Prince of Foxes

[Ran

[Whisperin

This Alfonso d'Este, do they say how bi he is?

Yes. They say he's over six feet tall.

A giant of a man.

A respectful silence is the least

you can offer your dead husband.

[Priest Speakin Latin

[Choir Sinin In Latin

Would you say the dead man

made a reluctant corpse?

A loose tongue soon

loses its mouth, Captain Orsini.

A wise tongue never needs

to repeat itself, Don Esteban...

nor does

a competent assassin.

- [Sinin Continues

- [ran Continues

Duke Cesare.

We have suffered

a most tragic loss.

My dear sister Lucrezia's

broken with grief.

The court will observe

a proper period of mourning.

- How long, de Lorqua?

- One year, my lord Cesare.

One month.

The dead must not place

too great a burden on the living.

It's my belief that everything,

even death, can be turned into profit.

Our armies hold Pesaro,

Rimini, Forli.

We're on the road

to Urbino, Bologna, Siena.

All Tuscany, the center of Italy

from coast to coast will be ours.

Then inevitably, Milan...

and Venice.

But this devil-begotten Ferrara

stands blocking our progress.

You, Gravina,

you're the military genius.

- How would you take it?

- Perhaps with 10,000 troops.

Or a woman.

We will walk into Ferrara

through a bedroom.

By arranging a marriage between

my recently widowed sister Lucrezia...

and, uh, Alfonso,

the servant of Duke d'Este.

Your Lordship knows that Duke d'Este is

negotiating such a marriage with the French king.

Alfonso's a blacksmith.

He needs a lusty woman...

not one of those

frail, French birds.

And who will convey

this delicate information?

Who?

Who but a man

as quick at deceit as a fox.

He must have the grace of a dancer,

the wrist of an assassin.

He must have little regard

for good faith.

Yet by his astuteness,

be able to confuse men's minds.

He must have confidence

in himself...

yet not permit that confidence

to render him incautious.

He must charm

as a snake charms a bird...

yet he must make no friends...

except those that can

be of use to him.

And for the same reason,

although we make use of love...

he must not love.

You may go now,

all of you, except...

Andrea Orsini.

You question me?

Then go!

You're pleased

with my choice?

I have never questioned

Your Lordship's judgment.

- Don Esteban was annoyed.

- Don Esteban is easily annoyed.

Don't underestimate him, Andrea.

Remember,

that in this race for glory...

he's always just behind you ready to pass

you if you should lose a single step.

I have learned that if my wits are quick,

my feet will be quick enough.

You've learned

something else today?

Why your sister's husband

was sent to another world.

One life is little enough

to pay for all Ferrara.

So long as it's not mine.

Drink.

You are a complete rogue.

I need someone

that can follow my mind...

who can keep his eyes

fixed on the ultimate goal- one Italy...

one kingdom, one king-

Cesare Borgia.

Think of it-

chief minister to a great new kingdom.

What prize on earth

could equal it?

But the great

know only one law-

the outcome justifies the act.

Have you the stomach

for greatness?

The stomach and the appetite.

Then bring me Alfonso d'Este's

promise to marry Lucrezia...

and I'll be certain of it.

Your Lordship will find me

a most efficient Cupid.

Try some of your shafts

on my cousin, Angela.

She's waiting for you.

No.

That way.

De Lorqua.

Captain Orsini leaves

tomorrow for Ferrara.

He travels by way of Venice.

Arrange the necessary passage.

Yes, Duke Cesare.

Angela.

Oh, Angela, my love. I've been commissioned

to leave immediately for Ferrara.

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