Cæsar Borgia. Holy father, he does not wish, by too high a penalty, to deter men from the commission of the crime.
Devil. You are well aware, gentlemen, that the poor are incapable of receiving benefit from
any of the above-named absolutions and dispensations.
Chorus (amidst shouts of laughter). Damnation to him who has no money!
Cæsar Borgia. Whoever commits theft, be it sacrilege or not, shall have his soul secured from damnation, upon depositing in the papal treasury three parts of what he has stolen.
Chorus. Absolution to all thieves, sacrilegious or not, provided they share their booty with the Pope.
Pope. Thou hast opened a rich mine, Cæsar. Write that down, Bishop.
Faustus. Absolution to any one who shall practise magic, or enter into an alliance with the Devil. How high shall I tax that, father?
Pope. My son, you will not, by this last article, enrich the papal treasury. The fiend does not understand his own advantage; we call upon him in vain.
Faustus. But provided that should so happen, how high, I repeat?