Date: 1759

"By degrees the reign of fancy is confirmed; she grows first imperious, and in time despotick."

— Johnson, Samuel (1709-1784)

Date: December 6, 1765

One may fell Love's vengeful Shaft transfix her heart "And yield to [it] the Empire of [her] Soul]

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1764, 1773

"Such is my theme, which means to prove, / That tho' we drink, or game, or love, / As that or this is most in fashion, / Precedence is our ruling passion."

— Shenstone, William (1714-1763)

Date: 1777

"Hide me, my friend, from the consciousness of my folly, or let it speak till its expiation be made, till I have banished Savillon from my mind ... Must I then banish him from my mind?"

— Mackenzie, Henry (1745-1831)

Date: 1777

"The love, to which at length I discovered my heart to be subject, had conquered without tumult, and become despotic under the semblance of freedom."

— Mackenzie, Henry (1745-1831)

Date: 1779, 1794

"For still its own severest judge, / The generous mind appears; / And when it errs, against itself / A dread tribunal rears."

— Whalley, Thomas Sedgwick (1746-1828)

Date: 1785

"Theron meanwhile believ'd it Love, fond Love enthron'd / Upon the mutual heart."

— Pratt, Samuel Jackson [pseud. Courtney Melmoth] (1749-1814)

Date: 1785

Jealousy's monsters may hurl "frighted Reason from her throne, / And with her all the charities that wait / To grace her virtuous Court"

— Pratt, Samuel Jackson [pseud. Courtney Melmoth] (1749-1814)

Date: 1812

"[R]eviving joy and lingering gloom" may "Alternate empire o'er [the] soul assume."

— Crabbe, George (1754-1832)

Date: 1812

Love or Pride may be a master-passion

— Crabbe, George (1754-1832)