La Borgia - 01 - Blood for the Pope .pdf

I BLOOD FOR THE POPE

im c iin '8(it m m

G L A D IU S D O M IN I S U P E R T E R R A M CITO ET V ELO C IT ER ! I HAVE S E E N TH E DIVIN E S W O R D S T R IK IN G M A N 'S LAN D ! I HAVE S E E N R IV E R S OF

ROME IS NO LONGER A HOLY CITY! IT HAS BECOME A HOTBED OF SIN AND INIQUITY!

CITIZENS ARE BEING ATTACKED IN THE STREETS AND THEIR HOMES LOOTED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT!

M , « . $ K

T H E HIGHER C LER G Y S E L L S IN D U LG EN C ES FOR T H E M O S T IG N O B L E O F C R IM E S ! EV EN T H E POPE D A R E S S E L L G O D 'S PARDON!

C A R D IN A L S A C C E P T B R IB E S A N D KEEP M IS T R E S S E S ! SH A M E . C O R R U P T IO N A N D LU ST HOLD S W A Y ! .

G O D 'S A N G E R A N N O U N C E S TH E RETURN OF PLAGUES A N D FAM IN E!

PATHETIC FANATIC!

WE MUST KEEP AN EYE ON THAT MADMAN SAVONAROLA. THE MOST POWERFUL DYNASTIES HAVE BEEN OVERTHROWN BY FANATICS WHO WERE CERTAIN THEY KNEW THE TRUTH...

TODAY, HIS HOLINESS'S FAILING HEALTH WILL ONLY ALLOW HIM TO RE­ CEIVE CARDINAL RODV RIGO BORGIA... i

OTHERS HAVE BEEN OVER­ THROW N BY RULERS OF SM A L L PROVINCES W HO FELT THEY HADN’T BEEN RECEIVED W ITH DUE RESPECT... /

WHAT SORT OF FARCE IS THIS? INNOCENT VIII. WOULD RATHER SEE A SPANISH DOG L THAN THE LION OF RIMINI?

STOP HIM, GUARDS!

SIGNOR MALATESTA, IT IS ADVISABLE THAT YOU COME BACK WHEN YOU FEEL CALMER!

THE POPE WILL HAVE TO COME TO MY PALACE ON HIS KNEES, IF HE WANTS ME TO TAKE PART IN HIS RIDICULOUS CRUSADE A G A IN S T ^ THE TURKS! — 7^

STOP BEHAVING AS IF YOU WERE THE LORD OF THE LAND... PRIDE IS THE MOST TERRIBLE « OF SINS...

YOUR SM ILE W ILL BE TRAN SFO RM ED INTO T E A R S OF BLOOD! BY GOD, ~ I S W E A R IT!

ENOUGH! NONE OF T H E SE M ED ICIN ES A R E OF A N Y USE!

LOOK CLOSELY AT ME, YOU HOPELESS IDIOTS! I AM NOTHING BUT A SHADE! I'M BEING CONSUMED BY AN ICY FIRE!

FRANCE, SPAIN AND EVEN THOSE DAMN TURKS ARE ALL TRYING TO DEVOUR ME! I MUST RECOVER MY STRENGTH... WITHOUT ME, THERE . WILL BE NO MORE ROME!

CURSED BE TH IS M ISER ABLE DIVIDED PENIN­ SULA W HERE EACH CITY-STATE VIES TO BECOME MORE PO W ER ­ FUL THAN THE HOLY CHURCH!

MOVE BACK! DON’T TOUCH ME! I HAVE NO NEED OF USE­ L E S S HYPOCRITES!

EVEN THOUGH GOD H AS STRIPPED ME OF M Y LA ST SHREDS OF STRENGTH, AT LEAST HE H AS LEFT ME ONE FAITHFUL FRIEND.

LOCK UP THIS W O M AN AND FEED HER WELL. I'LL SUCK AT HER B R E A S T TW IC E • A DAY.

GIVE ME BACK MY B A BYI

AND FEED THE LITTLE MONSTER TO THE DOGS!

DON'T WORRY, YOUR HOLINESS... JUST ONE

M O ST HOLY VICAR OF CHRIST, I HAVE A LSO BROUGHT YOU SO M E YOUNGBLOOD... .

GOOD... HERE, DEAR CHILDREN... HERE'S A B LESSED DUCAT...

T H AN K YOU, YOUR HOLINESS...

IT IS N 'T DANG ER­ OUS, IS IT ?

DOMINUS VOBISCUM.

DON’T BE AFRAID! YOUNG PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE TOO MUCH BLOOD. YOU WILL FEEL SO MUCH LIGHTER AFTERWARDS,/ YOU'LL PRACTICALLY BE ABLE TO FLY..

VOLENTI NON FIT INJURIA...

W E HAVE A MINOR TECHNICAL PROBLEM, YOUR HOLINESS... THE DONORS ARE DEAD...

HAAA!

I FEEL MUCH BETTER... BONUM VINUM LAETIFICAT COR v HOMINIS... A

AH! AH! LIFE ONCE AG AIN COURSE THROUGH M Y VEINS!

then THEY ARE BLESSED... THEY MAY HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES BUT THEY HAVE , WON PARADISE FOR ALL ETERNITY. TAKE BACK TWO DUCATS... THEY CAN 60 TOWARDS MY CRUSADE / v AGAINST THE TURKS... / W

f

I ACCEPT IT OUT OF ' DEVOTION RATHER THAN SELF-INTEREST, FOR HOW COULD I TURN DOWN A GIFT FROM GOD'S OWN REPRE-, SENTATIVE ON EARTH? j f '

' IN GRATEFUL RECOGNITION FOR YOUR SERVICES, I GRANT YOU THE ABBEY OF SUBIACO, ITS TWO CONVENTS, ITS VINEYARDS AND /\ V FORESTS... M

\ /

jjA J T 4 it 1 \ ‘T

l l.|J H i

1

/

III (Uk

!

i

I

IT'S GOD'S PUNISHMENT AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE IT! SELF-FLAGGELATION IS OF NO USE. SINNERS! THE PLAGUE WILL HOUND YOU TILL THE END OF THE EARTH! ROME IS NOTHING BUT A WHORE AND MUST BE EXTERMINATED!

COME NOW, ' SHOW MORE DEVOTION, SOME MORE ENERGY! YOU SHOULD ALL SEEK TO BE TOUCHED BY THE GRACE OF GOD AT THE SAME TIME...

CATASTROPHE, M ASTER! THE PLAGUE!

YOU'RE THE PLAGUE, MICHE LETTO! HOW DARE YOU IN­ TERRUPT THIS SACRED . EV EN T?

LET WE THROUGH!

PLEASE EXCUSE ME, MASTER... BUT THE DISEASE HAS REACHED THE HOME OF YOUR FA^ VORITE, VANOZZA ■ k CATANEI...

YOU CAN'T STOP ME FROM GOING IN! MY FAMILY LIVES IN THIS HOUSE!

I’M SORRY, CARDINAL BUT OUR ORDERS ARE TO LET NO ONE IN. THE PLAGUE MUST NOT BE ALLOWED TO a SPREAD...

IF YOU HAVE NO RE­ SPECT FOR GOD'S AU­ THORITY, SHOW SOME RESPECT FOR THESE DUCATS...

THE PLAGUE STRIKES BOTH, SINNERS AND SAINTS. MY ORDERS ARE CLEAR: NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO ENTER THIS CURSED PLACE...

I CANT CONVINCE THEM YOU DO IT!

GAAAHH!

DAMN.

AAARGH!

o u G h H!!

MY CHILDREN, MAY GOD WELCOME YOU IN HIS HOLY MAN­ SION...

QUICK! COME! YOU'LL BE RE­ WARDED LATER...

M Y GREATEST \ 1/ REW ARD IS TO SERVE YOU, M ASTER!

MY MISTRESS'S ^ SERVANTS AND HER DEAREST FRIENDS... DEATH HAS NO MODESTY AND GOD IS MERCI- a LESS... ^

IT'S GIORGIO DE GROCE, AN IMPOTANT OLD MAN THAT I MARRIED OFF TO VANOZZA SO I COULD VISIT HER WITH NO PROBLEM! <

REPLY, BIRD OF DOOM! WHERE IS MY MISTRESS?! WHERE ARE MY CHILDREN?

" MOVE BACK, M ONSIGNOR, IT 'S DANGEROUS TO COME TOO CLOSE...

STOP, CARDINAL RO­ DRIGO BORGIA! RESPECT

PATHETIC RUNT! WHOEVER TRIES THE DOCTORS' ORDERS! THIS IS TO BURN IT DOWN THE ONLY INFECTED HOUSE IN WILL BE EXCOM­ THE NEIGHBORHOOD... WE MUNICATED! MUST BURN IT DOWN!

W HERE ARE M Y CHILDREN AND THEIR MOTHER?

VANOZZA M Y LOVE, I A M HERE!

W E HAVEN'T FOUND THE CHILDREN. THE LADY LIVES YET BUT SHE IS DYING. SH E'S BEEN LOCKED IN THE KITCHEN SO A S

HEARTLESS MONSTERS! IDIOTS! OPEN THESE DOORS! I HAVE TO SEE

MY DEAREST, REFUSE THE DE­ SIGNS OF A GOD THAT TELL THE DIF­ FERENCE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL, BE­ TWEEN LIGHT AND DARK.

I WAS AN ARISTOCRATS BASTARD, ABANDONED BY MY PARENTS, AND SENT TO WORK AS A SERVANT IN SAINT SIXTUS' CONVENT...

ON A RAINY SPRING EVE­ NING, I W A S ALONE IN THE CHAPEL WIPING AND CLEANING S A IN T S E B A S ­ TIAN, A S W A S M Y DUTY...

THE SAINT'S NUDITY, HIS SENSUAL POSE, HIS MUSCU­ LAR BEHIND, ALL MADE HIM MY FAVORITE SAINT...

I LOVED TO SIN BY KISSING THE FORBIDDEN PARTS...

RECOVER, YOU MUST LIVE! TAKE STRENGTH FROM OUR LOVE! RE­ MEMBER OUR FIRST MEETING...

SUDDENLY I SAW YOU! YOU HAD COME TO MAKE AN OFFERING TO THE VIRGIN, TO THANK HER FOR ALLOWING YOU TO WEAR A CARDINAL'S ROBES.

THE VIRGIN M A R Y SEEMED TO BE OFFERING YOU TO M E A S A WONDROUS GIFT!

YOUR SEED MADE ME LOSE MY MIND. I EN­ TERED INTO AN­ OTHER DIMEN­ SION OF SPACE AND TIME.

WE MADE LOVE IN THE VIRGIN'S SHADOW AS THE CANDLES FLICKERED AROUND US.

I FELL IN LOVE W ITH YOUR SOUL YOUR FLESH AND YOUR BODY.

I PROMISE I'LL

I...NEVER... STOPPED LOVING YOU. BUT I W ISH W E COULD GET M A R ­ RIED... I'M REGARDED A S ... A WHORE...

I WISH WE COULD, BUT I'M MARRIED TO A WHORE WHO IS EVEN MORE JEA­ LOUS THAN YOU... THE CHURCH... IF YOU PROMISE TO GET WELL, I'LL GIVE YOU A PALACE VERY CLOSE TO MINE...

LOOK AT HER! HER BODY SHOWS NO SIGNS OF BUBOES OR OF FESTERING ABSCESSES... HERE’S NO BLACK BLOOD OOZING OUT OF HER rf? MOUTH!

THOSE ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FOOD POISONING... CAUSED BY ROTTEN OCTO- , PUS OR SOME OTHER 1 ^ PUTRID DISH! s *

YOU'RE RIGHT. BUT SHE IS FEVERISH AND HAS STOMACH PAINS... J

N O O N E 'S S IC K HERE... W H Y DO YOU S A Y SH E H A S TH E PLAGUE?

SAVONAROLA PRE­ DICTED THAT DIVINE PUNISHMENT WOULD STRIKE TODAY...

ALTHOUGH WE BROUGHT THE PLASTER STATUES OF SAINTS COSMOS AND DAMIAN, THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO HEAL ^ ANYONE.

SAVONAROLA'S RAVINGS MUST BE SHOWN FOR WHAT THEY ARE! IF YOU DON'T WANT ME TO CUT OFF YOUR TONGUES AND TESTICLES, YOU MUST DECLARE THAT THERE / IS NO PLAGUE HERE!

STUPID PHYSICIANS! IF THOSE PLAS­ TER MONKEYS HAVE ANY POWER, MAY THEY STRIKE ME WITH ,; LIGHTNING! f

WHEN THE TWIN SAINTS FAIL THAT MEANS A DIVINE CURSE IS AT WORK... IN THIS CASE IT'S ^ THE PLAGUE!

COME, MICHELETTO, LET'S FIND MY CHIL­ DREN...

WE'LL DO AS YOU SAY, YOUR EMINENCE...

LUCREZIA! CESARE! GIOVANNI! JOFRE! DON'T BE AFRAID! YOU DON'T HAVE

I T 'S M E, RODRIG O!

HERE! OVER HERE!

V

WE'RE HERE, MONSIGNORI I HID YOUR CHILDREN! I PROTECTED THEM FROM THE INFECTION AND FROM THE DOCTOR'S BLOOD. LETTINGS, WHICH ARE MORE b. HARMFUL THAN THE M k PLAGUE ITSELF!

FATHER!

M Y N AM E IS MAURO AND I'M AN A S SIS T A N T COOK.

' YOU WILL

LIVE VERY CLOSE TO ' THE VATICAN, IN THE PALACE OF MY COUSIN, THE WIDOW ADRIANA ORSINI... SHE'LL TAKE CARE / v OF YOU WHILE VANOZZA / \ IS CONVALESCING... , /

YOU DID VERY WELL. I W ILL TAKE YOU INTO M Y SERVICECOME W ITH ME...

TO CELEBRATE YOUR NEW LIFE I'M OFFERING YOU A BANQUET. ONLY DESSERTS WILL BE SERVED, AND THEY WILL BE THE VERYy BEST, I PROMISE YOU!

MY CHILDREN, I'M A HAPPY MAN AND I KNOW THAT I CAN COUNT ON THE SUPPORT OF A GREAT AND POWERFUL FAMILY TO HELP ME REALIZE ALL PROJECTS.

I W A N T YOU TO RESPECT M Y VERY W ISE COUSIN AD RIANA A S YOUR SECOND MOTHER.

I W A N T YOU TO LOOK UPON HER SO N ORSO ORSINI A S AN ELDER BROTHER, AND ON HIS B E A U T I- A FUL FIANCEE. JULIA, A S YOUR ^ , BEST FRIEND.

L E T 'S SEA L OUR REUNION BY DRINK­ ING FROM THIS HOLY CHALICE...

DUARTE BRANDAO, MY ADVISER, WILL BE YOUR MOST EXCELLENT TUTOR. HE WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH THE EDUCATION THAT BENE­ FITS THE CHILDREN OF A CARDINAL. HE WILL FIND THE MOST RENOWNED TEACHERS OF EACH SUBJECT IN THE CITY OF . ROME...

AND YOU, M Y DEAR CHILD, W ILL BE THE FIRST TO DRINK THIS SW EET WINE.

THAN K YOU... I LOVE ALL OF YOU, BUT I LOVE NIY HOLY FATHER M ORE THAN ANYONE ELSE. /

WHY DOES GIOVANNI ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE FIRST? HE'S YOUR FAVORITE! I HATE V HIM!

ALL THE INCOME FROM THE LAN DS BELONGING TO THE CATHEDRAL OF VALENCIA ARE TO BE PAID TO HIS LORDSHIP C ESAR E BORGIA. HE IS ALSO HEREBY NAM ED TREASU RER OF CARTEGENA...

DAMN A R S E W IPEI

THAT'S ENOUGH! ENOUGH OF YOUR UNJUSTIFIED FITS OF JEALOUSY! GIOVANNI IS THE ELDEST. THIS HONOR IS HIS DUE...

BUT THERE IS ENOUGH PARENTAL LOVE IN ME FOR ALL MY CHIL­ DREN... I NEVER FORGET YOU, CESARE. READ THIS...

OH! SUCH GOOD FORTUNE! T H AN K YOU!

BLOOD TIES ARE THE SOURCE OF THE MOST SACRED ALLIANCE THAT CAN EXIST AMONG HUMANS. THE SAME BLOOD COURSES THROUGH ALL OF YOU... LISTEN TO IT'S MURMUR...

A FAM ILY'S STRENGTH, LIKE AN A R M Y 'S, LIES IN IT S COHESION AND IN IT S UNITY.

SOME DAY, YOU WILL ALL HELP ME TO EXTEND THE POWERS OF THE CHURCH, OF MY CHURCH, TO THE FARTHEST REACHES ■V OF THE WORLD!

IT'S... IT'S... B IT T ER ... (

GIOVANNI, DEAR CHILD, NOW THAT YOUR BROTHER CESARE HAS UNDERSTOOD THAT HE MUST BE DEVOTED TO YOU, TAKE THE FIRST DRAUGHT. 1

AAAAARGH! FILTHY PIG!

YOU DERSERVED THAT, LUCREZIA! IT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR SAYING YOUR DRESS IS PRETTIER THAN MINE!...

V THAT'S

RIGHT, BROTHER, YOU MUST BE THE FIRST TO DRINK. RAISE YOUR GLASS!

PRETENTIOUS _ SLUT! ^ BY CHRIST'S ARSE. I CAN'T SEE AN Y­ MORE!

MAY GOD ALWAYS WATCH OVER HIS HOLINESS-

GIOVANNI!

THE CHILD HAS BEEN POISONED!

THE POISON W A S FOR ME!

LOOK... HE'S STILL BREATH ING...

STOP WAILING, YOU LITTLE IDIOT!

W A AAH , W A AAH ,

HMMM...THESE STRAWBERRIES ARE DELICIOUS!

YUM... I PREFER GRAPES...

^

HE'S EXAG­ GERATING. HE'S JUST TRYING TO GET ATTENTION..

AAHH! M Y STOMACH HURTS...

WE MUST ADMINIS­ TER HIM WITH SOME ASS'S MILK... IT'S THE BEST ANTI­ DOTE...

HE'S ALIVE... LUCKILY, HE ONLY TOOK A SM A L L SIP...

K

AN ENEMY LURKS INSIDE THE PALACE ITSELF. GATHER ALL THE SERVANTS IN THE BIG HALL. GIVE THEM A GLASS OF WINE AND TELL ME WHO REFUSES TO DRINK... I UNDERSTAND YOUR PAIN, YOUR EMINENCE, BUT IF WE DO THIS, THE ENTIRE STAFF

WAAAHH! IF YOU DON'T SHUT UP, I'LL MAKE YOU EAT YOUR OWN SHIT! OH, GOD, PLEASE SAVE MY POOR

COME MY SON, PRAY WITH US

INSTEAD OF PRAY­ ING, FATHER, WE SHOULD GIVE HIM THE A SS'S MILK RIGHT AWAY!

HERE, THE SCOUNDRELI HE BETRAYED HIMSELF! THE BOTTLE OF POISON WAS STILL ON HIM...

MAURO!!

NO, THEY WILL NOT DRINK THE SAME WINE AS MY POOR CHILD. GIVE THEM UNPOISONED WINE. ONLY THE TRAITOR WILL BE AFRAID TO BRING THE GLASS TO

BASTARD! WHY DO YOU HATE ME SO MUCH? IF YOU DON'T SPEAK UP, I'LL MAKE YOU SWALLOW THE REST OF THE WINE... BUT IF YOU TALK, I SWEAR BY OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST THAT / I'LL SPARE YOU... <

I TRU ST YOU. LORD BORGIA.. W ILL SPEAK..

I AM THE SON OF G A S­ PARE MALATESTA. YOU OFFENDED HIM, MY LORD, AND HE HAS SWORN REVENGE...

I FOLLOWED HIS ORDERS. FIRST I POI­ SONED LADY VANOZZA. THEN, BY PRETENDING TO PROTECT YOUR CHIL­ DREN, I WON YOUR TRUST AND m ak YOU HIRED ME A S A KITCHEN BOY...

M ICH ELEETTTOOÜ!

60 GET A FUNNEL AND A SPOON. USE THE SPOON TO SCOOP OUT HIS EYES AND THEN POUR THIS WINE DOWN HIS THROAT THROUGH THIS

BUT YOUR HOLI­ N ESS, YOU SW ORE BY CHRIST THAT YOU WOULD SPARE ME... YOU CANNOT SIN THUS...

FOOL! M E N 'S W O RDS MELT LIKE SN O W BEFORE THE EYES OF A BLIND GOD! a

SA SP A R E ^ M ALATESTA'S PALACE, RIMINI M

MY SKIN IS AS THICK AS A RHINOCEROS'... I CANT FEEL GENTLE CARESSES... MAS­ SAGE ME HARDER, MY LOVE-

Y ES MASTER.

IT'S HIM! GET OUT OF HERE! I WISH TO REMAIN ALONE WITH HIM, TO HOLD HIM IN MY ARMS! HE HAS ACCOMPLISHED HIS MISSION!

LORD GASPARE, A HORSEMAN AP­ PROACHES... HE LOOKS LIKE YOUR SON...

^ 1 SWEAR I WILL AVENGE YOU, MY SON. I'LL USE MY ENTIRE FORTUNE TO BUY THE OTHER CARDINALS! RODRIGO BORGIA, YOU WILL NEVER OBTAIN WHAT YOU MOST ^DESIRE: TO BE ELECTED AS THE POPE!

GIOVANNI, DEAR CHILD, I SEE YOUR APPETITE HAS INI PROVED. YOUR LIFE IS NO LONGER IN DANGER. TOMORb, ROW WE CAN GO FOR / A WALK... „y

I'VE GATHERED ALL OF YOU HERE IN GIOVANNI'S ROOM B E­ CAUSE A THREAT H AN G S OVER OUR FAMILY...

BRIBES, BLACKM AIL, CRIMES... THEY WILL STOP AT NOTHING... TO OBTAIN M Y VOTE, THEY M A Y EVEN THREATEN TO KILL YOU, AND TO AVOID THIS, I'M SENDING YOU FAR FROM ROME... - f

I

YES, FATHER. ALTHOUGH I STILL HAVE A STOMACH ACHE, THE DIARRHEA HAS -s STOPPED. ^

THE HEALTH OF INNOCENT VIII. IS FAST DECLINING. THE MOMENT HE DIES A MERCILESS BATTLE WILL BEING AMONG THE CARDI­ NALS FOR THE PAPAL THRONE...

ADRIANA, YOU WILL TAKE JOFRE TO OUR MANSION IN SUBIACO. YOU WILL HIS TEACHER... YOU W IL L, TEACH HIM...

RODRIGO, THE FIRST THING I'LL TEACH HIM, SO HE CAN SURVIVE IN T H IS WORLD, IS TO M IX POISONS...

LUCREZIA AND JULIA WILL STUDY IN SAINT SIXTUS' CON­ VENT. GIOVANNI AND ORSO WILL GO TO BASSANELLE WHERE THEY WILL GET A GOOD MILITARY EDUCATION.

WHAT? I DON'T WANT TO LIVE WITH A BUNCH OF NUNS! I HATE THOSE BITCHES!

CHILDREN, NOT ANOTHER WORD OUT OF YOU! DON'T QUESTION MY ORDERS! CESARE, YOU WILL GO TO THE UNIVER­ SITY OF PISA TO STUDY LAW AND THEOLOGY.

AS USUAL, YOU'VE GOT YOUR SONS MIXED UP! IT'S GIOVANNI THAT SHOULD BE MADE TO SPOUT HOLY WATER AND I'M THE ONE THAT SHOULD WIELD THE SWORD. SEND

IF THE MYSTERIOUS BEING THAT WE CALL GOD DOESN'T PUT OB­ STACLES IN MY WAY, I'M GOING TO BE THE NEXT POPE. WHEN ALL THE PERILS HAVE BEEN OVERCOME, I'LL SEND FOR YOU...

WHAT ABOUT M E? DO YOU

NO, MY SON. YOU'RE WRONG. YOU POSSESS A SUPERIOR INTELLIGENCE AND I'M COUNTING ON YOU TO TAKE MY PLACE SOME DAY...

I D RATHER STUDY PAINTING AND DRAWING...

I WAS THE VAIN POPE PAUL II. I TRIED TO RIVAL THE MEDICI WITH MY COLLEC­ TION OF MEDALS AND PAINTINGS... a AND I DIED. ^ 5

I WAS THE GOOD POPE PIUS II. I TRIED TO BUY SULTAN MOHAMMED AND CONVERT HIM TO CHRISTIANITY... AND I DIED.

I W AS THE ZEALOUS POPE SIXTUS IV. I COM­ MISSIONED THE SISTINE CHAPEL, ORDERED THE SIEGE OF FLORENCE AND ORGANIZED A CRUSADE AGAINST THE TURKS... AND I DIED. A

HAHAHA! r YOU ARE NOT IMMORTAL! YOU TOO SHALL DIE INNOCENT VIII! HEE HEE | HEE...

NOOO!! I W A N T MILK! I NEED A TRAN SFU SIO N ! I W A N T TO LIVE! HEEEELP!

YOUR HOLINESS, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU!

WE BRING YOU MILK AND FRESH BLOOD!

S H U T UP... FO R EV ER !

HIS HOLINESS IS DEAD. FOR­ TUNATELY, HIS PASSING WAS PEACEFUL. WASH HIM, MAKE HIM UP, AND DRESS HIM IN WHITE ROBES... 4

YES, MONSIGNOR. WE WILL SEE TO IT. A " HE WAS A SAINT AND HE WILL BEBURIED AS A SAINT!

SACRILEG E!

i-

A MOVING SCENE... A POPE IS DEAD... A SORDID CEREMONY.

NINE DAYS OF CROCO DILE TEARS BEFORE THE CONCLAVE...

T H IS TIME, T W E N T Y -T H R E E C ARDIN ALS ARE CON TENDERS, YOUR EMINENCE...

I KNOW , NATIVE-BO RN t i ma t c i v ITALIAN S REGARD ME A S UNS 5 ? S S ; Y A FOREIGNER AND A Tf S CATALAN INTRUDER. BUT I'M INNOCENT parfd t S r iv/'c cn i F ljfid PARED TO GASPARE IV 5 5016. HtlK... ^ MALATESTA'S WEALTH...

HE SOLD ALL HIS LAND AND HE'S S E N T ONE HUNDRED MULES LADEN W ITH GOLD, S IL­ VER AND PRECIOUS STONES TO HELP A SC A N IO S F O R Z A 'S CANDIDACY.

AND THE HANDSOM E YOUNG JULIANO DELLA ROVERE CAN COUNT ON THE 150 M O N K S WHO W ERE HIS LOVERS AND WHO E M B E Z Z L E D THE CHURCH FOR HIS SAKE. HIS WEALTH IS BOUNDLESS. HE'LL BE ABLE > TO BUY ALL THE VOTES.

THAT CON­ C E IT E D LIO N SH O U LD B E DAMNED!

MICHELETTO, ALL M Y ARCHERS ARE AT YOUR SERVICE. YOU KNO W WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO... ^

IT 'S A S IF YOUR ORDERS HAD A L­ READY BEEN CARRIED OUT. „

WHAT IS THIS?

'

DAMN! BLACK SMOKE! NO CANDI­ DATE HAS RECEIVED i A MAJORITY... ,

THEY'VE BEEN LOCKED UP IN THERE FOR A WEEK AND THOSE VUL­ TURES STILL HAVEN'T MADE THEIR CHOICE... r

IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY DID... IF THEY DON'T, THEY'RE GOING TO STARVE V . TO DEATH...

THE SOONER THEY “ ELECT A NEW POPE THE BETTER... WITHOUT A POPE, ROME TURNS TO CHAOS. THERE ARE COUNT­ S' L ESS BURGLARIES AND \ MURDERS EVERY ‘ V DAY...

WE STILL DON'T y ' HAVE A POPE! NO ONE \

---- -MW

L] / h a s the required fifteen ^ ' BALLOTS. I REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT FROM NOW ON, OUR DAILY RATIONS WILL BE REDUCED v TO A CRUST OF BREAD AND FLASK OF WATER.

SLEEP ON IT! AND I HOPE • THAT AFTER WE VOTE TO­ MORROW WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROCLAIM: "AN- , NUNCIO VOBIS, GAUDIUM V PAPEM HABEMUS!”

’ ORSINI, YOU WILL BE AWARDED THE BISHOPRIC OF CARTAGENA... COLONNA, YOU WILL BE GIVEN THE ABBEY OF SUBIACO... SAVELLI, MY FRIEND, YOU WILL BE GRANTED THE TOWN OF CIVITA CASTELLANA... BUT FOR ALL THIS - - ^ 4 ___TO HAPPEN WE NEED ¿ B f f f t l l f ' » MiM. A MAJORITY...^, G F Z v t

MAY I COME IN, MOST EMINENT ASCANIO SFORZA?

?

I WAS EXPECTING YOU,BRIGAND! COME IN!

YOU'RE AMBITIOUS AND NAIVE! DO YOU THINK YOU'RE RICH ENOUGH TO BUY THE VOTES YOU NEED? WELL, DON'T COUNT ON ME! I'M MUCH RICHER THAN YOU... AND I SET A ^ THE PRICE. M I YOU ARE MIS­ TAKEN, SFORZA... YOU HAVE NO FORTUNE... LOOK!

DAMN YOU!

HELP ME BECOME POPE AND THOSE HUNDRED LACKEYS, WITH ALL THEIR GOLD, SILVER AND JEWELS, WILL BE YOURS... A

MAY I COME IN, MY HANDSOME YOUNG JULIANO?

COME IN, WRETCHED FLATTERER!

~ SO, RODRIGO, YOU HAVE COME TO PURCHASE MY VOTE? NO WEALTH IS GREAT ENOUGH TO RIVAL THE POLITI­ CAL INFLUENCE OF MY FAITHFUL FOL­ LOWERS. I POSSESS THE KEYS TO THE COFFERS OF THE CHURCH'S j k BOUNDLESS WEALTH. M

IF YOU ADD THE BISHOP RIC OF ERLEU, YOUR OFFER MAY BE ACCEPT­ ABLE...

I KNOW, I HAVE THE LIST OF YOUR ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY ACCOM^ PLICES...

r THEY AREN'T MY ACCOMPLICES, BUT MY LOVERS! THEY'RE CRAZY ABOUT ME BECAUSE I PROVIDE QUALITY AND i ^ QUANTITY! ^

YOU'RE DEFEATED! LOVE STRONGER THAN GOD

BUT IT'S NOT STRONGER FHAN DEATH! HERE, I HAVE A PRESENT FOR YOU!

HA, HA, QUALITY: MAY BE. AS FOR QUANTITY: |THINK YOU'RE EXAGGERATING! j

UUAHHH! MY GOD! NOOOO!

SO, MY FRIEND, IF YOU HELP ME BECOME CHRIST'S REPRESENTATIVE ON EARTH, I WILL SHOWER YOU WITH WEALTH AND HONORS. I'LL GIVE YOU MY OWN PALACE AND I'LL MAKE YOU VICECHANCELLOR, AN EASY, HIGHPROFITABLE POSITION...

f OH YES, JULIANO... NOW YOU HAVE NO MORE ACCOMPLICES! THEY'VE ALL BEEN EXECUTED. YOU CAN KEEP THEIR POSSESSIONS i L AS SOUVENIRS!

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE ANYONE, WHY DON'T YOU LOCK THE DOOR, k. YOU OLD FOX? A

W AKE UP, GHERARDI!

IT'S TRUE THAT YOU'RE VERY OLD. HOW COULD IT POSSIBLY BE TO YOUR ADVAN­ TAGE TO BACK UP ONE CANDIDATE RATHER THAN ANOTHER? YOU DON'T CARE IF YOUR LIKENESS IS PAINTED ON CANVAS OR IMMORTALIZED IN MARBLE... YOU HATE ART! ^

WE'RE LOCKED UP IN HERE. THE GUARDS HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO KILL ANYONE WHO TRIES TO GET IN. ARE YOU ABOUT TO PERFORM A MIRACLE?

OUT OF CURIOSITY! I ALREADY HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE... WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO OFFER AN OLD MAN OF L, NINETY-FIVE?

YOU'RE JOKING! AT MY AGE I'M REVOLTING. EVEN WHORES WON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME! ^

I CAN DO IT! BECAUSE OF YOUR AGE, YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN THE BIGGEST CELL. IT CONTAINS A SECRET... WHICH WAS REVEALED TO ME BY THE . LATE INNOCENT...

I MUST BE DREAMING!

r

NO, YOU'RE NOT DREAMING. MEET VANOZZA, MY MISTRESS FOR WHOM I AM GREATLY ENVIED. TONIGHT SHE V IS YOURS. ACCEPT 1 THIS GIFT...

)

GAAAAAHH!

'i

OH CHRIST! I ACCEPT TORTURE, JUST AS YOU

WHAT... DO I CARE... ABOUT... HELL... SINCE. I'VE... KNOWN... PARADISE...

' CONGRATULATIONS, OLD MAN! IF YOU VOTE FOR ME. YOU CAN HAVE VANOZZA AS OFTEN AS YOU LIKE...

VANOZZA, RODRIGO HAS GIVEN YOU AN ORDER... BUT WILL YOU OBEY HIM?

I COULD DISOBEY ^ A CARDINAL, BUT DISOBEYING A POPE WOULD BE TANTA­ MOUNT TO DISOBEYING GOD.

THAT'S TRUE.

I SWEAR ON THE HOLIEST OF HOLIES THAT I WILL NOT DISAPPOINT YOU... SO HELP ME GOD! y

JUST A MOMENT! WE DON'T HAVE A NEW POPE YET. BRING THE “SEDIA STERCOLARA", IN OTHER WORDS THE CHAIR FOR EXCREMENTS! ^

WILL THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE SACRED COLLEGE OF CARDINALS PLEASE STEP FORWARD AND PERFORM HIS DUTIES?

HERE I AM, CAMERLENGO COSTA!

PENIS EST! TESTICULA HABET! HOMINUS EST!

OF COURSE I HAVE A PENIS AND TESTICLES. YOUNG JULIANO! I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THAT... y A

WE HAVE A POPE! CARDINAL RODRIGO BORGIA OF VALEN­ CIA... WHO IS NOW POPE ALEXANDER VI. PRAISE THE LORD!

BLESSED BE ROME! BLESSED BE ITALY! BLESSED BE THE WORLD!

TEN AROUND TEN TIMES!

THIS BITCH NEVER LOSES HER BEARINGS!

YOU'RE USELESS! I'M THE WINNER! THE PRINCESS MISSED!

FILTHY LIARS! NO ONE MAKES FUN OF A BORGIA!

YOU CHEATED, JULIA! YOU COULDN'T STAND IT THAT I WON, AS USUAL! YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS. YOU KNOW I'M BETTER THAN YOU!

MIRRORS AREN'T ALLOWED IN THIS DAMN CONVENT. BUT I'LL ADMIRE MY REFL IN A POOL OF YOUR BLOOD!

I DARE YOU!

.«

4

USELESS! USELESS! USELESS!

£ <

YOU THINK YOU'RE SO SMART AND SO BEAUTIFUL! STUPID IDIOT! YOU SHOULD LOOK IN THE MIRROR!

THERE!

Y

PUTRID BITCH! YOU WOULDN'T DARE LIFT YOUR HAND AGAINST THE POPE'S DAUGHTER! ALEXANDER VI. WILL DESTROY YOUR CONVENT AND YOUR BONES WILL GLISTEN AMIDST THE RUBBLE! >

YOU'RE WRONG, DEVIL! IN THIS PARCHMENT, HIS HOLINESS GIVES ME PERMISSION TO USE EVERY MEANS AT MY DIS­ POSAL TO TAME YOU! A

I CANNOT CONFER ON YOUR BODY THE PUNISHMENT THAT YOUR DEGENERATE SOUL DESERVES! YOUR FLESH MUST BE PRESERVED INTACT. YOU SHALL LEAVE THE CONVENT TODAY. YOUR FATHER IS MARRYING YOU TO GIOVANNI SFORZA, THE NEPHEW OF THE

FREEDOM AT LAST!

PACK YOUR THINGS, YOU LITTLE WHORE! LORD MACHIAVELLI IS COMING TO TAKE YOU TO ROME!

DON'T LOSE HEART, MY LOVE... I WILL SOON MAKE THESE STE­ RILE BITCHES PAY FOR THE PAIN THEY'VE CAUSED YOU. I SWEAR!

LHJU

'

ROME IS NOT ONLY A HOLY CITY,

BUT A L S O CHAOTIC WITHOUT FAITH A N D LAW. THE B O R G IA MAFIA, T H E FIR ST GODFATHER IN HISTORY, IS THE M A ST E R

ISBN 2-226-15525-2 60 7914 6 13,90 € T T C