SCENE
The Court of Justice: the walls are hung with stamped grey velvet: above the hangings the wall is red, and gilt symbolical figures bear up the roof, which is made of red beams with grey soffits and moulding: a canopy of white satin flowered with gold is set for the Duchess: below it a long bench with red cloth for the Judges: below that a table for the clerks of the court. Two soldiers stand on each side of the canopy, and two soldiers guard the door; the citizens have some of them collected in the Court; others are coming in greeting one another; two tipstaffs in violet keep order with long white wands.
First Citizen
Good morrow, neighbour Anthony.
Second Citizen
Good morrow, neighbour Dominick.
First Citizen
This is a strange day for Padua, is it not?—the Duke being dead.
Second Citizen
I tell you, neighbour Dominick, I have not known such a day since the last Duke died.