Date: 1675

"Please to consult the Steward of your Soul, / And Ruler of your Senses, Your wise Reason."

— Anonymous; Dryden, John (1631-1700)

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: 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: 1701

"My Reason's conquer'd by more powerful Love, / Who rules as Tyrant in my captiv'd Breast."

— Sherburne, Sir Edward (bap. 1616, d. 1702)

Date: 1715

"Love is a generous Volunteer; Lust a Mercenary Slave"

— Johnson, Charles (1679?-1748)

Date: 1717

"Against my self my rebel Passions arm; / They bound within my Breast to meet this Victor."

— Manley, Delarivier (c. 1670-1724)

Date: February 22, 1723

"If a single thought / Were tinctur'd with disloyalty, this hand / Shou'd pierce my heart to drive the rebel out."

— Fenton, Elijah (1683-1730)

Date: January 10, 1728.

"I knew no Directors, but my Passions, no Master but my Will!"

— Cibber, Colley (1671-1757); John Vanbrugh (1664-1726)

Date: 1752

"Assist me, Furies, with your hellish Aid, / Nor let the Tyrant Conscience more invade; / Since I am stain'd with Blood, thro' Blood I'll wade."

— Gentleman, Francis (1728-1784)

Date: Performed Dec 1756, published 1757

"Within my bosom reigns another lord; / Honour, sole judge and umpire of itself."

— Home, John (1722-1808)