Date: 1790

"In vain we may lament the loss of our tranquillity; for peace, like the wandering dove, has forsaken its habitation in the bosom, and will return no more."

— Williams, Helen Maria (1759-1827)

Date: 1791

"Madame forbore for the present to ask any questions that might lead to a discovery of her connections, or seem to require an explanation of the late adventure, which now furnishing her with a new subject of reflection, the sense of her own misfortunes pressed less heavily upon her mind."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1791

"'Long suffering,' said La Motte, 'has subdued in our minds that elastic energy, which repels the pressure of evil, and dances to the bound of joy.'"

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"A train of gloomy ideas haunted her mind, till she fell asleep."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"Retired to her lonely cabin, her melancholy thoughts still hovered round the body of her deceased parent; and, when she sunk into a kind of slumber, the images of her waking mind still haunted her fancy."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"Such scenes are indeed, to the mind, like 'those faint traces which the memory bears of music that is past.'"

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"It brought gloomy images to her mind, but the view of the Adriatic soon gave her others more airy, among which was that of the sea-nymph, whose delights she had before amused herself with picturing; and, anxious to escape from serious reflections, she now endeavoured to throw her fanciful ideas ...

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"This letter brought many tears to Emily's eyes; tears of tenderness and satisfaction on learning that Valancourt was well, and that time and absence had in no degree effaced her image from his heart."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"The scenes of the Illiad illapsed in glowing colours to her fancy--scenes, once the haunt of heroes--now lonely, and in ruins; but which still shone, in the poet's strain, in all their youthful splendor."

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)

Date: 1794

"At length, considering, that reflection could neither release her from her melancholy situation, or enable her to bear it with greater fortitude, she tried to divert her anxiety, and took down from her little library a volume of her favourite Ariosto; but his wild imagery and rich invention coul...

— Radcliffe [née Ward], Ann (1764-1823)