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Date: 1692

"Methinks a generous Indignation should break so hated a Chain, since 'tis so preposterous and base, to make the Sov'raign of the mind, Reason, the Slave to every motion of the most inconsiderable part of our Body I know you a great stickler for Liberty, and Property, but you ought first to pull ...

— Gildon, Charles (1665-1724)

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Date: 1693

"And I wish my poor Amorous Friend here, cou'd follow this Example; but he does not only vex and torment himself to no end or purpose, but by banishing Reason, as an Enemy to his Love, depriving me of all remedies of his Distemper, in either extinguishing, or satisfying his Passion."

— Anonymous

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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

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Date: 1696

"'Twas not with ease the Usurper got Possession here (went she on; pointing to her Heart) nor will he be with ease dislodg'd. All the Sighs and Tears it cost Emilius to gain this Virgin Heart, to bind it in the Inchanting Chains of Tyrannick Love; I must, with Interest, pay back, e'er I can set t...

— Pix, Mary (c.1666-1720)

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Date: 1697

"It reach'd the inmost Marrow of the Brain / Where we perceive our Pleasures, and our Pain. / There where the Soul upon her Throne abides, / And from our Sight conceal'd her Empire guides: / Do's various Orders various Tasks dispence, / To all th'inferiour Ministers of Sence."

— Blackmore, Sir Richard (1654-1729)

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Date: 1698

"But when Vice is varnish'd over with Pleasure, and comes in the Shape of Convenience, the case grows somewhat dangerous; for then the Fancy may be gain'd, and the Guards corrupted, and Reason suborn'd against it self."

— Collier, Jeremy (1650-1726)

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Date: 1700, 1712

"And as Inferiour Persons, when they are advanced to Power, are strangely Insolent and Tyrannical towards those that are subject to them; so the Lusts and Passions of men, when they once get the Command of them, are the most domineering Tyrants in the World; and there is no such Slave as a Man th...

— Tillotson, John (1630-1694)

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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)

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Date: 1702

"Vice is a Thief, a Traytor in the Mind, / Assassinates the Vitals of Mankind."

— Defoe, Daniel (1660?-1731)

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Date: w. 1703?

"Descend, O Goddess, to my breast; / There thou may'st reign, unrivall'd and alone, / My thoughts thy subjects, and my heart thy throne."

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

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The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.