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Clarissa : Excerpts

 

Trailers

Three trailers for the series were broadcast on Radio 4 in the week before it began. Trailer 1, Trailer 2, Trailer 3

 

Episode 1 : The Pursuit

 

First meeting

Robert Lovelace has been courting Clarissa's older sister, Bella. But when Bella suspects that his attentions towards her are not sincere, she rejects his suit. However, he calls at the house again, as Clarissa tells her friend Anna in a letter. Listen...

 

Duel

Lovelace has begun a correspondence with Clarissa. But when her brother James returns home, he is horrified to hear of Lovelace's attentions to his sisters. Having been at college with him, he knows him to be a womaniser and a gambler. When Lovelace next calls, James refuses him entry. Listen...

 

"Dearest Madam"

Clarissa's family is now implacably opposed to Lovelace, and makes arrangements for her to marry Mr Solmes, whom Clarissa detests. Lovelace continues to write to her. Listen...

 

"I have been waiting"

Plans for Clarissa's marriage to Mr Solmes continue in spite of her refusal to consent to it. Lovelace writes again. Listen...

 

"I offer you my protection"

Deprived of her liberty and closely watched, Clarissa is to be sent to her uncle's house to be married against her will, as she describes to Anna. Lovelace has offered his help. Listen...

 

Flight

As the day of Clarissa's marriage approaches, she goes to meet Lovelace in the garden at night. Listen...

 

 

Episode 2 : The Flight

 

"And so, it is achieved"

The episode begins with a letter from Lovelace to his friend Jack Belford, in which we hear of his feelings for Clarissa, and how their flight from her home was achieved. Listen...

 

At the Farmer's Inn

In the next scene, Clarissa and Lovelace eat together at the inn, and discuss what to do next. Listen...

 

"Where are you going?"

By now, a letter from her friend Anna Howe has told Clarissa that events on the night she fled from her home were not quite as they seemed. Still at the inn with Lovelace, she is now more wary of him, as this scene between them shows. Listen...

 

"Virtue cannot be found in woman"

In a revealing letter from Lovelace to Belford, we find out what his opinion of women is, and what his plans for Clarissa are. Listen...

 

A rabble-rousing night

Lovelace and Clarissa are now lodging at Mrs Sinclair's house. One evening, Lovelace's friends join the women of the house for the "rabble-rousing night" he promised Belford in the letter of the previous excerpt.

In two extracts from this scene, we first hear Lovelace sing for the assembled company. He is then persuaded to tell a story of his travels. His audience is greatly entertained, but Clarissa's knowledge of geography is too accurate for her to be taken in by his tale. Listen...

 

Note. What we hear Lovelace singing is the last line of an old English folk song, Have you seen but a bright lily grow (also known as Have you seen but a white lily grow). Written for voice and lute, the music is by Robert Johnson and the words are taken from a poem written by Ben Jonson for his 1616 play, The Devil is an Ass.

The words seem highly apposite, given Lovelace's feelings for and intentions towards Clarissa.

Have you seen but a bright lily grow
Before rude hands have touched it?
Have you marked but the fall of snow
Before the soil hath smutched it?
Have you felt the wool of beaver,
Or swan's down ever?
Or have smelt o' the bud o' the brier,
Or the nard in the fire?
Or have tasted the bag of the bee?
O so white, O so soft, O so sweet is she!

A performance of the complete song by Michael Slattery (tenor) and David Taylor (archlute) can be heard on YouTube.

 

Episode 3 : Imprisonment

 

"I am about to depart for Hampstead"

Clarissa, having escaped from Mrs Sinclair's house, has now been tracked down. In this letter, Lovelace tells his friend Belford that he is about to go to her. Listen...

 

"My wife"

As detailed in his letter to Belford, Lovelace goes to the house in Hampstead where Clarissa is now staying. He's disguised as an elderly gentleman from the West Country who is looking for a room at Mrs Moore's lodging house. Listen...

 

"The young woman appears to abhor you, sir"

Outside Clarissa's room, Lovelace attempts to charm Mrs Rawlings, spinning her a tale about "his wife" to explain Clarissa's apparent violent dislike and fear of him. Listen...

 

"You are not welcome here, sir"

Mrs Rawlings has recounted Lovelace's tale to Mrs Moore - the former is now won over, the latter less so. Both women now accompany Lovelace into Clarissa's room. Listen...

 

 

Episode 4 : Freedom Regained

 

"I have arrived at Lord Montague's"

After his rape of Clarissa, Lovelace still hopes to marry her, but she insists that she will never be his wife. Lovelace is called away to see his uncle, Lord Montague, who is dangerously ill - Lovelace is his heir. In this excerpt, he writes to Belford from his uncle's house. Listen...

 

"Charming Miss Howe"

Clarissa has run away from Mrs Sinclair's house, and is now lodging with Mrs Smith. Her friend Anna Howe attends a ball with her parents, where she unexpectedly meets Lovelace. Listen...

 

"A visit from a friend"

By now, Belford has found Clarissa at Mrs Smith's house. Appalled by Lovelace's treatment of her, he has become her friend and protector, as have Mr and Mrs Smith. This excerpt begins with a letter to him from Lovelace, in which he announces his intention to visit Clarissa. Belford replies, begging him not to try and see her. But Lovelace ignores his plea. However, Mrs Smith is more than a match for him. Listen...

 

"Jack, dear fellow"

Belford goes to meet a drunken Lovelace. Listen...

 

"She is mine"

Clarissa's story reaches its conclusion. Belford sends news of her to Lovelace. This is his reply. Listen...

 

 

 

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Clarissa : Introduction | Excerpts | Production details
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