Original subtitles

CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY WARNER BROS.

Woman: WE DANCED OUR YOUTH IN A DREAMED-OF CITY.

VENICE--

PARADISE,

PROUD AND PRETTY.

WE LIVED FOR LOVE AND LUST AND BEAUTY,

PLEASURE THEN OUR ONLY DUTY...

FLOATING THEN 'TWIXT HEAVEN AND EARTH

AND DRUNK ON PLENTY'S BLESSED MIRTH.

WE THOUGHT OURSELVES ETERNAL THEN,

OUR GLORY SEALED BY GOD'S OWN PEN.

BUT PARADISE, WE FOUND, IS ALWAYS FRAIL.

AGAINST MAN'S FEAR, WILL ALWAYS FAIL.

[CROWD CHEERING FAINTLY OUTSIDE]

[DOOR OPENS]

IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG, MAMA?

NOTHING AT ALL.

[DOOR CLOSES]

[FIREWORKS WHISTLE, CROWD CHEERS]

[MOANS]

OH, I FEEL...

I FEEL FAINT.

I FEEL FAINT.

COME ON. OH, I FEEL FAINT.

OH!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

COME ON, BEATRICE.

QUICK.

Beatrice: SLOW DOWN!

VERONICA!

[MAN LAUGHS]

[FIREWORKS WHISTLE]

OHH!

LOOK.

HELLO!

LOOK, THERE'S YOUR BROTHER.

HELLO, VENICE!

WHAT IF HE SEES US?

HE'S NOT LOOKING AT US, BEA.

HE'S LOOKING AT THEM.

HELLO, VENICE!

DID YOU GET MY LETTERS?

YOU DIDN'T GET THEM?

I'M NOT TALKING TO YOU ANYWAY.

YOU BROKE MY HEART.

COME ON.

BEA, COME ON.

Man: THEY LIKE YOU.

ALL THIS FOR ME?

OH!

OH, LIVIA.

O GLORIOUS MAID

OF VIRTUES FAIR,

WITH BOSOMS LIKE THOSE, WHO COULD CARE?

MY ROD,

MILADY--

A HAND.

COME.

HARDLY.

[LAUGHS]

IT'S VENUS COME TO BLESS THE VENETIANS!

[CROWD CHEERS]

HOW ARE YOU?

BEATRICE!

HELLO.

[KISSES]

YOU SMELL LIKE A SEWER.

OH, THANK YOU. THAT'S A FINE WELCOME, LITTLE SISTER.

LOOK AT YOU.

YOU MIGHT MAKE A WIFE AFTER ALL.

DID YOU SEE HIM? SEE WHO?

YOU KNOW WHO--

MY HUSBAND-TO-BE.

IS HE HANDSOME?

OH, HE'S, UM...

HE'S POWERFUL.

HE IS.

VERONICA?

WELCOME HOME, MARCO.

I THINK I'VE MISSED YOU.

WITH ALL THE COURT LADIES TO AMUSE YOU?

OH, ROMAN WOMEN,

THEY CAN'T HOLD A CANDLE TO THE VENETIAN.

NOR CAN FRENCH, NOR CAN FLORENTINE,

NOR ANY WOMAN FROM EUROPE TO THE LEVANT.

NO DOUBT YOU'VE SAMPLED THEM ALL.

ALL BUT IDLE AMUSEMENT UNTIL YOU BLOSSOMED.

Man: MARCO.

WHAT KEEPS A SON FROM GREETING HIS PARENTS?

BEAUTY, I THINK.

MMM!

OH, MARCO, MARCO.

YOU'RE DRENCHED.

COME ON. YOU'LL CATCH YOUR DEATH.

AH, VERONICA.

I THOUGHT YOU WERE GOING TO MISS DINNER AGAIN.

YOUNG LADIES HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO

THAN POISON THEIR MINDS WITH BOOKS.

Mother: SUCH AS?

SUCH AS MINDING THEIR MANNERS.

THE BUTCHER SAID HE MUST BE PAID.

SIR, DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU SAIL?

YES, NEXT WEEK.

MMM. I WISH I COULD WITH YOU, SAIL THE HIGH SEAS.

OH, VERONICA. HIGH SEAS, INDEED.

SHE'LL NEVER FIND A HUSBAND

IF SHE CARRIES ON LIKE A CHILD.

HOW DO PEOPLE MARRY, MOTHER?

THEY STRIKE A BARGAIN.

WHAT'S TO BARGAIN OVER IF YOU'RE IN LOVE?

MARRIAGE IS A CONTRACT, VERONICA,

NOT A PERPETUAL TRYST.

Man: HAVE YOU GOT SOMEONE IN PARTICULAR IN MIND?

SERA!

OOH, LOVE POETRY, EH?

SERA, GIVE IT BACK.

"LIFE'S HARSHNESS ALL FORGAVE,

"HEART'S YEARNING MET,

WHEN, GUARD YOUR SOUL--"

MUST BE TRUE LOVE.

I'D HAVE MADE A DASHING COURTIER, DON'T YOU THINK?

OR MAYBE A PIRATE. HA!

HA!

OOH!

DISENGAGE TO THE LEFT. AND AGAIN.

BACK.

BACK, EXTEND, AND LUNGE.

[MAN SINGING]

BACK, EXTEND, AND--

?? LOVELINESS OF THEE ??

?? NOR IN HOPE ??

?? THE WORLD CAN SHOW ??

?? A LITTLE LOVE FOR ME ??

? ?? BUT SINCE THAT I MUST-- ?

?? I REALLY LOVE YOU ??

?? PLEASE... ??

?? BUT SINCE THAT I MUST DIE AT LAST ??

?? 'TIS BEST TO USE MYSELF IN JEST ??

?? DON'T TELL MAMA, SHE WILL WANT TO CASTRATE ME ??

?? BUT SINCE THAT I ??

?? MUST DIE AT LAST ??

?? 'TIS BEST... ??

AND WHERE MIGHT YOU BE GOING?

NOWHERE.

THAT NOWHERE HAS A NICE TENOR.

VERONICA'S ON THE CANAL

WITH MARCO VENIER--

ALONE.

MOTHER FRANCO.

OH, ELENA, DON'T CALL ME THAT.

IT MAKES ME FEEL ANCIENT.

YOUNG LADIES OF MARRIAGEABLE AGE

MUST BE CHAPERONED.

A GOOD MARRIAGE FOR VERONICA

COULD WIN ME A PROPER COMMISSION.

I ALWAYS LIKED MARCO VENIER.

HE'LL NEVER MARRY HER IF HE HAS HER FIRST.

MARRY HER?

A BRIDE OF MARCO'S WILL NEED A KING'S RANSOM.

I SEE...

MY FATED STARS.

YOUR EYES,

THEY MELT ME

AS THE SUN DOES SNOW.

I BOUGHT THIS IN ROME FOR YOU.

YOU DIDN'T BUY IT FOR ME.

YES, I DID.

I JUST DIDN'T KNOW IT.

[BOTH LAUGH]

OH, SUCH AN EASY GIFT

MIGHT EASILY BE TAKEN BACK AGAIN.

THEN NAME ME ANY OTHER GIFT.

THE BOOK WILL DO FOR NOW.

I THINK PERHAPS YOU'RE TOO YOUNG

TO ACCEPT WHAT I WOULD TRULY GIVE YOU.

WELL, I AM NOT SO YOUNG

AS YOU ARE VAIN.

YOU HAVEN'T CHANGED, HAVE YOU?

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?

I FEAR YOU MISTAKE ME

FOR ONE OF YOUR EASY COURT COMPANIONS.

NO.

NO.

I MISTOOK THE ASKING IN YOUR EYES.

DO YOU NOT LIKE MY KISS?

I WISH IT WERE NOT A SIN TO HAVE LIKED IT SO.

GOD MADE SIN

THAT WE MIGHT KNOW HIS MERCY.

Veronica: I FIND MYSELF WITHIN HIS EYES

AND LONG FOR MORE, MYSELF TO KNOW.

HE HEARS, IT SEEMS, MY SILENT CRIES

AND MAKES MY HEART MY REASON'S FOE.

HOW CAN THIS BE, TO LOVE SO QUICKLY?

"LOVE DOES NOT WAIT," IS HIS REPLY.

WHAT MAGIC WEAVES HIS TOUCH TO TRICK ME?

HOW CAN I NOW MY LOVE DENY?

FOR MY BRIDE.

A LITTLE WEDDING TRINKET.

[DING DING DING]

LORENZO GRITTI...

AND HIS FAIR BRIDE.

YOUR UNION GIVES US GREATEST PRIDE.

GOOD HEALTH, GREAT WEALTH

AND LASTING LINE.

ON YOUR UNION, GOD'S GLORY SHINE.

HOW COULD THEY?

HOW COULD WHO WHAT?

YOUR PARENTS MARRY YOUR SISTER OFF

TO THAT PIECE OF DECAYING FLESH.

THAT PIECE OF DECAYING FLESH

IS A COUSIN OF THE DOGE,

CONFIDANT OF THE POPE.

THE ROMAN COURT ADORES HIM.

THE ROMAN COURT DOESN'T HAVE TO SLEEP WITH HIM.

OH, YOU'D BE SURPRISED.

SAVE YOUR BLUSHES, VERONICA.

THEY DON'T SIT WELL

WITH THE BLUNTNESS OF YOUR TONGUE.

SURELY THEY COULD HAVE TRADED DOWN A FEW DUCATS

FOR AN OUNCE OF VIRILITY.

WHY?

WELL, FOR YOUR SISTER'S SAKE.

MY SISTER'S A PRUDE.

OH, AND SHE MIGHT HAVE KEPT HER OWN BED.

IT WOULD HARDLY BE MORE CRUEL

MARRYING HER TO GOD.

GOD ISN'T AS RICH AS LORENZO GRITTI.

DO HONOR TO THE HOUSES OF GRITTI AND VENIER.

FOR VENICE.

I'VE SEEN HOW YOU LOOK AT HER

AND HOW SHE LOOKS AT YOU. I KNOW THAT LOOK.

FATHER.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE LOVE'S ALLURE, MARCO.

ENJOY IT, BUT...

GUARD YOUR HEAD AND YOUR HEART.

YOU CANNOT MARRY HER.

I KNOW.

PIETRO, COME.

I WISH THAT WERE OUR BRIDAL CHAMBER.

OH.

YOU THINK ME TERRIBLY WICKED FOR SAYING THAT.

NO.

YOU KNOW WE CAN'T MARRY.

I KNOW ONLY WHAT YOU TELL ME.

I MUST MARRY ACCORDING TO MY STATION

AND MY FAMILY'S WILL.

WELL, THEN WHY ARE YOU HERE?

BECAUSE I COULD NOT STAY AWAY.

WELL, THEN DON'T.

MY MARRIAGE MUST BE A MARRIAGE OF STATE.

MY PEOPLE ARE TRUE CITIZENS 700 YEARS BACK.

A COAT OF ARMS DOES NOT AN INHERITANCE MAKE.

I SPEAK OF LOVE, AND YOU TALK OF MONEY.

I SPEAK OF MY DUTY.

AND WHAT OF YOUR HEART?

IT ISN'T ABOUT MY HEART.

THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS.

HOW ROMANTIC.

MARRIAGE ISN'T ROMANTIC.

THAT'S WHY GOD INVENTED POETRY.

TO SWEETEN MEN'S LYING LIPS.

IF I WERE A LIAR, WOULD I TELL YOU THIS NOW?

IF YOU CARED FOR ME, YOU COULD NOT TELL ME THIS EVER.

BUT I WANT YOU.

NOT ENOUGH.

[SOBBING]

DAUGHTER, YOU HAVE REACHED TOO HIGH.

I TOLD YOU, MARRIAGE IS A CONTRACT.

2 COUNTRIES SIGNING A TREATY.

TO A MAN OF MARCO'S STATION,

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH LOVE.

BUT...

YOU CAN STILL HAVE MARCO.

BUT NOT IN WEDLOCK.

THERE'S AN ALTERNATIVE TO MARRIAGE.

YOU'LL BECOME A COURTESAN.

I HAVE SEEN YOU WATCHING THEM.

I'VE SEEN YOU MESMERIZED BY THEM.

YOU WILL BECOME A COURTESAN...

LIKE YOUR MOTHER USED TO BE.

YOU WERE A COURTESAN?

ONE OF THE BEST.

WHEN?

A LONG TIME AGO.

VERONICA.

I HAD HOPED TO BUY YOU A GOOD MARRIAGE,

BUT YOUR FATHER DRANK AWAY YOUR DOWRY.

YOUR BROTHER MUST BUY HIS POSTING,

AND I AM TOO OLD.

IT IS YOU

WHO MUST SUPPORT US NOW.

LOOK AT THESE HANDS.

SOFT.

TOO SOFT FOR A SCULLERY MAID

OR WORKING THE WINERY.

PERHAPS A LADY'S MAID.

MAYBE BEATRICE WILL HIRE YOU.

WOULDN'T THAT BE FUNNY?

SEND ME TO THE CONVENT, THEN,

TO SANTO SPIRITO.

VERONICA, YOU ARE NOT THE TYPE.

HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

WHICHEVER DEVIL YOU CHOOSE,

YOU'LL LOOK HIM IN THE EYE FIRST,

WHICH IS MORE THAN MY MOTHER EVER GAVE ME.

[WOMEN SINGING IN LATIN]

[SCISSORS CUTTING]

[WOMAN CRYING]

THE FIRST SECRET OF ALL GREAT COURTESANS--

YOU MUST KNOW PLEASURE TO GIVE PLEASURE.

BEAUTY IS A MANIFESTATION OF THE DIVINE.

THAT THEORY BUILT THE SISTINE CHAPEL,

AND IT'LL DO THE SAME FOR YOU.

MMM.

HEIGHT IS AN ADVANTAGE TO WOMEN AS WELL AS MEN.

CARRIAGE CREATES THE FIRST IMPRESSION.

AAH!

[SLURPS]

[LOCKS DOOR]

[LOCK TURNS]

COME WITH ME, VERONICA.

MOTHER, WE CAN'T GO IN THERE.

LADIES CAN'T GO IN THERE.

COURTESANS CAN.

THE EMPEROR PERICLES

RELIED MORE FOR POLICY ON HIS MISTRESS

THAN HE EVER DID ON HIS LIEUTENANTS.

COURTESANS, MY DEAR,

ARE THE MOST EDUCATED WOMEN IN THE WORLD.

THE COURTESAN IS A FORCE OF NATURE

IN A CIVILIZED CLOAK.

ANY CHAMBERMAID CAN FLOP DOWN, TAKE OFF HER SHIRT,

AND MEN WILL COME.

YOUR TRUE POWER COMES FROM SOMETHING

MUCH DEEPER THAN BEAUTY.

CLEOPATRA KNEW THAT.

THEODOSIA.

ASPASIA.

SHE COULD SEDUCE A MAN AT 20 PACES

WITHOUT REVEALING AN INCH OF FLESH.

HOW?

WITH HER MIND.

DESIRE BEGINS IN THE MIND.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND.

NO, YOU DON'T.

THINK OF MARCO.

I KNOW YOU KNOW ANGER.

TRY DISDAIN.

AMUSEMENT.

SUBMISSION.

RAPTURE.

NOW...

MAKE HIM BELIEVE

THAT HE IS THE ONLY MAN IN THE UNIVERSE.

WHO TAUGHT YOU?

YOUR GRANDMOTHER.

IN ORDER TO CHOOSE YOUR LOVERS WISELY,

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND MEN.

NO MATTER THEIR SHAPE OR SIZE,

POSITION OR WEALTH,

THEY ALL DREAM

OF THE TEMPTRESS.

THE IRRESISTIBLE, UNAPPROACHABLE VENUS

QUICKLY TURNS PLIABLE MAIDEN

WHEN THEY'VE HAD A HARD DAY.

COME.

YOU CAN'T BE SQUEAMISH.

IF YOU DON'T ENJOY IT,

THEY'LL SMELL IT LIKE A DOG SMELLS FEAR,

AND THEY'LL HATE YOU FOR IT.

WHAT'S THERE TO BE SQUEAMISH ABOUT?

IF YOU TOUCH HERE...

[GASPS]

AMAZING.

USE YOUR FINGERS LIGHTLY LIKE FEATHERS.

THEN HARDER.

YOUR TONGUE LIKE LICKING SWEETS.

YOUR TEETH WITH RESTRAINT.

JUST ENOUGH TO KEEP HIM WANTING MORE.

IT'S WANTING THAT KEEPS US ALIVE.

PAOLA.

MINISTER RAMBERTI.

I'D LIKE TO PRESENT YOU TO MY DAUGHTER VERONICA.

IT WOULD BRING ME LUCK, LADY,

IF YOU WOULD PLAY A HAND FOR ME.

REMEMBER, VERONICA,

LOVE LOVE, BUT DO NOT LOVE THE MAN,

OR YOU'LL BE IN HIS POWER.

GOOD LUCK.

MAY I CALL? HMM?

MAY I CALL?

OH.

HMM.

HMM.

LOVELY.

THIS IS MY FIRST BET.

YOUR FIRST?

UNMISTAKABLY.

I'M HONORED.

REPENT YOUR EMPTY EXCESSES!

THERE IS NO COMFORT HERE!

??AVE MARIA??

REPENT! YOU, SIR!

??AVE MARIA...??

FRIENDS, MAY I ASK YOU, IS THIS GOD'S GAME?

WHY DO YOU GAMBLE WITH YOUR SOULS?

WHAT IS IT YOU WANT, SIR?

YOUR SALVATION.

HMM.

THIS IS NO COMPANY FOR ONE SO FAIR.

[WOMAN SINGING IN ITALIAN]

[APPLAUSE]

VENICE MAY AS WELL BE DEEMED ONE LARGE FLOATING BROTHEL.

WHAT'S BITING YOUR ASS

THIS FAIR EVENING, COUSIN?

UM, POVERTY.

ALWAYS PUTS ME IN A BAD MOOD.

AND YOU'D BEGRUDGE THE FAIRER SEX

THEIR LITTLE CRUMBS, WOULD YOU?

NO, THOUGH THEY DO MAKE MORE IN A NIGHT THAN I A MONTH,

THE LOVELY WHORES.

WHY DON'T YOU GO AND MAKE YOURSELF USEFUL?

GIVE US A RHYME.

I'M NO PERFORMING MONKEY FOR THE IDLE MASSES.

SINCE WHEN?

WE'RE ALL OF US PERFORMING MONKEYS, NEPHEW.

PAUPERS AND POETS ALIKE.

I'M AT YOUR SERVICE, UNCLE.

IF IT'S RHYME YOU WISH,

I SHALL GLADLY OBLIGE.

A SUBJECT.

DOGE.

AH.

VENICE TO CELEBRATE OUR PLENTY.

AH.

BORN IN GLORY.

THE VIRGIN'S EXALTATION.

FAIR AND MIGHTY VENICE.

QUEEN OF THE SEA.

UNCONQUERED MAID.

SOVEREIGN ISLE IS SHE.

CHASTE GODDESS.

RISING FROM THE FOAMY DEPTHS.

GATEWAY TO THE MOST DISTANT EAST AND WEST.

WINE?

PLEASE.

LOVER OF LIBERTY.

CHILD OF HONOR.

VERONICA?

VERONICA?

COVER YOUR SURPRISE, SIGNORE VENIER.

IT'S VAGUELY INSULTING.

SIGNORE VENIER? DON'T BE ABSURD.

I'M NOT BEING ABSURD.

I'M JUST TREATING YOU

WITH THE SAME INDIFFERENCE

YOU AFFORDED ME.

YOU CONFUSE INDIFFERENCE WITH HONESTY.

YOU CONFUSE HONESTY WITH VENALITY.

OH, YOU THINK ME VENAL?

YOU ARE A VENAL CUR.

HELLO, MARCO.

SOMETHING I CAN DO FOR YOU?

HERE BEAUTY, WIT AND WEALTH COMBINE.

GATEWAY TWIXT DISTANT EAST

AND WEST.

MOTHER OF LIBERTY.

CHILD OF HONOR.

HOME AND HEARTH AND HEART

TO MEN OF VALOR.

[APPLAUSE]

PERHAPS THE FAIR MAIDEN CAN DO BETTER.

[APPLAUSE]

A DUEL!

VENICE.

MOTHER,

VIRGIN, QUEEN,

AND GODDESS.

TO BE ALL 5 AT ONCE IS NO MEAN TRICK...

IF WOMEN'S LAST LOST EDEN

ARE ADDRESSED TO BE...

HEARTH, HEART AND HOME

TO EVERY...

PRICK.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHS]

WHO IS SHE? WHO IS THIS GIRL?

HMM.

SWEET LAGOON...

THAT BRINGS US LOVELY LIFE.

RANK WITH GREED AND TRADES...

DEVOURING STRIFE.

LADY VENICE,

HER BAUBLED SELF

DOES SHOW...

HER RAIMENT AS THE MOON DOTH GLOW.

HER WISDOM...

HER WISDOM SHINES BRIGHT AS...

ENVIOUS DAY.

HER WIVES,

LIKE BOOTY ARE...

LOCKED AWAY.

BRAVA, BRAVA!

NEVER EVER HIDE THAT FACE AGAIN.

CHILDREN, MY DEAR, ARE A DEFICIT.

IT'S NOT INFALLIBLE,

BUT IT'S MORE COMFORTABLE THAN A TURTLE SHELL.

MMM.

OHH.

MMM.

SO...

YOU DIDN'T TELL ME EVERYTHING.

HOW COULD I?

THEY WON'T ALL BE RAMBERTIS.

WHO'S NEXT?

HONOR US WITH A POEM, SIGNORA VERONICA.

I WOULD BE TOO HUMBLED

BEFORE SO ELOQUENT A GATHERING OF MINDS.

MAKE US LAUGH AS YOU DID BEFORE.

PERHAPS IF I AM CLEVER NEXT TIME,

I SHALL MAKE YOU WEEP.

YOU SHALL MAKE ME WEEP

IF YOU DO NOT GIVE ME LEAVE

TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THURSDAY?

EVERY THURSDAY?

I SHALL COUNT THE HOURS IN BETWEEN.

SCRAPE ANY LOWER,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE SHOES FOR EARRINGS.

WHY, MARCO VENIER,

I DO BELIEVE YOU'RE JEALOUS.

ONE CAN ONLY BE JEALOUS OF WHAT ONE CANNOT HAVE.

AND YOU CANNOT HAVE ME.

THERE'S NOT A WOMAN IN VENICE I CAN'T HAVE.

AND THERE'S NOT A MAN IN VENICE

THAT I CAN'T HAVE.

WE ARE SO ALIKE, YOU AND ME.

WE BOTH KNOW THAT LOVE IS INCONVENIENT

IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE.

SO WHY NOT ENJOY WHAT LITTLE WE'RE ALLOWED

TOGETHER?

I'M ALL BOOKED UP.

WELL?

WELL, WHAT?

AHH.

WELL, I SEE THAT YOU'RE ENJOYING YOURSELF.

YES. THANK YOU, SIGNORE VENIER.

DOMINICO.

OTHERWISE YOU SHALL MAKE ME FEEL VERY OLD.

OH, LET ME HELP YOU.

NO, NO, NO. IT'S NOT A SIGHT

FOR SUCH BEAUTIFUL EYES.

I'M NOT AFRAID OF FLESH.

THE MAN WHO BID YOU RHYME.

FRANCESCO MARTENENGO.

ADMIRAL OF OUR FLEET.

ANDREA TRON.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON'T MAKE HIM MAD.

BISHOP DE LA TORRE.

IT'S SAID HIS COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS

IS SURPASSED ONLY BY HIS COLLECTION OF WOMEN.

SO MANY?

BIBLICAL.

RAMBERTI, YOU KNOW.

MINISTER OF DEFENSE.

I TELL YOU NOW, HE'S IN LOVE WITH YOU.

YOU SAY THAT AS IF YOU THOUGHT IT A DISEASE.

YOU THINK PERHAPS I WANT YOU FOR MYSELF.

I WOULD NOT PRESUME.

PITY.

I WAS FLATTERED

TO THINK YOU MIGHT HARBOR SUCH SUSPICIONS

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ATTEND TO YOU

UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

[CROWS]

AAH!

AAH!

AAH!

WHOO!

[CROWS]

OHH!

OHH!

"ALL THE BEST COURTESANS HAVE ONE."

SIGNORA.

SIGNORE MARCO VENIER WISHES YOUR AUDIENCE.

[CROWS]

A PEACOCK DOES NOT AN INHERITANCE MAKE.

LOOK AT THESE GOWNS.

EACH IS A UNIQUE WORK OF ART IN EVERY DETAIL.

CHARMING SPECTACLE.

I'VE SEEN BETTER.

MUST BE INTERESTING, BEING IN A ROOM FULL OF MEN,

MOST OF WHOM YOU'VE SEEN WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN.

PUTS IT ALL IN SOME KIND OF PERSPECTIVE.

I WAS WONDERING, UM...

I WOULD ENJOY IT IF PERHAPS WE MIGHT

EXCHANGE VERSE AGAIN... SOME NIGHT...

VERONICA.

WE CAN'T AFFORD ONE ANOTHER, MAFFIO.

WE'RE BOTH COURTIERS, SINGING FOR OUR SUPPER.

OF COURSE.

WHAT WAS COUSIN MAFFIO ON ABOUT?

THE PLEASURES OF POETRY.

DID YOU ENJOY THE HUNT?

WELL, THE HUNT POSSESSES, DOESN'T IT,

SUCH A CRUEL BEAUTY?

MUCH LIKE YOUR OWN.

IS MY BEAUTY CRUEL?

OH, I THINK SO.

TO THOSE THAT YOU REFUSE, YES.

IT IS ONLY MY REFUSAL THAT AROUSES YOUR LONGING.

YOU UNDERRATE YOURSELF.

FLATTERER.

PUT IT TO THE TEST. SAY YES

AND THEN SEE IF YOU'RE RID OF ME.

I HEARD "SEE."

IF I'M RIGHT, YOU'LL TIRE OF ME,

AND IF YOU'RE RIGHT, I'LL TIRE OF YOU.

MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST STAY AS WE ARE.

YOU KNOW, I DO REGRET THE...

THE HURT THAT I CAUSED YOU.

YOU OWN MY HEART.

YOUR HEART IS HIGHER UP.

HER FATHER OWNS HALF OF LOMBARDY,

AND HER AUNT IS THE POPE'S NIECE.

AN ALLIANCE WITH THIS FAMILY IS A GODSEND, MARCO.

MARCO, YOU WILL MARRY GIULIA DE LEZZE.

FOR VENICE, IF FOR NO OTHER REASON.

IF I DIDN'T KNOW YOU BETTER,

I'D SAY YOU HAD THE FEIGNED INDIFFERENCE OF A MAN IN LOVE.

GO ON, SON. TELL THE TRUTH

AND SHAME THE DEVIL.

SO THE TURKS ARE ON THE MOVE AGAIN.

THE SULTAN WANTS THE MEDITERRANEAN

FOR HIS BATHING POOL.

WHAT IS THAT HEAVENLY THING?

ERMINE.

Marco, drunkenly: VERONICA!

VERONICA!

I'M AN ASS!

VERONICA!

VERONICA.

MY LITTLE POETESS.

I'M AN ASS!

YOU ARE THE BRIGHTEST STAR IN THE VENETIAN FIRMAMENT.

THE COLD-- EXCUSE ME.

THE COLDEST, BUT ALSO THE BRIGHTEST.

MY UNCLE TELLS ME

I HAVE THE FEIGNED INDIFFERENCE

OF A MAN...

OF A MAN ABOUT TO BE MARRIED.

I'M GETTING MARRIED, VERONICA.

CONGRATULATE ME.

FELICITATIONS ON YOUR GRAND MATCH.

WELL, HOW GENEROUSLY PUT.

DO YOU LOVE HER?

DO I HAVE TO?

WELL, I HOPE IT'S A PROFITABLE UNION.

DO YOU LIKE POETRY?

I KNOW THE PSALMS.

TELL ME A SECRET.

I HAVE NO SECRETS.

EVERYONE HAS SECRETS.

ALL RIGHT. TELL ME A DESIRE.

A DEEP DESIRE.

I HOPE TO GIVE YOU MANY STRONG SONS.

NO, I MEAN SOMETHING...

FOR YOU.

SOMETHING JUST FOR YOU.

TO BE A GOOD WIFE TO YOU IS MY ONLY DESIRE.

Veronica: 'TIS NOT WANTON FLESH,

BUT LOVE THAT BRINGS ME SHAME.

MOCKED BY FATE, IMPRISONED BY MY WOMB.

BY JEALOUSY POSSESSED, WHICH SLOW CONSUMES

IN ICE-COLD, GLOOMY, VICIOUS FLAME.

I LOVE THE VERY WEAPONS WHICH ME WOUND.

LUCKY IS THE MAN THAT CAN INSPIRE

YOUR POET'S HEART.

[LAUGHS]

THE ONLY FORM SHE'S MASTERED IS A WHORE'S.

HONESTLY, I DIDN'T THINK UNCLE WAS STILL CAPABLE

OF GETTING IT UP.

WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM

TO GET HIM TO PUBLISH THIS LITTLE PILE OF DITTIES?

HE WON'T GIVE THE TIME OF DAY

TO HIS OWN FLESH AND BLOOD.

SHE WORKED FOR IT.

HA. I'LL BET SHE WORKED FOR IT.

WHAT DO YOU COST THESE DAYS, VERONICA?

IF YOUR PRICK IS AS LIMP AS YOUR VERSE,

NO PRICE CAN POSSIBLY PURCHASE STAMINA.

[LAUGHTER]

[MEN GASP]

MAFFIO!

JUST MAKING A POINT, COUS'.

VERY BRAVE, COUS'. WHAT POINT WOULD THAT BE?

I'M SORRY.

I'M SORRY.

I APOLOGIZE.

HAVE YOU THE GUTS TO TRY AGAIN,

BLADE TO BLADE AND PEN TO PEN?

MADONNA VERONICA...

VERITABLY UNIQUE WHORE...

UM...MAY SING AND RHYME AND MORE.

STILL, IS AT BEST A SLUT...

WITH EVERY HORNY MUTT.

YOU PRIDE YOURSELF ON ARTS AND LETTERS

AND FUCKING BEST YOUR MANLY BETTERS.

HA!

OW!

I SAVE THE GOODLY WIVES OF VENICE

FROM THEIR HUSBANDS' LUSTFUL MENACE!

[MAFFIO LAUGHS]

THEN YOU CONFESS YOU LOVE...

TO RUT...

AND YOUR BEAUTY'S GLADLY STUFFED.

Marco: NOW, NOW, NOW.

A MISTAKE.

I CONFESS I FUCK DIVINELY THOSE WHO LOVE

AND WELL OPINE ME.

[MOCKING] "I CONFESS I FUCK DIVINELY

THOSE WHO RICHLY WINE AND DINE ME."

ON THE PAGE OR ON THE SHEET,

YOU'LL NEVER FIND A TONGUE MORE SWEET.

ON THE PAGE OR ON THE SHEET...

Maffio to himself: ON THE PAGE OR ON THE SHEET...

UH...GREET...BLEAT.

ON THE PAGE OR ON THE SHEET,

A GREATER HACK YOU'LL NEVER MEET!

[SCREAMING]

UGH!

YOU FIGHT LIKE A SAILOR.

I LEARNED FROM A SAILOR.

NOW STOP STALLING.

RECANT THE CURSE YOU GIVE MY KIND.

ADMIT I HAVE, AS YOU, A HEART AND MIND.

A GREEDY HAND AND EMPTY HEART

IS ALL THE WRESTS YOUR LEGS APART.

HYAH!