How we cite our quotes: Act.Scene
Quote #4
Vit. O poor Charity!
Thou art seldom found in scarlet. (3.2)
Vittoria attacks the hierarchy of the church—she claims that you would expect to find mercy in a cardinal like Monticelso (since cardinals dress in scarlet), but you seldom do.
Quote #5
Flam. Your comfortable words are like honey: they relish well in your mouth that 's whole, but in mine that 's wounded, they go down as if the sting of the bee were in them. Oh, they have wrought their purpose cunningly, as if they would not seem to do it of malice! In this a politician imitates the devil, as the devil imitates a canon; wheresoever he comes to do mischief, he comes with his backside towards you. (3.3)
Flamineo says this to the Savoy Ambassador—who only says one line in the whole play—after he tries to comfort him. Flamineo is claiming that his words were politically motivated and not particularly sincere.
Quote #6
Fran. Shall I defy him, and impose a war,
Most burthensome on my poor subjects' necks,
Which at my will I have not power to end?
You know, for all the murders, rapes, and thefts,
Committed in the horrid lust of war,
He that unjustly caus'd it first proceed,
Shall find it in his grave, and in his seed. (4.1)
Francisco denounces war because, in this case, it would cause people to be killed for the sake of a quarrel between him and Brachiano. Hence, even though he doesn't fully prevent the war, he short-circuits it by sneaking behind enemy lines and getting revenge on Brachiano, with help from Lodovico and Gasparo.