The scene changes to Paris.

Fame, in the garb of an express, brings intelligence of the landing of Napoleon.

The king performs a sacrifice: but the entrails are unfavourable; and the victim is without a heart.
He prepares to encounter the invader.

A young captain of the guard,--the son of Maria Antoinette by Apollo,--in the shape of a fiddler, rushes in to tell him that Napoleon is approaching with a vast army.

The royal forces are drawn out for battle.