How we cite our quotes: (Letter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
I hope there is not a man breathing who could attempt a sacrilege so detestable (180.1)
Mrs. Norton isn't afraid to call a spade a spade. That is, she thinks lust (and sex) basically amount to sacrilege. Whoa, Nelly!
Quote #8
These shy ladies, how, when a man thinks himself near the mark, do they tempest him! (224.6)
Lovelace is an expert seducer, so he's all about finding novelty. Clarissa, more demure and shy than most of the women Lovelace has seduced, is his biggest challenge yet. Lust, or power? Or just a lust for power?
Quote #9
It was with the utmost difficulty last night, that I preserved myself from the vilest dishonor. (230.1)
Clarissa's description of Lovelace's seduction attempt is pretty straightforward, but it's a common plot device in Richardson's novels. The "bed trick," in which the beau hides out in his would-be lover's bed, also gets used in Pamela. Pro tip: beware of climbing into occupied beds? We guess?