The Forum in Rome, with the Capitol in the background. 
Enter Colonna with other Patricians, and, soon after, 
the people, led by Battista. 

PATRICIANS 
Away, Colonna, the people crowd us. 
Come, flee from the wrath of the howling mob! 
COLONNA 

Flee? A Colonna flee the dregs 

Of the people whose necks he so often trod 
And trampled on? 

Flee, cowardlings, flee! I'll brave their fury! 

PATRICIANS 
See you them surging along the street? 
Can you not hear them raging? Come! 

The people, with Battista at their head, 
crowd onto the stage. 

BATTISTA 

How are you, fine sirs, today? 
Must you make such haste to go? 
Surely you'd be glad to stay? 

COLONNA (to the Patricians) 
Can you let them mock you so? 

BATTISTA 

See their faces, how they plead! 
Stay with us, we humbly pray!