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1696

"Take, take me all: enquire into my heart, / (You know the way to every secret there) / My Heart, the sacred treasury of Love: / And if, in absence, I have mis-employ'd / A Mite from the rich store: if I have spent / A Wish, a Sigh, but what I sent to you: / May I be curst to wish, and sigh in va...

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1696

"Here I reign / In full delights, in Joys to Pow'r unknown; / Your Love my Empire, and your Heart my Throne."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1696

"O! for a Soul of fire, / To warm, and animate our common Cause, / And make a body of us."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1696

"I find the danger now: my Spirits start / At the alarm, and from all quarters come / To Man my Heart, the Citadel of love."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1696

"I cou'd resolve it soon, / Were this curst Being only in Debate. / But my Imoinda struggles in my Soul."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)