Chapter Queen of Sorrow to Quidnunc of Q by Brewer's Readers Handbook

Quicken Trees. Some few, however, were absent, hunting, amongst them Ossian the warrior-bard and the brave Dermat O’Dyna (q.v.). On their return from the chase they discovered the evil plight of their friends, courageously guarded them while under the charm, slew Midac and the enchanters, broke the spell, called together the Feni, and a terrible battle was fought, in which the mercenaries were completely routed.

(The quicken tree or quickbeam is the mountain ash or rowan tree; Gaelic, caerthainn. Many mystic virtues were anciently attributed to this tree.)

Quickly (Mistress), servant-of-all-work to Dr. Caius a French physician. She says, “I wash, wring, brew, bake, scour, dress meat and drink, make the beds, and do all myself.” She is the go-between of three suitors for “sweet Anne Page,” and with perfect disinterestedness wishes all three to succeed, and does her best to forward the suit of all three, “but speciously of Master Fenton.”—Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor (1601).

Quickly (Mistress Nell), hostess of a tavern in East-cheap, frequented by Harry prince of Wales, sir John Falstaff, and all their disreputable crew. In Henry V. Mistress Quickly is represented as having married Pistol the “lieutenant of captain sir John’s army.” All three die before the end of the play. Her description of sir John Falstaff’s death (Henry V. act ii. sc. 3) is very graphic and true to nature. In 2 Henry IV. Mistress Quickly arrests sir John for debt, but, immediately she hears of his commission, is quite willing to dismiss the bailiffs, and trust “the honey sweet” old knight again to any amount.—Shakespeare: 1 and 2 Henry IV. and Henry V.

Quid (Mr.), the tobacconist, a relative of Mrs. Margaret Bertram.—Sir W. Scott: Guy Mannering (time, George II.).

Quid Rides, the motto of Jacob Brandon, tobacco-broker, who lived at the close of the eighteenth century. It was suggested by Harry Calendon of Lloyd’s coffee-house.

(Quid Ridês (Latin) means “Why do you laugh?” Quid rides, i.e. “the tobacconist rides.”)

Quidnunc(Abraham), of St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields, an upholsterer by trade, but bankrupt. His head “runs only on schemes for paying off the National Debt, the balance of power, the affairs of Europe, and the political news of the day.”

The prototype of this town politician was the father of Dr. Arne (see The Tatler, No. 155).

Harriet Quidnunc, his daughter, rescued by Belmour from the flames of a burning house, and adored by him.

John Quidnunc, under the assumed name of Rovewell, having married a rich planter’s widow, returns to England, pays his father’s debts, and gives his sister to Mr. Belmour for wife.—Murphy: The Upholsterer (1758).