Your Royal Highness, may I introduce you to Cardinal Guiliano Della Rovere? (Charles continues eating) Cardinal Della Rovere, His Royal Highness King Charles of France.
(bows) Your Royal Highness.
We have heard of you.
And I of you, Your Highness. Your military renown has traveled far and wide-
(irritated) Enough of the pleasantries! You are the one who would give us the Crown of Naples. (gestures for Della Rovere to sit opposite him, Della Rovere does so)
The Kingdom of France has long had claims on the investiture of the Kingdom of Naples. I would-
I said, enough pleasantries, did I not? Just tell me, Cardinal (leans forward) How you would place the Crown of Naples on this ugly head of mine. (Della Rovere looks startled) And it is exceedingly ugly, is it not?
Your Highness bears all the vigor of the French race in his person.
(smirks, to his Generals) He's afraid to say it. Is my head not ugly, General?
(grins) I can hardly bear to gaze at it. (the Generals laugh)
So, admit it, Cardinal- I have all the graces of a carnival dwarf.
Those words would never pass my lips, Your Highness.
Well, then we may get nowhere. I appreciate only plain speech. (eats, pause) Tell us, then, what you want of us- plainly.
... My countrymen are accustomed to the show of war, not the reality. They could never muster the courage to sustain your French fury.
... You want me to march to Rome, depose that Borgia, give you the Papal Crown... in the hope that you will place the Crown of Naples on this ugly head. (indicates himself)
(firmly) I want to restore the universal Church to her former dignity.
Couldn't this Borgia do the same?
(bewildered) Restore the Church?
Charles VIII': Place the Crown of Naples on this ugly noggin?
"Noggin?"
Head. (his Generals chuckle)
(curlty) Either way, you must get to Rome, Your Highness.
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