Date: 1700

"As softest metals are not slow to melt, / And pity soonest runs in gentle minds:"

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1717

"Such feign'd Amours, and real Hate / Attend the Matrimonial State; / When sacred Vows are bought and sold, / And Hearts are ty'd with Threads of Gold."

— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)

Date: 1722

"No Man can boast a God-like Mind, / From that Infernal Dross refin'd; / By Nature all are Base"

— Ward, Edward (1667-1731)

Date: 1727

"Ned cou'd not well digest this Change, / Forc'd in the World at large to range; / With Babel's Monarch turn'd to grass, / Wou'd it not break an Heart of Brass?"

— Somervile, William (1675-1742)

Date: 1739, 1741

"A Scene so sweetly sad, Who fail'd to feel, / Must have an Eye of Flint, or Heart of Steel"

— Ogle, George (1704-1746)

Date: 1739, 1741

"A Scene, all human Nature must detest! / Yet cou'd the feeling Mother steel her Breast"

— Ogle, George (1704-1746)

Date: 1741

"But soon his tender Mind th' Impression felt, / As softest Metals are not slow to melt, / And Pity soonest runs in gentle Minds"

— Ogle, George (1704-1746)

Date: 1774

"Her soul, refin'd from passion's base alloy, / Seem'd wrapt in visions of seraphic joy."

— Roberts, William Hayward (d. 1791)

Date: 1777

"The greedy Creditor, whose flinty breast / The iron hand of Avarice hath press'd, / Who never own'd Humanity's soft claim"

— Robinson [Née Darby], Mary [Perdita] (1758-1800)

Date: 1777

"Where dwells the soul against Compassion steel'd, / Or who disdains the generous tear to yield?"

— Robinson [Née Darby], Mary [Perdita] (1758-1800)