Date: 1700

"Reason's a Taper, which but faintly burns, / A languid Flame that glows and dyes by Turns; / We see't a while, and but a little Way, / We Travel by its Light as Men by Day."

— Pomfret, John (1667-1702)

Date: 1705

"O'er prostrate Towns and Palaces they pass, / (Now cover'd o'er with Weeds, and hid in Grass) / Breathing Revenge; whilst Anger and Disdain / Fire ev'ry Breast, and boil in ev'ry Vein."

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: 1705

"Polish'd in Courts, and harden'd in the Field, / Renown'd for Conquest, and in Council skill'd, / Their Courage dwells not in a troubl'd Flood / Of mounting Spirits, and fermenting Blood; / Lodg'd in the Soul, with Virtue over-rul'd, / Inflam'd by Reason, and by Reason cool'd, / In Hours of Peac...

— Addison, Joseph (1672-1719)

Date: 1711

"Th' infernal Guest, where'er she comes, inspires / The People's Breasts with fierce Phrenetick Fires."

— 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: 1712

"The Sun (when Summer-heats the Spring succeed) / Changes the tarnish'd Verdure of the Mead: / The dry'd up Rills no longer murmuring creep / O'er the smooth Pebbles, and invite to sleep, / But buzzing Insects make an uncouth Noise, / And sulph'rous Vapours thunder in the Skies. / So when the Hea...

— Cobb, Samuel (1675-1713); Rowe, Nicholas (1674-1718); Quillet, Claudius (fl.1640-1656)

Date: 1712

"Strong as the Winds, and sprightly as the Light? / She [the mind] moves unweary'd, as the active Fire, / And, like the Flame, her Flights to Heav'n aspire."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1712

"She next essay'd the Embryo's Rise to trace / From an unfashion'd, rude, unchannell'd Mass; / And sung how Spirits waken'd in the Brain / Exert their Force, and genial Toil maintain; / Erect the beating Heart, the Channels frame, / Unfold entangled Limbs, and kindle vital Flame."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

Date: 1713

"Away the Skilful Doctor comes / Of Recipes and Med'cines full, / To check the giddy Whirl of Nature's Fires, / If so th' unruly Case requires; / Or with his Cobweb-cleansing Brooms / To sweep and clear the over-crouded Scull, / If settl'd Spirits flag, and make the Patient dull."

— Finch [née], Anne, Countess of Winchilsea (1666-1720)

Date: 1726

"NOW, giddy Youth, whom headlong Passions fire, / Rouse the wild Game, and stain the guiltless Grove, / With Violence, and Death; yet call it Sport."

— Thomson, James (1700-1748)