In 1628, William Harvey published 'De Motu Cordis,' a groundbreaking work that described the circulation of blood, fundamentally changing the understanding of human physiology. Harvey's findings overturned centuries of Galenic physiology, establishing the heart as a pump and laying the groundwork for modern medicine. This publication marked a significant advancement in scientific thought and contributed to the development of the field of cardiology.

Harvey’s discovery transformed the metaphor of the heart in poetry from a seat of emotion to a mechanical engine, influencing the metaphysical conceits of blood and spirit, and altering how poets like Herbert and Crashaw depicted divine love and physiological connection.