Redwall Quotes

*At the bottom of the page is a really cool paragraph from "Redwall". However, if you haven't read that book, it's a big spoiler. If you want to read it, scroll to the very bottom of the page.*

The Quotes

   Matthias tripped a rat with the branch. He was learning to take Basil in his stride.
   "Why, of course you will Mr. Hare. What a bore you must think me. I'll probably sit around on the common here and teach the rats to make daisy chains."
--Matthias to Basil, "Redwall", Chapter 19

   "Get him! Grab that spy! I want his head!"
   "What's the matter? Isn't your own head good enough? No, I don't suppose it is. Ugly-looking brute, aren't you?"
--Cluny & Basil, "Redwall", page 207

   It was the sword!
   Double-edged, keener than a razor, it lay glittering and twinkling, a myriad of steely lights.
Its tip was pointed like a mountain peak in midwinter, the deadly blade had a three-quarter
blood channel. It was perfectly balanced against the hilt, which hd been restrapped with hard
black leather and finished with a ruby-red pommel stone and curving scrolled crosspiece
where it joined the marvellous blade.
--the sword made by Boar for Martin, "Mossflower", page 316

"Oh, golly. Old Log-a-Thing's fallen over."
--Trubbs, "Mossflower", page 295

   "The silver badger made a rat into two half-rats with his sword."
--Boar the Fighter and the searats, "Mossflower", page 339

   "Harrumph, I beg your pardon but I'd have said a boat if I meant a boat. It is a ship, full size, all black, white skull thing on the front, rolled up canvas sails, lots of oars. Ship!"
--Chibb, "Mossflower", page 368

   "Sit down there, you great wet weasel."
   "Steady on, Trubbs old chap, that's a stoat."
   "Oh, I say, sorry. Sit there, you soaking stoat."
   "Saturated stoat, don't you mean, old bean?"
   "Hmm, what about the weasels?"
   "Oh, actually they get wringing wet, both begin with 'W', you see."
   "Righto. Sit over there, you wringing wet weasel."
   "Oh golly, I've got a rat now. How d'you address these blighters?"
   "Easy, old thing -- rats are rancid."
   "Rancid? That doesn't mean wet."
   "No, but the wretched cove does look pretty rancid."
   "So he does. Splendid. Sit here, you rancid rat!"
--Trubbs & Co, "Mossflower", page 408

   "Allow me, laydeez, wot wot? Two handsome young fillies totin' all this shrubbery, doesn't bear thinkin' about, eh," he said gallantly. "Basil Stag Hare at y'service, gels. Hmmm, my my, is that cookin' I smell? Ha, old Hugo burnin' somethin' tasty, I'll be bound. I say d'you mind awfully if I leave you two ravin' beauties to carry all these lovely roses, charmin' picture. Must go now, investigatin', doncha know. Se you later, after tiffin, p'raps. Toodle pip now!"
--Basil Stag Hare, "Mattimeo", page 37

   Mattimeo sat in frightened silence as Slagar undid the drawstring of his silk-patterened harlequin headcover.
   "Watch, little one. Before I begin my story you must see this!" With a flick of his paw the fox whipped off the hood.
   The young mouse swallowed hard. It was the most horrifying sight he had ever witnessed. Slagar's head was that of a normal fox, on the left side. His right side was hideous! Only the eye was alive and unwinking in the dead half of the sly one's face, the rest was scabrous furless flesh, with the side of the mouth twisted upward into a fiendish grin. Greenish gums and yellowed teeth hung out of the frozen jaw, and the skin beneath showed a mottled black and purple, hanging in folds, loose and lifeless.
--description of Slagar's face, "Mattimeo", page 94

   "I will not stand here to be insulted by you hedgepig," Mangiz fumed.
   "Then stand somewhere else and I'll insult you there, featherbag!!"
--Mangiz & Ambrose Spike, "Mattimeo", page 275

   "Lend me your battleaxe, big fellow. Oof! On second thought, you hold it."
--Jess Squirrel, "Mattimeo", page 298

   There was a slobbering, snarling noise from within the basket, then it fell to one side as Malkariss rolled out.
   The creature on the floor beside the basket bore little resemblance to the high statue on the ledge. Malkariss was gross! The great white mound of scabrous fur, now broken by the weight that had dropped on it from above, was something out a bad dream. Short floppy paws with long mottled nails which hung limply reached up to wipe the crusting bleariness from eyes dimmed and half shut with age. The mouth sagged open, revealing blackened stumps of teeth.
--description of Malkariss, "Mattimeo", page 395

"Right then, I'll die here, but I'll take a few of you with me. Well, come on, froggies. Who's first? Or are you going to sit there clicking and grocking until I die of old age!"
-- Mariel to the toads, "Mariel of Redwall", page 48

   "Well, what a riddle t'be sure. I'll be even Hon Rosie couldn't make head nor tail of this jolly old thing. Wot, wot?"
   Mariel aimed a candied chestnut at Tarquin and threw it. He merely caught it in his mouth and munched reflectively. "Course, y'know, I've never seen her solvin' riddles and whatnot. Bet she's bally clever at it, though. Hon Rosie's pretty good at most things."
   Mellus stuck a huge paw under Tarquin's nose. "Listen, doodlehead, if I hear you mention Hon Rosie one more time..."
--Tarquin going on and on and on about Hon Rosie..., "Mariel of Redwall", page 125

"You can't die, d'you hear me, Rosie? Wake up! If you die, I'll kill you! Oh, I'm sorry, dear."
--Mother Mellus, "Mariel of Redwall", page 340

"Squirrel, mouse -- it makes no difference, you are a Redwaller, Samkim. Be brave and courageous, true to your friends. One day you will return my sword again and give this Abbey another guardian. Beware the vermin, seek out the White One."
-- Martin to Samkim, in Samkim's dream, "Salamandastron", page 61

   Shouts and cries of dismay rent the air as a massive head thrust up out of the lake, towering over Mara and Pikkle. It was akin to something from the dawn of time. Fearsome eyes and teeth aglitter, the creature blew out a foul-smelling stream of air and water as it dipped towards them with open jaws. Yelling with fright, they struck at it with their paddles. Nordo and Log-a-log sprang to their assistance. Splintering paddlewood flew everywhere as they battered wildly at the gargantuan head. Hissing balefully, the Deepcoiler flicked out a serpentine tongue. Mara saw the nightmarish cavern of its mouth as the thing came at her, purplish-red, blotched, with horrific rows of serrated teeth framing it.
--the Deepcoiler attacks, "Salamandastron", page 235

   Thrugann stifled a gurgling laugh. "What? You mean that great lump of a brother of mine? I'll bet wherever he is right now he's scoffin' or fightin'. Don't fret yore 'ead over Thrugg, marm - he'd live in the middle of a snowstorm on a duck's back with a daisy in his ear!"
-- "Salamandastron", page 332

Flourishing the hat elegantly, Thrugg kissed his sister's paws affectionately, declaiming aloud, tongue in cheek, to the whole of Redwall:
   "You was never out o' my thoughts, sister dear, an' all the time I was freezin' in the mountains, battlin' crows and livin' lower than a lame toad, there was one question that I made me way back here to ask yer."
   Thrugann sniffed slightly, and wiping her eyes on her tunic, she asked in an apologetically tender voice,"What was that, brother o' mine?"
   "What's fer tea? Me an' me mates is fair famished!"
   The four falcons joined the crowd of Redwallers who had flooded out to greet them, laughing uproariously as they watched Thrugg fleeing across the Abbey grounds with Thrugann, hard on his heels, swinging a twig broom.
   "You bottlenosed rogue, I'll give yer tea. You'll get a taste of this when I catch up with ye!"
-- "Salamandastron", page 365

   The sun burned through to the shores of Salamandastron, dispelling the wreaths of sea mist to reveal the Guosssom shrews standing side by side with the hares of the Long Patrol. All eyes were on the front entrance, and a hubbub arose as the boulder was rolled to one side, revealing Loambudd, her head garlanded in a wreath of wildflowers. She was clothed in a magnificent robe of blue. She stepped aside and silence fell as the procession emerged from the mountain.
   As honoured guests from far Redwall, Samkim and Arula led the line, the young squirrel holding aloft the sword of Martin, the molemaid bearing a shrew paddle wound about wth ivy. Behind them walked the shrew leaders, Log-a-log and Alfoh, green cloaks about their shoulders, paws resting on sheathed rapiers. Then came Mara and Pikkle -- the badger maid in a decorated smock of rich autumn brown, carrying a large bouquet of late roses upon a lancetip. Pikke in light sandy-yellow, bearing a hare longbow and a quiver of grey-flighted arrows. Ashnin walked behind them , wearing a splendid cloak adorned with sea shells. Urthwyte was flanked by Sapwood and Oxeye. They were the last to emerge.
--the ceremony at Salamandastron, "Salamandastron", page 367

   A wicked-looking fox draped in purple bandannas scratched his chin. "Hmmm, I'd say lots, Cap'n."
   "Lots an' crowds?"
   "Aye, lots 'n' crowds."
   "Which is most, Crosstooth, lots or crowds?"
   "Why bless yer 'eart, Cap'n, crowds, that means lots an' lots!"
--Crosstooth & Clogg, on how many slaves are in Marshank, "Martin the Warrior", page 30

"Is that you, Crosstooth?" Clogg called out without looking up from his task. "Any sign of Badrang yet, matey?"
   The door creaked open and Badrang stood framed in the doorway, sunlight pouring in around him. "Get you braided behind off my chair, Clogg!"
-- "Martin the Warrior", page 266

Rose shook Starwort and his wife by their paws gratefully. "Oh, you were so skilful, both of you, the way you took command and knew just what to do, steering this great boat the right way down those dangerous rapids. Only two creatures such as yourselves would know how to navigate that terrible drop in safety..."
   Marigold bobbed a comical curtsy. "Well, thankee now, pretty one. That was the first time we've ever been down those rapids!"
   Bump! Grumm fainted.
-- "Martin the Warrior", page 336

   Mariel brandished the haversack over her friend. "One more word and I'll let you have it again!"
   "Can't hear, you old mouseypaws," Dandin said as he flopped against her, rolling his eyes comically. "You've knocked me senseless with those two oatcakes in there."
   "Good, perhaps you'll be quiet now."
   "Quiet? I haven't said a single word!"
   "Right, then I'll say a single word. Goodnight!"
   "Don't you mean good afternoon?"
   "I mean goodnight or I'll brain you with this haversack!"
   "Oh, righto. Goodnight!"
-- "The Bellmaker", page 11

   Bowly's small face contorted as he tried to glare out of one eye whilst twinkling merrily with the other, and he brandished his two oatcakes as if ready to slay with them at a moment's notice, at the same time emitting a savage growl which he tried to couple with a merry laugh. Turning to this two companions, who were shaking with unexploded laughter, he sighed wearily.
   "Phwaaw! It do take much 'ard work to look like a warrior!"
-- "The Bellmaker", page 19

   The shrike bowed, deferentially. "Nize shot Melderrin!"
   "Oh I dunno, you could've prob'ly done as well y'self, old lad,' the hare shrugged modestly. "By the way, it's Mel-drum as in boom boom. Drum!"
   The shrike nodded understandingly. "Derrin, bum bum, like in drim!"
--Glokkpod and Meldrum, "The Bellmaker", page 151

"Oh by the way, I'd change my name if I were you, just for the time we're here. The mighty King [Glogalog] wouldn't like havin' somebeast around with a name that sounded too much like his. Well cheerio, see you later, Glug a Bag!"
   The shrew Chieftain [Log a Log] looked at her indignantly. "Glug a Bag?"
--Hon Rosie to Log a Log, "The Bellmaker", page 170

   Behind on the shore a scorched and blackened Glogalog sat smouldering in helpless rage, watching his marshtoads flopping helplessly in the waves, as the ship carrying his former Bulgums sailed off into the night. Struggling upright, he shook his sceptre at the receding vessel and croaked venomously, 'Yurrg Golchukkum furgalumm Boolawugg!" A combination of marshtoad curse and insult that would have caused any interpreter to blush deeply.
--"The Bellmaker", page 177

   Sumin tried not to look astounded. "I never asked your species, hare, er squirrel, I asked your name! What is it?"
   The squirrelhare leapt to a higher branch, missed it and fell flat on the ground in front of Sumin. "You don't want to know!" he said.
   "Yes, I do!"
   "Oh, all right then. M'name is Wilthurio Longbarrow Sackfirth Toxophola Fedlric Fritillary Wilfrand Hurdleframe Longarrow Leawelt Pugnacio Cinnabar Hillwether..."
   "Stop, stop! You were right, I don't want to know!"
   The squirrelhare twanged his bowstring musically. "But you can call me Jodd. D'you want to know what that's short for?"
   Redfarl gave the creature an exasperated glare. "No, he doesn't. Come on - let's get goin'!"
--Sumin, Jodd & Redfarl, "The Outcast of Redwall", page 161

"Haharr haharr hohoho!" Welknose broke into raucous laughter. "Yer a caution, Cap'n, an' no mistake. I see wot yer means, we let ole Swartt get hisself killed an' then we steps in an' takes command!"
   "Roughly put but apt, my lumpnosed confederate."
-- Welknose & Zigu, "The Outcast of Redwall", page 193

"Flamin' cheek! Of course I'm a hare, what'd you think I was, a long-legged tadpole out for a bloomin' walk?"
--Clecky to Martin and the others, "The Pearls of Lutra", page 37

"Maid of Redwall, search and never give up hope. You will find joy, frustration and sorrow in your quest. Never forget that friendship and loyalty are more precious than riches. Remember these words on the day you must return the Tears to their true owner. Happiness can be brief, but it knows no time in the land of dreams. Sleep on and I will show you."
--Martin the Warrior to Tansy in her dream, "The Pearls of Lutra", page 100

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