Libretto: La Boheme Part 12

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 b.u.t.tons 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 cafe_) '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.