CAESAR

Nay, no whit.
Our heavenly father on earth adores no less
Our mother than our sister: and I hold
His heart and eye, his spirit and his sense,
Infallible.

Enter the POPE

ALEXANDER

Jest not with God. I heard
A holy word, a hallowing epithet,
Cardinal Caesar, trip across thy tongue
Lightly.

CAESAR

Most holiest father, I desire
Paternal absolution--when thy laugh
Has waned from lip and eyelid.

ALEXANDER

Take it now,
And Christ preserve thee, Caesar, as thou art,
To serve him as I serve him. Rose of mine,
My rose of roses, whence has fallen this dew