Date: w. 1764, published 1820

"Yet, why repine? What, though by bonds confined, / Should bonds enslave the vigour of the mind?"

— Goldsmith, Oliver (1728?-1774)

Date: December 6, 1765

One may fell Love's vengeful Shaft transfix her heart "And yield to [it] the Empire of [her] Soul]

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1767

"Be rul'd by reason for your beauty's sake."

— Murphy, Arthur (1727-1805)

Date: 1768

"Hope and fear alternate rising, / Strive for empire o'er my heart."

— Bickerstaff, Isaac (b. 1733, d. after 1808)

Date: 1769

"And still my soul they [cares] hold in pain, / Their cruel empire to maintain."

— Fergusson, Robert (1750-1774)

Date: 1770

"This Night we'd fix her [the Muse of Comedy's] Empire in your Hearts."

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1770

Powerful charms may extend "their empire over the heart"

— Foote, Samuel (1720-1777)

Date: 1770

"Reason and Nature are the judges here."

— Foote, Samuel (1720-1777)

Date: 1771

"But, Sir, my passions are my masters; they take me where they will; and oftentimes they leave to reason and to virtue nothing but my wishes and my sighs."

— Cumberland, Richard (1732-1811)

Date: 1771

"I conjure you--however severe the conflict, gratitude shall ever be the predominant passion of my soul--oh! fly this instant."

— Stevens, George Alexander (1710?-1784)