The White Devil Act 3, Scene 3 Summary

Rogue Match

  • Flamineo, Marcello, and Lodovico enter. Distracted and pretending to be mad, Flamineo talks to himself. He talks about human suffering, and pretends to regret serving Brachiano.
  • The Savoy Ambassador enters and tries to comfort him, but Flamineo says it means nothing.
  • He argues with the French Ambassador, who thinks that Vittoria's guilt was proved. Flamineo accuses him of being bribed and corrupted.
  • He laments that religion gets mixed up in politics, and says he wishes he was Jewish. Marcello, being an Anti-Semite, says there are too many Jews. Flamineo says there are not enough—proved by the fact that so many Christians needed to become usurers (money-lenders).
  • He exits, and Lodovico says, in an aside, that he knows Flamineo was Brachiano's henchman and wants to wind him up. Flamineo re-enters.
  • Flamineo criticizes Lodovico for returning to Rome without being pardoned—he's still officially banished. He and Lodovico exchange colorful curses.
  • Lodovico tells Flamineo of Isabella's death, and Flamineo pretends to grieve. He and Lodovico talk about joining together in mourning and melancholia, and pledge to live unkempt, lice-infected lives of grief. Sounds…fun?
  • Antonelli and Gasparo enter and tell Lodovico that the Pope, on his deathbed, has officially pardoned Lodovico.
  • Lodovico ditches the silly mourning plan, explaining he was joking around. Flamineo says he's (Lodovico's) going back on his word and Lodovico calls Vittoria a "damnable whore."
  • Lodovico laughs at Flamineo, who hits him.
  • Marcello gets mad at Lodovico. He (Marcello) and Flamineo leave.
  • Lodovico regrets that he didn't murder Flamineo, and says he's going to go drink some wine.