Wishes he had never seen her. With all the women he had known till now,
it was once subdued, and always subdued. His miserable dejection. His
remorse. She attempts to escape. A mob raised. His quick invention to
pacify it. Out of conceit with himself and his contrivances.

LETTER XX. XXI. Lovelace to Belford.--
Lord M. very ill. His presence necessary at M. Hall. Puts Dorcas upon
ingratiating herself with her lady.--He re-urges marriage to her. She
absolutely, from the most noble motives, rejects him.

LETTER XXII. From the same.--
Reflects upon himself. It costs, he says, more pain to be wicked than to
be good. The lady's solemn expostulation with him. Extols her greatness
of soul. Dorcas coming into favour with her. He is alarmed by another
attempt of the lady to get off. She is in agonies at being prevented.
He tried to intimidate her. Dorcas pleads for her. On the point of
drawing his sword against himself. The occasion.

LETTER XXIII. From the same.--
Cannot yet persuade himself but the lady will be his. Reasons for his
opinion. Opens his heart to Belford, as to his intentions by her.
Mortified that she refuses his honest vows. Her violation but notional.
Her triumph greater than her sufferings. Her will unviolated. He is a
better man, he says, than most rakes; and why.

LETTER XXIV. XXV. From the same.--
The lady gives a promissory note to Dorcas, to induce her to further her
escape.--A fair trial of skill now, he says. A conversation between the
vile Dorcas and her lady: in which she engages her lady's pity. The
bonds of wickedness stronger than the ties of virtue. Observations on