Chapter Thirty

Rome, 1501, Oct. 30

Michelangelo had settled into the chair and was trying to recall the cantos that made up the second circle of the “Inferno” when he heard footsteps. Peering through the grille, he saw a priest walking behind the other screen.

Considering that they were alone for the moment, Michelangelo whispered, “Do you have any idea how long we must wait?”

A voice answered, “I should think less than an hour.

Is that you, Franco?”

“No. My name is Michelangelo. Who are you?”

“I am Johannes Burchard, the papal master of ceremonies.”

“I am pleased to meet you, father,” said Michelangelo, “Are you not attending the ball?”

“No. His Holiness has asked me to chronicle the evening’s events, much as I keep track of the papal expenses. He has also asked me to give absolution to any and all who might request it.”

“Have you any idea what to expect?” asked Michelangelo.

“No, but with the Borgias involved, I can only hope for the best.”

Michelangelo thought about telling the priest of Lucrezia’s hint and then decided against it. Instead, he asked,

“Why do you say that?”

“The family is as willful as any on Earth. Alexander appears to have little regard for his priestly vows. Cesare was once a cardinal, but resigned to pursue a career in the military. As for Lucrezia, you know her mother was a courtesan? Well, she is very much her mother’s daughter, and what she has of her father is his baser half.”

Michelangelo was stunned by the priest’s bluntness - especially in the papal apartments - and decided to pursue another line of conversation. “Do you know why I am here, Father?”

“Of course,” said the priest. “How are the cameos coming? Those stones cost a fair amount.”

“I shall know much better after this ball,” he answered.

“I will tell you this, Michelangelo. If the pope is pleased with your labors, you will be handsomely rewarded.”

“That is comforting,” said the artist.

They lapsed into silence for some time, and then suddenly, voices could be heard in the distance.

“I believe the first guests have arrived,” said Father Burchard. “So let us take a vow of silence for the rest of the evening, my son.”

“As you wish, Father.”

Through the screen, Michelangelo saw that a small group of cardinals, no more than four or five, had entered the room and were beginning to take their places at the various tables.

As they milled around chatting and exchanging pleasantries, Michelangelo wondered what they were looking for and then he discerned that place cards had indicated who should sit where.

Next, Michelangelo saw Cardinal Sforza, the pope’s vice chancellor, enter and take his place near the head table, and then he saw Cardinal Piccolomini take a seat at the opposite table. Slowly, the hall began to fill until it seemed a sea of red. Michelangelo thought it odd that they were seated at every other setting, and he wondered what other guests the pope might have invited.

After 20 minutes or so had passed, a bell sounded - almost as though mass were about to begin. The cardinals rose as one and then the main doors were thrown open and Pope Alexander entered the room, followed by Lucrezia and Cesare.

After they had reached their seats at the dais, the pope began to speak. “Welcome, my friends. Tonight, we celebrate the approach of Allhallowttide. But before we remember our saints and the souls of all those seeking a crown in heaven and before we don purple - for Advent is fast approaching - I offer you one special evening of fellowship. I invite you to dine, to drink, to relax and to enjoy yourself without fear of repercussion - in this world or the next.”

The pope’s remark was greeted by a smattering of polite laughter. Undaunted, he continued, “And for those who may feel the need - either before or after our supper - there are two priests in the rear ready to hear your confessions and absolve you of your sins.”

Many of the cardinals glanced at the screens when the pope gestured, but none rose to be shriven.

With that, an army of servants entered the room. Some busied themselves lighting the candelabra on the tables and then extinguishing the torches on the walls. Others carried in enormous trenchers laden with meats, pasta, vegetables, breads and cheeses. Each table was provided with two whole suckling pigs as well as beef and various types of fowl. Still other servants made certain that the cardinals’ goblets were never empty.

The members of the Curia were enjoying the lavish meal, and watching them was making Michelangelo hungry.

After some time had passed, Cardinal Sforza rose and called for silence. Looking at the members of the Curia, he said, “I should like to propose a toast to His Holiness, whose largess of spirit is matched only by his purity of soul.”

All the cardinals responded, “Propini tibi salute.” Michelangelo could only suppose that toasting the Pope’s good health in Latin was a Vatican tradition.

The pope looked at Cesare first and then at Lucrezia; when both nodded, he turned his gaze on Sforza and said, “Such kind words, Cardinal Sforza, are deserving of a reward. And those of you who have toasted my health shall also be rewarded in equal measure.”

He nodded to the servants who began placing a small covered dish in front of each prelate.

When they had finished, the pope picked up a small bell and gently tinkled it. “I have invited a number of guests to dine with us this evening. Please make them feel welcome and tend to their needs, both spiritual - and otherwise. And should you feel the need to wear it, each of you will find a mask under the dish just placed in front of you.”

When he had finished speaking, Michelangelo saw that the cardinals were all staring at the rear of the room, but they weren’t looking at the confessionals.

Hearing them before he saw them, Michelangelo realized that a large group of women were about to enter the room. He could smell their perfume, and he could hear their gentle laughter. He could also sense their nervousness.

Finally, the women began to come into view, and Michelangelo was shocked to see that they were all stunningly beautiful. Leading them was a woman in a red dress the same color as the cardinals’ robes. She was wearing a tall hat that resembled a miter and carried a walking stick that had been shaped like a crozier.

Following her were about 50 women. Many wore dresses that accentuated the sensuousness of their bodies. Michelangelo looked at the cardinals - all of whom were smiling lasciviously - and recalled Lucrezia’s hint.

“This cannot be happening,” he thought.

The women took their places between the cardinals at the tables, and Michelangelo now understood why they had been seated as they were.

He watched as they ate, drank and laughed, and he noticed that not one cardinal donned the mask. Occasionally, he would look at the pope and his children, smiling as they presided over this affair. At one point, the pope called the woman in red to his side. After a brief conversation, he smiled and nodded.

Tapping his goblet with a knife, the pope managed to get both the cardinals and the courtesans to pay attention. “My brothers,” he began, “it troubles me to learn that some of our guests are in distress. They are in danger of losing their home. Can we as good clergymen allow that to happen?”

The answer was a resounding “No!” from prelates and prostitutes alike.

“I have asked Mistress Antonia how we may be of assistance to those in need, and she has proposed an auction. Looking at the woman seated next to Cardinal Urcioli, the pope said, “Marguerite, would you come here?”

A tall brunette wearing a sheer white dress rose and walked to the dais. As she stood next to the pope, Michelangelo saw that she had lovely brown eyes, straight white teeth hidden behind full, sensuous lips, but her enormous breasts were where all eyes were focused.

“Marguerite is in such dire straits that she has offered to sell the only thing she owns - her gown - so that the money can be used to keep the landlord at bay.”

“I bid five florins,” yelled Cardinal Trombetti.

“Ten florins,” countered Cardinal Urcioli.

Then a cardinal whom Michelangelo didn’t recognize bid 12 florins for the dress. After the bidding had reached 40 florins, Cardinal Puccini was declared the winner. As he rose to speak to the woman, she slipped the straps over her shoulders and the dress fell to the floor.

The reaction was a gasp - as her obvious charms were displayed for all to see. She bent, picked up the dress and said to Cardinal Puccini, “I should like to tell you about the workmanship that went into this dress,” all the while leading him to one of the more secluded divans in a far corner of the room.

The process was repeated with a Nordic-looking woman with long blonde hair and eyes as blue as the Adriatic, selling her gown of silver damask. Cardinal DeLeo claimed her as his prize and they, too, sought out a quiet corner.

At this point, Cesare stood up and before the next auction began, said, “A gentle reminder, my brothers. We have all night and even tomorrow, if need be. Do not exhaust yourselves prematurely, as there are more prizes and surprises on the way.”

As the auctions continued, the room became a whirlwind of erotic sights and sounds. Michelangelo heard grunts mixed with higher voices screeching in pleasure. Looking left, he saw Cardinal Sforza being serviced by two women simultaneously. To his right, he saw Cardinal Brunati standing up and thrusting himself deep into a Nubian woman from behind as those nearby cheered him on.

Directly in front of his “confessional,” he watched enthralled as a petite redhead knelt - not for forgiveness or in prayer - but to perform fellatio on Cardinal Ferrari.

Everywhere he looked, he saw displays of lust and carnal pleasure. Stunned and uncertain what to do, Michelangelo remembered his purpose and began to sketch. The act of drawing calmed him and suddenly the goings-on around him seemed less sinful and more artistic.

Over the cacophony of pleasure that filled the room, the small bell could be heard tinkling and the unholy exertions slowly abated.

Up on the dais, the woman who had been dressed like a cardinal when the evening began had retained only her hat and crozier-like stick, and it was she who was ringing the bell.

When she had everyone’s attention, she spoke, “I sincerely hope that you have heeded Cesare’s advice and have not exhausted yourselves. After all, the night is young and the fun is just beginning.”

“Ladies,” she said, “if you are not busy, please attend to the candles.”

With that, the women detached themselves from their partners and moved to the tables where they began to lift the candelabras and place them on the floor.

With an evil smirk, Mistress Antonia said, “Now, for your pleasure, we are going to attempt something that you may not have witnessed before.” Calling a buxom brunette to her, she whispered in her ear and the woman laughed.

Turning back to the cardinals, she said, “I have exciting news. Sabrina has agreed to go first.”