How we cite our quotes: (Letter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
But to collect his character from his principles with regard to the sex in general, and from his enterprises upon many of them, and to consider the cruelty of his nature and the sportiveness of his invention, together with the high opinion he has himself, it will not be doubted that a wife of his must have been miserable […] (379.5)
It's hard out there for a pimp—or a rake. Even if Lovelace wanted to settle down, he'd never be able to make a woman happy. Bad boys might be sexy, but they're no good as husbands.
Quote #8
Let me, our dearest cousin (we cannot deny ourselves the pleasure of calling you so), let me entreat you to give me your permission for my journey to London; and put it in the power of Lord M., and the ladies of the family to make you what reparation they can make you […] (384.3)
It's pretty cool that the women in Lovelace's family step up to embrace Clarissa as their own, even when her own family rejects her. Or are they just trying to save face by pretending that some sort of marriage happened? (Also, contrast this to the women in Clarissa's family, who flat-out reject her.)