SCENE II
_The Vatican; Sala dei Pontifici._
_A secret Consistory. The_ LORD ALEXANDER VI. _surrounded by his_ CARDINALS _in their purple_. DON GARCILASO DE LA VEGA, _Spanish Ambassador, and other Ambassadors_.
_The_ LORD CARDINAL CESARE BORGIA _is in the midst of an appeal to the_ CARDINALS. _The_ POPE _is watching him, breathless_.
CESARE.
... From my most early years I have been secular. Not the least vocation Is found in me, not in my secret thoughts, Not in my will, not anywhere within me. Therefore I sit apostate in your midst, And therefore do you wrong; therefore I taint you, Beside you, and no more your peer. Most humbly I pray you to release me from my vow.
[_There is a guttural murmur._
CARDINAL BORGIA.
As you have urged Both eloquently and without offence Ere this dispute grew hot, His Blessedness Constrained you in this matter: trust his wisdom. So Heaven puts shackles on us in our youth, That in our years we may walk free, Heaven’s choice Become our privilege.
CESARE.
I have received Rich benefices; I resign them all.
DON GARCILASO.
For league with France, for favours from a foe, For contract with your country’s enemies. Most hotly I protest. [_To the_ CARDINALS.] This renegade, If you will yield him to such infamy, Will still go on from false to false, forswearing His worldly obligations, as through you He would forswear his pledges to his God. The old alliances that prop this Chair-- Naples and Spain--are mute, and all the parley With France. Take heed, take heed, my good lord Cardinals, How you raise up a Princedom.
CESARE.
[_Turning his back on_ GARCILASO.] But more humbly I make petition. How the world esteems me, How slander rates me, when I am once unfrocked I will answer to the world. You were my peers, You are my judges, and from you I ask Simply for mercy. Of too great indulgence. I was admitted to your fair assemblage. Open the door!
DON GARCILASO.
He blazes as a god. Look, he is trembling! This humility Is nothing. He who says he cannot play The hypocrite is hypocrite in full, And plotting for his patron.
CESARE.
That is very truth: There, my Lord Cardinals, the word is just. I am plotting for my patron, for my sole, My unique benefactor.
[_Raising and kissing the hem of the_ POPE’S _robe_.
In this habit I cannot serve His Holiness, whose creature I am, and all my faculties acute, Conjoined to serve him. I was born a soldier, Beckoned to war, and pointed to redemption-- By steel, not holy water--of those lands Bedevilled, once the Church’s heritage. ’Tis as a Captain I speak and of my nature. Give me freedom, A little time ... the rest His Holiness Shall publish to you of my wars and fortune.
CARDINAL LOPEZ (_Spanish_).
Stay! The Scriptures tell us there are many gods And lords as many....
DON GARCILASO.
True! Lord Lucifer Is one of them, and he is kept in bonds By God’s divine discretion.
CARDINAL BORGIA.
Gently!
DON GARCILASO.
Why set him up aloft--why, why? Such eagles Have dropped down tortoises on shining pates. Look to your safety!
CARDINAL SEGOVIA.
Yet we need not shear Our Samson of his martial strength: Delilah, And not the Lord, put tonsure on that head.
[_The_ POPE _laughs in his robe_.
CARDINAL OF LISBON.
But all this jesting Is little to the point, and the point is grave. Release him--but we cannot. He is bound, As we, by vows that irk and must be borne.
ALEXANDER.
[_Softly._] We do not speak it by the Holy Ghost, But to your private ear and as a Spaniard; Such benefices as are vacant now, And such as shall be vacant by your leave, We shall dispose.... Ambassador, your monarch Will own us friendly as we fill those Sees. But, look, we tax too much this youthful patience! Give your decision, as the Heavenly Dove Whispers you, fluttering on from head to head.
[_There is murmured discussion for awhile._
[_Very softly._] Thirty-five thousand florins are renounced, Are in our hands for gift. O mercy, mercy, mercy! [_Pointing to_ CESARE.] Do you not know Such guilt is clung about him he must perish If still he live in blasphemy. I plead, I am pleading for his soul. Think, there are frocks in Hell; Think of the scandal His licence breeds if we deny him marriage: While he is in the Church no reformation Can spread against his check. It is as if you all--each one of you-- Sealed with your sapphires his eternal ruin. I forced him to this habit, and behold him! He has never crooked the knee. Look there, my Lords, Look there--Achilles peering from disguise.... [_Chuckling._] Pardon, my Lords, as from his maiden dress. Mine is the fault, the error. Shall he sulk Useless among his tents?
CESARE.
[_Kneeling._] Before you I plead for liberty--and, being released, Whom should I serve save him who honours me, Fixing on me his love, on me who have no merit, Nor any place nor office in the world Except to love him back?
[_There is low discussion for a space._ DON GARCILASO’S _voice is heard--“Bought; I protest, I will protest till death_.” CARDINAL SEGOVIA _advances_.
CARDINAL SEGOVIA.
Be comforted, O Blessèdness! [_To_ CESARE.] Farewell, farewell, Lord Cardinal; excel, as in our ranks you cannot. Though often bitter to us in your mood, Our skies will miss the lightning and the light Without you, and our skies are colourless.
FRENCH AMBASSADOR.
The Duke of Valentinois--so my king Greets you with patents disembarked to-day.
[_The_ CARDINALS _and_ AMBASSADORS _press round_ CESARE _to congratulate; he smiles and bows. Then they break into groups and disperse._
CESARE.
[_Between his teeth._] Our obstacles No more in our condition! Solitary! No longer of a flock!
[_He turns towards the_ POPE, _who, unnoticed, has remained sitting on his throne, his hands stretched on his knees_. CESARE _steals quietly to his father_.
I shall not leave you, Not ever, not like Joffré, for a wife. You shall not sit there looking lone--beside you, Father, a power we have not measured yet, That we shall measure. After all my wars, And all my wars will be to draw you peace, I shall return. Kiss me.
ALEXANDER.
My heart, No blessing--oh, a kiss!