Semper sub Sextis perdita Roma fuit.’
(Always under the Sextuses Rome has been ruined.) Again, in allusion to the fact that he obtained his election by the grossest bribery, and, as Guicciardini expresses it, ‘infected the whole world by selling without distinction holy and profane things,’ Pasquino says—
“‘Alexander sells the keys, the altar, Christ:
He who bought them first has a good right to sell.’
Here, too, is another savage epigram on the Borgian Pope, referring to the murder of his son, Giovanni, Duca di Gandia. His brother, Cesare, Duca di Valentino, slew him at night and threw his body into the Tiber, from which it was fished out next morning—
“‘Lest we should think you not a fisher of men, O Sextus,
Lo, for your very son with nets you fish!’
“No epigrams worth recording seem to have been made during the short reign of Pius III.; but Julius II., the warlike, fiery, impetuous soldier drew upon himself the constant fire of Pasquin. Alluding to the story that, when leading his army out of Rome, he threw the keys of Peter into the Tiber, saying that he would henceforth trust to the sword of Paul, Pasquin, merely repeating his impetuous words, says—
“‘Since nothing the keys of Peter for battle can profit,
The sword of Paul, perhaps, may be of use.’