How many lines does Mistress Quickly have in The Merry Wives of Windsor?
The size of the part, every scene it speaks in, its longest speeches, and how long it takes to learn.
The Offbook team
Oct 8, 2026
Mistress Quickly has about 251 lines in The Merry Wives of Windsor: 2,122 words in 72 speeches, 9.7% of the play, and the 4th-largest part. The role speaks in 9 of the 23 scenes, and its longest wait is 4 scenes in a row without a line.
Mistress Quickly carries about two thirds of her part in the first two acts: as Doctor Caius’s housekeeper in Act 1, Scene 4, and as go-between for Falstaff in Act 2, Scene 2, where her longest speech comes. Her speech is rambling prose full of verbal slips. In the last scene she switches to verse to play the Queen of Fairies.
- Lines
- 251
- Words
- 2,122
- Share of play
- 9.7%
- Speech time
- 15 min
10% of the words are verse. 72 speeches means about 72 cues to learn.
Scene by scene
| Scene | Words | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Act 1, Scene 4 | 770 | 5.5 |
| Act 2, Scene 1 | 10 | 0.1 |
| Act 2, Scene 2 | 661 | 4.7 |
| Act 3, Scene 4 | 167 | 1.2 |
| Act 3, Scene 5 | 105 | 0.8 |
| Act 4, Scene 1 | 115 | 0.8 |
| Act 4, Scene 5 | 87 | 0.6 |
| Act 5, Scene 1 | 18 | 0.1 |
| Act 5, Scene 5 | 189 | 1.4 |
The longest speeches
| Speech | Scene | Words |
|---|---|---|
| “Marry, this is the short and the long of it. You h…” | Act 2, Scene 2 | 186 |
| “About, about!” | Act 5, Scene 5 | 157 |
| “That were a jest indeed! They have not so little g…” | Act 2, Scene 2 | 115 |
| “Why, you say well. But I have another messenger to…” | Act 2, Scene 2 | 101 |
| “Now Heaven send thee good fortune! A kind heart he…” | Act 3, Scene 4 | 99 |
| “Draws Simple aside. I am glad he is so quiet: if h…” | Act 1, Scene 4 | 82 |
| “Go; and we’ll have a posset for’t soon at night, i…” | Act 1, Scene 4 | 79 |
| “Nay, but do so then; and, look you, he may come an…” | Act 2, Scene 2 | 61 |
How many lines a day to learn
New lines a day to be off book in time, learning five days a week. Review what you already know on the other days.
| Time until off book | New lines a day |
|---|---|
| 2 weeks | 26 |
| 3 weeks | 17 |
| 4 weeks | 13 |
| 6 weeks | 9 |
Questions actors ask
How many lines does Mistress Quickly have in The Merry Wives of Windsor?
About 251 lines: 29 lines of verse and 1,920 words of prose. That is 2,122 words in 72 speeches, 9.7% of the play and the 4th-largest part.
How long is Mistress Quickly’s longest speech?
186 words, in Act 2, Scene 2, beginning “Marry, this is the short and the long of it. You have brought her into such a canaries as ’tis wonderful: the best courtier of them all, when the court lay at Windsor, could never have brought her to such a canary; yet there has been knights, and lords, and gentlemen, with their coaches; I warrant you, coach after coach, letter after letter, gift after gift; smelling so sweetly—all musk, and so rushling, I warrant you, in silk and gold; and in such alligant terms; and in such wine and sugar of the best and the fairest, that would have won any woman’s heart; and I warrant you, they could never get an eye-wink of her. I had myself twenty angels given me this morning; but I defy all angels, in any such sort, as they say, but in the way of honesty: and, I warrant you, they could never get her so much as sip on a cup with the proudest of them all; and yet there has been earls, nay, which is more, pensioners; but, I warrant you, all is one with her.” At 140 words a minute it runs about 1.3 minutes.
How long does it take to learn Mistress Quickly?
To be off book in three weeks, learning five days a week, plan on about 17 new lines a day, plus time to review what you already know. Start with your longest speeches and the scenes with the most cues.
Keep reading
- The Merry Wives of Windsor: every role by lines, words, and stage timeWilliam Shakespeare. Line counts, scenes, and the longest speeches.
- How many lines does Celia have in As You Like It?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- How many lines does Mercutio have in Romeo and Juliet?Lines, words, scenes, the longest speeches, and a plan to learn the part.
- The Tragical History of Doctor Faustus: every role by lines, words, and stage timeChristopher Marlowe. Line counts, scenes, and the longest speeches.