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15D WILLIAM CONDREVE [ACT m
Sir Paul. \Aside to Lady PLYANT.] I acquiesce, my lady;
but don't snub so loud.
Lady Ply. Mr. Careless, if a person that is wholly illiterate
might be supposed to be capable of being qualified to make
a suitable return to those obligations which you are pleased
to confer upon one that is wholly incapable of being qualified
in all those circumstances, I'm sure I should rather
attempt it than anything in the world; [Curtsies.] for I'm
sure there's nothing in the world that I would rather.
[Curtsies.] But I know Mr. Careless is so great a critic and
so fine a gentleman, that it is impossible for me—
Care. O Heavens, madam, you confound me!
Sir Paul. Gadsbud, she's a fine person.
Lady Ply. D Lord, sir, pardon me, we women have not
those advantages. I know my own imperfections.—But at
the same time you must give me leave to declare in the face
of the world, that nobody is more sensible of favours and
things; for, with the reserve of my honour, I assure you,
Mr. Careless, I don't know anything in the world I would
refuse to a person so meritorious.—You'll pardon my want
of expression.
Care. O, your ladyship is abounding in all excellence,
particularly that of phrase.
Lady Ply. You are so obliging, sir.
Care. Your ladyship is so charming.
Sir Paul. So, now, now; now, my lady.
Lady Ply. So well bred.
Care. So surprising.
Lady Ply. So well dressed, so bonne mine, so eloquent,
so unaffected, so easy, so free, so particular, so agreeable—
Sir Paul. Ay, so, so, there.
Care. O Lord, I beseech you, madam! don't—
Lady Ply. So gav, so graceful, so good teeth, so fine shape,
so fine limbs, so fine linen, and I don't doubt but you have
a very good skin, sir.
Care. For Heaven's sake, madam!—I'm quite out of
countenance.
Sir Paul. And my lady's quite out of breath: or else you
should hear—Gadsbud, you may talk of my Lady Froth!
Care. O, fy! fy! not to be named of a day.—My Lady
Froth is very well in her accomplishments;—but it is when
my Lady Plyant is not thought of;—if that can ever be.
Lady Ply. O you overcome me!—that is so excessive.