Quickly never quite completes a sentence when she's nervous, trails off into 'notwithstanding' and 'that's neither here nor there,' and has a gift for conveying maximum confidence with minimum information. Watch for how she tells everyone exactly what they want to hear.
What, John Rugby!
What, John Rugby!
what, john rugby!
what, john rugby!
I’ll go watch.
I’ll go watch.
i’ll go watch.
i’ll go watch.
Go; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night, in faith, at the
latter end of a sea-coal fire.
Go; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire.
go; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night, in faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire.
go; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night, i
Ay, for fault of a better.
Yes, for fault of a better.
yes, for fault of a better.
yes, for fault of a better.
And Master Slender’s your master?
And Master Slender’s your master?
and master slender’s your master?
and master slender’s your master?
Ay, forsooth.
Yes, truly.
yes, truly.
yes, truly.
Does he not wear a great round beard, like a glover’s paring-knife?
Does he not wear a great round beard, like a glover’s paring-knife?
does he not wear a great round beard, like a glover’s paring-knife?
does he not wear a great round beard, like a glove
No, forsooth, he hath but a little wee face, with a little yellow
beard, a Cain-coloured beard.
No, truly, he has but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard, a Cain-coloured beard.
no, truly, he has but a little wee face, with a little yellow beard, a cain-coloured beard.
no, truly, he has but a little wee face, with a
A softly-sprighted man, is he not?
A softly-sprighted man, is he not?
a softly-sprighted man, is he not?
a softly-sprighted man, is he not?
Ay, forsooth. But he is as tall a man of his hands as any is between
this and his head. He hath fought with a warrener.
Yes, truly. But he is as tall a man of his hands as any is between this and his head. He has fought with a warrener.
yes, truly. but he is as tall a man of his hands as any is between this and his head. he has fought with a warrener.
yes, truly. but he is as tall a man of his hand
How say you? O, I should remember him. Does he not hold up his head, as
it were, and strut in his gait?
How say you? O, I should remember him. Does he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait?
how say you? o, i should remember him. does he not hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait?
how say you? o, i should remember him. does he not
Yes, indeed, does he.
Yes, indeed, does he.
yes, indeed, does he.
yes, indeed, does he.
Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune! Tell Master Parson Evans
I will do what I can for your master. Anne is a good girl, and I wish—
Well, heaven send Anne Page no worse fortune! Tell Master Parson Evans I will do what I can for your master. Anne is a good girl, and I wish—
well, heaven send anne page no worse fortune! tell master parson evans i will do what i can for your master. anne is a good girl, and i wish—
well, heaven send anne page no worse fortune! tell
We shall all be shent. Run in here, good young man, go into this
closet. He will not stay long.
We will all be shent. Run in here, good young man, go into this closet. He will not stay long.
we will all be shent. run in here, good young man, go into this closet. he will not stay long.
we will all be shent. run in here, good young man,
Quickly is the most important character in the subplot because she is the node through which all information passes. Every suitor — Slender, Caius, Fenton — pays her and believes she is working exclusively for him. She knows Anne's actual feelings and shares them with no one. This makes her simultaneously comic (her verbal meandering, her forgotten sentences, her warts tangent) and genuinely powerful: she controls the information that all three men need, and she monetizes it. The audience watches with delight as she takes everyone's money while telling each one they're the favourite. She's not lying, exactly — she just leaves things out.
Ay, forsooth, I’ll fetch it you.
Yes, truly, I’ll fetch it you.
yes, truly, i’ll fetch it you.
yes, truly, i’ll fetch it you.
Doctor Caius speaks English with a French accent that makes his threats simultaneously more menacing and more comic ('I vill cut his troat'). Watch for how his rage escalates in proportion to his mangled grammar.
_Fe, fe, fe fe! Ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m’en vais à la cour—la
grande affaire._
_Fe, fe, fe fe! Ma foi, il fait fort chaud. Je m’en vais à la cour—la granthe affaire._
_fe, fe, fe fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. je m’en vais à la cour—la granthe affaire._
_fe, fe, fe fe! ma foi, il fait fort chaud. je m’e
Is it this, sir?
Is it this, sir?
is it this, sir?
is it this, sir?
_Oui, mette-le au mon_ pocket. _Dépêche_, quickly—Vere is dat knave
Rugby?
_Oui, mette-le au mon_ pocket. _Dépêche_, quickly—Vere is dat knave Rugby?
_oui, mette-le au mon_ pocket. _dépêche_, quickly—vere is dat knave rugby?
_oui, mette-le au mon_ pocket. _dépêche_, quickly—
What, John Rugby, John!
What, John Rugby, John!
what, john rugby, john!
what, john rugby, john!
You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Come, take-a your rapier,
and come after my heel to the court.
You are John Rugby, and you are Jack Rugby. Come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to the court.
you are john rugby, and you are jack rugby. come, take-a your rapier, and come after my heel to the court.
you are john rugby, and you are jack rugby. come,
’Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
’Tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
’tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
’tis ready, sir, here in the porch.
By my trot, I tarry too long. ’Od’s me! _Qu’ay j’oublié?_ Dere is some
simples in my closet dat I vill not for the varld I shall leave behind.
By my trot, I tarry too long. ’Od’s me! _Qu’Yes j’oublié?_ Dere is some simples in my closet dat I vill not for the varld I will leave behind.
by my trot, i tarry too long. ’od’s me! _qu’yes j’oublié?_ dere is some simples in my closet dat i vill not for the varld i will leave behind.
by my trot, i tarry too long. ’od’s me! _qu’yes j’
Ay me, he’ll find the young man there, and be mad!
Yes me, he’ll find the young man there, and be mad!
yes me, he’ll find the young man there, and be mad!
yes me, he’ll find the young man there, and be mad
_O diable, diable!_ Vat is in my closet? Villainy! _Larron!_ [_Pulling
Simple out_.] Rugby, my rapier!
_O diable, diable!_ Vat is in my closet? Villainy! _Larron!_ [_Pulling Simple out_.] Rugby, my rapier!
_o diable, diable!_ vat is in my closet? villainy! _larron!_ [_pulling simple out_.] rugby, my rapier!
_o diable, diable!_ vat is in my closet? villainy!
Good master, be content.
Good master, be content.
good master, be content.
good master, be content.
Wherefore shall I be content-a?
Wherefore will I be content-a?
wherefore will i be content-a?
wherefore will i be content-a?
The young man is an honest man.
The young man is an honest man.
the young man is an honest man.
the young man is an honest man.
What shall de honest man do in my closet? Dere is no honest man dat
shall come in my closet.
What will the honest man do in my closet? Dere is no honest man dat will come in my closet.
what will the honest man do in my closet? dere is no honest man dat will come in my closet.
what will the honest man do in my closet? dere is
I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the truth of it. He came of
an errand to me from Parson Hugh.
I beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. Hear the truth of it. He came of an errand to me from Parson Hugh.
i beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. hear the truth of it. he came of an errand to me from parson hugh.
i beseech you, be not so phlegmatic. hear the trut
Vell?
Vell?
vell?
vell?
Ay, forsooth, to desire her to—
Yes, truly, to desire her to—
yes, truly, to desire her to—
yes, truly, to desire her to—
Peace, I pray you.
Peace, I pray you.
peace, i pray you.
peace, i pray you.
Peace-a your tongue!—Speak-a your tale.
Peace-a your tongue!—Speak-a your tale.
peace-a your tongue!—speak-a your tale.
peace-a your tongue!—speak-a your tale.
To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to
Mistress Anne Page for my master in the way of marriage.
To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my master in the way of marriage.
to desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to speak a good word to mistress anne page for my master in the way of marriage.
to desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to s
This is all, indeed, la! But I’ll ne’er put my finger in the fire, and
need not.
This is all, indeed, la! But I’ll ne’er put my finger in the fire, and need not.
this is all, indeed, la! but i’ll ne’er put my finger in the fire, and need not.
this is all, indeed, la! but i’ll ne’er put my fin
Sir Hugh send-a you?—Rugby, _baille_ me some paper.—Tarry you a
little-a while.
Sir Hugh send-a you?—Rugby, _baille_ me some paper.—Tarry you a little-a while.
sir hugh send-a you?—rugby, _baille_ me some paper.—tarry you a little-a while.
sir hugh send-a you?—rugby, _baille_ me some paper
Caius is one of Shakespeare's broadest ethnic caricatures — the hot-tempered, grammatically challenged foreigner who explodes in French mid-sentence and reaches for his rapier at every provocation. But Shakespeare gives him real dignity too: he's a successful physician, he has a household, his anger is completely rational given what he found, and his desire for Anne is as genuine as anyone else's. The comedy isn't that he's French — it's that he's universally, understandably furious and completely wrong about his chances. His challenge to Evans in 1-4 sets up the magnificent near-duel in 3-1 that the Host prevents by sending them to different locations.
moved, you should have heard him so loud and so melancholy. But
notwithstanding, man, I’ll do you your master what good I can; and the
very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my master—I may call him my
master, look you, for I keep his house, and I wash, wring, brew, bake,
scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself—
moved, you should have heard him so loud and so melancholy. But notwithstanding, man, I’ll do you your master what good I can; and the very yea and the no is, the French doctor, my master—I may call him my master, look you, for I keep his house, and I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself—
moved, you should have heard him so loud and so melancholy. but notwithstanding, man, i’ll do you your master what good i can; and the very yea and the no is, the french doctor, my master—i may call him my master, look you, for i keep his house, and i wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself—
moved, you should have heard him so loud and so me
body’s hand.
body’s hand.
body’s hand.
body’s hand.
charge, and to be up early and down late; but notwithstanding—to tell
you in your ear, I would have no words of it—my master himself is in
love with Mistress Anne Page; but notwithstanding that, I know Anne’s
mind. That’s neither here nor there.
charge, and to be up early and down late; but notwithstanding—to tell you in your ear, I would have no words of it—my master himself is in love with Mistress Anne Page; but notwithstanding that, I know Anne’s mind. That’s neither here nor there.
charge, and to be up early and down late; but notwithstanding—to tell you in your ear, i would have no words of it—my master himself is in love with mistress anne page; but notwithstanding that, i know anne’s mind. that’s neither here nor there.
charge, and to be up early and down late; but notw
You jack’nape, give-a dis letter to Sir Hugh. By gar, it is a
shallenge. I will cut his troat in de park, and I will teach a scurvy
jackanape priest to meddle or make. You may be gone, it is not good you
tarry here.—By gar, I will cut all his two stones. By gar, he shall not
have a stone to throw at his dog.
You jack’nape, give-a dis letter to Sir Hugh. By gar, it is a shallenge. I will cut his troat in the park, and I will teach a scurvy jackanape priest to meddle or make. You may be gone, it is not good you tarry here.—By gar, I will cut all his two stones. By gar, he will not have a stone to throw at his dog.
you jack’nape, give-a dis letter to sir hugh. by gar, it is a shallenge. i will cut his troat in the park, and i will teach a scurvy jackanape priest to meddle or make. you may be gone, it is not good you tarry here.—by gar, i will cut all his two stones. by gar, he will not have a stone to throw at his dog.
you jack’nape, give-a dis letter to sir hugh. by g
Alas, he speaks but for his friend.
Alas, he speaks but for his friend.
alas, he speaks but for his friend.
alas, he speaks but for his friend.
It is no matter-a ver dat. Do not you tell-a me dat I shall have Anne
Page for myself? By gar, I vill kill de Jack priest; and I have
appointed mine host of de Jarteer to measure our weapon. By gar, I will
myself have Anne Page.
It is no matter-a ver dat. Do not you tell-a me dat I will have Anne Page for myself? By gar, I vill kill the Jack priest; and I have appointed mine host of the Jarteer to measure our weapon. By gar, I will myself have Anne Page.
it is no matter-a ver dat. do not you tell-a me dat i will have anne page for myself? by gar, i vill kill the jack priest; and i have appointed mine host of the jarteer to measure our weapon. by gar, i will myself have anne page.
it is no matter-a ver dat. do not you tell-a me da
Sir, the maid loves you, and all shall be well. We must give folks
leave to prate. What, the good-year!
Sir, the maid loves you, and all will be well. We must give folks leave to prate. What, the good-year!
sir, the maid loves you, and all will be well. we must give folks leave to prate. what, the good-year!
sir, the maid loves you, and all will be well. we
Rugby, come to the court with me. [_To Mistress Quickly_.] By gar, if I
have not Anne Page, I shall turn your head out of my door.—Follow my
heels, Rugby.
Rugby, come to the court with me. [_To Mistress Quickly_.] By gar, if I have not Anne Page, I will turn your head out of my door.—Follow my heels, Rugby.
rugby, come to the court with me. [_to mistress quickly_.] by gar, if i have not anne page, i will turn your head out of my door.—follow my heels, rugby.
rugby, come to the court with me. [_to mistress qu
You shall have An—fool’s head of your own. No, I know Anne’s mind for
that. Never a woman in Windsor knows more of Anne’s mind than I do, nor
can do more than I do with her, I thank heaven.
You will have An—fool’s head of your own. No, I know Anne’s mind for that. Never a woman in Windsor knows more of Anne’s mind than I do, nor can do more than I do with her, I thank heaven.
you will have an—fool’s head of your own. no, i know anne’s mind for that. never a woman in windsor knows more of anne’s mind than i do, nor can do more than i do with her, i thank heaven.
you will have an—fool’s head of your own. no, i kn
Who’s there, I trow? Come near the house, I pray you.
Who’s there, I trow? Come near the house, I pray you.
who’s there, i trow? come near the house, i pray you.
who’s there, i trow? come near the house, i pray y
The better, that it pleases your good worship to ask.
The better, that it pleases your good worship to ask.
the better, that it pleases your good worship to ask.
the better, that it pleases your good worship to a
Fenton is the romantic lead who barely gets to speak — young, warm, clearly genuine about Anne. His brevity here makes him more sympathetic than Slender's endless bear-baiting or Caius's bellowing.
What news? How does pretty Mistress Anne?
What news? How does pretty Mistress Anne?
what news? how does pretty mistress anne?
what news? how does pretty mistress anne?
In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that
is your friend, I can tell you that by the way, I praise heaven for it.
In truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that is your friend, I can tell you that by the way, I praise heaven for it.
in truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and gentle; and one that is your friend, i can tell you that by the way, i praise heaven for it.
in truth, sir, and she is pretty, and honest, and
Shall I do any good, think’st thou? Shall I not lose my suit?
will I do any good, think’st you? will I not lose my suit?
will i do any good, think’st you? will i not lose my suit?
will i do any good, think’st you? will i not lose
Troth, sir, all is in His hands above. But notwithstanding, Master
Fenton, I’ll be sworn on a book she loves you. Have not your worship a
wart above your eye?
Troth, sir, all is in His hands above. But notwithstanding, Master Fenton, I’ll be sworn on a book she loves you. Have not your worship a wart above your eye?
troth, sir, all is in his hands above. but notwithstanding, master fenton, i’ll be sworn on a book she loves you. have not your worship a wart above your eye?
troth, sir, all is in his hands above. but notwith
Yes, marry, have I; what of that?
Yes, Well, have I; what of that?
yes, well, have i; what of that?
yes, well, have i; what of that?
Well, thereby hangs a tale. Good faith, it is such another Nan! But, I
detest, an honest maid as ever broke bread. We had an hour’s talk of
that wart. I shall never laugh but in that maid’s company. But, indeed,
she is given too much to allicholy and musing. But for you—well, go to.
Well, thereby hangs a tale. Good faith, it is such another Nan! But, I detest, an honest maid as ever broke bread. We had an hour’s talk of that wart. I will never laugh but in that maid’s company. But, indeed, she is given too much to allicholy and musing. But for you—well, go to.
well, thereby hangs a tale. good faith, it is such another nan! but, i detest, an honest maid as ever broke bread. we had an hour’s talk of that wart. i will never laugh but in that maid’s company. but, indeed, she is given too much to allicholy and musing. but for you—well, go to.
well, thereby hangs a tale. good faith, it is such
Well, I shall see her today. Hold, there’s money for thee. Let me have
thy voice in my behalf. If thou seest her before me, commend me.
Well, I will see her today. Hold, there’s money for you. Let me have your voice in my behalf. If you seest her before me, commend me.
well, i will see her today. hold, there’s money for you. let me have your voice in my behalf. if you seest her before me, commend me.
well, i will see her today. hold, there’s money fo
Will I? I’ faith, that we will! And I will tell your worship more of
the wart the next time we have confidence, and of other wooers.
Will I? I’ faith, that we will! And I will tell your worship more of the wart the next time we have confidence, and of other wooers.
will i? i’ faith, that we will! and i will tell your worship more of the wart the next time we have confidence, and of other wooers.
will i? i’ faith, that we will! and i will tell yo
Well, farewell, I am in great haste now.
Well, farewell, I am in great haste now.
well, farewell, i am in great haste now.
well, farewell, i am in great haste now.
Farewell to your worship.
Farewell to your worship.
farewell to your worship.
farewell to your worship.
The Reckoning
The scene introduces two new contenders for Anne and the magnificent Mistress Quickly, who manages to be simultaneously loyal to Caius, sympathetic to Simple's mission, and encouraging to Fenton — all while knowing Anne's actual mind perfectly well, which she chooses not to share with anyone. Caius erupts magnificently, threatens castration, and storms out. What remains is Quickly, alone, muttering that she knows Anne's mind better than anyone, and has apparently forgotten what she was supposed to be doing.
If this happened today…
You're the housekeeper for a volatile French surgeon who has a terrible temper. You've agreed to hide someone's Uber driver in your boss's office while your boss was supposed to be away. Your boss comes back early. He finds the Uber driver, reads the note the driver was carrying — which turns out to be from your boss's romantic rival — and immediately calls his lawyer about a defamation lawsuit. After he storms out, a third man shows up to tip you for helping him too. You assure him you're on his side. You're on everyone's side.