Date: 1676

"Music so softens and disarms the mind."

— Etherege, Sir George (1636-1691/2)

Date: 1676

"Would I had daggers, darts, or poisoned arrows in my breast, so I could but remove the thoughts of him from thence!"

— Etherege, Sir George (1636-1691/2)

Date: 1680

"O, 'tis confess'd; / And howsoe're my Tongue has plaid the Braggart, / She Reigns more fully in my Soul than ever: / She Garrisons my Breast, and Mans against me / Even my own Rebel thoughts, with thousand Graces, / Ten thousand Charms, and new discover'd Beauties."

— Lee, Nathaniel (1653-1692)

Date: 1690

"Here satiate all your fury; / Let fortune empty her whole Quiver on me, / I have a Soul, that like an ample Shield / Can take in all; and verge enough for more."

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1690

"Impossible! / Souls know no Conquerors."

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1690

"Here satiate all your fury; / Let fortune empty her whole Quiver on me, / I have a Soul, that like an ample Shield / Can take in all; and verge enough for more."

— Dryden, John (1631-1700)

Date: 1694

On may achieve a "noble conquest" over his own passions

— D'Urfey, Thomas (1653?-1723)

Date: 1696

"The Sences in Confederacy raise Rebellion against reason; there now is a Civil War over all this Compound Tabernacle. Pride and Desire disturb the Harmony of Government, endeavouring to undermine the tottering Fabrick, and to hurl all into Chaos and Confusion."

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

Date: 1696

"I find the danger now: my Spirits start / At the alarm, and from all quarters come / To Man my Heart, the Citadel of love."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)

Date: 1696

"But 'tis a pleasure more than life can give, / That with unconquer'd Passion to the last, / You struggle still, and fain wou'd hold me to you."

— Southerne, Thomas (1659-1746)