[ENSEMBLE]
Oh, it pays to have a witness
When you run afoul the state
Oh, it pays to have a witness—
That's a thing to cultivate

[HANGMAN]
But he hasn't got a witness—
And I can hardly wait

[ANGELA]
Please make way, make way
How wonderfully fortunate
How splendidly sublime
That I arrive at the moment
Known as the nick of time
To save an innocent man
Accused of a dastardly crime
How fortunate that I'm here just in time!

[ENSEMBLE]
She seems to be importunate about Cellini's crime

[NARRATOR, spoken]
At this crucial pivotal point
Ottaviano's nose is out of joint
Angela brings the crucial witness
Who validates Cellini's fitness
Ascanio, Cellini's man
Tells the Duke of Ottaviano's plan
To kill him, inheriting the town
The Duchess continues the dressing down
She reminds the Duke that some years back
Ottaviano tried another tack
To plot against his lordship's life
She's really quite a loyal wife
Ottaviano's borne away
The Duke departs, the others stay
The Duchess, Cellini, and his muse—
[DUCHESS, spoken]
Remember, Cellini, I shall still want you to come to the summer palace to decorate my fountain. 

[ANGELA, spoken]
Oh please, my lady. 

[NARRATOR, spoken]
—Right then Cellini breaks the news

[CELLINI, spoken]
I'm sorry, my lady, but I've been invited to the court of France, and I ask permission to leave for Paris immediately. 

[ANGELA, spoken]
Paris! But you will take me with you?

[DUCHESS, spoken]
My dear, no man ever takes a woman to Paris. There are plenty of 'em there.