I Had Just Been Pardoned

Lyrics

[CELLINI] I had just been pardoned and peacefully Was pushing my way through the crowd When I saw three villainous fellows glaring Dark and beetle-browed There was Maffio on one side His henchmen on the other But being of those Who love repose My rage I had to smother Well, sure enough The boys got tough At me the three of 'em sprang But Cellini's sword is a noted one And when it started to clang I quickly got rid of the henchmen And the murder they tried to promote And as for Mister Maffio I drove my sword through his throat [EMILIA squeals.] What else could I do? Three of them attacked me And three of them are gory And there they lie And here am I— And that's my story [NARRATOR, spoken] Just then, a rap upon the door It's Angela, Cellini's... girl Cellini was a sculptor who'd insist his models modeled nude So there they'd sit without a slip While he carved them chip by chip Angela, his current flame Asks about his latest shame [ANGELA, spoken] You're in trouble again? [CELLINI, spoken] Let me tell you all about it.  (sung) I had just been pardoned and peacefully Was pushing my way through the crowd When I saw five villainous fellows glaring Dark and beetle-browed There was Maffio on one side His henchmen on the other But being of those Who love repose My rage I had to smother Well, sure enough The boys got tough At me the six of 'em sprang But Cellini's sword is a noted one And when it started to clang I quickly got rid of the henchmen And the murder they tried to promote And as for Mister Maffio I drove my sword through his throat It's still there, I've no doubt I strove in time with all my strength But I couldn't pull it out [ANGELA squeals.] Eight of them attacked me And eight of them are gory And there they lie And here am I— And that's my story [ANGELA, spoken] The Duke will never forgive you! [CELLINI, spoken] Then posterity will never forgive the Duke. Men like myself don't happen twice.  [ANGELA, spoken] But he'll kill you! Aren't you afraid? [CELLINI, spoken] I don't have to be, Angela, believe me. That statue is a better armor to me than any Duke's pardon. My nymph—our nymph, Angela.  [ANGELA, spoken] I suppose you want to work. Shall I disrobe? [CELLINI, spoken] Disrobe! Must I only see you when I have a chisel in my hand? Can you not think of me as a man as well as an artist? [ANGELA, spoken] I, I don't know, master.  [CELLINI, spoken] And don't call me master. Call me Benvenuto.  [ANGELA, spoken] Benvenuto.  [CELLINI, spoken] Again.  [ANGELA, spoken] Benvenuto.  [CELLINI, spoken] Oh, Angela, Angela! That one word from your lips makes me forget that I am a violent and dreadful man, bathed in the blood of mine enemies— [ANGELA, spoken] I had almost forgotten your danger! [CELLINI, spoken] Do not interrupt me when I'm speaking well.  [ANGELA, spoken] I'm sorry.  [CELLINI, spoken] No, it's me who's sorry. Believe me, I never make a beautiful thing without thinking of you.  [ANGELA, spoken] You're very complimentary today.  [CELLINI, spoken] You like it? [ANGELA, spoken] Almost as much as she did.  [CELLINI, spoken] Who? [ANGELA, spoken] The lady you said the same thing to last Thursday. The one with the great legs.  [CELLINI, spoken] Oh, damn it! Simply and truly: I love you. I think you very beautiful.