THE LOVER

I shall have this woman. I shall take her away from the husband who defiles her. I shall dare to ravish her even from the God she adores. How delicious to be both object and conqueror of her remorse! Far be it from me to destroy the prejudices which beset her! They will only add to my happiness and my triumph. Let her believe in virtue, but let her sacrifice it for my sake; let her be terrified by her sins but unable to prevent herself committing them; and, agitated by a thousand terrors, let her be able to forget and overcome them only in my arms. May she say, with my consent: I adore you. She alone of all women will be worthy to utter those words. I shall indeed be the god she worships before all others.

(Letter VI, The Vicomte de Valmont to the Marquise de Merteuil)