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135 WILLIAM CONGREVE [ACT II<br />
Lady Ply. [Aside to Sir PAUL.] Sir Paul, have patience;<br />
let me alone to rattle him up.<br />
Sir Paul. Pray your ladyship, give me leave to be angry.<br />
—I'll rattle him up, I warrant you, I'll firk him with a.<br />
certiorari!<br />
Lady Ply. You firk him! I'll firk him myself; pray, Sir<br />
Paul, hold you contented.<br />
Cyn. [Aside to MELLEFONT.] Bless me, what makes my<br />
father in such a passion! I never saw him thus before.<br />
Sir Paul. Hold yourself contented, my Lady Plyant: I<br />
find passion coming upon me by inflation, and I cannot<br />
submit as formerly, therefore give way.<br />
Lady Ply. How now! will you be pleased to retire, and—<br />
Sir Paul. No, marry, will I not be pleased! I am pleased<br />
to be angry, that's my pleasure at this time.<br />
Mel. \Aside to CYNTHIA.] What can this mean?<br />
Lady Ply. Gad's my life, the man's distracted! Why, how<br />
now! who are you? what am I? Slidikins, can't I govern<br />
you? what did I marry you for? Am I not to be absolute<br />
and uncontrollable? Is it fit a woman of my spirit and<br />
conduct should be contradicted in a matter of this concern?<br />
Sir Paul. It concerns me, and only me;—besides, I'm not<br />
to be governed at all times. When I am in tranquillity, my<br />
Lady Plyant shall command Sir Paul; but when I am<br />
provoked to fury, I cannot incorporate with patience and<br />
reason:—as soon may tigers match with tigers, lambs with<br />
lambs, and every creature couple with its foe, as the poet<br />
says.<br />
Lady Ply. He's hot-headed still!—Tis in vain to talk to<br />
you; but remember I have a curtain lecture for you, you<br />
disobedient, headstrong brute!<br />
Sir Paul. No; 'tis because I won't be headstrong, because<br />
I won't be a brute, and have my head fortified, that I am<br />
thus exasperated. But I will protect my honour, and yonder<br />
is the violator of my fame.<br />
Lady Ply. 'Tis my honour that is concerned; and the<br />
violation was intended to me. Your honour! you have none<br />
but what is in my keeping, and I can dispose of it when<br />
I please;—therefore don't provoke me.<br />
Sir Paul. [Aside.] Hum, gadsbud, she says true!—<br />
[Aloud.] Well, my lady, march on, I will fight under you,<br />
then; I am convinced, as far as passion will permit.<br />
[Lady PLYANT and Sir PAUL come up to MELLEFoNT.
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