Speeches (Lines) for Simple
in "Merry Wives of Windsor"
Total: 25

1

I,1,188

Slender. I had rather than forty shillings I had my Book of
Songs and Sonnets here.
[Enter SIMPLE]
How now, Simple! where have you been? I must wait
on myself, must I? You have not the Book of Riddles
about you, have you?

Simple. Book of Riddles! why, did you not lend it to Alice
Shortcake upon All-hallowmas last, a fortnight
afore Michaelmas?

2

I,2,296

Sir Hugh Evans. Go your ways, and ask of Doctor Caius' house which
is the way: and there dwells one Mistress Quickly,
which is in the manner of his nurse, or his dry
nurse, or his cook, or his laundry, his washer, and
his wringer.

Simple. Well, sir.

3

I,4,420

Hostess Quickly. Go; and we'll have a posset for't soon at night, in
faith, at the latter end of a sea-coal fire.
[Exit RUGBY]
An honest, willing, kind fellow, as ever servant
shall come in house withal, and, I warrant you, no
tell-tale nor no breed-bate: his worst fault is,
that he is given to prayer; he is something peevish
that way: but nobody but has his fault; but let
that pass. Peter Simple, you say your name is?

Simple. Ay, for fault of a better.

4

I,4,422

Hostess Quickly. And Master Slender's your master?

Simple. Ay, forsooth.

5

I,4,425

Hostess Quickly. Does he not wear a great round beard, like a
glover's paring-knife?

Simple. No, forsooth: he hath but a little wee face, with a
little yellow beard, a Cain-coloured beard.

6

I,4,428

Hostess Quickly. A softly-sprighted man, is he not?

Simple. 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.

7

I,4,433

Hostess Quickly. How say you? O, I should remember him: does he not
hold up his head, as it were, and strut in his gait?

Simple. Yes, indeed, does he.

8

I,4,480

Doctor Caius. Vell.

Simple. Ay, forsooth; to desire her to—

9

I,4,483

Doctor Caius. Peace-a your tongue. Speak-a your tale.

Simple. To desire this honest gentlewoman, your maid, to
speak a good word to Mistress Anne Page for my
master in the way of marriage.

10

I,4,500

Hostess Quickly. [Aside to SIMPLE] I am glad he is so quiet: if he
had been thoroughly 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,—

Simple. [Aside to MISTRESS QUICKLY] 'Tis a great charge to
come under one body's hand.

11

III,1,1194

Sir Hugh Evans. I pray you now, good master Slender's serving-man,
and friend Simple by your name, which way have you
looked for Master Caius, that calls himself doctor of physic?

Simple. Marry, sir, the pittie-ward, the park-ward, every
way; old Windsor way, and every way but the town
way.

12

III,1,1199

Sir Hugh Evans. I most fehemently desire you you will also look that
way.

Simple. I will, sir.

13

III,1,1219

(stage directions). [Re-enter SIMPLE]

Simple. Yonder he is coming, this way, Sir Hugh.

14

III,1,1224

Sir Hugh Evans. He's welcome.
[Sings]
To shallow rivers, to whose falls-
Heaven prosper the right! What weapons is he?

Simple. No weapons, sir. There comes my master, Master
Shallow, and another gentleman, from Frogmore, over
the stile, this way.

15

IV,5,2297

Host. What wouldst thou have, boor? what: thick-skin?
speak, breathe, discuss; brief, short, quick, snap.

Simple. Marry, sir, I come to speak with Sir John Falstaff
from Master Slender.

16

IV,5,2304

Host. There's his chamber, his house, his castle, his
standing-bed and truckle-bed; 'tis painted about
with the story of the Prodigal, fresh and new. Go
knock and call; hell speak like an Anthropophaginian
unto thee: knock, I say.

Simple. There's an old woman, a fat woman, gone up into his
chamber: I'll be so bold as stay, sir, till she come
down; I come to speak with her, indeed.

17

IV,5,2319

Falstaff. There was, mine host, an old fat woman even now with
me; but she's gone.

Simple. Pray you, sir, was't not the wise woman of
Brentford?

18

IV,5,2322

Falstaff. Ay, marry, was it, mussel-shell: what would you with her?

Simple. My master, sir, Master Slender, sent to her, seeing
her go through the streets, to know, sir, whether
one Nym, sir, that beguiled him of a chain, had the
chain or no.

19

IV,5,2327

Falstaff. I spake with the old woman about it.

Simple. And what says she, I pray, sir?

20

IV,5,2331

Falstaff. Marry, she says that the very same man that
beguiled Master Slender of his chain cozened him of
it.

Simple. I would I could have spoken with the woman herself;
I had other things to have spoken with her too from
him.

21

IV,5,2336

Host. Ay, come; quick.

Simple. I may not conceal them, sir.

22

IV,5,2338

Host. Conceal them, or thou diest.

Simple. Why, sir, they were nothing but about Mistress Anne
Page; to know if it were my master's fortune to
have her or no.

23

IV,5,2342

Falstaff. 'Tis, 'tis his fortune.

Simple. What, sir?

24

IV,5,2344

Falstaff. To have her, or no. Go; say the woman told me so.

Simple. May I be bold to say so, sir?

25

IV,5,2346

Falstaff. Ay, sir; like who more bold.

Simple. I thank your worship: I shall make my master glad
with these tidings.