His holiness be gracious towards me.

ALEXANDER

Speak.
Thy face is death’s: let death upon thy lips
Live.

OFFICER

Sire, the humblest hireling knave in Rome—
A waterman that plies his craft all night—
Craves audience even of thee.

ALEXANDER

A Roman?

OFFICER

Nay.
Some outlander—some Greek—they call the knave
George the Slavonian.

ALEXANDER