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Title: Libretto: La Bohème

Author: Giuseppe Giacosa
Luigi Illica

Translator: William Grist
Percy Pinkerton

Release date: October 24, 2004 [eBook #13843]
Most recently updated: October 28, 2024

Language: English

Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/13843

Credits: E-text prepared by Juliet Sutherland, Keith M. Eckrich, and the
Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LIBRETTO: LA
BOHÈME ***

LIBRETTO: LA BOHÈME

An Opera in Four Acts

Libretto by
G. GIACOSA and L. ILLICA

English Version by
W. GRIST and P. PINKERTON

Music by
GIACOMO PUCCINI

CHARACTERS
RUDOLPH (a poet) Tenor
SCHAUNARD (a musician) Baritone
BENOIT (a landlord) Bass
MIMI Soprano

PARPIGNOL Tenor
MARCEL (a painter) Baritone
COLLINE (a philosopher) Bass
ALCINDORO (a councilor of state) Bass
MUSETTA Soprano
CUSTOM-HOUSE SERGEANT Bass

Students, Work Girls, Citizens, Shopkeepers, Street Vendors, Soldiers,
Restaurant Waiters, Boys, Girls, etc.

TIME ABOUT 1830—IN PARIS

SYNOPSIS
The opera is founded on Henri Murger's book "La Vie de Bohème."

ACT I

Rudolph and Marcel are sitting in the latter's attic-studio in the Quartier
Latin, in Paris. Marcel is absorbed in his painting. The day is cold. They
have no money to buy coal. Marcel takes a chair to burn it, when Rudolph
remembers that he has a manuscript which has been rejected by the

publishers and lights a fire with that instead. Colline enters, looking abject
and miserable. He had gone out to pawn his books, but nobody wanted
them. Their friend, Schaunard, however, had better luck. He comes bringing
fuel and provisions. They all prepare their meal, when the landlord enters
and demands the payment of his rent. The friends offer him a glass of wine
and turn him out amidst joking and laughter. After their gay repast they
separate and Rudolph remains alone writing.

A knock is heard at the door and Mimi, a little seamstress, who lives on
the same floor, appears and asks Rudolph to give her a match to light her
candle. As she is about to go out, she falls in a faint. Rudolph gives her
wine and restores her to consciousness. She tells him that she suffers from
consumption. Rudolph is struck by her beauty and her delicate hands. She
notices that she has lost her key and whilst they search for it their candles
are extinguished. As they grope on the floor in the dark, Rudolph finds the
key and puts it in his pocket. Their hands meet and Rudolph tries to warm
her hands and tells her all about his life. Mimi confides her struggles to him
and their conversation soon turns upon their love for each other.

ACT II

Rudolph's friends have repaired to their favorite Café. It is Christmas Eve
and everyone is in festive spirits. All the shops are bright and displaying
their goods. Hawkers offer their goods for sale in the streets. Rudolph and
Mimi are seen entering a milliner's where Rudolph is to buy her a new hat.
Colline, Schaunard and Marcel take their seats in front of the Café, where a
table has been prepared for them. Rudolph introduces Mimi to his friends.
Musetta, Marcel's flame, with whom he has quarrelled, now enters with
Alcindoro. Marcel is deeply moved when he sees her. Musetta notices this
and sends Alcindoro on an errand. Whilst he is away, she makes peace with

Marcel. The friends find that they have not sufficient money to pay for their
supper, so they carry off Musetta and leave their bills to be paid by
Alcindoro.

ACT III

Months have elapsed, bringing joy and misery to Rudolph and Mimi.
Rudolph loves Mimi passionately, but is consumed with jealousy. On a
wintry day, Marcel is seen leaving a tavern near the Gates of Paris. He
meets Mimi; she looks pale and haggard. She asks Marcel to help her and
tells him of Rudolph's love and jealousy, explaining that she must leave
him. Rudolph now comes upon the scene and not seeing Mimi tells of all
the miseries of their lives; how he loves her and believes her to be dying of
consumption. Mimi's cough betrays her and although she says good-bye to
Rudolph they find they cannot part and determine to await the spring.
Meanwhile Musetta and Marcel have a violent quarrel.

ACT IV

Marcel and Rudolph are now living together in their attic-studio. Musetta
and Mimi have left them. They are seemingly working, but their thoughts
wander towards the women they love. Schaunard and Colline enter with
rolls and a herring for their meal. They have a wild time and are dancing
and singing when Musetta enters and tells them that Mimi is outside so
weak and ill that she can go no further. They make up a bed on the couch
for her and bring her in. She clings to Rudolph and implores him not to
leave her. Mimi reconciles Marcel and Musetta. Musetta tells her old
friends that Mimi is dying and gives them her earrings to sell, asking them
to get a doctor for Mimi. They all go out leaving Rudolph alone with Mimi.

He holds her in his arms and recalls their love. Mimi is seized with a fit of
coughing and falls back in a faint. Musetta returns with medicine. Mimi
regains consciousness and turning to Rudolph tells him of her love. Musetta
falls upon her knees in prayer and Mimi passes away in Rudolph's arms.

_…rain or dust, cold or heat, nothing stops these bold adventurers.

Their existence of every day is a work of genius, a daily problem which
they always contrive to solve with the aid of bold mathematics.

When want presses them, abstemious as anchorites—but, if a little
fortune falls into their hands, see them ride forth on the most ruinous
fancies, loving the fairest and youngest, drinking the oldest and best wines,
and not finding enough windows whence to throw their money; then—the
last crown dead and buried—they begin again to dine at the table d'hôte of
chance, where their cover is always laid; smugglers of all the industries
which spring from art; in chase, from morning till night, of that wild animal
which is called the crown.

"Bohemia" has a special dialect, a distinct jargon of its own. This
vocabulary is the hell of rhetoric and the paradise of neologism_.

A gay life; yet a terrible one!

(Il. MURGER, preface to "Vie de Bohème")[1]

[Footnote 1: Rather than follow MURGER'S novel step by step, the
authors of the present libretto, both for reasons of musical and dramatic

effect, have sought to derive inspiration from the French writer's admirable
preface.

Although they have faithfully portrayed the characters, even displaying a
certain fastidiousness as to sundry local details; albeit in the scenic
development of the opera they have followed Murger's method of dividing
the libretto into four separate acts, in the dramatic and comic episodes they
have claimed that ample and entire freedom of action, which, rightly or
wrongly, they deemed necessary to the proper scenic presentment of a novel
the most free, perhaps, in modern literature.

Yet, in this strange book, if the characters of each person therein stand
out clear and sharply defined, we often may perceive that one and the same
temperament bears different names, and that it is incarnated, so to speak, in
two different persons. Who cannot detect in the delicate profile of one
woman the personality both of Mimi and of Francine? Who, as he reads of
Mimi's "little hands, whiter than those of the Goddess of Ease," is not
reminded of Francine's little muff?

The authors deem it their duty to point out this identity of character. It
has seemed to them that these two mirthful, fragile, and unhappy creatures
in this comedy of Bohemian life might haply figure as one person, whose
name should not be Mimi, not Francine, but "the Ideal."]

ACT I

"…Mimi was a charming girl specially apt to appeal to Rudolph, the poet
and dreamer. Aged twenty-two, she was slight and graceful. Her face
reminded one of some sketch of high-born beauty; its features had
marvellous refinement.

"The hot, impetuous blood of youth coursed through her veins, giving a
rosy hue to her clear complexion that had the white velvety bloom of the
camellia.

"This frail beauty allured Rudolph. But what wholly served to enchant
him were Mimi's tiny hands, that, despite her household duties, she
contrived to keep whiter even than the Goddess of Ease."

ACT I

IN THE ATTIC

Spacious window, from which one sees an expanse of snow-clad roofs.
On left, a fireplace, a table, small cupboard, a little book-case, four chairs,
a picture easel, a bed, a few books, many packs of cards, two candlesticks.
Door in the middle, another on left.

Curtain rises quickly

RUDOLPH and MARCEL. RUDOLPH looks pensively out of the
window. MARCEL works at his painting, "The Passage of the Red Sea,"
with hands nipped with cold, and warms them by blowing on them from
time to time, often changing position on account of the frost.

MAR. (seated, continuing to paint)
This Red Sea passage feels as damp and chill to me
As if adown my back a stream were flowing.

(Goes a little way back from the easel to look at the picture.)

But in revenge a Pharaoh will I drown.

(Turning to his work.)

And you? (to RUDOLPH)

RUD. (pointing to the tireless stove)
Lazily rising, see how the smoke
From thousands of chimneys floats upward!
And yet that stove of ours
No fuel seems to need, the idle rascal,
Content to live in ease, just like a lord!

MAR. 'Tis now a good, long while since we paid his lawful wages.

RUD. Of what use are the forests all white under the snow?

MAR. Now Rudolph, let me tell you
A fact that overcomes me,
I'm simply frozen!

RUD. (approaching MARCEL)
And I, Marcel, to be quite candid,
I've no faith in the sweat of my brow.

MAR. All my fingers are frozen
Just as if they'd been touching that iceberg,
Touching that block of marble, the heart of false Musetta.

(Heaves a long sigh, laying aside his palette and brushes, and ceases
painting.)

RUD. Ah! love's a stove consuming a deal of fuel!

MAR. Too quickly.

RUD. Where the man does the burning.

MAR. And the woman the lighting.

RUD. While the one turns to ashes.

MAR. So the other stands and watches.

RUD. Meanwhile, in here we're frozen.

MAR. And we're dying of hunger.

RUD. A fire must be lighted.

MAR. (seizing a chair and about to break it up)
I have it,
This crazy chair shall save us!

(RUDOLPH energetically resists MARCEL'S project.)

RUD. (joyous at an idea that has seized him)
Eureka!

(Runs to the table and from below it lifts a bulky manuscript.)

MAR. You've found it?

RUD. Yes. When genius is roused ideas come fast in flashes.

MAR. (pointing to his picture)
Let's burn up the "Red Sea."

RUD. No: think what a stench 'twould occasion!
But my drama, my beautiful drama shall give us warmth.

MAR. (with comic terror)
Intend you to read it?
Twill chill us!

RUD. No. The paper in flame shall be burning,
The soul to its heaven returning. (with tragic emphasis)
Great loss! but the world yet must bear it,
When Rome is in peril!

MAR. Great soul!

RUD. (_giving MARCEL a portion of the MS._)
Here, take the first act.

MAR. Well?

RUD. Tear it.

MAR. And light it.

(RUDOLPH strikes a flint on steel, lights a candle, and goes to the stove
with MARCEL; together they set fire to a part of the MS. thrown into the
fireplace; then both draw up their chairs and sit down, delightedly warming
themselves.)

RUD. How joyous the rays!

MAR. How cheerful the blaze!

(The door at the back opens violently, and COLLINE enters frozen and
nipped up, stamping his feet, and throwing angrily on the table a bundle of
books tied up in a handkerchief.)

COL. Surely miracles apocalyptic are dawning!
For Christmas eve they honor by allowing no pawning!

(Checks himself, seeing a fire in the stove.)

See I a fire here?

RUD. (to COLLINE) Gently, it is my drama.

COL. In blazes!
I find it very sparkling.

RUD. Brilliant! (the fire languishes)

COL. Too short its phrases.

RUD. Brevity's deemed a treasure.

COL. (taking the chair from RUDOLPH)
Your chair pray give me, author.

MAR. These foolish entr'actes merely make us shiver. Quickly!

RUD. (taking another portion of the MS.) Here is the next act.

MAR. (to COLLINE) Hush! not a whisper.

(RUDOLPH tears up the MS. and throws it into the fireplace; the flames
revive. COLLINE moves his chair nearer and warms his hands. RUDOLPH
is standing near the two with the rest of the MS.)

COL. How deep the thought is!

MAR. Color how true!

RUD. In that blue smoke my drama is dying
Full of its love-scenes ardent and new.

COL. A leaf see crackle!

MAR. Those were all the kisses.

RUD. (throwing the remaining MS. on the fire)
Three acts at once I desire to hear.

COL. Only the daring can dream such visions.

RUD., MAR. and COL. Dreams that in flame soon disappear.

(Applaud enthusiastically; the flame diminishes.)

MAR. Ye gods! see the leaves well-nigh perished.

COL. How vain is the drama we cherished.

MAR. They crackle! they curl up! they die!

MAR. and COL. The author—down with him, we cry.

(From the middle door two boys enter, carrying provisions and fuel; the
three friends turn, and with a surprised cry, seize the provisions and place
them on the table. COLLINE carries the wood to the fireplace.)

RUD. Fuel!

MAR. Wine, too!

COL. Cigars!

RUD. Fuel!

MAR. Bordeaux!

RUD., MAR. and COL. The abundance of a feast day
We are destined yet to know.

(Exeunt the two boys)

(Enter SCHAUNARD.)

SCH. (triumphantly throwing some coins on the ground)
Such wealth in the balance
Outweighs the Bank of France.

COL. (assisting RUDOLPH and MARCEL to pick up the coins)
Then, take them—then, take them.

MAR. (incredulously) Tin medals? Inspect them.

SCH. (showing one to MARCEL)
You're deaf then, or blear-eyed?
What face do they show?

RUD. (bowing)
King Louis Philippe: to my monarch I bow.

RUD., MAR., SCH. and COL. Shall King Louis Philippe at our feet thus
lie low?

(SCHAUNARD will go on recounting his good luck, but the others
continue to arrange everything on the table.)

SCH. Now I'll explain.
This gold has—or rather silver—
Has its own noble story.

MAR. First the stove to replenish.

COL. So much cold has he suffered,

SCH. 'Twas an Englishman, then—
Lord, or mi-lord, as may be—
Desired a musician.

MAR. (throwing COLLINE'S books from the table)
Off! Let us furnish the table.

SCH. I flew to him.

RUD. Where is the food?

COL. There.

MAR. Here.

SCH. I pay my homage.
Accepted, I enquire—

COL. (preparing the viands on the table while RUDOLPH lights the
other candle)
Here's cold roast beef.

MAR. And savory patty.

SCH. When shall we start the lessons?
When I seek him, in answer to my question,
"When shall we start the lessons?"
He tells me "Now—at once.
Just look there,"
Showing a parrot on the first floor, hung, then continues:

"You must play until that bird has ceased to live."
Thus it befell:
Three days I play and yell.

RUD. Brilliantly lightens the room into splendor.

MAR. Here are the candles.

COL. What lovely pastry!

SCH. Then on the servant girl
Try all the charms wherewith I'm laden;
I fascinate the maiden.

MAR. With no tablecloth eat we—

RUD. (taking a paper from his pocket) An idea!

COL. and MAR. The Constitutional.

RUD. (unfolding the paper)
Excellent paper!
One eats a meal and swallows news at the same time!

SCH. With parsley I approach the bird,
His beak Lorito opens;
Lorito's wings outspread,
Lorito opens his beak,
A little piece of parsley gulps—
As Socrates, is dead!

(SCHAUNARD, seeing that no one is paying any attention to him, seizes
COLLINE as he passes with a plate.)

COL. Who?

SCH. (pettishly) The devil fly away with you entirely!

(seeing the rest in the act of eating the cold pastry)

What are you doing?

(With solemn gesture, extending his hand over the pastry)

No! dainties of this kind
Are but the stored-up fodder
Saved for the morrow,
Fraught with gloom and sorrow, (clearing the table)
To dine at home on the day of Christmas vigil,
While the Quartier Latin embellishes
Its ways with dainty food and tempting relishes.
Meanwhile the smell of savory fritters
The old street fills with fragrant odor.
There singing joyously, merry maidens hover,
Having for echo each a student lover.

(RUDOLPH locks the door; then all go to the table and pour out wine.)

RUD., MAR. and COL. 'Tis the gladsome Christmas Eve.

SCH. A little of religion, comrades, I pray;
Within doors drink we, but we dine away.

(Two knocks are heard at the door.)

BEN. (from without) 'Tis I.

MAR. Who is there?

BEN. 'Tis Benoit.

MAR. 'Tis the landlord is knocking!

SCH. Bolt the door quickly!

COL. (calling towards the door) No! There is no one!

SCH. 'Tis fastened!

BEN. Give me a word, pray!

SCH. (opening the door, after consulting with his friends) At once.

BEN. (entering smilingly, showing a paper to MARCEL) The rent!

MAR. (with great cordiality) Hallo! give him a seat, friends!

BEN. Do not trouble, I beg you.

SCH. (with gentle firmness, obliging BENOIT to sit down) Sit down!

MAR. (offering BENOIT a glass of wine) Some Bordeaux?

RUD. Your health!

BEN. Thank you.

COL. Your health!

SCH. Drink up!

RUD. Good health! (all drink)

BEN. (to MARCEL, putting down his glass and showing his paper.)
'Tis the quarter's rent I call for.

MAR. (ingenuously) Glad to hear it.

BEN. And therefore—

SCH. (interrupting) Another tipple? (fills up the glasses)

BEN. Thank you.

RUD. Your health!

COL. Your health!

RUD., MAR., SCH. and COL. (all touching BENOIT'S glass)
Drink we all your health, sir! (all drink)

BEN. (resuming, to MARCEL)
To you I come, as the quarter now is ended;
You have promised,

MAR. To keep it I intended. (Shows BENOIT the money on the table.)

RUD. (aside to MARCEL) Art mad?

SCH. (aside to MARCEL) What do you—

MAR. (to BENOIT, without noticing the two)
Hast seen it? Then give your care a respite,
And join our friendly circle.
Tell me how many years
Boast you of, my dear sir?

BEN. My years! Spare me, I pray.

RUD. Our own age, less or more?

BEN. (protesting) Much more, very much more.

(While they make BENOIT talk, they fill up his glass immediately it is
empty.)

COL. He says 'tis less or more.

MAR. (mischievously, in a low voice)
T'other evening at Mabille
I caught him in a passage of love.

BEN. (uneasily) Me!

MAR. At Mabille. T'other evening
I caught you. Deny?

BEN. By chance 'twas.

MAR. (in a flattering tone) She was lovely!

BEN. (half drunk, suddenly) Ah! very.

SCH. Old rascal!

RUD. Old rascal!

COL. Vile seducer!

SCH. Old rascal!

MAR. He's an oak tree. He's a cannon.

RUD. He has good taste, then?

BEN. (laughing) Ha, ha!

MAR. Her hair was curly auburn.

COL. Old knave!

MAR. With ardent speed leaped he joyous to her embraces.

BEN. (with increasing exultation) Old am I, but robust yet.

RUD., SCH. and COL. Ardent with joy he sprang to her embraces.

MAR. To him she yields her woman's love and truth.

BEN. (in a very confidential tone)
Bashful was I in youth,
Now somewhat am I altered.
Well, what I like myself …
Must know that my one delight …
Is a merry damsel,—and small,
I do not ask a whale, nor a world-map to study,
Nor, like a full moon,
A face round and ruddy;
But leanness, downright leanness, No! No!
Lean women's claws oftentimes are scratchy,
Their temper somewhat catchy,
Full of aches, too, and mourning,
As my wife is my warning.

(MARCEL bangs his fist down on the table and rises; the others follow
his example, BENOIT looking on in bewilderment.)

MAR. A wife possessing!
Yet thoughts impure confessing.

SCH. and COL. Foul shame!

RUD. His vile pollution empoisons our honest abode.

SCH. and COL. Hence!

MAR. With perfume we must fumigate!

COL. Drive him forth, the reprobate!

SCH. Morality offended hence expels you!

(BENOIT staggeringly rises, and tries in vain to speak.)

BEN. But say—I say!

MAR. Be silent!

COL. Be silent!

RUD. Be silent!

(They surround BENOIT and gradually push him to the door.)

BEN. Sirs, I beg you!

MAR., SCH. and COL. Be silent, out, your lordship! Hence away!

RUD., MAR., SCH. and COL. Wish we your lordship a pleasant
Christmas
Eve. Ah!

(They push BENOIT outside the door.)

MAR. (locking the door) I have paid the last quarter!

SCH. In the Quartier Latin
Momus awaits!

MAR. Long live the spender!

SCH. We'll the booty divide!

RUD. We'll divide!

COL. We'll divide! (they divide the money on the table)

MAR. (holding out a cracked mirror to COLLINE)
Beauty is a gift heaven descended,
Now you are rich, to decency pay tribute.
Bear! have your mane attended!

COL. The first chance I can find,
I will make acquaintance with a beard eraser!
So guide me to the monstrous outrage of a barber's weapon.
Let's go!

SCH. We go!

MAR. and COL. We go!

RUD. I stay here, finish I must the article for my new journal,
"Beaver"!

MAR. Be quick then!

RUD. Five minutes only, I know well the work!

COL. We'll await you at the porter's lodge!

MAR. Delay, and you'll hear the chorus!

RUD. Five minutes only!

SCH. You must cut short the Beaver's growing tale!

(RUDOLPH takes a light from the table and goes to open the door: the
others go out and descend the staircase.)

MAR. (from without) Look to the staircase! keep well to the handrail!

RUD. (on the landing near the open door holding up the candle) Go
slowly!

COL. How plaguing dark 'tis!

SCH. May the porter be damned!

(The noise of someone falling is heard.)

COL. I have tumbled!

RUD. Colline, are you dead yet?

COL. (from the bottom of the staircase) Not this time!

MAR. Come quickly!

(RUDOLPH shuts the door, puts down the light, clears a space at the
table for pens and paper, then sits down and commences to write, after
putting out the other candle.)

RUD. I'm out of humor! (A timid knock is heard at the door.) Who's
there?

MIMI. (from without) Pardon!

RUD. 'Tis a lady!

MIMI. Excuse me, my candle's gone out!

RUD. (running to open the door) Is it?

MIMI. (standing on the threshold with an extinguished candle and a
key)
Pray, would you—

RUD. Pray be seated a moment.

MIMI. No, I thank you.

RUD. I beg you enter.

(MIMI enters, but is seized with a fit of coughing.)

RUD. Are you not well?

MIMI. No! Nothing!

RUD. You are quite pale!

MIMI. (coughing) My breath—'tis the staircase—

(Swoons, and RUDOLPH has hardly time to support her and place her on
a chair. She lets fall her candlestick and key.)

RUD. What can I do to aid her?

(Fetches some water, and sprinkles her face.)

Ah! this! How very pale her face is! (Mimi revives) Do you feel better?

MIMI. Yes.

RUD. Here 'tis very chilly.
Nearer the fire be seated an instant.
(conducting her to a chair near the tire)
A little wine?

MIMI. Thank you.

RUD. (giving her a glass and pouring out some wine) For you.

MIMI. Not so much, please!

RUD. Like this?

MIMI. Thank you. (she drinks)

RUD. How lovely a maiden.

MIMI. Now please allow me to light my candle, I'm feeling much better.

RUD. What, so quickly?

(RUDOLPH lights the candle and gives it to MIMI.)

MIMI. Thank you. Now, good evening.

RUD. So, good evening.

(Accompanies her to the door, and then returns quickly to his work.)

MIMI. (re-entering, stops on the threshold)
Oh! how stupid! How stupid!
The key of my poor chamber,
Where can I have left it?

RUD. Come, stand not in the doorway:
Your candle is flickering in the wind.

(Mimi's light goes out.)

MIMI. Good gracious! Please light it just once more!

(RUDOLPH runs with his candle, but, as he nears the door, his light, too,
is blown out, and the room remains in darkness.)

RUD. Oh, dear! Now there's mine gone out, too!

MIMI. Ah! and the key—where can it be?

(Groping about, she reaches the table and deposits the candlestick.)

RUD. What a nuisance! (He finds himself near the door and fastens it.)

MIMI. I'm so sorry.

RUD. Where can it be?

MIMI. You have an importunate neighbor,
Pray, forgive your tiresome little neighbor.

RUD. Nothing, I assure you.

MIMI. Pray, forgive your tiresome neighbor.

RUD. Do not mention it, I pray you.

MIMI. Look for it.

RUD. I'm looking.

(Looks for the key on the floor; sliding over it, he knocks against the
table, deposits his candlestick, and searches for the key with his hands on
the floor.)

MIMI. Where can it be?

(Finds the key, lets an exclamation escape, then checks himself and puts
the key in his pocket.)

RUD. Ah!

MIMI. Have you found it?

RUD. No.

MIMI. I think so.

RUD. In very truth.

MIMI. Found it?

RUD. Not yet.

(Feigns to search, but guided by Mimi'S voice and movements,
approaches her; as Mimi is stooping his hand meets hers, which he clasps.)

MIMI. (rising to her feet, surprised) Ah!

RUD. (holding Mimi's hand, with emotion)
Your tiny hand is frozen,
Let me warm it into life;
Our search is useless,
In darkness all is hidden,
'Ere long the light of the moon shall aid us,
Yes, in the moonlight our search let us resume.
One moment, pretty maiden,
While I tell you in a trice,
Who I am, what I do,
And how I live. Shall I?

(Mimi is silent.)

I am, I am a poet!
What's my employment? Writing.
Is that a living? Hardly.
I've wit though wealth be wanting,
Ladies of rank and fashion
All inspire me with passion;
In dreams and fond illusions,
Or castles in the air,
Richer is none on earth than I.

Bright eyes as yours, believe me,
Steal my priceless jewels,
In fancy's store-house cherished,
Your roguish eyes have robbed me,
Of all my dreams bereft me,
Dreams that are fair, yet fleeting.
Fled are my truant fancies,

Regrets I do not cherish,
For now life's rosy morn is breaking,
Now golden love is waking.
Now that I've told my story,
Pray tell me yours, too;
Tell me frankly, who are you?
Say, will you tell?

MIMI. (after some hesitation)
They call me Mimi
But my name is Lucia;
My story is a short one—
Fine satin stuffs or silk
I deftly embroider;
I am content and happy;
The rose and lily I make for pastime.
These flowers give me pleasure
As in magical accents
They speak to me of love,
Of beauteous springtime.
Of fancies and of visions bright they tell me,
Such as poets, and only poets, know.
Do you hear me?

RUD. Yes!

MIMI. They call me Mimi,
But I know not why;
All by myself I take my frugal supper,
To Mass not oft repairing,
Yet oft I pray to God.

In my room live I lonely,
Up at the top there, in my little chamber
Above the house tops so lofty.
Yet the glad sun first greets me;
After the frost is over
Spring's first, sweet, fragrant kiss is mine,
Her first bright sunbeam is mine,
A rose as her petals are opening
Do I tenderly cherish. Ah! what a charm
Lies for me in her fragrance!
Alas! those flowers I make,
The flowers I fashion, alas! they have no perfume!
More than just this I cannot find to tell you,
I'm a tiresome neighbor that at an awkward moment
intrudes upon you.

SCH. (from below) Eh! Rudolph!

COL. Rudolph!

MAR. Hallo! you hear not?
Don't dawdle!

(At the shouts of his friends RUDOLPH is annoyed.)

COL. Poetaster, come!

SCH. What has happened, idler?

(Getting more annoyed RUDOLPH opens the window to answer his
friends; the moonlight enters, brightening the room.)

RUD. I have still three lines to finish.

MIMI. (approaching the window) Who are they?

RUD. My friends.

SCH. You will know they're yours.

MAR. What do you there, so lonely?

RUD. I'm not lonely. We are two.
So to Momus go on.
There keep us places; we will follow quickly.

(Remains still at the window to make sure of his friends going.)

MAR., SCH. and COL. (gradually departing)
Momus, Momus, Momus!
Gently and soft to supper let us go.

MAR. And poetry let flow.

SCH. and COL. Momus, Momus, Momus!

(MIMI goes nearer the window, so that the moon's rays fall on her while
RUDOLPH contemplates her ecstatically.)

RUD. Lovely maid in the moonlight!

MAR. And poetry let flow.

RUD. Your face entrancing.
Like radiant seraph from on high appears!
The dream that I would ever, ever dream, returns.

RUD. | MIMI. | | Love alone o'er hearts has sway Heart to heart and soul
to soul | Ah Love! to thee do we surrender. Love binds us in his fetters. |
(_yielding to her lover's (placing his arm around MIMI embrace_) Love
now shall rule our hearts | Sweet to my soul the magic voice alone, | Of love
its music chanteth, Life's fairest flower is love! | Life's fairest flower is
love! Life's fairest flower is love! | (RUDOLPH kisses her.)

MIMI. (disengaging herself) No, I pray you!

RUD. My sweetheart!

MIMI. Your comrades await you!

RUD. Do you then dismiss me?

MIMI. I should like—no, I dare not!

RUD. Say!

MIMI. (coquettishly) Could I not come with you?

RUD. What, Mimi?
It would be much more pleasant here to stay.
Outside 'tis chilly!

MIMI. To you I'll be neighbor! I'll be always near you.

RUD. On returning?

MIMI. (archly) Who knows, sir?

RUD. Take my arm, my little maiden!

MIMI. (giving her arm to RUDOLPH) I obey you, my lord!

(They go, arm in arm, to the door.)

RUD. You love me? Say!

MIMI. (with abandon)
I love thee!

RUD. and MIMI. My love! My love!

ACT II

"…Gustave Colline, the great philosopher; Marcel, the great painter;
Rudolph, the great poet, and Schaunard, the great musician —as they were
wont to style them selves—regularly frequented the Cafe Momus, where,
being inseparable, they were nicknamed 'The Four Musketeers.'

"Indeed, they always went about together, played together, dined
together, often without paying the bill, yet always with a beautiful harmony
worthy of the Conservatoire Orchestra.

"Mademoiselle Musetta was a pretty girl of twenty.

"Very coquettish, rather ambitious, but without any pretensions to
spelling.

"Oh! those delightful suppers in the Quartier Latin!

"A perpetual alternative between a blue brougham and an omnibus;
between the Rue Breda and the Quartier Latin.

"…Well! what of that? From time to time I feel the need of breathing the
atmosphere of such a life as this. My madcap existence is like a song; each
of my love-episodes forms a verse of it, but Marcel is its refrain!"

ACT II

IN THE LATIN QUARTER

CHRISTMAS EVE

A conflux of streets; where they meet, a square, flanked by shops of all
sorts; on one side the Café Momus.

Aloof from the crowd, RUDOLPH and MIMI; COLLINE is near a rag-
shop, SCHAUNARD stands outside a tinker's, buying a pipe and a horn,
MARCEL is being hustled hither and thither.

A vast, motley crowd; soldiers, serving maids, boys, girls, children,
students, work girls, gendarmes, etc. It is evening. The shops are decked
with tiny lamps; a huge lantern lights up the entrance to the Café Momus.
The café is so crowded that some of the customers are obliged to seat
themselves outside.

HAWKERS. (outside their shops)

Come, buy my oranges!
Hot roasted chestnuts!
Trinkets and crosses!
Fine hardbake!
Excellent toffee!

Flowers for the ladies!
Try our candy!
Cream for the babies!
Fat larks and ortolans!
Look at them!
Fine salmon!
Look at our chestnuts!
Who'll buy my carrots?

THE CROWD.

CITIZENS. What a racket!

WOMEN. What uproar!

STUDENTS and WORK GIRLS.
Hold fast to me; come along!

A MOTHER. (calling her children) Lisa! Emma!

CITIZENS. Ho! make way there!

THE MOTHER. Emma, don't you hear me?

STUDENTS and WORK GIRLS. Rue Mazarin's the nearest.

WOMEN. Let's get away, I'm choking!

CITIZENS. See! the café is near!

(At the Café)

CITIZENS.
Come here, waiter!

Come along!
Come along!
Come here!
To me!
Some beer!
A glass!
Vanilla!
Come along!
Come along!
Some beer!
Some coffee!
Hurry up!

SCH. (blowing the horn)
D! D! D! what a dreadful D!

(Haggling with the tinker.)

What's the price of the lot?

COL. (to the clothes dealer, who has been mending a jacket for him)
It's rather shabby, but sound and not expensive.

(He pays, and then carefully consigns the books to the various pockets of
his long coat.)

(MARCEL alone in the midst of the crowd, with a parcel under his arm,
making eyes at the girls who jostle against him in the crowd.)

MAR. I feel somehow as if I fain must shout:
Ho! laughing lassies, will you play at love?

Let's play together, let's play the game of buy and sell:
Who'll give a penny for my guileless heart?

(_Pushing through the crowd, RUDOLPH and MIMI, arm in arm,
approach a bonnet shop._)

RUD. Let's go!

MIMI. To buy the bonnet?

RUD. Hold tightly to my arm, love!

(They enter the bonnet shop.)

(SCHAUNARD strolls about in front of the Café Momus, waiting for his
friends, and, armed with his huge pipe and hunting horn, he watches the
crowd curiously.)

SCH. Surging onward—eager, breathless—
Moves the madding crowd,
As they frolic ever
In their wild, insane endeavor.

COL. (comes up, waving an old book in triumph)
Such a rare copy! well-nigh unique,
A grammar of Runic!

SCH. (who arrives at that moment behind COLLINE, compassionately)
Honest fellow!

MAR. (arriving at the Café Momus, and finding SCHAUNARD and
COLLINE)
To supper!

SCH. and COL. Ho! Rudolph!

MAR. He's gone to buy a bonnet.

(MARCEL, SCHAUNARD and COLLINE try to find an empty table
outside the café, but there is only one, which is occupied by townsfolk. At
these latter the three friends glare furiously, and then enter the café. The
crowd disperses among the adjacent streets. The shops are crowded and the
square becomes densely thronged with buyers who come and go. In the café
there is much animation. RUDOLPH and MIMI come out of the shop.)

RUD. (to MIMI)
Come along! my friends are waiting.

MIMI. Do you think this rose-trimmed bonnet suits me?

RUD. The color suits your dark complexion.

MIMI. (looking into the window of a bonnet shop) O what a pretty
necklace!

RUD. I have an aunt a millionaire.
If the good God wills to take her,
Then shall you have a necklace far more fine.
(suddenly seeing MIMI look round suspiciously)
What is it?

MIMI. Are you jealous?

RUD. The man in love is always jealous, darling.

MIMI. Are you then in love?

RUD. (squeezing her arm in his)

Yes, so much in love!
Are you?

MIMI. Yes, deeply.

(Enter from the café, COLLINE, SCHAUNARD and MARCEL carrying
a table. A waiter follows with chairs. The townsfolks seated near seem
vexed at the noise which the three friends are making, for they soon get up
and walk away.)

COL. The vulgar herd I hate, just as I did Horace.

SCH. And I, when I am eating,
I can't stand being crowded.

MAR. (to the waiter) Smartly!

SCH. For many!

MAR. We want a supper of the choicest!

(MIMI and RUDOLPH joining their friends.)

RUD. (accompanied by MIMI) Two places.

COL. Let's have supper.

RUD. So we have come. (introducing Mimi)
This is Mimi,
The merry flower girl;
And now she's come to join us.
Our party is completed—
For I shall play the poet,
While she's the muse incarnate.

Forth from my brain flow songs of passion,
As, at her touch the pretty buds blow;
As in the soul awaketh beautiful love!

MAR. (ironically) My word, what high falutin'!

COL. Digna est intrari.

SCH. Ingrediat si necessit.

COL. I'll grant only an accessit!

(RUDOLPH makes MIMI sit down. All being seated, the waiter returns
with the menu.)

COL. (with an air of great importance) Some sausage!

PAR. (faintly in the distance) Who'll buy some pretty toys from
Parpignol?

(Boys and girls running out from the shops and adjoining streets.)

BOYS and GIRLS. Parpignol! Parpignol!

(Enter PARPIGNOL from the Rue Dauphin, pushing a barrow festooned
with foliage, flowers and paper lanterns.)

PAR. (crying) Who'll buy some pretty toys from Parpignol?

CHILDREN, (crowding and jumping round the barrow)
Parpignol! Parpignol!
With his pretty barrow bright with flowers!

(admiring the toys)

I want the horn! and I the horse!
Get away, they are mine!
I want the gun! and I the whip!
No, the drum shall be mine!

(At the cries of the children, the mothers try, but without success, to lead
them away from PARPIGNOL, scolding loudly.)

MOTHERS.
Ah! wait a bit, you dirty little rascals.
What can it be that sets you all a-gaping?
Get home to your beds, get home, lazy rascals,
Or you shall all have a tidy beating.

(The children refuse to go. One of them cries for Parpignol'S toys and his
mother pulls his ear. The mothers, relenting, buy some. Parpignol moves
down the street, followed by the children, pretending to play on their toy
instruments.)

PAR. (in the distance) Who'll buy some pretty toys of Parpignol!

(The waiter presents the menu, which the four friends carefully scrutinize
in turn.)

SCH. Bring some venison.

MAR. I'll have turkey.

RUD. (in an undertone to MIMI) Mimi, what would you like?

MIMI. Some custard!

SCH. And some Rhenish!

COL. Bring some claret, too!

SCH. And some lobster, only shell it!
The best you've got—for a lady!

MAR. (disconcerted at the sight of MUSETTA; to the waiter)

And I'll have a phial of poison! (throwing himself on a chair)

SCH., COL. and RUD. (turning on hearing MARCEL'S exclamation)

Oh! Musetta!

(the friends look pityingly at MARCEL, who turns pale)

(The shopwomen are going away, but stop to watch the fair stranger, and
are astonished to recognize in her MUSETTA; they whisper among
themselves, pointing at her.)

Look! 'tis Musetta!
She!
Musetta!
'Tis she!
Yes!
Yes!
'Tis Musetta!
Oh! what swagger!
My! she's gorgeous.

(entering their shops)

STUDENTS and WORK GIRLS (crossing the stage)
Only look! why, there she is!

Some old stammering dotard's with her, too!
Yes, 'tis she!
Tis she!
Musetta!

(Enter from the corner of the Rue Mazarin an extremely pretty
coquettish-looking young lady. She is followed by a pompous old
gentleman, who is both fussy and over-dressed.)

ALCINDORO DE MITONNEAUX. (_joining MUSETTA, out of
breath_)
Just like a valet
I must run here and there.
No, no, not for me!
I can stand it no more.

(MUSETTA_ without noticing_ ALCINDORO_, takes a vacant seat,
outside the café._) How now? Outside? Here?

MUS. (without noticing his protests, he fearing to remain outside in the
cold) Sit down, Lulu!

ALC. (in great irritation, sits down, and turns up his coat collar)
Such a term of fond endearment
Pray do not apply to me!

MUS. Now, don't be Blue Beard, pray!

(_A waiter approaches briskly, to prepare the table and begins to serve.
SCHAUNARD and COLLINE furtively watch MUSETTA. MARCEL feigns
the greatest indifference. RUDOLPH devotes all his attention to MIMI._)

SCH. (at the sight of the old gentleman with his decorations)
He's had a pretty good dose, I reckon.

COL. (_scrutinizing _ALCINDORO) The naughty, naughty elder!

MAR. (contemptuously) With his good young Susanna.

MIMI. (_to _RUDOLPH) And her clothes are smart, too!

RUD. The angels can't afford them.

(A piquet of the National Guard passes across the square; some shop-
keepers go home; at the corner of the street the chestnut-seller does a
thriving trade; the old clothes dealer fills her barrel with clothes, and goes
away with it over her shoulder.)

MUS. (disconcerted at not being noticed by her friends)
Marcel can see me,
But he won't look, the villain!
And Schaunard!
They provoke me past bearing!
Ah! could I but beat them!
If I could, I would scratch!
But I only have to back me
This old pelican!
No matter! (calls the waiter who has gone away)
Hi! waiter, here! (the waiter hurriedly approaches)
See, this plate has a horrid smell of onions!
(dashes the plate on the ground; the waiter picks up the pieces)

ALC. Don't, Musetta! do be quiet!

MUS. (irritated, still watching MARCEL) He won't look round! Now I
could beat him!

ALC. What's the matter?

MUS. (sharply) I meant the waiter!

ALC. Manners! Manners! (Takes the bill from the waiter and orders the
supper.)

MUS. (more irritated)
Such a bore!
Just let me have my own way.
If you please; I won't be ruled by you!

MIMI. (looking curiously at RUDOLPH) Do you know who she is?

MAR. You had better ask me.
Well, her name is Musetta
Her surname is Temptation.
As to her vocation:
Like a rose in the breezes,
So she changes lover for lover without number.
And like the spiteful screech owl,
A bird that's most rapacious,
The food that most she favors is the heart!
Her food the heart is;
Thus have I now none left!
(to his friends, concealing his agitation)
So pass me the ragout!

SCH. (to COLLINE)
Now the fun's at its climax,
To one she speaks because the other listens.

COL. (to SCHAUNARD)
The other will not hear,
Feigns not to see the girl: which makes her mad.

RUD. (to MIMI)
Now let me tell you
I never would forgive you.

MIMI. (to RUDOLPH)
I love you, love you fondly,
Am wholly yours, my dearest! (eating)

COL. What's that about forgiveness?

(coquettishly watching MARCEL, who becomes agitated)

MUS. (watching MARCEL; in a loud voice to MARCEL) Why, don't you
know me?

ALC. (thinking MUSETTA spoke to him) Well, I'm giving the order, dear.

MUS. (as above) But your heart is a-throbbing!

ALC. (as above) Not so loud.

MUS. (to herself) But your heart is a-throbbing!

ALC. Do be quiet!

MUS. As through the streets I wander onward merrily,
See how the folk look round,
Because they know I'm charming,
A very charming girl.
And then 'tis mine to mark the hidden longing,
And all the passion in their eyes;
And then the joy of conquest overcomes me,
Every man is my prize!

And thus their hearts, their hearts I capture,
As if by magic all my own, ah! rapture!
Tis mine alone!
Now you that once your love for me betrayed,
Why should you be dismayed?
Yet though deep in your heart
Rankles the smart.
You'd ne'er confess—but rather die!

(SCHAUNARD and COLLINE rise and stand aside, watching the scene
with interest, while RUDOLPH and MIMI remain seated and continue their
talk. MARCEL nervously quits his seat, and is about to go, but is spell-
bound by MUSETTA'S voice.)

ALC. This odious singing upsets me entirely!

(ALCINDORO vainly endeavors to induce MUSETTA to resume her seat
at the table where the supper is ready.)

MIMI. (to RUDOLPH)
Oh! now I see that this unhappy maiden
Adores your friend Marcel madly!

RUD. She once was Marcel's love;
She wantonly forsook her fate,
And rarer game she thought to capture!

MIMI. The love that's born of passion ends in grief;
That poor, unhappy girl!
She moves me to tears!

RUD. Who can revive a love that's dead?

MAR. Hold me back! hold me back!

COL. Who knows what will happen now?
Goodness me! 'tis most unpleasant!
Anyhow, it is for me!
She is pretty, I don't doubt it;
Yet I would rather have
My pipe and a page of Homer!

SCH. See the braggart in a moment will give in;
The snare for some is pleasant,
For the biter and the bit.

(to COLLINE)

If such a pretty damsel
Should but make eyes at you,
You'd forget your mouldy classics,
And run to fetch her shoe.

MUS. Ah! Marcel you are vanquished!
And though your heart is breaking,
You'd never let us know, (feigning great regret)

(I must try to get rid of the old boy.)
Oh! dear!

ALC. What now?

MUS. How it pains me! how it pains me!

ALC. Let's see!

MUS. My foot!
Break it, tear it,
I can't bear it,
Do, I implore you!

ALC. (bending down to untie her shoe) Gently, gently!

MUS. Close by there is a boot-shop; hasten! quickly!
He may have boots to please me.

ALC. What imprudence!

MUS. Ah! the torture!
How these horrid tight shoes squeeze me!
I'll take it off! So let it lie!

ALC. What will people say?
What imprudence!

SCH. and COL.
Now the fun becomes stupendous
In truth, 'tis better than a play!

MUS. Hasten, hasten! Bring another pair! Go!

ALC. What imprudence!
Nothing short of scandal!
Musetta, shame!

(Hides her shoe under his coat, which he hastily buttons up; hurries off
the stage.)

MAR. (greatly agitated)
Ah! golden youth! you are not dead, not dead for me,
For love revives again in me;
If at my door you came to greet me,
My heart would straight go out to meet thee!

(MUSETTA and MARCEL embrace with much fervor.)

MUS. Marcel!

MAR. Enchantress!

SCH. This is the final tableau! (A waiter brings in the bill.)

RUD., COL. and SCH. The bill!

SCH. What a bother!

COL. Who bade him bring it?

SCH. Let's see.

(Drums heard in the distance)

RUD. and COL. Out with your coppers!

SCH. Out with your coppers,
Colline, Rudolph, and you, Marcel.

MAR. We've not a rap!

SCH. I say!

RUD. I've thirty sous, no more.

MAR., SCH. and COL. I say! no more than that?

STREET ARABS, (hastening from the right) 'Tis the Tattoo!

WORK GIRLS, (hastening out of the café) 'Tis the Tattoo!

STUDENTS and CITIZENS. 'Tis the Tattoo!

(Hastening from the left. As the Tattoo is still a long way off, the folk run
hither and thither, as if uncertain from which quarter the band will appear.)

SCH. But who has got my purse?

(They all feel their pockets which are empty; none can explain the sudden
disappearance of SCHAUNARD'S purse, and they look at each other in
surprise.)

STREET ARABS. Will they come along this way?

WORK GIRLS and STUDENTS. No; from there.

STREET ARABS. They are coming down this way.

WORK GIRLS and STUDENTS. Here they come!

CITIZENS. Way there!

HAWKERS. Way there!

SOME BOYS. Oh! let me see!

OTHERS. Oh! let me hear!

BOYS. Mother, do let me see!

OTHERS. Papa, do let me hear!

MOTHERS. Lisette, do be quiet!
Tony, do have done! do be quiet!

MUS. (to the waiter)
And my bill, please, bring to me.

(To waiter who brings the bill)

Thank you.
Just make one bill of the two.
The gentleman will pay
Who came to sup with me.

RUD., MAR., SCH. and COL. Yes, he will pay!

MAR. (aside) He will pay!

SCH. and COL. Yes, he will pay!

MUS. (placing both bills at ALCINDORO's place)
And, after this pleasant meeting,
This shall be my greeting!

RUD., MAR., SCH. and COL. And, after our pleasant meeting,
This shall be her greeting!

(The crowd fills the stage and the patrol advances gradually.)

WORK GIRLS. They will come along this way.

STUDENTS, CITIZENS and HAWKERS. Yes, this way!

STREET ARABS. When it gets nearer,
We'll march along beside it.

(Several windows are opened at which mothers and their children appear
and eagerly await the coming of the patrol.)

HAWKERS. In that patrol perceive
The country's noble might!

STREET ARABS. Now, look out! they're coming!

STUDENTS, WORK GIRLS and CITIZENS. Do stand back, for here
they come!

MAR. See, the patrol is coming!

COL. Look out that old boy
Don't catch you with his darling!

RUD. See, the patrol is coming!

MAR. and SCH. Now the crowd is tremendous:
T' escape will be so easy.

(The patrol enters, headed by a gigantic drum-major, who dexterously
twists his baton, showing the way.)

STREET ARABS and WORK GIRLS. And there's the drum-major!

CITIZENS and SHOP-KEEPERS. As proud as a warrior of old!

MIMI, MUS. and RUD. Quick, or you will miss them!

MAR., SCH. and COL. Quick, or you will miss them!

STREET ARABS and HAWKERS. The drum-major, look! what a dandy!

STUDENTS and WORK GIRLS. What swagger! What a figure!

STREET ARABS. There go the sappers!

CITIZENS. What a dandy!

STUDENTS and CITIZENS. Like a general he appears!
He passes by and heeds us not!

WORK GIRLS. Like a general he appears!
Of all our hearts the conqueror!

(MUSETTA being without her shoe, cannot walk, so MARCEL and
COLLINE carry her through the crowd, as they endeavor to follow the
patrol. The mob, seeing her borne along in this triumphal fashion, give her
a regular ovation. MARCEL and COLLINE with MUSETTA follow the
patrol; RUDOLPH and MIMI follow arm in arm; SCHAUNARD goes next,
blowing his horn; while the students, work-girls, street-lads, women and
towns-folk merrily bring up the rear.)

(Marching in time with the music, the whole vast crowd gradually moves
off as it follows the patrol. Meanwhile ALCINDORO, with a pair of shoes
carefully wrapped up, returns to the café in search of MUSETTA. The
waiter by the table takes up the bill left by MUSETTA and ceremoniously
hands it to ALCINDORO, who, seeing the amount, and perceiving that they
have all left him there alone, falls back into a chair, utterly dumbfounded.)

ACT III

"Mimi's voice seemed to go through Rudolph's heart like a death-knell. His
love for her was a jealous, fantastic, weird, hysterical love. Scores of times
they were on the point of separating.

"It must be admitted that their existence was a veritable 'hell-up-on-
earth.'

"Thus (if life it was) did they live; a few happy days alternating with
many wretched ones, while perpetually awaiting a divorce."

"Either as a congenital defect or as a natural instinct, Musetta possessed a
positive genius for elegance.

"Even in her cradle this strange creature must surely have asked for a
mirror.

"Intelligent, shrewd, and above all, hostile to anything that she
considered tyranny, she had but one rule—caprice.

"In truth the only man that she really loved was Marcel; perhaps because
he alone could make her suffer. Yet extravagance was for her one of the
conditions of well-being."

ACT III

_Beyond the toll-gate, the outer boulevard is formed in the background by
the Orleans high-road, half hidden by tall houses and the misty gloom of
February. To the left is a tavern with a small open space in front of the toll-
gate. To the right is the Boulevard d'Enfer; to the left, that of St. Jacques.

On the right also there is the entrance of the Rue d'Enfer, leading to the
Quartier Latin.

Over the tavern, as its sign-board, hangs MARCEL's picture, "The
Passage of the Red Sea," while underneath, in large letters, is the
inscription. "At the Port of Marseilles." On either side of the door are
frescoes of a Turk and a Zouave with a huge laurel-wreath round his fez.
From the ground-floor windows of the tavern, which faces the toll-gate,
light gleams. The plane-trees, grey and gaunt, which flank the toll-gate
square, lead diagonally towards the two boulevards. Between each tree is a
marble bench. It is towards the close of February; snow covers all.

As the curtain rises, the scene is merged in the dim light of early dawn. In
front of a brazier are seated, in a group, snoring custom-house officers.
From the tavern at intervals one may hear laughter, shouts, and the clink of
glasses. A custom-house official comes out of the tavern with wine. The
toll-gate is closed.

Behind the toll-gate, stamping their feet and blowing in their frost-bitten
fingers, stand several street-scavengers._

SCAVENGERS. What ho, there! What ho, there! Admit us!
Make haste and let us pass,
The sweepers are we. (stamping their feet)
Look how it's snowing! What ho, there!
We are frozen!

AN OFFICIAL. (yawning and stretching himself) All right!

(Goes to open the gate; the scavengers pass through to the Rue d'Enfer.
The official closes the gate again.)

CHORUS. (from the tavern; the clink of glasses forms an
accompaniment
to the song)
Pass the glass,
Let each toast his lass;
Pass the glass,
Let each lad toast his lass;
Ha! Ha!
Each one as he sips,
As he sips his wine,
Shall dream of lips
Made for love divine!

MUS. (from the tavern)
Ah!
As the toper loves his glass,
So the gallant loves his lass.

CHORUS. (all bursting into laughter) Noah and Eve!

MILK WOMEN. (from within) Houp-la! Houp-la!

(A sergeant comes out of the guard-house and orders the toll-gate to be
opened.)

CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICIAL. Here come the women with their milk.

(A tinkling of cart-bells is heard.)

CARTERS. (from within) Houp-la!

(Carts pass along the outer boulevard, lighted by large lanterns.)

MILK WOMEN. (quite close) Houp-la!

(The gloom gradually gives way to daylight.)

MILK WOMEN. (to the officials who admit them to the toll-gate)
Good-morrow!

PEASANT WOMEN. (who enter carrying baskets)
Butter! Cheese!
Chickens and eggs!

SOME. Which way, then, are you going?

OTHERS. Up to Saint Michael's.

SOME. Well, shall we see you later?

OTHERS. At twelve o'clock.

(They go off in various directions, and the officials remove the bench and
brazier.)

(_Enter MIMI from the Rue d'Enfer; she looks about her as if anxious to
make sure of her whereabouts. On reaching the first plane-tree she is seized
by a violent fit of coughing. Then recovering herself, she sees the sergeant,
whom she approaches._)

MIMI. Oh! Please, sir, tell me the name of that tavern
Where now a painter's working?

SERGEANT. (pointing to the tavern) There it is.

MIMI. Thank you.
(_A serving woman comes out of the tavern; MIMI goes to her._)
Oh! my good woman, pray do me this favor!
Can you find me the painter, Marcel?
I fain would see him; the matter's urgent;
Just tell him softly that Mimi awaits him.

SERGEANT. (to a passer-by) Ho! there! What's in the basket?

OFFICIAL. (after searching the basket) Empty.

SERGEANT. Pass, there!

(Other folk now pass through the toll-gate and move off in different
directions. The bell of the Hospice Ste. Therese rings for matins.)

MAR. (coming out of the inn) Mimi!

MIMI. I hoped that I should find you here.

MAR. Aye, here we've been for a month:
So to pay for our footing,
Musetta teaches singing
To those who come here.
And I, well—I paint warriors—
There, on the house front!

MIMI. Where is Rudolph?

MAR. Here. 'Tis bitter, pray enter!

MIMI. (bursting into tears)

Enter I cannot, no!

MAR. Why not?

MIMI. Oh! good Marcel! oh! help me!

MAR. Say, what has happened?

MIMI. Rudolph is madly jealous!
He loves and yet avoids me!
A glance, a touch, a token,
Suffice to make him jealous,
And start his senseless fury!
And oft at night,
When feigning to be sleeping,
I felt his eyes were watching
to spy upon my slumbers!
How oft he would reproach me!
"You are not mine, Mimi!
You love another gallant!"

Alas! 'tis jealousy that prompts him.
Yet how may I reply?

MAR. Two that live thus, I reckon,
Would be surely better parted.

MIMI. You are right, you speak truly:
'Twere best we were parted.
Will you aid us, then,
Will you aid us to part?
Oft to do this we have striven, but in vain.
Ah! 'tis true, to part were the best.

MAR. I'm happy with Musetta,
And she's happy with me.
Because 'tis mirth that binds us together.
Laughter, music and song,
Ever our love prolong.

MIMI. Ah! then, aid us, I pray you!

MAR. 'Tis well, 'tis well! Now will I wake him.

MIMI. Wake him?

MAR. Overcome with fatigue,
Just as dawn was approaching,
On the bench fast lie slumbers,

(Motions MIMI to look through the tavern window)

Behold him! (MIMI coughs persistently)

What coughing!

MIMI. Unceasingly it shakes me,
And Rudolph now forsakes me.
And says to me, "It is over!"
At daybreak swift escaping,
I hurried here to find him.

MAR. (watching RUDOLPH inside the tavern)
He's moving, waking, and wants me.
Come, then.

MIMI. He must not see me.

MAR. Well, hide yourself out there.

(Points to the plane-trees. MIMI hides behind the trees.)

RUD. (coming out of the inn, hastens towards MARCEL)
Marcel! at last I've found you,
Where none can hear us.
I want a separation from Mimi.

MAR. Is that your latest whim?

RUD. Love in my heart was dying, almost was dead,
But her blue eyes new glory on me shed.
Love, swift revived, all me; what woe is mine!

MAR. Ah! would you now such bitter pain recall?

(MIMI warily approaches to listen)

RUD. Yes, always.

MAR. Nay, be prudent! Love is not worth the keeping,
That only ends in weeping.
Love must thrive in mirth and gladness,
Or else it is but madness.
'Tis that you're jealous!

RUD. Aye, somewhat;
And choleric, and lunatic,
And a victim of vile suspicion,
Unhappy, and stubborn!

MIMI. (aside)
He's getting in a rage;
Poor little Mimi!

RUD. Mimi's a heartless maiden,
Prone to flirting with all.
A scented dandy, some lordling,
Now striveth to win her caresses.
With bosom swaying,
One foot displaying,
Doth she lure him on
With the magic of her smile.

MAR. Shall I be frank? I think 'tis hardly true.

RUD. No, 'tis not true.
In vain, in vain I smother
All the torture that racks me.
I love Mimi, she is my only treasure!
I love her, but, oh! I fear it!

(Mimi surprised, comes closer and closer, under cover of the trees)

Mimi's so sickly, so ailing,
Every day she grows weaker,
The poor girl, as I think, is dying.

MAR. (fearing MIMI may overhear them, tries to keep RUDOLPH
further off) Oh! Rudolph!

MIMI. What's he saying?

RUD. By fierce, incessant coughing
Her fragile frame is shaken,
While in her cheeks so pallid
The fires of fever waken.

MAR. (agitated, perceiving that Mimi is listening) Softly!

MIMI. (weeping) Woe is me! I'm dying!

RUD. And my room's but a squalid hovel,
No fire there burneth,
Only the cruel night wind
Waileth, waileth there ever.
Yet she's merry and smiling,
While, remorseful, despairing,
I feel that 'tis I that am guilty.

MAR. (eager to draw RUDOLPH aside) List but a moment!

MIMI. (disconsolately) Ah! I'm dying!

RUD. Mimi's a hot-house flower!

MAR. Nay, but listen!

MIMI. Ah me! ah me!
All is over, life and loving,
All are ended!
Mimi must die!

MAR. Softly!

RUD. Want has wasted her beauty,
And to bring her back to life
Would need far more than love.

MAR. Nay, Rudolph, but listen!

(Mimi's violent coughing and sobbing reveal her presence.)

RUD. Ha! Mimi! You here!
You heard, you heard me?
Swayed by each light suspicion,
A trifle yet alarms me;
Come, come inside here!

(Seeks to take her into the tavern)

MIMI. No, that odor is stifling me!

RUD. (affectionately embracing her) Ah, Mimi!

(From the tavern Musetta's brazen laugh is heard.)

MAR. (running to look through the window.)
Tis Musetta that's laughing!
Laughing, flirting!

Ah! what a hussy!
I'll not allow it. (enters the tavern impetuously)

MIMI. (disengaging herself from RUDOLPH'S embrace.) Farewell!

RUD. (surprised) What! Going?

MIMI. To the home that she left
At the voice of her lover.
Sad, forsaken Mimi
Must turn back, heavy-hearted.
For love and her lover
Are gone, and she must die,
Farewell, then!
I wish you well!
Nay, listen! listen! those things,
Those few old things I've left behind me,
Within my trunk safely arc stored.
That bracelet of gold,
The prayer-book you gave me,
Pray wrap them up together in my little apron,
And I will send to fetch them.
Yet stay! Beneath the pillow
You'll find my little bonnet—
Who knows?
Maybe you'd like to keep it
To remind you of our love!
Farewell! Good-bye! I wish you well!

RUD. Then, you are going to leave me?
Yes, you are going, my little Mimi?
Ah! farewell, sweet dream of love!

MIMI. Farewell! farewell!
Glad awakenings in the morning!

RUD. Farewell, our sweet love that vanished,
Yet that your smile reviveth!

MIMI. (playfully) Farewell to jealousy and fury!
Farewell suspicion, and its bitter anguish!

RUD. Kisses sweet that, as poet,
I bought back with caresses!

MIMI and RUD. Lonely in winter,
With Death as sole companion!
But in glad springtime
There's the sun, the glorious sun!

(From the tavern the sound of breaking plates and glasses is heard)

MUS. (from within) What d'ye mean? What d'ye mean? (running out)

MAR. (from within)
You were laughing, you were flirting
By the fireside with that stranger!

(_stopping on the threshold of the inn and confronting _MUSETTA)

And how you colored
When I caught you in the corner!

MUS. (defiantly) Stuff and nonsense! all he said was:
"Are you very fond of dancing?"

And, half blushing, I made answer:
"I'd be dancing all day long, sir."

MAR. This is talk that only leads to things dishonest.

MUS. My own way I mean to have!

MAR. (_half menacing _MUSETTA)
I will teach you better manners;
Now if I catch you once more flirting—

MUS. What a bother!
Why this anger?
Why this fury?
We're not married yet, thank goodness!

MAR. You shall not do as you like, miss!
I will stop your little game!

MUS. I abhor that sort of lover
Who pretends he is your husband!

MAR. I'm not going to be your blockhead,
Just because you're fond of flirting!

MUS. I shall flirt just when it suits me!

MAR. You're most frivolous, Musetta!

MUS. Yes, I shall! yes, I shall!
I shall flirt just when it suits me!

MAR. You can go, and God be with you!

MUS. Musetta's going away;
Yes, going away!

MAR. And for me 'tis a good riddance!

MUS. Fare you well, sir!

MAR. Fare you well, ma'am!

MUS. I say farewell with all my heart!

MAR. Farewell, ma'am, pray begone!

(She retreats in a fury, but suddenly stops.)

MUS. (shouting) Go back and paint your house front!

MAR. Viper! (enters the tavern)

MUS. Toad! (exit)

MIMI. I'm so happy in the spring!

RUD. As comrades you've lilies and roses.

MIMI. Forth from each nest
Comes a murmur of birdlets!

RUD. and MIMI. When the hawthorn-bough's in blossom,
When we have the glorious sun,
Murmur the silver fountains,
The breezes of the evening
Waft fragrant balsams

To the world and its sorrow.
Shall we await another spring?

MIMI. (_moving away with _RUDOLPH) Always yours forever!

RUD. and MIMI. Our time for parting's when the roses blow!

MIMI. Ah! that our winter might last forever!

RUD. and MIMI. Our time for parting's when the roses blow!

ACT IV

"At that period, indeed, for some time past, the friends had led lonely lives.

"Musetta had once more become a sort of semi-official personage; for
three or four months Marcel had never met her.

"And Mimi, too, no word of her had Rudolph ever heard except when he
talked about her to himself when he was alone.

"One day, as Marcel furtively kissed a bunch of ribbons that Musetta had
left behind, he saw Rudolph hiding away a bonnet, that same pink bonnet
which Mimi had forgotten.

"'Good!' muttered Marcel, 'he's as craven-hearted as I am.'"

*****

"A gay life, yet a terrible one."

ACT IV

IN THE ATTIC

(As in Act I)

(MARCEL,_as before, stands in front of his easel, while RUDOLPH sits
at his writing table; each trying to make the other believe that he is working
indefatigably, whereas they are really only gossiping.)_

MAR. (resuming his talk) In a coupé?

RUD. Yes, in carriage and pair did she merrily hail me.
"Well, Musetta," I questioned:
"How's your heart?"
"It beats not—or I don't feel it—Thanks
to this velvet I'm wearing!"

MAR. (endeavoring to laugh) I'm glad, very glad!

RUD. (aside) You humbug, you! You're fretting and fuming!

MAR. It beats not! Bravo! (commences to paint with great vigor) Then I
saw, too—

RUD. Musetta?

MAR. Mimi.

RUD. You saw her? How strange! (stops painting)

MAR. Rode in her carriage in grand apparel.
Just like a duchess.

RUD. Delightful! I'm glad to hear it.

MAR. (aside) You liar! you're pining with love.

RUD. and MAR. Now to work! (they go on working)

RUD. (throwing down his pen) This pen's too awful! (remains seated,
apparently lost in thought)

MAR. (flinging away his brush) This infamous paint-brush! (Stares at his
canvas, and then without RUDOLPH observing it, he takes from his pocket
a bunch of ribbons and kisses it.)

RUD. Ah! Mimi! false, fickle-hearted!
Ah! beauteous days departed!
Those hands so dainty!
Oh! fragrant, shining tresses!
Ah! snow-white bosom!
Ah! Mimi! those brief, glad, golden days!

MAR. (putting away his ribbons and staring anew at his canvas)
How is it that my brush
With speed mechanical keeps moving,
And plasters on the colors
Quite against my will?
And though I would be painting landscapes,

Meadows, woodlands fair in Spring-tide,
My brush refuses to perform its office;
But paints dark eyes, and two red, smiling lips;
The features of Musetta haunt me still!

RUD. (taking Mimi's old bonnet from the table drawer)
And thou, O! rose-pink bonnet,
That 'neath her pillow lay,
That in her hour of parting she forgot—Thou
wert the witness of our joy!
Come to my heart, ah! come!
Lie close against my heart, since my love is dead!
(clasps the bonnet to his heart)

MAR. Ah! frivolous Musetta! thee can I ne'er forget!
My grief affords her pleasure,
And yet my weak heart is fain
To call her to my fond arms again.

RUD. (endeavoring to conceal his emotion from Marcel, carelessly
questions him) What time is it now?

MAR. (roused from his reverie, gaily replies) Time for our yesterday's
dinner.

RUD. But Schaunard's not back yet. (Enter Schaunard and Colline; the
former carries four rolls, and the latter a paper bag.)

SCH. Here we are!

RUD. How now?

MAR. How now?

(SCHAUNARD places the rolls on the table.)

MAR. (disdainfully) Some bread!

COL. (taking a herring out of the bag, and putting it on the table)
A dish that's worthy of Demosthenes:
'Tis a herring!

SCH. 'Tis salted!

COL. 'Our dinner is ready! (Seating themselves at the table, they pretend
to be having a sumptuous meal.)

MAR. This is a food that the gods might envy.

SCH. (placing Colline's hat on the table, and thrusting a bottle of water
into it) Now the champagne in the ice must go.

RUD. (to MARCEL, offering him some bread) Choose, my lord marquis
—salmon or turbot? (_His offer is accepted, when, turning to
_SCHAUNARD, he proffers another crust of bread.) Now, duke, here's a
choice vol-au-vent with mushrooms. (He politely declines, and pours out a
glass of water, which he hands to Marcel.)

SCH. Thank you, I dare not, this evening I'm dancing! (The one and only
tumbler is handed about. Colline, after voraciously devouring his roll,
rises.)

RUD. (to Colline) What? sated?

COL. (with an air of great importance) To business! The king awaits me.

MAR. (eagerly) What plot is brewing?

RUD. What's in the wind?

SCH. (rises and approaches Colline, observing with droll
inquisitiveness) What's in the wind?

MAR. What's in the wind?

(COLLINE struts up and down, full of self-importance.)

COL. The king requires my services.

(The others surround COLLINE, bowing low to him.)

SCH. Bravo!

MAR. Bravo!

RUD. Bravo!

COL. (with a patronizing air) And then I've got to see Guizot!

SCH. Give me a goblet.

MAR. (giving him the only glass) Aye, quaff now a bumper!

SCH. (solemnly gets on to a chair and raises his glass) Have I
permission, oh! my most noble courtier?

RUD. and COL. (interrupting) Stop that.

COL. No more fooling.

MAR. Stop that. No more nonsense.

COL. Give me that tumbler. (taking the glass from SCHAUNARD)

SCH. (motioning his friends to let him speak) With ardor irresistible
Poetry fills my spirit.

COL. and MAR. (yelling) No.

SCH. (complacently) Then something choreographic may suit you!

RUD., MAR. and COL. Yes, yes! (Amid applause they surround
Schaunard and make him get off the chair.)

SCH. Some dancing, accompanied by singing?

COL. Well, clear the stage for action. (Moving chairs and tables aside,
they prepare for a dance; they suggest various dances.)

COL. Gavotte.

MAR. Minuet.

RUD. Pavanella.

SCH. (imitating a Spanish measure) Fandango.

COL. I vote we dance quadrilles first. (the others approve)

RUD. Now take your partners.

COL. I'll lead it. (pretends to be very busy arranging a quadrille)

SCH. (improvising, beats time with comic pomposity of manner)
La-lera, la-lera, la-lera!

RUD. (approaching MARCEL_, and bowing very low, offers him his
hand as he gallantly says_) Oh! maiden fair and gentle!

MAR. (with coy bashfulness of manner, counterfeiting a woman's voice)
My modesty respect, sir, I beg you.

SCH. Lal-lera, lal-lera, lal-lera, la!

COL. (giving directions as to the figures, while RUDOLPH and
MARCEL dance the quadrille) Balancez!

MAR. (in his ordinary voice) Lal-lera, lal-lera, lal-lera!

SCH. (teasingly) First there's the Rond.

COL. No, stupid!

SCH. (with exaggerated contempt) You've manners like a clown!

COL. (offended) As I take it, you're insulting!
Draw your sword, sir!

(rushes to the fireplace and seizes the tongs)

SCH. (taking up the poker) Ready! Have at you! (preparing to receive his
adversary's attack) Thy hot blood would I drink!

COL. (doing likewise) One of us shall now be gutted! (Rudolph and
Marcel stop dancing and burst out laughing.)

SCH. Now get a stretcher ready.

COL. And get a grave-yard, too.

(SCHAUNARD and COLLINE fight.)

RUD. and MAR. (gaily) While they beat each other's brains out, Our
fandango we will finish. (They dance round the combatants, whose blows
fall faster. The door opens and Musetta enters in a state of great agitation.)

MAR. (amazed) Musetta! (All anxiously cluster round Musetta)

MUS. (hoarsely) 'Tis Mimi—'tis Mimi who is with me—And is ailing!

RUD. Mimi!

MUS. She has not strength to climb the staircase. (_Through the open
door RUDOLPH spies MIMI, seated on the topmost stair; he rushes to her,
followed by _MARCEL.)

SCH. (_to _COLLINE) Here's the bed: we'll put her on it. (they drag the
bed forward)

RUD. (_supporting MIMI and leading her towards the bed, aided by
_MARCEL) There! some water!

(MUSETTA brings a glass of water and makes MIMI sip it.)

MIMI. (passionately) Oh, Rudolph!

RUD. Gently, lie down there. (gently lowers her on the bed)

MIMI. (embracing RUDOLPH) My darling Rudolph! Ah! let me stay
with you!

RUD. Darling Mimi! stay here ever! (_He induces Mimi to lie down at
full length on the bed, and draws the coverlet over her; he then carefully
adjusts the pillow be neath her head._)

MUS. (taking the others aside and whispering to them) I heard them
saying that Mimi
Had left the rich old viscount;
And now was almost dying.
Ah! but where? After searching,
I met her alone just now,
Almost dead with exhaustion.
She murmured: "I'm dying! dying!
But listen; I want to die near him.
Maybe he's waiting!
Take me thither, Musetta!"

MAR. Hush! (MUSETTA moves farther away from MIMI.)

MIMI. I feel so much better.
All here seems just the same as ever.
(with a sweet smile)
Ah! It is all so pleasant here!
Saved from sadness,
All is gladness;
Once again new life is mine!

RUD. Lips delightful, speak again to me!
Once more enchant me!

MIMI. Ah! beloved! Ah! leave me not!

MUS. (aside to the others) What is there to give her?

MAR. and COL. Nothing!

MUS. No coffee? no wine?

MAR. (in great dejection) Nothing; the larder's empty.

SCH. (looking closely at Mimi) In an hour she'll be dead!

MIMI. I feel so cold!
If I had but my muff here!
My poor hands are simply frozen!
How shall I get them warm?
(Mimi coughs; Rudolph takes her hands in his and chafes them.)

RUD. In mine, in mine, love!
Silence! for speaking tires you.

MIMI. Tis coughing tires me.
I'm used to that, though.
(seeing RUDOLPH'S friends, she calls them by name, when they hasten
to her side)
Good-morrow, Marcel!
Schaunard, Colline, good-morrow!
All are here, as I see, glad to welcome Mimi.

RUD. Hush! Mimi, do not talk.

MIMI. I'll speak low; don't be frightened.

(SCHAUNARD and COLLINE mournfully withdraw; the former sits at
the table, burying his face in his hands, the latter is a prey to sad thoughts.)

MIMI. (motioning Marcel to approach) Marcel, now believe me,
A good girl is Musetta.

MAR. (giving Musetta his hand) I know, I know.

MUS. (drawing Marcel away from Mimi, takes off her earrings and gives
them to him as she whispers) Look here! sell them, And buy some tonic for
her— Send for a doctor! (Mimi gradually grows drowsy; Rudolph takes a
chair and sits down beside the bed.)

RUD. Keep quiet.

MIMI. You will not leave me?

RUD. No, no! (MARCEL is about to go, when Musetta stops him and
takes him still further from Mimi.)

MUS. Stay, listen! Maybe, what she has asked us
Will be her last request on earth, little darling!
I'll go for the muff—I'll come with you.

MAR. How good you are, Musetta!

(MUSETTA and MARCEL hastily go out.)

COL. (who has removed his overcoat while Marcel and Musetta were
talking)
Garment antique and rusty!
A last good-bye! farewell!
Faded friend, so tried and trusty,
We must part, you and I.
For never yet your back did you bow
To rich man or mighty!
How oft,
Safe in your pockets spacious,
Have you concealed philosophers and poets!
Now that our pleasant friendship is o'er,

I would bid thee once more,
Oh! companion tried and trusty,
Farewell! farewell!
(He folds up the coat, puts it under his arm, and is about to go, but
seeing Schaunard, he approaches him, pats him on the back, and
mournfully exclaims)
Schaunard, our methods possibly may differ,
But yet two kindly acts we'll do: (pointing to the coat)
Mine's this one, and yours—leave them alone in there.

SCH. (overcome by emotion) Philosopher, you're right! 'Tis true; I'll go!
(He looks about him: then, to justify his exit, he takes up the water bottle
and goes out after Colline, gently closing the door. Mimi opens her eyes,
and seeing that all have gone, holds out her hand to Rudolph, who
affectionately kisses it.)

MIMI. Have they left us? (Rudolph nods)
To sleep I only feigned,
For I wanted to be alone with you, love.
So many things there are that I would tell you.
There is one, too, as spacious as the ocean,
As the ocean, profound, without limit:
You are my love, my all, and all my life!
(putting her arms round Rudolph's neck)

RUD. Ah! Mimi! my pretty Mimi!

MIMI. (letting her arms drop) You still think I'm pretty!

RUD. Fair as the dawn in Spring!

MIMI. No, the simile fits not; you meant to say:
Fair as the flame of sunset.
"They call me Mimi; (like an echo)
They call me Mimi, but I know not why."

RUD. (in tender, caressing tones)

Back to her nest comes the swallow in Spring-tide. (He takes out the
bonnet and gives it to Mimi.)

MIMI. (gaily) Why, that's my bonnet! (motions RUDOLPH to put the
bonnet on her head)
Why, that's my bonnet!
(makes RUDOLPH sit next to her, and rests her head on his breast)
Ah! do you remember how we both went shopping
When first we fell in love?

RUD. Yes, I remember.

MIMI. This room was all in darkness!

RUD. While you, you were so frightened!
Then the key you mislaid, love.

MIMI. And to find it you went groping in the darkness.

RUD. Yes, searching, searching.

MIMI. And you, my young master,
Now I can tell you frankly,
That you soon managed to find it.

RUD. It was Fate that did help me.

MIMI. It was dark, and my blushes were unnoticed. (_faintly repeating
Rudolph's words_) "Your tiny hand is frozen, Let me warm it into life!" It
was dark, and my hand then you clasped— (a sudden spasm half suffocates
her; she sinks back fainting)

RUD. (raising her in alarm) Oh! God! Mimi!

(_At this moment Schaunard returns, and hearing Rudolph's exclamation,
hastens to the bedside._)

SCH. What now?

MIMI. (_opens her eyes and smilingly reassures Rudolph and
_Schaunard) Nothing; I'm better.

RUD. (gently lowering her) Gently, for goodness' sake!

MIMI. Yes, forgive me: now it's over.

(MUSETTA and MARCEL_ cautiously enter; MUSETTA carrying a
muff, and her companion a phial._)

MUS. (to RUDOLPH) Sleeping?

RUD. (approaching MARCEL) Just resting.

MAR. I have seen the doctor.
He'll come—I bade him hasten.
Here's the tonic.
(Takes a spirit lamp, and placing it upon the table, lights it.)

MIMI. Who is it?

MUS. I—Musetta. (Approaches Mimi and gives her the muff. Helped by
Musetta, she sits up in bed, and, with almost infantine glee, seizes the muff)

MIMI. So soft it is and feathery!
No more will my poor fingers be frozen,
For this muff shall keep them warm. (_to _Rudolph)
Did you give me this present?

MUS. (eagerly) Yes!

MIMI. You thoughtless fellow! Thank you.
It cost you dear. (Rudolph bursts into tears)
Weep not: I'm better.
Why should you weep for me?
Here love . . . ever with you! . . .
(thrusts her hands into the muff; then she gradually grows drowsy,
gracefully nodding her head, as one who is overcome by sleep)
My hands are much warmer: now I will sleep!

(RUDOLPH,_ reassured at seeing MIMI fall asleep, gently moves away
from the bedside, and motioning the others not to make any noise,
approaches _MARCEL.)

RUD. What said the doctor?

MAR. He'll come.

MUS. (_who is busily heating the medicine, brought by MARCEL, over
the spirit-lamp, as she unconsciously murmurs a prayer_) Oh! Mary!
Blessed Virgin! Save, of thy mercy, this poor maiden! Save her, Madonna
mine, from death! (Rudolph, Marcel and Schaunard_ whisper together.
Every now and then Rudolph goes on tiptoe to the bed, and then rejoins his

companions. Musetta, interrupting, bids Marcel place a book upright on the
table, so as to shade the lamp._) Here there should be a shade, Because the
lamp is flickering! Like this. (resuming her prayer) And, oh! may she
recover! Madonna! holy mother! I merit not thy pardon, But our little Mimi
is an angel from Heaven! (Rudolph _approaches Musetta, while Schaunard
goes on tiptoe to the bedside; with a sorrowful gesture he goes back to
_Marcel.)

RUD. I still have hope. Do you think it serious?

MUS. Not serious.

SCH. (hoarsely) Marcel, she is dead! (Marcel in his turn goes up to the
bed, and retreats in alarm; a ray of sunshine falls through the window upon
Mimi's face; Musetta points to her cloak, which, with a grateful glance,
Rudolph takes, and standing upon a chair, endeavors to form a screen by
stretching the cloak across the window-pane.)

COL. (quietly entering and putting some money on the table near
Musetta) How is she?

RUD. See, now! She's tranquil.

(RUDOLPH, turning round, sees MUSETTA, who makes a sign to him
that the medicine is ready; getting off the chair, he is suddenly aware of the
strange demeanor of MARCEL and SCHAUNARD.)

RUD. (huskily, almost in a speaking voice)
What's the meaning of this going and this coming,
And these glances so strange?
(He glances from one to the other in consternation.)

MAR. (_unable to bear up any longer, hastens to embrace Rudolph as he
murmurs_) Poor fellow!

RUD. (_flings himself on Mimi's bed, lifts her up, shakes her by the
hand, and exclaims in tones of anguish_) Mimi! Mimi! (he falls, sobbing,
upon her lifeless form) (_Terror-stricken, MUSETTA rushes to the bed,
utters a piercing cry of grief; then kneels sobbing, at the foot of the bed.
SCHAUNARD, overcome, sinks back into a chair; to the left, COLLINE
stands at the foot of the bed, dazed at the suddenness of this catastrophe.
MARCEL, sobbing, turns his back to the footlights. The curtain slowly
falls._)

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