Sexually frank and verbally inventive, Cleland's text constitutes an intriguing response to the dual claims of Richardsonian and Fieldingesque fiction.

I don’t want to be the kind of a guy that would take advantage of him. You know one time I put the bee on him for a buck.

Powders produced in those days were, compared with today's standards, of poor flowability and solubility, difficult to handle, dusty, and prone to misflavour as a result of degradation in the drying process.

The use of this figure is great, and often necessarie and needfull to be used, the vertue and power whereof is worthie of high praise and commendation, for when commanding cannot force, nor promises allure, nor commination terrifie, as alone by themselves working in their single strengthes: yet Adhortation having al these conjoyned with it, and also sundry reasons of mightie power, as helping hands to force and move the mind forward, to a willing consent, doth prevaile in his purpose.