Date: 1723

"For, trust me, Love (that Inmate of the Mind) / Is very much mistaken by Mankind / For which too often is misunderstood / The sudden Rage and Madness of the Blood."

— Amhurst, Nicholas (1697-1742)

Date: 1755

"Of sorriest fancies your companions making, / Using those thoughts which should indeed have died / With them they think on."

— Shakespeare [from Johnson's Dictionary of the English Language]

Date: 1799

In Fancy's "filial train," inspiration rides foremost and "Myriads of spruce ideas crowd the rear."

— Grainger, James (1721-1766)