There Was Life, There Was Love, There Was Laughter

Lyrics

[CELLINI, spoken] As I stand here, ready for eternity, I have a thousand joys to look back on And only three regrets: One—that I die without having slit yon Maffio's throat Two—that the statue of my nymph, my masterpiece, remains unfinished Three—that I leave this earth without ever having kissed the lips of Angela That divine Angela Whose fair form and spirit inspired my unfinished masterpiece [CELLINI] Beyond these three regrets, I have no regrets Therе was life, there was lovе, there was laughter These I've known, so I know no despair Heaven or hell, who can tell what comes after? This I know: Of joys I've had my share And so, unflinching I face the shadows And if the future sings this glad refrain: "He lived life, he loved love, he laughed laughter" I've not lived or loved or laughed in vain [ALL] And so, unflinching he'll face the shadows [CELLINI] And so I face the shadows [ALL] And if the future sings this glad refrain: [CELLINI] And when the future sings this glad refrain: [CELLINI & ALL] "He lived life, he loved love, he laughed laughter" [ALL] He's not lived or loved or laughed in vain [CELLINI] I've not lived or loved or laughed in vain [MAGISTRATE, spoken] Very nice, Cellini One minute left [CELLINI, spoken] In his last moment you see before you a true son of Florence I have here my will, written only a few minutes ago And when you hear it You will learn how great my love is for my native city and you, my brothers [LAWYER] I, Benvenuto Cellini, goldsmith, sculptor, jewel-setter Craftsman to kings and queens—and better— Bequeath ten thousand ducats to the citizenry [ALL, spoken] Hooray! [LAWYER] To erect in the Palazzo Vecchio—a statue of me The balance of my estate I bequeath to the Committee For Perpetuating the Beauty of Our City To maintain a Cellini Foundation that will keep alive My memory for the generations yet to arrive These monuments to Florence's greatest son Will make our city a city second to none [ALL, spoken] Hooray! [MAGISTRATE, spoken] TIme's up! [HANGMAN starts to put the noose around CELLINI's neck] [ALL] There was life, there was love, there was laughter These he's known, so why should he despair [CELLINI, noose around his neck] When I rot matter not, what comes after This I know: Of joy I've had my share [ALL] And so, unflinching he'll face the shadows And if the future sings this glad refrain: "He lived life, he loved love, he laughed laughter"— [A commotion is heard and on rushes OTTAVIANO] [OTTAVIANO, spoken] Stop! Stop! Halt the halter! [MAFFIO, spoken] What is this? [MAFFIO] Why halt the halter For this murderous assaulter? [OTTAVIANO, spoken, waves document] A pardon! A pardon from the Duke! [ALL] A pardon! A pardon! A pardon! [OTTAVIANO, spoken, reads] I, Alessandro the Wise, Duke of Florence Having suddenly been reminded that the nymph Designed for me by Benvenuto Cellini is unfinished Although practically paid for in full Do hereby pardon him until such time as the statue is completed Signed, Alessandro the Wise, Duke of Florence [ALL, spoken] Hooray! [ALL] Hail, Cellini! Hail, Cellini! [CELLINI] O lucky world, I live to create! Saint Peter's portals will have to wait [ALL] Our happiness we cannot contain What's heaven's loss is Florence's gain! [SOUVENIR MAN] Souvenirs! Hurry, hurry, hurry, get your souvenirs! Souvenirs of the pardon of Cellini! The greatest pardon of the season! [MAFFIO starts to back away but draws sword. CELLINI snatches a sword from someone nearby and rushes after MAFFIO.] [ALL] If you're bent on viewing Something doing Come to Florence Highly temperamental Are the gentle Men of Florence Blood is always spilling Life is thrilling Here in Florence Everything warrants Our singing of Florence So Florence, we're singing of you Everything warrants Our singing of Florence So Florence, we're singing of you