Date: 1681

"[A] Woman has a sweet time on't with any Soldier Lover of 'em all, with their Iron minds and Buff hearts"

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

Date: 1686

"Charm her with tender and obliging words, and make her heart like Gold within a Furnace; Melt down before the Language of my Love."

— D'Urfey, Thomas (1653?-1723)

Date: 1687

"Thou hast a Heart of Iron."

— Sedley, Sir Charles (1639-1701)

Date: 1690

"Our Sex, you know, was after yours design'd; / The last Perfection of the Makers mind: / Heav'n drew out all the Gold for us, and left your Dross behind."

— Dryden, John (1631-1700); [Plautus, Molière]

Date: 1691

"I'm the righter of Wrongs, and undoer of Injuries--Heart of Steel, and Arms of Brass."

— Wilson, John (bap. 1626, d. 1695?)

Date: 1693

"These two Load-Stones do so strongly Attract my Heart. That (like Mahomets Iron-Coffin) I am poys'd & supported in the Air between Both."

— Higden, Henry (bap. 1645)

Date: 1694

"Pray mind me, Sir, to shew my Shape and Aire; that as the Loadstone does the Obedient Iron--should draw by force to me all Hearts but yours--."

— D'Urfey, Thomas (1653?-1723)

Date: 1696

"No thy ill Conscience flying in thy face, that never will let thee rest, thy rusty Soul hath infected thy Body with the Jaundice; thou sordid slave to Mammon without Wages!"

— Anonymous; George Powell (1658-1714), Publisher

Date: 1696

"But there's no fault in her 1000 l. a year, and that's the Loadstone that attracts my heart--The Wise, and Grave, may tell us of strange Chimæra's call'd Virtues in a Woman, and that they alone are the best Dowry; but faith we younger Brothers are of another mind."

— Cibber, Colley (1671-1757)

Date: 1697

"Say you so, my Heart of Steel. Then let not your Noble Courage be cast down"

— Settle, Elkanah (1648-1724)