THE
POPE
Stop
that, thou idiot! I am
the Pope! Now, to my ruling.(He shuffles through sheets of foolscap.)
THE POPE (Continued)
The
case is simple---simple?---am I right? A
young man wrote some manuscripts---plays---about members of his family, about
his sister and mother. He also, if I be
not mistaken, wrote in the names of
his sister and mother, as if claiming their authorship. But what is authorship? Who wrote the Letter to the Hebrews? ’Tis a comely letter---
THE
FOOL
(Admonishing)Popey-poo.
THE
POPE
In
conclusion, I like not this era. I wish
we were in the wilderness, and I---your Moses---could stone ye for
gathering sticks. But, alas, here I am; and I must
rule. Thus saith your Renaissance Pope .
. .(A mild tremor. The crowd reacts.)
THE POPE (Continued)
What
shaketh the ground?
THE
FOOL
As if nature herself
were trying to stall your---END OF PART XVII.
