SINIBALDI: He’s not wearing a sword. He is carrying one — for me.
SWISS: It’s all one, excellency. The sword does not enter.
SINIBALDI: Are we at the Vatican? Is this a Papal antechamber? I am an ambassador and I have my privileges.
[CAPELLO detaches from the group of ambassadors, and comes down to SINIBALDI.
SWISS: No privilege to bear arms in here. My orders, excellency.
[CAPELLO presses SINIBALDI’S arm, grimacing significantly. SINIBALDI shrugs his impatience.
SINIBALDI: Go wait in the outer room, boy.
[The PAGE retires with the Swiss, who closes the doors again, from the outside.
[SINIBALDI turns to CAPELLO, who is soothing his ruffled humour.
SINIBALDI: What new rule is this, Messer Capello?
CAPELLO (sneering): The duke perceives the need to take precautions against the sort of affection he inspires. It is very prudent of him. He is not without bitter enemies here in Assisi.
SINIBALDI And elsewhere.
CAPELLO (hypocritically): Alas!
[He glances significantly at SINIBALDI, who pulls himself together, and looks round. He exchanges bows with the Cardinal, and then, on CAPELLO’S arm, joins the ambassadorial group.
SINIBALDI: Ah, Messer Macchiavelli! Do you still linger here in Assisi?
MACCHIAVELLI (slyly): My presence calls for no explanation. My motives are innocent. I am detained here by affairs.
SINIBALDI (a little dubious of Macchiavelli’s meaning): So are we all, sir. You are not singular in that. And what news from Florence? How does the Signory view the affair at Sinigaglia?
MACCHIAVELLI: How would your excellency have my masters view it? Why, with hearty approval — (sardonic) like the Serene Republic.
SINIBALDI: I am glad that our respective States take the same view. Harmony, I always think, is the soul of statecraft. Don’t you?
MACCHIAVELLI (uncompromisingly): No.
SINIBALDI: No?
MACCHIAVELLI: When there is harmony, there is no need for statecraft.
CAPELLO: Oh, but to preserve it — to keep the peace?
MACCHIAVELLI: Force is what keeps the peace. Statecraft disturbs it.
SINIBALDI: Surely, Messer Macchiavelli, in an ambassador and the ambassador of such a power as Florence, this is rank heresy?
MACCHIAVELLI: Most wisdom, my lord, is heresy. But the strong hand, well displayed, seldom needs exerting. Si vis pacem, para bellum. That is a truth Duke Valentino understands.
SINIBALDI (laughing): Is it? The events hardly encourage him. The strong hand has been well displayed before Solignola to little purpose; and it’s been exerting itself, too, for a week, without result.
CAPELLO: Ay! How do you reconcile that with your theory, sir?
MACCHIAVELLI: I don’t.
SINIBALDI: But then...?
MACCHIAVELLI: I look beyond for a reason.
[There is a pause. SINIBALDI and CAPELLO are a little uneasy.
SINIBALDI (sardonic): Oh? And you see?
MACCHIAVELLI: Nothing. Therefore, I am the more suspicious.
CAPELLO (breathlessly): And you suspect?
MACCHIAVELLI: That Solignola is being stimulated into resistance by one of the great powers of Italy.
SINIBALDI (taken aback, then counterfeiting amusement) But how very interesting! And your evidence?
MACCHIAVELLI: Evidence? I leave evidence to dullards, lord prince. I have my wits.
CAPELLO They are renowned. (Bowing.) The Signory of Florence is most fortunate in her Secretary of State.
MACCHIAVELLI: Scarcely so fortunate as the Serene Republic of Venice in her ambassadors — ordinary (bowing to CAPELLO) and extraordinary (to SINIBALDI).
SINIBALDI and CAPELLO (speaking together): O, sir!
SINIBALDI But from whom should Solignola expect assistance, Messer Macchiavelli?
MACCHIAVELLI: Ah, that...! I can tell you from whom she does not expect it. Nothing more.
SINIBALDI: And the duke? Does he share your views? He honours you with a deal of his confidence.
MACCHIAVELLI: The duke, lord prince, honours no man with his confidence. He allows some odd fools to think so. That is all.
[There is laughter in the ambassadorial group. SINIBALDI turns away.
SINIBALDI: What keeps his magnificence this morning? He is not usually so late in giving audience.
[The CAPTAINS drawn by the laughter have moved up to join the Ambassadors. RAMIREZ answers him.
RAMIREZ: A courier has just arrived from Cesena. I would to Heaven he had broken his neck on the way, or else arrived sooner. He keeps us cooling our heels here, when our work is under the walls of Solignola.
[RAMIREZ is a vigorous man of thirty, swarthy, and bearded in the Spanish fashion, truculent of air and carriage, fully conscious of the fact that he is a great soldier.
SINIBALDI: And how does the work advance, Don Diego?
RAMIREZ: It doesn’t advance at all, devil take it! I have conducted fifteen sieges in my time, and brought them all to a capitulation. But this one...
SCIPIONE: We’ve wasted a whole week there to no purpose at all.
[SCIPIONE, a tall, fair man of about RAMIREZ’ age, self-confident and downright, but without any of truculent swagger that distinguishes his brother captain.
RAMIREZ: Curses on the fool that perched a town on a spot that’s only fit for goats.
[The door at back opens. There is a general stir of expectancy. A CHAMBERLAIN in a surcoat, chain of office on his breast, a wand in his hand, emerges and comes to the head of the steps. He is accompanied by a COURIER who comes down, and goes out R.
CHAMBERLAIN: Don Diego Ramirez!
RAMIREZ: Here! (Swaggering forward.)
CHAMBERLAIN: His highness desires you to confer at once with Captain da Corella, who has commands for you.
RAMIREZ (self-sufficiently): It is important that I see his highness, himself.
CHAMBERLAIN: Later, perhaps. Not now. Those are his orders.
[He turns to the pages.
CHAMBERLAIN: Here, Giacopo! Conduct the Captain to Messer da Corella.
RAMIREZ: (with a shrug): Ouf! (To SCIPIONE and FERRANTE.) Come along, you others. Let us go and see what Micheletto has to say.
PAGE: This way, your worthiness.
[He opens and holds the door up L. RAMIREZ and the other Two CAPTAINS stride out. The PAGE follows, closing the door.
CHAMBERLAIN: Cardinal Remolino, his highness will see you at once.
CARDINAL: I come. You give me leave, ladies...and you, sirs.
[There is an exchange of courtesies.
CHAMBERLAIN (addressing the antechamber generally) His highness will be occupied for some time yet. It is pleasanter on the loggia here at the gallery’s end. (He indicates it, Off R.)
[The COURTIERS (i.e., ladies and gallants) rise and begin to move up in the wake of the Cardinal, but some distance behind him. As the latter passes up the steps he beckons the MONKS, who rise and follow him. They pass through the door at the back. The CHAMBERLAIN is about to retire when SINIBALDI detains him.
SINIBALDI: Will you say to his highness that I am here to pay my homage?
[The CHAMBERLAIN bows, and withdraws through the door at back, which he closes.
[The COURTIERS now move up the steps, along the gallery to the right, and so pass out of view, laughing and chatting. As the last of them are disappearing, the main doors are opened, and the Swiss enters, ushering PANTHASILEA and GIULIA. The Swiss on guard above now shoulders his pike, and begins to pace the gallery’s length, disappearing from view for a moment or two each time that he reaches either of the visible ends of it.
SWISS: In here, madonna. His highness will be giving audience soon.
[SINIBALDI sees her, and at once leaves the ambassadorial group, which by now has moved over to the window, where the other three remain closely in talk, their backs to the stage.
SINIBALDI: My homage, madonna. PANTHASILEA: Lord prince.
[He bows, then glances furtively at the group in the window. Seeing its members engrossed, he draws closer to her, and lowers his voice.
SINIBALDI: Is this prudent? That you should thrust yourself in here?
PANTHASILEA: (smiling and calm): It is necessary to make a beginning. I have waited a week, plaguing my wits to find a way.
SINIBALDI: But to come — into the lion’s den. It is very rash.
PANTHASILEA: Not more than the rest of the enterprise. I seek audience of the duke, such as is accorded to all who seek it. Moreover, I have a definite reason. I come to ask for justice.
SINIBALDI: On what grounds?
PANTHASILEA: The best that my invention could discover. I have no fear — save as concerns Gianluca. He is hostile — madly hostile — to the whole business.
SINIBALDI: I thought you had persuaded him...
PANTHASILEA: So did I. But he’s recanted. He won’t be persuaded. He raves and rants, and swears that at need he will kill the duke with his own hands rather than let me carry through my project.
SINIBALDI (alarmed): Then if he knows that you have come here...
PANTHASILEA: He doesn’t. I have eluded him. Once he knows that I am definitely committed, he will perforce submit. But you, sir? Is it wise of you to stand in talk with me so long?
SINIBALDI: I know you as Madonna Bianca Bracci of Spoleto. I have made your acquaintance since coming here to Assisi. Why should it be unwise of me to talk to you?
PANTHASILEA: You misunderstand. It might be unwise of Monna Bianca Bracci of Spoleto to be seen talking to the envoy-extraordinary of Venice. The Serene Republic is in none such good odour hereabouts.
SINIBALDI (bowing, with an ironic smile): I see. In that case...
[The door at back has opened again, and the CHAMBERLAIN reappears.
CHAMBERLAIN: Prince Sinibaldi!
[SINIBALDI starts round.
CHAMBERLAIN: His highness is distressed that you should wait. But affairs detain him still. If your business is urgent, he informs you and (to the other Ambassadors) you also, sirs, that his secretary Messer Agabito will see you at once.
CAPELLO: For me, Messer Agabito will serve excellently.
GASPARO: And for me also.
CHAMBERLAIN: His highness will hope to see you before you leave. (To Page.) Tolomeo, conduct their notabilities to Messer Agabito.
[The PAGE rises, and steps forward. The CHAMBERLAIN bows and withdraws again. The AMBASSADORS pass round to the steps, and up these, conducted by the PAGE, who leads the way oft along the gallery to the left.
[SINIBALDI bows to PANTHASILEA, who seats herself on the settle down left, with GIULIA behind her. He is turning away, when the main doors open abruptly and GIANLUCA surges in, the Swiss restraining him.
SWISS: Nay, nay, noble sir! Whither so fast?
GIANLUCA (wildly excited): Why do you detain me?
I..I...(He espies Sinibaldi.) I am of the household of Prince Sinibaldi. I have a message for him.
[SINIBALDI stiffens. PANTHASILEA rises again.
SWISS: Why didn’t your worthiness say so?
GIANLUCA: I’ve said so now. Let me pass.
SWISS: Not with that sword. No weapons are allowed within this door.
GIANLUCA: Oh, a plague on it. Here! Take the thing.
[GIANLUCA hastily lifts the sword from its carriages. The Swiss takes it and goes out, closing the doors again. GIANLUCA springs towards PANTHASILEA. SINIBALDI gets in his way.
SINIBALDI: I trust, sir, that since you’ve made so free with my name, and connected yourself with me, you are not considering any rashness here. You’ll remember where you are!
GIANLUCA (fuming at the detention): Rashness? Far from it, I am here to prevent a rashness.
SINIBALDI: By argument alone?
GIANLUCA: How else? Besides, man, they’ve taken my weapons. How they guard this pestilent duke!
SINIBALDI Sh! Be prudent, sir — for your own sake, and that of others. (Impressively.)
[He turns and goes up, and slowly of along the gallery to the left as the others went.
[The stage is now empty save for GIANLUCA, PANTHASILEA and GIULIA, and the Swiss who stolidly parades the gallery at back and intermittently disappears.
GIANLUCA: Thank God I am in time!
PANTHASILEA: In time for what? In time to ruin me? 0, you are mad to have followed me here.
GIANLUCA: You are mad to have come. What can you hope to do? Come away, Lea. Come away at once.
PANTHASILEA: In all this week, Gianluca, you have tried my patience to the utmost. I have suffered it out of a mistaken tenderness.
GIANLUCA: Don’t be angry with me, Lea; you know what it is that urges me to screen and guard you even from your own self.
PANTHASILEA: That knowledge has given me my patience. But this patience is worn out. By your madness, if you persist in it, you may ruin all, including yourself and me, and Solignola. So go!
GIANLUCA (doggedly): I will not go without you! I will not have you do this thing. I will not!
PANTHASILEA: You will not? By what right do you say that to me?
GIANLUCA (snapping his fingers): That for right! You shall not do it. You shall not brand yourself with this infamy — this Delilah work.
PANTHASILEA: Sh! You fool! Will you shout it from the housetops? — and have us both sent to the strangler? How dare you come ranting here, telling me what I shall and shall not do?
GIANLUCA (desperately): I am presumptuous in that I love you, Lea. That is why I abhor to see you shouldering so vile a task — making a lure of your matchless beauty, to...
PANTHASILEA: Stop!
[For a moment they stand looking at each other.
PANTHASILEA: You have gone the length of insult.
GIANLUCA: Forgive me, Lea!
PANTHASILEA: We will forget what you have said — all of it. As long as I am in Assisi, I must continue to use your house; but I trust that you will relieve me of your attendance, thus sparing me the memory of your offence.
GIANLUCA: Ah, Lea, I didn’t mean it as you think. I...
PANTHASILEA: Messer Gianluca, to be frank, I care nothing what you meant. But I beg you to respect my wishes without driving me to take measures to enforce them.
[The COURTIERS come sauntering back, along the gallery from the right.
GIANLUCA (furiously piqued): Depend upon it, I shall not trouble you again...ever.
PANTHASILEA: Control your voice. We are no longer alone.
GIANLUCA: Madonna, I take my leave.
[He bows curtly; PANTHASILEA turns her shoulder. He swings on his heel, and goes angrily out, as the COURTIERS come down the steps.
GIULIA: Poor Messer Gianluca! He means you well, madonna.
PANTHASILEA: Maybe, but I think I shall be more comfortable in his indifference.
GIuLIA: Are you sure, madonna, that he is not right?
PANTHASILEA (sitting down again on the settle): Perhaps he is. But I have that to do in which I must not count the cost. I must remember only all the lives that hang upon it, Giulia.
[The main doors are violently opened by the SWISS. A COURIER enters, haggard, dust-covered, a leather satchel slung about his body. The SWISS faces towards the gallery, and roars.
SWISS: Ho there! Who waits?
[A PAGE appears suddenly from doorway left, and answers nervously.
PAGE: Here!
SWISS: Where were you hiding?
[RAMIREZ, SCIPIONE and FERRANTE emerge from the same door, accompanied by MICHELE DA CORELLA (known as MICHELETTO). He is the most trusted of Cesare Borgia’s captains and the highest in authority. He is a small, slight man, swarthy of face, with a black beard. He is bareheaded, and his hair is long, reaching to his shoulders. He is plainly dressed, as a soldier, but without armour, and his only visible weapon is a heavy dagger on his right hip.
[The Swiss continues to address the PAGE.
SWISS: Here’s a courier from Rome for the Duke’s magnificence. Conduct him.
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[The PAGE goes up, the COURIER following hint, and knocks at the door at back. The CHAMBERLAIN opens it, the COURIER is drawn inside, and the door closed again.
Collected Works of Rafael Sabatini Page 574
