[Exeunt all save Cardinal Borgia, who quietly remains.
Cousin, you wait for news?
It is too true
The boy has perished by his father’s sins.
I must make expiation for his lust:
I have lived ill. Before the Consistory
I will make full confession.
CARDINAL BORGIA.
Holiness,
If I may trust the murmur in my ears
From men to whose free speech
I gave safe conduct, it is not for you
To make avowal. Heaven requires of you
Such greatness and capacity of pardon
As in extent it touched the limits of,
Setting its brand of safety upon Cain.
ALEXANDER.
What, Joffré?
CARDINAL BORGIA.
No, not Joffré ... but a son.
Belovèd, exercise the privilege
Of God’s vicegerent. Wash away this guilt,
Remove it from you; pardon secretly.
ALEXANDER.
Not Joffré? Joffré is my heir.... You lay
A heavy stone upon Giovanni’s grave
To keep me from him. But it is not true,
It cannot be! We Borgia do no harm
To any of our kin.