How we cite our quotes: Act.Scene
Quote #4
Flam. Hear me:
And thus, when we have even pour'd ourselves
Into great fights, for their ambition,
Or idle spleen, how shall we find reward?
But as we seldom find the mistletoe,
Sacred to physic, on the builder oak,
Without a mandrake by it; so in our quest of gain,
Alas, the poorest of their forc'd dislikes
At a limb proffers, but at heart it strikes!
This is lamented doctrine. (3.1)
Flamineo is irritated that his quest for gain runs into obstacles—the same way mistletoe, considered a medicinal plant in Webster's time, is frequently found near a mandrake, which is poisonous. It annoys him that, in trying to help himself, he could easily destroy himself (which he does).
Quote #5
Flam…It may appear to some ridiculous
Thus to talk knave and madman, and sometimes
Come in with a dried sentence, stuffed with sage:
But this allows my varying of shapes;
Knaves do grow great by being great men's apes. (4.2)
Flamineo excuses his crazy behavior, explaining that's it's all just part of his way of getting to the top. You have to be a great man's "ape" (hired lackey or stooge) before you can continue your crawl upwards.