Date: 1716

"As by Rebellion Subjects oft become / Lords of their Monarch, and pronounce his Doom: / So Reason, to your wicked Nature join'd, / Rebels 'gainst Faith, whose Slave it was design'd."

— Anonymous

Date: 1720

"The Goths were not so barbarous a Race / As the grim Rusticks of this motly Place; / Of Reason void, and Thought, whom Int'rest rules, / Yet will be Knaves tho' Nature meant them Fools."

— Diaper, William (1686-1717)

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: 1766, 1808

"Nature, my friend, profuse in vain, / May every gift impart; / If unimprov'd, they ne'er can gain / An empire o'er the heart."

— Anstey, Christopher (1724-1805)

Date: 1772

"Their ruling Passion Want of Gold supplies, / To that alone they offer Sacrifice; / The Thirst of Gold was first the guilty Source / Of our Misfortunes, and their bloody Force."

— Whyte, Samuel (1733-1811) [Editor]

Date: 1801

Virtue may be a man's "eternal flame" or "ruling passion"

— Blacklock, Thomas (1721-1791)

Date: 1810

"Fear was his ruling passion; yet was Love, / Of timid kind, once known his heart to move."

— Crabbe, George (1754-1832)

Date: 1810

"Friends, parents, relatives, hope, reason, love," may "With anxious ardour for that empire strove"

— Crabbe, George (1754-1832)