Date: 1687

"[B]ut thanks be prais'd the Generosity of our Cavaliers has open'd their obdurate Hearts with a Golden key, that let's 'em in at all opportunities"

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

Date: 1688

"Each character performs its noble part, / And stamps its Image on the Readers heart"

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

Date: 1688

"Here's Cavities, says one; and here, says he, / Is th' Seat of Fancy, Judgment, Memory: / Here, says another, is the fertile Womb, / From whence the Spirits Animal do come, / Which are mysteriously ingender'd here, / Of Spirits from Arterious Blood and Air: / Here, said a third, Life made her fi...

— Barker, Jane (1675-1743)

Date: 1688

"I'll prove to you the strong Effects of Love in some unguarded and ungovern'd Hearts; where it rages beyond the Inspirations of a God all soft and gentle, and reigns more like a Fury from Hell."

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

Date: 1688

"She had an Air, though gay as so much Youth cou'd inspire, yet so modest, so nobly reserv'd, without Formality, or Stiffness, that one who look'd on her wou'd have imagin'd her Soul the Twin-Angel of her Body; and both together, made her appear something Divine."

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

Date: 1688

"Yet notwithstanding his Silence, which left her in doubt, and more tormented her, she ceas'd not to pursue him with her Letters, varying her Style; sometimes all wanton, loose and raving; sometimes feigning a Virgin-Modesty all over, accusing her self, blaming her Conduct, and sighing her Destin...

— Behn, Aphra (1640?-1689)

Date: 1694

"No solicitude in the adornation of your selves is discommended, provided you employ your care about that which is really your self; and do not neglect that particle of Divinity within you, which must survive, and may (if you please) be happy and perfect when it’s unsuitable and much inferiour Co...

— Astell, Mary (1666-1731)

Date: 1694

"What your own sentiments are, I know not, but I cannot without pity and resentment reflect, that those Glorious Temples on which your kind Creator has bestow'd such exquisite workmanship, shou'd enshrine no better than Egyptian Deities; be like a garnish'd Sepulchre, which for all it's glitterin...

— Astell, Mary (1666-1731)

Date: 1696

"All this is truth; but 'tis a Truth of such a consequence, that I must lay upon you wonderful Injunctions e're I venture to unravel it, your faithful Breast must lock this Secret up as safe as if my Life depended upon disclosing it; or if there is any thing you hold dearer, by that I conjure yo...

— Pix, Mary (c.1666-1720)

Date: 1696

"He resolv'd a thousand Projects in his working Brain, which way to obtain access to her."

— Pix, Mary (c.1666-1720)