- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: If life's a bit hard at first, all the better. You're young and in love. Nothing else matters.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: I'm happy for you, darling. A girl's engagement is an important, unforgettable day.
- Siska: What if Papa won't give his consent?
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: I'll give mine.
- Josef Van Meulen, le boucher: Is your husband already there?
- La poissonnière: Yes. He gets the glory and leaves me all the work.
- Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre: So I give you my daughter - - but how many cows and pigs will you buy every year? That's the question.
- Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre: No need to explain. I was once young too. Wine and women - - it all costs money.
- Julien Breughel: Oh, you mustn't think -...
- Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre: Have a good time!
- Josef Van Meulen, le boucher: So, my lovely girl, my dainty, ravishing beauty, you'll be mine in a month!
- [Siska slaps him and quickly leaves]
- Josef Van Meulen, le boucher: Women change their minds so quickly!
- Josef Van Meulen, le boucher: We pay you. Paint and shut up.
- Julien Breughel: Money's not everything. What about art?
- Siska: The butcher tried to kiss me.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Did you slap him? Good! And then?
- Siska: I'm to marry him in a month. He said so.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Just like a drunkard!
- Siska: No. Papa gave his word.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: That sly fox! I should have guessed. That's why he's been pampering me.
- Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre: You Frenchwomen talk too much!
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: And you - not enough!
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: What do you intend to do?
- Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre: Don't be so curious.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: I'm not curious. I'm suspicious.
- Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre: These are lofty matters beyond women's comprehension.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Do you have the slightest idea what's going on? Of course not. All you do is paint and whine.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: It's clear that beards, breeches, and harquebuses mean nothing.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Women! Women! Since our men clearly can't handle the situation, we will!
- Town Woman #1: We'll do it without them.
- La poissonnière: Do without men? Impossible.
- Town Woman #2: Why?
- La poissonnière: You know why.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Even there, they need us more than we need them.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Ever since Eden, woman has been better armed.
- Town Woman #3: Governing is a man's work. We'd be at a loss.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: On the contrary - we have a long experience. Don't we govern our homes and children?
- Town Woman #2: Yes, but not men.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Men? Even easier.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Women! We've accepted men's domination this long because our mothers did, and their mothers before them. But today's events have opened our eyes. Let us show all Flanders the example of a town that women have saved from ruin and dishonor by their energy, determination, and courage! Enough talk - time for action.
- Julien Breughel: Are you sad?
- Siska: Yes.
- Julien Breughel: Why?
- Siska: I don't know. One minute I feel cold and the next hot. I'm not afraid of dying.
- Julien Breughel: Neither am I.
- Siska: We feel the same.
- Julien Breughel: We're the only ones. Siska, I'll paint you as the Virgin Mary, Salomé, Eve, Joan of Arc! I'll paint you as long as I live.
- Siska: As long as you live...
- Korbus de Witte, le bourgmestre: Oh! Why all this fitting and finery?
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: These are lofty matters beyond men's comprehension.
- Spanish Soldier #1: There's no lack of saucy women!
- Spanish Soldier #2: Looks promising.
- Spanish Soldier #3: What was that drink?
- Spanish Soldier #4: Beer, like in Brussels.
- Young Town Woman #1: [Observing the Spaniards marching into town] They're so hairy.
- Young Town Woman #2: And dark-skinned.
- Town Woman #1: Hanged by his feet! Like St. Andrew. How dreadful!
- Le chapelain: Discipline is the driving force of every army.
- L'aubergiste: What do you take me for?
- Le capitaine: For the loveliest and most arousing of the ladies.
- [leans in for a kiss]
- L'aubergiste: Stop or I'll get angry.
- Le capitaine: Angry? Why, you wicked woman?
- L'aubergiste: Why?
- [whispers]
- L'aubergiste: At least draw the curtain.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: The poor man did well to die.
- Le duc d'Olivarès: You really think so?
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Death is sometimes a deliverance for more than just the deceased.
- Le duc d'Olivarès: Ladies, watch Cornelia - I mean the burgomistress. She puts the pretty maidens of Seville to shame.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: [fanning herself] I've never been taught.
- Le duc d'Olivarès: Please continue - for my pleasure.
- Town Woman #2: Father, tell us some tales of the Inquisition.
- Le chapelain: Oh, that was so long ago.
- Town Woman #1: For our edification.
- Le chapelain: [to the waiteress] No, I'll have white.
- [to the dinner guests]
- Le chapelain: Very well. You remind me of a blonde virgin who was tortured. She'd been beaten with rods five times.
- La poissonnière: Was she naked?
- Le chapelain: Like Eve before original sin. They rubbed honey on her and made a goat lick it off with its abrasive tongue.
- Le chapelain: They went to watch the dancing and left me dreaming.
- Le nain: With a wine jug at hand.
- Le chapelain: Pure coincidence.
- L'aubergiste: Your Grace, if you'd deign to drink from this glass, we'll keep it as a souvenir.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: His Grace has left the table. He's not thirsty.
- L'aubergiste: Couldn't you just wet your lips?
- Le duc d'Olivarès: Very well.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Let's get some fresh air.
- Le duc d'Olivarès: I'd love to. I'm fond of people, except when they perspire.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: They don't see us. They're planning their future together.
- Le duc d'Olivarès: People do that at every age. It's never too late to be happy.
- Le duc d'Olivarès: Moonlight on the water and singing in the distance - it reminds me of Venice.
- Cornelia de Witte, Madame la Bourgmestre: Venice? You've been to Venice?
- Le duc d'Olivarès: Yes!
- La poissonnière: [crying] I summoned up all my courage this morning and was ready to sacrifice everything, but the Spaniards didn't keep their word!
- Le nain: What did they say?
- La poissonnière: That they'd sack the whole town and attack the women. I waited all day! What do you want? I'm the sentimental type.