The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-02-19
TIE Derotss.

In no other place than Rome could
Borgia have arisen; IN no other position
than that Of Pope could 80 frghtf,il
monster have maintained his power. Al
cxander vi, or Roderic Boryia, . Span
lard Of noble family, and nephew to Pope
Callxtus III, was carly brought to Rome
by his uncle, and made cardinal In spite
Of his vices and his love Of ease. lie be-
came Pope In llol by the grossest simony.
Alexander's only object was the gratinca-
ton of his own desires and the exaltation
of his natural children. OF these, whom
he called his ncphews, there were five
one son being Cesar Borgia, and one
daughter, the Infamous Lucrexia. Alex
andcr Is represented to have been n pois-
oncr, robbcr, hypocrite, q treachero,'s
friend. His children, In NIL these traits
wickedncss, surpassed their father. co..
sar Borgia, beautiful In person, and so
strong that In bull.fght he struck of the
head Of the animal at a single blow--a
majestic monster ruled by unbridlcd pas
sions and stained with blood, now govern
cd Rome and his father by the terror OF
his crimes. Every night I'm the streets Of
the city, were found the corpscs OF per-
sons whom no had murdered either for
their money or for revenge, yet no one
dared to name the assassin. Those whom
he could not reach by violence he took of
by poison. Ills first victim was his own
elder brother. Francis, Duke Of Gandia,
whom Alexander loved most OF all his
children, and whose rapid rise In wealth
and station excited the hatred Of the fear
ful Cesar. Francis had just been ap-
pointed Duke of Bencvcnto, and before Inc
set out for Naples there was q family par
ty Of the Borgias one evening at the papal
palace, where no doubt strange kind OF
mlrth and hilarity prevailed. The two
brothers lcft together and parted with
pleasant farewell, Cesar having meantime
provided four nssassins to waylay his VIC
tim that very night. The next morning
the duke was missing; several days pass
cd, but nc did not return. II was bcliyed
that he was murdered: and Alexander,
full Of grief, ordered the Tiber to be drag
gcd for the body Of his favoritc child. An
enemy, he thought, had made away with
him. lie little suspected who that enemy
was. At length a Sclavonlan waterman
came to the palace with startling story.
He said that on the night when the prince
disappeared, while he was watching some
timber on the river, he saw two men ap-
proach the bank and look cautiously
around to see II they were observed. See
Ing no one they made signal to two
others, one of whom was on horseback,
and who carried dead body swung care
lessly across his horse. He advanced 10
the river, flung the corpse far Into tho wa
ter, and then rode away. Upon being
asked why he had not done this before,
the Waterman replied that It was n CON-
mon occurrence, and that he had seen
more than hundred bodies thrown Into
the Tibcr In similar manner. The search
was now renewed, and the body OF the Ill
fated Francis was found, pierced by nine
mortal wounds. Alexander buried his
son with great pomp. and offered large
rewards for tho discovery Of his murder
ers. At last the terrible secret was re-
vealed to him; he hid himself In his pal
ace, refused food, and abandoned himself
to grief. Here he was visited by the
mother OF his children, who still lived In
Rome. What passed ut their Interview
was never known; but NIL inquiry Into the
murder ceased, and Alexander was soon
again immersed In his pleasures and Ills
ambitious designs.
Caesar Borgia now ruled unrcstralncd.
and preyed upon the Romans like some
fabulous monster Of Greek mythology.
He would suffer no rival to live, and he
made no secret Of his muricrous designs.
Ills brothcr-in.law was stabbed by his or
ders ON the steps Of the palace. The
wounded man was nurscd by his wife and
his sister, the latter preparing his food,
lest he might be carried or by poison,
while the Pope set guard around the
house to protect his son-ln-law from his
son. Cssar laughed at these precautions.
"what cannot be done In the MONDAY"
he said, "may bo brought about In the
evening"" He broke Into the chamber OF
his brother-ln.law, drove out the wife and
sister. aud had him strangled by the COM
mon executioncr. He stabbed his fathers
fayoritc, Perotto, while he clung 10 his
patron for protection, and the blood OF the
victim flowed over the face and robes Of
the Pope. Lucrczia Borgia rivaled, or
surpassed, the crimes OF her brother;
while Alexander himself performed the
holy rites Of the church with singular
exactncss, and In his leisure moments pols-
oned wealthy cardinals and seized upon
their estates. lie is said to have been
slngularly engaging In his manners, and
most agreeable In tho society OF those he
had resolved to destroy. Atlcngth Alex
andcr perished by his own arts. lie gave
grand entertainment, at which one or
more wealthy cardinals were invited for
the purpose Of being poisoned, and Cesar
Borgia was 10 provide the means. lie
sent several TASKS Of poisoned wine TO the
table, with strict orders not TO use them
except by his directions. Alexander
came early TO the banquet, heated with ex'
ercise, and called for some refreshments;
the servants brought him the poisoned
wine, suppossIng Il to bc Of rare excel
lencc; he drank Of Il freely, and was soon
In the pangs Of death. His blackened
body was buried with all the pomp ofthe
Roman ritual.
Scarcely 8. the story OF the Borgias to