SCENE VI

_The Vatican; Sala dei Pontifici._

_The_ LORD ALEXANDER VI. _is enthroned_. _The_ LORD CARDINAL CESARE BORGIA _stands before him, defiant_.

ALEXANDER.

How dare you thus intrude?

CESARE.

But it is rumoured It is your will The Lord Ascanio Sforza be your legate In this affair of Naples.

ALEXANDER.

Ay, my will.

CESARE.

Your Holiness will recollect he lies Under suspicion of Giovanni’s death. You send a blood-stained envoy on this business, And thrust me from my place. You have yourself To thank for your Giovanni’s death; the honours You heaped on him have brought him to his doom. Will you bring more And greater desolation on your years?

ALEXANDER.

You shall not go To Naples. You forget your brother’s death.

CESARE.

I am your legate, if before, so after. As for my brother’s death, that is but Fortune-- The spokes of her wheel turned bright on me. I was Your second son, enslaved to your vocation; Profane, I touched your sacred things and trembled You dared to put me to such use: in secret I wrought my sword, my legend. I am Cesar, And he is all my omen. By a fate So marvellous it rocks my very dreams I wake, I rouse myself To majesty you put on me, or let it Drop downward to the void.

[_Motioning to the_ POPE _that he must continue speaking_.

You did not reckon With me, you let Giovanni take my place Beside you and your throne. None noted me Level among the scarlet hats, except This goddess with a rudder, this fair child Of Jove, this liberator. I am silent, Except before confusion such as yours.

[_Coming closer to the_ POPE.

Blind to the moment--you have not been blind. I watched you from Spoleto setting gins, I watched you bribe on bribe....

ALEXANDER.

Ay, there you track me, And I must answer for my wickedness. I owe my seat to wickedness.

CESARE.

Leave weeping! There should be pact between us. How your coffers Are filled I know, and where your heart is lavish, And what you dream. I kneel before your throne With faculty As boundless as a god’s, with strength as supple, To be your instrument, to win you lands, To give you rule. You have forbidden me Your presence: if I pass from it forbidden, I leave you--up and down to wave your hands In blessing on the powers you supplicate. While, if you bid me to your side, I build An army for the Church; there will be legions....

ALEXANDER.

[_Hiding his face in his cope._] Ah me! of darkest angels!

CESARE.

Citizens As once in Rome; and the Eternal City Safe from her foes.

ALEXANDER.

You came on me so sudden, You overwhelm me.... But you shall go to Naples, And not Ascanio.

CESARE.

Father!

ALEXANDER.

[_Drawing_ CESARE _to him_.] I have wronged you. Come to my heart.

CESARE.

I will redress the wrong.

[_The_ POPE _kisses_ CESARE _coldly on his forehead, and blesses him_. CESARE _passes out_.

ALEXANDER.

How swift he moves away--as if With something he had snatched! Is it my soul?