Date: 1686, 1689, 1697

"Ruffians and Bravo's may kill, but the most Victorious Nations, and the bravest Generalls, were ever those whose Minds were polish'd, whose Arms receiv'd a Lustre from Virtue, and who could command their own Passions."

— Nourse, Timothy (c.1636–1699)

Date: 1687

"While pride and pomp allure, and plenteous ease, / That is, till man's predominant passions cease, / Admire no longer at my slow increase."

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1687

"My Passions rule, long since my Reason dyde"

— Ayres, Philip (1638-1712)

Date: 1687

"But, when arrived at last to human race, / The Godhead took a deep considering space; / And, to distinguish man from all the rest, / Unlocked the sacred treasures of his breast; / And mercy mixt with reason did impart, / One to his head, the other to his heart; / Reason to rule, but mercy to f...

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1687

A monarch may reign "In his Subjects Hearts, as on his Throne"

— Ayres, Philip (1638-1712)

Date: 1687

A woman may sway the Empire of one's soul

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

Date: 1687

"Conscience is the Royalty and Prerogative of every Private man. He is absolute in his own Breast, and accountable to no Earthly Power, for that which passes only betwixt God and Him."

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1687

"At this enrag'd, the injur'd Deity / Chose out the best of his Artillery, / And in a blooming Virgin's Dove-like Eyes / He planted his Victorious Batteries; / (Phillis her Name, the best of Woman-kind, / Could Love have gain'd the Empire of her Mind) / These shot so furiously against my Heart, /...

— Cutts, John, Baron Cutts of Gowran (1660/1-1707)

Date: 1688

"My Heart your Empire now disdains, / And Frown, or Smile, all's one to me."

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

Date: 1688

By chance some heart may "thy empire own"

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)