“Of a truth we inflict these wounds upon ourselves and of these
troubles we ourselves are the cause, since by our conduct we
constantly diminish the authority of the Church. Our punishment
for it in this world is dishonour, and in the world to come
it will be torment well deserved. May your good sense place a
restraint upon these frivolities, and may you never again lose
sight of your dignity; then people will not regard you as a vain
gallant among men. If this occurs again we shall be compelled
to show that it was in violation of our admonition, and that
it caused us great pain; and our censure will not pass over you
without bringing the blush of shame to your cheek. We have always
loved you and thought you worthy of our protection, as a man of
an earnest and modest character.
“Therefore conduct yourself henceforth in such a way that we may
retain this our good opinion of you and may find in you only the
example of a well-ordered life. Your years, which are not such as
to preclude improvement, permit us to admonish you paternally.”
During the pontificate of Paul II. Gasparino of Verona described
Rodrigo Borgia as “handsome and of a most glad countenance. He is
gifted with a honeyed eloquence. The beautiful women upon whom he casts
his eyes are lured to love him and are moved in a mysterious manner--as
iron is attracted by the magnet.”
In 1476, the year of Caesar’s birth, the Cardinal of Pavia wrote
Rodrigo a letter in the Pope’s name, urging him to change his manner
of living, in which he says: “What I write you will not be long, but
this letter is necessary between you and me. Do not entrust this
communication, which is inspired by affection, to your secretaries, but
keep it with you so that you may read it over occasionally and think of
it at least once a year.”
From this it is evident that Rodrigo had not changed his habits. Love
of pleasure characterised him throughout his life. He had no less than
eight illegitimate children--five sons and three daughters--all of
whom were recognised in official documents. At the time of his death,
when he was seventy-two years of age, he had a mistress, the beautiful
Giulia Farnese, by whom he had had a son, who was then five years old,
Don Giovanni, Infans Romanus, Lord of Camerino, whom he first declared
to be the child of his son Caesar, but later in a bull dated September
1, 1501, acknowledged to be his own.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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