Prince of Foxes Page #4

a thousandfold, my lord.

Nor could you have allied yourself

with a more promising patron...

than Captain Orsini.

He's a brilliant young man.

But the flesh is proverbially weak.

Vicissitudes occur.

It's always well to take precautions.

Thus, if the noble

Orsini remains faithful to my service...

you will continue to serve me

by serving him.

But... if, God forbid,

he should...

waver... for any reason...

you will continue to serve me.

There you are-

200 ducats.

Your Graciousness has made me wealthy

beyond my most impossible dreams.

Hmm. Have no illusions

about my generosity.

Knowledge is always

a good investment.

I also know when

I have made a bad bargain.

Good night.

[Ends

I would like to say a few words.

Captain Orsini comes to us

as Cesare Borgia's ambassador.

That is good. Perhaps the duke

will learn through his ambassador...

that if we prosper,

it is because we live in peace.

And that if we enjoy peace...

it is because we want only

friendship and understanding...

of our neighbors

and of each other.

I depend on you all

to help Captain Orsini...

to send this message

to his illustrious master...

Captain the lord Orsini.

[Applause

My lord Verano. Signori.

I am a professional soldier.

If you should see me climbing your walls,

know that I am studying your defenses.

But know also that

I was not sent here for that.

My wise and illustrious master,

Duke Cesare...

has already told me

that your defenses are impregnable.

He has also told me that one citizen

of Citt del Monte...

is worth 500 mercenaries.

In his wisdom, Duke Cesare

has identified your strength...

as loyalty.

I am here to spy

on that loyalty...

to learn for him the secret

of how it works.

I am already learning.

Please help me to learn more.

[Man

Bravo!

[Rchestra

We must talk alone.

Lady Beatrice will fetch you later.

Madonna Camilla is in the chapel.

Will you please wait here?

Yes. Thank you.

I know that Borgia sent you here

for some evil purpose.

I've asked you here

to give you warning.

- My husband is-

- Your husband again?

If any harm should come

to my husband through you...

I will hate you

until the death.

I promise you,

I know how to hate.

Or love, the twin of hate?

Do not betray his hospitality.

- There will be peace between us, so long as you act peaceably.

- [Door Closes

So you've found our chapel.

Lovely, isn't it?

I come here every night.

It makes my sleep more peaceful.

Sometimes I end by wishing

that old age were slower in coming.

If old age brings wisdom such as yours,

my lord, it comes too slowly to suit me.

You find my wife attractive,

don't you?

Only with the deepest respect,

Signore.

- Words!

- I regret that Your Lordship thinks ill of me.

- I think ill of no one.

- Your Lordship is tolerant.

I am tolerant of nothing that

might affect Madonna's honor.

But the certainty I have of her excludes

jealousy, suspicion and such claptrap.

Mind you, she's a Baglioni.

Her blood's hot enough.

She's as capable of going

to the devil as any other of her house.

But I'm certain of this. If she does go,

she won't sneak about it.

She'll tell me first.

That's my certainty and my pride.

No, I don't think ill of you.

I've lived 70 years, and I know

that in spite of the poets...

youth is not the happiest season.

I'll not detain you longer.

Incidentally, I'll return this to her.

I can hardly wait till spring

to see what they look like.

Each year we tolerate winter...

because it brings us

the new flowers of spring.

Some-

Will you excuse me, my dear?

Give me a thousand men

and enough food and ammunition...

I could hold this place until the enemy

either starved to death or died of old age.

But the way it's left

unguarded now.

Good morning, my lord.

Good morning.

Of all Citt del Monte,

this is my favorite place.

Whenever I'm troubled, whenever

I need to work out a difficult problem...

I come here, and always

I find the solution.

- It's frightening. A loose pebble,

a gust of wind and-

Are you afraid of death?

Well, I can't say that I have

any great affection for it.

Look below you, my friend.

For 70 years,

I've watched the seasons change.

I've seen the vibrant life of summer,

the brilliant death of fall...

the silent grave of winter.

And then, I've seen

the resurrection of sprin-

the glorious birth of new life.

And my father and my father's father

have seen it before me.

Nothing ever dies, my friend.

You don't believe that,

do you?

I don't have your wisdom,

my lord.

I believe that I was born

and that I must die...

and that I must make the best of what

lies between the two extremes.

My lord, the ardeners have finished

and are waitin for further instructions.

No need for you to run uphill

to tell me that.

We haven't much time before winter

sets in. Won't you come along now?

Excuse me.

Perfect.

Absolutely heaven-sent.

Whenever we wish, we give

the old man a problem to think out.

He comes up here and-

I thought a courtier and cavalier

left daubing with paint to the craftsmen.

Your lord husband finds pleasure in work

one usually leaves for gardeners.

His roses

are the most beautiful in Italy.

It's not for me to say

the same for my painting.

You have a certain skill.

Fair for an amateur.

I try, Madonna. I try.

One can do no more.

[Camilla

You've missed none of the evil in his face.

[Andrea

judas Iscariot was evil.

I imagine you find

painting beauty more difficult.

I paint what I see

and feel, Madonna.

If one is beautiful inside

as well as out...

my brush can neither take from

nor add to that beauty.

Actually, it's quite good.

Are you as good with women?

I have been very successful

with women.

Perhaps-

When you have finished this...

perhaps you would do

some of my ladies.

That is, if you have

nothing else to do.

Perhaps Madonna herself.

Perhaps.

I will need to ask

my lord husband.

[Door pens

Ah, come in, come in,

Messer Orsini.

- Thank you for coming.

- Your Lordship is ill?

Hibernating, my friend.

Hibernating.

Let those who will

play winter games.

I'm for enjoying the snow

by reading a book in a warm room.

And you, I'm told,

pass the time in painting.

Daubing's a better name for it.

Come closer.

Do sit down, please.

Why do you paint?

- Helps to pass the time.

- Do you love it?

I can't say that I love it.

It amuses me.

Are you afraid

of the word "love"?

No, I'm not afraid of it, my lord.

It's just that I- I have no use for it.

- And yet you dream of ruling men and nations.

- My lord presumes.

A prerogative of age.

But don't misunderstand me.

I'm no sentimentalist about love.

I'm not even as romantic

about it as I used to be.

But I believe one cannot

understand anything properly...

until one has learned

to love it.

It's true of my roses

and it's true of people.

I'm afraid I haven't sufficient knowledge

to debate the subject.

You're lying.

Your Lordship speaks carelessly.

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