Girolamo Savanarola quotes from The Borgias

Guiliano Della Rovere

Friar.

Girolamo Savanarola

(lighting candles) Are you the cleric in red?

Guiliano Della Rovere

I find the robes of your Order suit me better, at this... pitiful juncture.

Girolamo Savanarola

Have you taken our vows?

Guiliano Della Rovere

I can no longer serve the Pope of Rome.

Girolamo Savanarola

Ah, yes. I heard of your plans for his deposition. Your plans failed. Miserably.

Guiliano Della Rovere

...Indeed. I must confess to failure.

Girolamo Savanarola

Oh, so have you come here to make a confession of your failure?

Guiliano Della Rovere

No. I'm here to propose a solution to the sickness in our Holy Mother Church.

Girolamo Savanarola

(smirks) A solution?

Guiliano Della Rovere

We must remove him.

Girolamo Savanarola

From the Chair of St. Peter's?

Guiliano Della Rovere

From the Chair of St. Peter's-

Girolamo Savanarola

But you tried that already.

Guiliano Della Rovere

From the Chair of St. Peter's- and, from this world. (Savanarola pauses)

Girolamo Savanarola

... I shared a vision with you, once. Of the bloated figure of the Borgia Pope, lying blackened with sickness, on the floor of St. Peter's. No one dared approach it. Are you saying you're the one to bring this to pass?

Guiliano Della Rovere

Only if I have your blessing, Friar- and, the blessing of your Order.

Girolamo Savanarola

You have the blessing of the Lord- for He shall bring it to pass. And, if my vision was a true one, you will have my blessing- and the blessing of the Lord Himself. (pause) "Be the sword of the Apocalypse, the sword of Righteousness. Ride out like Death, on a Pale Horse." (gives Della Rovere a grim smile and leaves)

Ascanio Sforza

From our Holy Father. (Savanarola rises and turns around) Christ's vicar on Earth, the Bishop of Rome and the heir to St. Peter: a greeting and apostolic benediction to his most beloved son... Girolamo Savanarola. I am Cardinal Ascanio Sforza.

Girolamo Savanarola

The Vice-Chancellor.

Ascanio Sforza

Indeed.

Girolamo Savanarola

Then, you know all there is to know about corruption.

Ascanio Sforza

... His Holiness hears you are a zealous worker in God's service, at which he rejoices (Savanarola looks away in disgust)... and is intrigued to hear that you proclaim that your prophecies proceed directly from God. (Savanarola looks back at him) Is this so?

Girolamo Savanarola

God speaks through me. I hear his voice. Of this, there is no doubt.

Ascanio Sforza

As befits your vows of obedience, His Holiness would have you journey to Rome to discourse further with him on this matter-

Girolamo Savanarola

Has the Good Lord's lightning not yet silenced this...Borgia Pope? But, tell him my work is here, ridding Florence of its' sodomites and blasphemers. And, my work only will be ended... when the last sodomite is burning in Hell. (smiles coldly)

Ascanio Sforza

Perhaps a different destiny awaits you in Rome.

Girolamo Savanarola

In the Castell St. Angelo?

Ascanio Sforza

(chuckles and withdraws a Cardinal's hat from his cloak, offering it to Savanarola) No- in the Vatican.

Girolamo Savanarola

Oh- as Cardinal?

Ascanio Sforza

A seat in Consistory. (Savanarola takes the hat and walks back over the pulpit, looking at it thoughtfully)

Girolamo Savanarola

(turns back to Cardinal Sforza) No man can put a price on salvation. (throws the hat back at him, hitting him on the shoulder)

Cesare Borgia

Girolamo Savanarola, I am Cardinal Cesare Borgia- and I come bearing the authority of His Holiness Alexander the Sixth, Pope of Rome!

Girolamo Savanarola

(points degradingly at him) Here is the Pope's messenger: his bastard son! (smirking) One of many, we hear- Father across the nation! (the congregation laughs and applauds, Cesare advances through them)

Cesare Borgia

Brother Savanarola, you stand accused of defying Papal orders to cease your heretical preaching, and of refusing to present yourself in Rome to bend your knee to our Holy Father!

Girolamo Savanarola

I recognize no such power! My authority comes from a higher being than your Godless Pope in Rome! (the congregation cheers)

Cesare Borgia

(smiles dangerously, draws level with Savanarola) Then we must put it to the test. (Savanarola looks confused, Cesare lifts his torch) A trial by fire; the whole of Florence can be judge and jury. (the congregation begin to mutter, shocked) I challenge you, here, in this temple of God- as Christ our savior walked on water, if you can walk through fire untouched... then I will follow you through the flames.

Girolamo Savanarola

(fiercely, but more hesitant than before) God speaks through me. I am not afraid. I will walk through the fire... and he, he that follows me... will burn!

Girolamo Savanarola

... I know what you are.

Micheletto Corella

(sarcastically, approaching the cage holding Savanarola) Yes?

Girolamo Savanarola

I have had your kind stoned to death, and their corpses... dragged through the streets.

Micheletto Corella

(kneels in front of the cage, so they are eye-to-eye)... My kind?

Girolamo Savanarola

Men... who lay with men. (disgustedly) Sodomites, who corrupt young, innocent boys- who artists use as angels. I have cleansed Florence... of her sin.

Micheletto Corella

(calmly) And yet, here I am. (Savanarola grunts noncommittally) Your last chance. Will you confess?

Girolamo Savanarola

To you... to you, never! (Micheletto stands and walks over to the rack) To your master... yes. And none else.