Transcribed from the 1908 Chatto and Windus edition by David Price, email ccx074@pglaf.org THE DUKE OF GANDIA BY ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE * * * * * LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS 1908 * * * * * Copyright, 1908, by Harper and Brothers _Dramatic rights reserved_ PERSONS REPRESENTED. POPE ALEXANDER VI. FRANCESCO BORGIA, Duke of Gandia } his sons CÆSAR BORGIA, Cardinal of Valencia } DON MICHELE COREGLIA, called MICHELOTTO, agent for Cæsar Borgia. GIORGIO SCHIAVONE, a Tiber waterman. * * * * * TWO ASSASSINS. AN OFFICER of the Papal Household. * * * * * VANNOZZA CATANEI, surnamed LA ROSA, concubine to the Pope. LUCREZIA BORGIA, daughter to Alexander and Vannozza. _SCENE_: ROME. _TIME_: JUNE 14–JULY 22, 1497. SCENE I _The Vatican_ _Enter_ CÆSAR _and_ VANNOZZA CÆSAR Now, mother, though thou love my brother more, Am I not more thy son than he? VANNOZZA Not more. CÆSAR Have I more Spaniard in me—less of thee? Did our Most Holiest father thrill thy womb With more Italian passion than brought forth Me? VANNOZZA Child, thine elder never was as thou— Spake never thus. CÆSAR I doubt it not. But I, Mother, am not mine elder. He desires And he enjoys the life God gives him—God, The Pope our father, and thy sacred self, Mother beloved and hallowed. I desire More. VANNOZZA Thou wast ever sleepless as the wind— A child anhungered for thy time to be Man. See thy purple about thee. Art thou not Cardinal? CÆSAR Ay; my father’s eminence Set so the stamp on mine. I will not die Cardinal. VANNOZZA Cæsar, wilt thou cleave my heart? Have I not loved thee? CÆSAR Ay, fair mother—ay. Thou hast loved my father likewise. Dost thou love Giulia—the sweet Farnese—called the Fair In all the Roman streets that call thee Rose? And that bright babe Giovanni, whom our sire, Thy holy lord and hers, hath stamped at birth As duke of Nepi? VANNOZZA