- De Foix: Saddle the horses. We're leaving this accursed city. I'm going back to a world where chivalry is more important than science. And a man's honor is measured by the length of his sword arm.
- [Marco is complaining about a new tax imposed on the artists' guild]
- Duke de Medici: Marco del Monte, may I remind you that I am a patron of the arts. I have myself bought some of your paintings.
- Marco del Monte: Well, of course. Any man with the necessary money would be a fool not to by the work of a major artist.
- Duke de Medici: True, but we were discussing your work.
- Marco del Monte: Sandro, do you realize what this duel means? A chance to restore the republic! With de Medici dead we can force an election. An honest election for a change.
- Sandro: Yes, but do realize if you kill de Medici, you'll be a marked man. He's got powerful friends.
- Marco del Monte: His friendships are based on fear. Two minutes after d'Medici's death, he won't have a friend left in Florence.
- Sandro: They say he's a fair swordsman.
- Marco del Monte: Fair is not good enough - not against me. He's too rich to be reckless, too well-fed to have any stamina and too evil to be lucky. No, I will win - for the Republic and for my honor.
- Marco del Monte: Well, it's a Medici trick! He hasn't got the courage to face me on the field of honor. I demand satisfaction!
- Muzio: A rule of the code is a rule of the code and if a rule of the code were broken it would be the end of all honor among gentlemen. That much is settled it. It only remains for his magnificence to name a substitute so Master Marco can get his satisfaction.
- Duke de Medici: I have sent for Pierre de Foix.
- Sandro: Pierre de Foix? Why he's the greatest knight in the world!
- Duke de Medici: I can afford the best.
- Marco del Monte: It just seems unbelievable that my talent should be destroyed by this feudal relic.
- Sandro: So you will go to Rome?
- Marco del Monte: And have history say I was run out of my own city by a walking anachronism? No, I'll fight, but not with bone and sinew. The weakness of the feudal man is up here.
- [taps his temple]
- Marco del Monte: And it's up here I will attack the great Pierre de Fiox.
- Marco del Monte: You are witnesses at an historic event. I will now test the world's first machine gun designed by the genius of Leonardo da Vinci. As you know, I fight the great knight Pierre de Foix on Wednesday next. If this gun works, it will be my choice of weapon for that duel. We will meet on the field of honor each armed with one of these dread weapons. Imagine the duel, my friends - machine guns at 20 paces!
- [from his hiding place where he can observe Marco's test]
- Marco del Monte: Machine guns at 20 paces?
- De Foix: You can't use this fiendish device in a duel.
- Marco del Monte: Why not. The code says I may use anything I wish provided I supply you with an identical weapon.
- De Foix: If we fire this thing at each other at 20 paces between us, we shall both be killed!
- Marco del Monte: Of course we'll both be killed.
- De Foix: I suspect you of madness.
- Marco del Monte: Oh, sir, it would be madness if I chose swords or battle axes because then I would die and you would live. Oh, but with this weapon, when the smoke clears over the field of honor, we shall both be dead. The great Pierre de Foix has fought 117 duels without defeat - I shall go down in history as the first man who ever fought him to a tie.
- [last lines]
- Muzio: According to the message, de Foix said something about Florentine weapons being unchivalrous. What weapon did you intend to use?
- Marco del Monte: Well, what would you expect me to use? Swords, of course! I'd have cut him to pieces.