How Wonderfully Fortunate

Lyrics

[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.