The Merry Wives of Windsor — Act 1, Scene 2: The same.

Sir Hugh Evans sends Simple on an errand to find Doctor Caius’s house and deliver a letter to Mistress Quickly, whom he identifies as someone closely connected with Anne Page. He explains that the letter asks Quickly to speak for Simple’s master and help persuade Mistress Anne Page to favor him. Evans speaks in his awkward, comic way as he gives the instructions, then tells Simple to hurry off while he finishes his dinner, which he says still has fruit and cheese to come. Simple agrees and leaves, and Evans goes back to the meal.

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.

Well, sir.

Nay, it is petter yet. Give her this letter; for it

is a 'oman that altogether's acquaintance with

Mistress Anne Page: and the letter is, to desire

and require her to solicit your master's desires to

Mistress Anne Page. I pray you, be gone: I will

make an end of my dinner; there's pippins and cheese to come.