Paolo decides against accompanying lover Lucrezia and Giula, who flee his recovered master to the papal court. Lord Giovanni Sforza's whip lacerates Paolo's bare back, but instead of a destination is only told how all three hate the brute. Pope Alexander refuses to evacuate or flee Rome with the populace, as even Cesare advises. The Spanish ambassador calls a demand for help pointless. Juan still believes his condottiere that the French can be beaten despite their superior canons if the more mobile papal army surrounds them in open field. By the time a simple chained canon balls demonstration proves the contrary, flirtatious Lucrezia has arrived and charmed her away into the confidence of king Charles. She persuades both cocky generals to agree to terms of passage trough Rome without a battle.
—KGF Vissers