Date: 1746; December 17, 1747 [actually January, 1748]

"To me thy better gifts impart, / Each moral beauty of the heart / By studious thought refin’d: / For Wealth, the smiles of glad Content, / For Pow’r, it samplest, best extent, / An empire o’er my mind."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1751, 1768

"When reason rules, what glory does ensue."

— Montagu, Lady Mary Wortley [née Lady Mary Pierrepont] (1689-1762)

Date: 1752

"The early days of wedded life / Are oft o'ercast by childish strife; / Then be it your peculiar care / To keep that season bright and fair; / For then's the time by gentle art / To fix your empire in his heart."

— Clark [née Lewis], Esther (bap. 1716, d. 1794)

Date: 1755

"Oh let me now thy tender Mercy find, / With thy free Grace illuminate my Mind, / Let me no more the Slave of Passion be, / But turn my wand'ring Thoughts to Heav'n and thee."

— Masters, Mary (1694-1771)

Date: 1762

Reason may her throne forsake "To stoop to Cupid's laws"

— Jemmat [née Yeo], Catherine (bap. 1714, d. 1766?)

Date: 1762

"Yet, when by Fancy’s Influence unconfin’d, / Does Wisdom give my throbbing Bosom Laws? / Do calmer Thoughts compose my ruffled Mind?"

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"While Night in solemn Shade invests the Pole, / And calm Reflexion soothes the pensive Soul; / While Reason undisturb'd asserts her Sway, / And Life’s deceitful Colours fade away: / To Thee! all-conscious Presence! I devote / This peaceful Interval of sober Thought."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"But ah! how oft' my lawless Passions rove, / And break those awful Precepts I approve!"

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1762

"All pow’rful Grace, exert thy gentle Sway, / And teach my rebel Passions to obey: / Lest lurking Folly with insidious Art / Regain my volatile inconstant Heart."

— Carter, Elizabeth (1717-1806)

Date: 1773

"O Wisdom! if thy soft controul / Can soothe the sickness of the soul, / Can bid the warring passions cease, / And breathe the calm of tender peace;-- / Wisdom! I bless thy gentle sway, / And ever, ever will obey."

— Barbauld, Anna Letitia [née Aikin] (1743-1825)