# Letter 209: Mr. Lovelace, to John Belford, Esq. explained — Clarissa

> Chapter companion for Clarissa by Samuel Richardson.

## What happens

Lovelace writes to Belford about his multiple plots concerning Clarissa, including a scheme to feign illness to test her compassion and love. He recounts a past seduction of a French marquise and dismisses Sally Martin's accusations that he intends to marry Clarissa.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Appearance vs. Reality

Lovelace devises a plan to feign illness, manipulating appearances to test Clarissa's feelings.

### Power and Manipulation

Lovelace boasts of his contrivances and aims to control Clarissa's responses through calculated schemes.

### Libertinism and Morality

Lovelace recounts his seduction of a French marquise and dismisses moral concerns, reflecting libertine values.

## Character check-ins

### Robert Lovelace

Author of the letter; boasts of his contrivances and plans to feign sickness to manipulate Clarissa.

### John Belford

Recipient of the letter; Lovelace addresses him as 'general' and confides his schemes.

### Clarissa Harlowe

Referred to as 'Gloriana' and 'my fair-one'; Lovelace plans to test her compassion and love through a feigned illness.

### Anna Howe

Mentioned in relation to a 'smuggling scheme' and Lovelace's concern that Clarissa might flee to her.

### Sally Martin

Accuses Lovelace of intending to marry Clarissa; he dismisses her as impertinent.

### Dorcas Wykes

Planned to represent Lovelace as very ill as part of his feigned sickness scheme.

## Key lines

> Henceforth, O watchful fair-one, guard thee well: For I'll not kill thee there! nor there! nor there! But, by the zone that circles Venus' waist, I'll kill thee ev'ry where; yea, o'er and o'er.

From now on, careful lady, protect yourself because I will not harm you in just one place but everywhere.

_Lovelace adapts Shakespeare's Hector to threaten Clarissa with overwhelming seduction._

> I have so many contrivances rising up and crowding upon me for preference, with regard to my Gloriana, that I hardly know which to choose?

I have so many schemes competing for my attention concerning Clarissa that I can barely decide which one to use.

_Lovelace expresses his abundance of manipulative plans for Clarissa._

> Love hides a multitude of faults, and diminishes those it cannot hide.

Love covers many flaws and lessens those it cannot conceal.

_Lovelace rationalizes that if Clarissa shows love, it will excuse his future transgressions._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters/letter-209-mr-lovelace-to-john-belford-esq
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/clarissa_se/chapters