Part 12 (2/2)
_Pope_. Ho, ho, friend; what are you aiming at now? Will you tax murder lower than fornication?
_Caesar Borgia_. Holy father, he does not wish, by too high a penalty, to deter men from the commission of the crime.
_Devil_. You are well aware, gentlemen, that the poor are incapable of receiving benefit from any of the above-named absolutions and dispensations.
_Chorus_ (_amidst shouts of laughter_). d.a.m.nation to him who has no money!
_Caesar Borgia_. Whoever commits theft, be it sacrilege or not, shall have his soul secured from d.a.m.nation, upon depositing in the papal treasury three parts of what he has stolen.
_Chorus_. Absolution to all thieves, sacrilegious or not, provided they share their booty with the Pope.
_Pope_. Thou hast opened a rich mine, Caesar. Write that down, Bishop.
_Faustus_. Absolution to any one who shall practise magic, or enter into an alliance with the Devil. How high shall I tax that, father?
_Pope_. My son, you will not, by this last article, enrich the papal treasury. The fiend does not understand his own advantage; we call upon him in vain.
_Faustus_. But provided that should so happen, how high, I repeat?
_Pope_. For rarity's sake, one hundred ducats.
_Faustus_. Here they are; and now write me out an absolution, that I may be able to shake it in the face of the Devil, provided I ever sell myself to him.
_Chorus_. Absolution to him who shall sell himself to the fiend.
_A Nun_. Most reverend Bishop, since you are writing out the absolution for the magician, be so good as to furnish me with a paper likewise,--you know for what. Here is my rosary; it is worth fifteen ducats; I shall have, therefore, something in bank until another absolution becomes necessary.
Ferrara wrote, and the Pope signed his name beneath.
_Devil_. Does your holiness imagine that Satan will pay any regard to these sc.r.a.ps of paper?
The grand inquisitor s.n.a.t.c.hed his hand out of the bosom of an abbess, and screamed, with stammering tongue:
”I smell heresy! Who is the atheist? who has uttered that blasphemy?”
The Pope pressed his forefinger softly upon the mouth of the Devil, and said, ”Cavalier, these are state secrets: handle them not; for if you do, I myself, with all my authority, shall not be able to protect you.”
Every male in the a.s.sembly now opened his purse, either from a wish to pay his court to the Pope, or to quiet his conscience. The Bishop had so many applications, that he was soon obliged to call in other secretaries, to a.s.sist him in expediting absolutions. Each applicant took away his particular license, and each sought and found an opportunity of using it during the remainder of the night. Never were sins committed with more quiet minds.
Ferrara of Modena, the next day, caused this tariff to be fairly copied; he then sent it to the press, {249} and caused it to be secretly circulated throughout Christendom.
Caesar Borgia did not forget the promise which he had made to his sister.
Alphonso of Arragon was dispatched on the steps of the Gonfalonier's palace, at the moment he was about to enter, in order to be present at a play to which all the n.o.bility of Rome had been invited, and which represented the victories of the great Caesar, whom Borgia intended henceforward to imitate, if not excel. This latter personage shortly after marched out of Rome with his army; and, within the s.p.a.ce of a few months, the Devil purloined from the Pope's pocket the following letter, which he gave Faustus to read:
”REVEREND FATHER,--
”I kiss the feet of your holiness. Victory and fortune have followed my steps, and I drag them behind my car like slaves. I hope now that Caesar is worthy of his name; for I also can say, _Veni_, _vidi_, _vici_. The Duke of Urbino has fallen into the snare which I laid for him. By virtue of your holiness' letter, I asked him for his artillery to fight your enemies with. Dazzled by the marks of friends.h.i.+p and affection which I showed him, and which flattered his self-love, he sent to me a gentleman with his consent in writing.
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