s.
have I not told thee so twenty times over?

Devil, as these girls between them call me, what of devil am I, but in my
contrivances? I am not more a devil than others in the end I aim at; for
when I have carried my point, it is still but one seduction. And I have
perhaps been spared the guilt of many seductions in the time.

What of uncommon would there be in this case, but for her
watchfulness!--As well as I love intrigue and stratagem, dost think that
I had not rather have gained my end with less trouble and less guilt?

The man, let me tell thee, who is as wicked as he can be, is a worse man
than I am. Let me ask any rake in England, if, resolving to carry his
point, he would have been so long about it? or have had so much
compunction as I have had?

Were every rake, nay, were every man, to sit down, as I do, and write all
that enters into his head, or into his heart, and to accuse himself with
equal freedom and truth, what an army of miscreants should I have to keep
me in countenance!

It is a maxim with some, that if they are left alone with a woman, and
make not an attempt upon her, she will think herself affronted--Are not
such men as these worse than I am? What an opinion must they have of the
whole sex!

Let me defend the sex I so dearly love. If these elder brethren of ours
think they have general reason for their assertion, they must have kept
very bad company, or must judge of women's hearts by their own. She must
be an abandoned woman, who will not shrink as a snail into its shell at a
gross and sudden attempt. A modest woman must be naturally cold,
reserved, and shy. She cannot be so much and so soon affected as
libertines are apt to imagine. She must, at least, have some confidence
in the honour and silence of a man, before desire can possibly put forth
in her, to encourage and meet his flame. For my own part, I have been
always decent in the company of women, till I was sure of them. Nor have
I ever offered a great offence, till I have found little ones passed
over; and that they shunned me not, when they knew my character.

My divine Clarissa has puzzled me, and beat me out of my play: at one
time, I hope to overcome by intimidating her; at another, by love; by the
amorous see-saw, as I have called it.* And I have only now to join
surprise to the other two, and see what can be done by all three.

* See Vol. III. Letter XVI.

And whose property, I pray thee, shall I invade, if