Date: w. 1782, 1786, 1816

"Till then I am in torments, ineffable torments! an unrelenting fire preys on my heart."

— Beckford, William (1760-1844)

Date: w. 1782, 1786, 1816

"Having uttered this exclamation, Soliman raised his hands towards heaven, in token of supplication; and the Caliph discerned through his bosom, which was transparent as crystal, his heart enveloped in flames."

— Beckford, William (1760-1844)

Date: w. 1782, 1786, 1816

"They went wandering on, from chamber to chamber; hall to hall; and gallery to gallery; all without bounds or limit; all distinguishable by the same louring gloom; all adorned with the same awful grandeur; all traversed by persons in search of repose and consolation; but, who sought them in vain;...

— Beckford, William (1760-1844)

Date: w. 1782, 1786, 1816

"Vathek, too much cast down to express the indignation excited by such a discourse, ordered the afrit to remove Carathis from his presence, and continued immersed in thoughts which his companions durst not disturb."

— Beckford, William (1760-1844)

Date: w. 1782, 1786, 1816

"Instantaneously, the haughty forehead of the intrepid princess became corrugated with agony: she uttered a tremendous yell; and fixed, no more to be withdrawn, her right hand upon her heart, which was become a receptacle of eternal fire."

— Beckford, William (1760-1844)

Date: w. 1782, 1786, 1816

"Their hearts immediately took fire, and they, at once, lost the most precious gift of heaven:--Hope."

— Beckford, William (1760-1844)

Date: 1792

One can "wage war" on his own heart and "conquer it, or perish"

— Brooke, Henry (c. 1703-1783)

Date: 1792

"O, the fell conflict, the intestine strife, / This clash of good and evil, death and life! / What, what are all the wars of sea and wind, / Or wreck of matter, to This War of Mind?"

— Brooke, Henry (c. 1703-1783)

Date: 1792

"Two minds in one, and each a truceless guest, / Rending the sphere of our distracted breast!"

— Brooke, Henry (c. 1703-1783)