_Louis_ [_after having recited mentally the_ Confiteor]--I cannot and dare not refuse. _Francis_--What are your sins? _Louis_--Through fear of the Dauphin, the late King died of starvation. _Francis_--A son shortened his own father's old age! _Louis_--I was that Dauphin. _Francis_--You were! _Louis_--My father's weakness was ruining France. A favorite ruled. France must have perished had not the King done so. State interests are higher than-- _Francis_--Confess thy sins, thou wicked son; do not excuse thy wrong-doings. _Louis_--I had a brother. _Francis_--What of him? _Louis_--Who died ... poisoned. _Francis_--Were you instrumental in his death? _Louis_--They suspected me. _Francis_--God Almighty! _Louis_--If those who said so fell in my power!... _Francis_--Is it true? _Louis_--His ghost rising from the grave can alone with impunity accuse me of his death. _Francis_--So you were guilty of it? _Louis_--The traitor deserved it! _Francis_ [_rising_]--You would escape your just punishment! Tremble! I was your brother, I am now your judge. Crushed under your sin, bend low your head. Return to nothingness, empty Majesty! I no longer see the King, I hear the criminal: to your knees, fratricide! _Louis_ [_falling on his knees_]--I shudder. _Francis_--Repent! _Louis_ [_crawling to the monk and catching hold of his garments_]--I own my fault, have pity on me! I beat my breast and repent another crime. I do not excuse it. _Francis_ [_resuming his seat_]--Is this not all? _Louis_--Nemours!... He was a conspirator. But his death.... His crime was proved. But under his scaffold his children's tears.... Thrice against his lord he had taken up arms. His life-blood spattered them. Yet his death was but just. _Francis_--Cruel, cruel King! _Louis_--Just, but severe; I confess it: I punished ... but no, I have committed crimes. In mid-air the fatal knot has strangled my victims; in murderous pits they have been stabbed with steel; the waters have put an end to them, the earth has acted as their jailer. Prisoners buried beneath these towers groan forgotten in their depths. _Francis_--Oh! since there are wrongs which you can still repair, come! _Louis_--Where to? _Francis_--Let us set free those prisoners. _Louis_--Statecraft forbids. _Francis_ [_kneeling before the King_]--Charity orders: come, and save your soul. _Louis_--And risk my crown! As a king, I cannot. _Francis_--As a Christian, you must. _Louis_--I have repented. Let that suffice. _Francis_ [_rising_]--That avails nothing. _Louis_--Have I not confessed my sins? _Francis_--They are not condoned while you persist in them. _Louis_--The Church has indulgences which a king can pay for. _Francis_--God's pardon is not to be bought: we must deserve it.