Libretto: La Boheme Part 20

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 m.u.f.f 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. Hus.h.!.+ 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 m.u.f.f--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 s.p.a.cious, Have you concealed philosophers and poets!

Now that our pleasant friends.h.i.+p 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 s.p.a.cious 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.