“La bohème” by Giacomo Puccini libretto (English)

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four

Translation: William Fense Weaver © Capitol Records, Inc., 1952

ACT FOUR

The garret

(Marcello once more at his easel; Rodolfo at his table.
They try to work, but instead they are talking.)

MARCELLO
In a coupé?

RODOLFO
With footmen and horses.
She greeted me, laughing.
"So, Musetta," I said,
"your heart?"
"It doesn't beat - at least I don't feel it,
thanks to the velvet that covers it."

MARCELLO
I'm glad, really glad.

RODOLFO
(Faker, go on! You're laughing
and fretting inside.)

MARCELLO
Not beating? Good.
I also saw...

RODOLFO
Musetta?

MARCELLO
Mimì

RODOLFO
You saw her?
(with pretended unconcern)
Really?

MARCELLO
She was in a carriage,
dressed like a queen.

RODOLFO
That's fine. I'm delighted.

MARCELLO
(The liar! Love's consuming him.)

RODOLFO
Let's get to work.

MARCELLO
Yes, to work.
(They start working, but quickly throw down brush and pen.)

RODOLFO
This pen is terrible!

MARCELLO
So is this brush!

RODOLFO
(O Mimì, you won't return!
O lovely days! Those tiny hands,
those sweet-smelling locks,
that snowy neck! Ah! Mimì!
My short-lived youth.)

MARCELLO
(I don't understand how my brush
works and mixes colours
to spite me.
Whether I want to paint
earth or sky, spring
or winter, the brush
outlines two dark eyes
and inviting lips,
and Musetta's face appears... )

RODOLFO
(And you, little pink bonnet
that she hid under the pillow
as she left, you know
all of our joy.
Come to my heart,
my heart that died
when our love died.)

MARCELLO
(Her face appears,
so lovely and so false.
Meanwhile Musetta is happy
and my cowardly heart
calls her, and waits for her.)

RODOLFO
What time is it?

MARCELLO
It's time for dinner...
Yesterday's dinner.

RODOLFO
And Schaunard's not back.
(Schaunard comes in and sets four rolls on the table.
Colline is with him.)

SCHAUNARD
Here we are.

RODOLFO and MARCELLO
Well?

MARCELLO
Well? Just bread?

COLLINE
A dish worthy of Demosthenes:
A herring...

SCHAUNARD
...salted.

COLLINE
Dinner's on the table.
(They sit down.)

MARCELLO
This is like a feast day
in wonderland.

SCHAUNARD
(puts the water-bottle in Colline's hat)
Now let's put
the champagne on ice.

RODOLFO
Which do you choose, Baron,
salmon or trout?

MARCELLO
Well, Duke, how about
some parrot-tongue?

SCHAUNARD
Thanks, but it's fattening.
I must dance this evening.
(Colline gets up.)

RODOLFO
Full already?

COLLINE
I'm in a hurry.
The King is waiting for me.

MARCELLO
Is there some plot?

RODOLFO, MARCELLO, SCHAUNARD
Some mystery?

COLLINE
The King has asked me
to join his Cabinet.

MARCELLO. RODOLFO, SCHAUNARD
Fine!

COLLINE
So...I'll see Guizot!

SCHAUNARD
Pass me the goblet.

MARCELLO
Here. Drink. I'll eat.

SCHAUNARD
By the leave...
of this noble company...

RODOLFO and MARCELLO
Enough!

MARCELLO
Weakling!

COLLINE
What a concoction!

MARCELLO
Get out of here!

COLLINE
The goblet, please!

SCHAUNARD
I'm irresistibly inspired
by the Muse of poetry...

THE OTHERS
No!

SCHAUNARD
Something choreographic then?

THE OTHERS
Yes.

SCHAUNARD
Dance with vocal accompaniment!

COLLINE
Let the hall be cleared.
A gavotte.

MARCELLO
Minuet.

RODOLFO
Pavane.

SCHAUNARD
Fandango.

COLLINE
I suggest the quadrille.

RODOLFO
Take your lady's arm.

COLLINE
I'll call the figures.

SCHAUNARD
La lera la lera la!

RODOLFO
(gallantly, to Marcello)
Lovely maiden...

MARCELLO
Please, sir,
respect my modesty.

COLLINE
Balancez.

SCHAUNARD
The Rond comes first.

COLLINE
No, damn it.

SCHAUNARD
What boorish manners!

COLLINE
Your provoking me, I believe.
Draw your sword.

SCHAUNARD
Ready. Lay on.
I'll drink your blood.
(Colline takes the fire-tongs and Schaunard the poker.
They fight as the others sing.)

COLLINE
One of us will be run through!

SCHAUNARD
Have a stretcher ready!

COLLINE
And a graveyard too!

RODOLFO and MARCELLO
While the battle rages,
the dancers circle and leap.
(Musetta enters.)

MARCELLO
Musetta!

MUSETTA
Mimì's here...she's coming
and she's ill.

RODOLFO
Where is she?

MUSETTA
She couldn't find strength
to climb all the stairs.

RODOLFO
Ah!
(Rodolfo hastens out to Mimì, who is seated on the last
step. Then they carry her into the room and place her
on the bed.)

SCHAUNARD
We'll move the bed closer.

RODOLFO
Here. Something to drink.

MIMÌ
Rodolfo.

RODOLFO
Rest now. Don't speak.

MIMÌ
O my Rodolfo!
You want me here with you?

RODOLFO
Ah! My Mimì!
Always, always!

MUSETTA
(aside, to the others)
I heard Mimì had fled
from the Viscount and was dying.
Where was she? I sought her...
Just now I saw her in the street
stumbling along. She said:
"I can't last long.
I know I'm dying...
But I want to die with him...
Perhaps he's waiting for me... "

MARCELLO
Sh!

MIMÌ
I feel much better...

MUSETTA
"...Please take me, Musetta?"

MIMÌ
Let me look around.
How wonderful it is here.
I'll recover... I will...
I feel life here again.
You won't leave me ever...

RODOLFO
Beloved lips,
you speak to me again.

MUSETTA
What is there in the house?

MARCELLO
Nothing.

MUSETTA
No coffee? No wine?

MARCELLO
Nothing. Poverty!

SCHAUNARD
She'll be dead within half an hour!

MIMÌ
I'm so cold.
If I had a muff!
Won't these hands of mine
ever be warm?

RODOLFO
Here. In mine. Don't speak.
You'll tire yourself.

MIMÌ
It's just a little cough.
I'm used to it.
Hello, Marcello,
Schaunard, Colline...
All of you are here,
smiling at Mimì.

RODOLFO
Don't speak, don't...

MIMÌ
I'll speak softly. Don't fear.
Marcello, believe me -
Musetta is so good.

MARCELLO
(holds Musetta's hand)
I know. I know.

MUSETTA
(gives her earrings to Marcello)
Here. Sell them. Bring
back some cordial
and send the doctor!

RODOLFO
Rest now!

MIMÌ
You won't leave me?

RODOLFO
No! No!

MUSETTA
Listen!
Perhaps it's the poor thing's
last request.
I'll get the muff.
I'm coming with you.

MARCELLO
How good you are, Musetta.
(Marcello and Musetta go out.)

COLLINE
(taking off his greatcoat)
Listen, my venerable coat,
I'm staying behind, you'll
go on to greater heights.
I give you my thanks.
You never bowed your worn back
to the rich or powerful.
You held in your pockets
poets and philosophers
as if in tranquil grottoes...
Now that those happy times
have fled, I bid you farewell,
faithful old friend. Farewell.
(He puts the bundle under his arm, then whispers to
Schaunard:)
Schaunard, each separately,
let's combine two kindly acts;
mine is this...and you...
leave the two of them alone.

SCHAUNARD
Philosopher, you're right!
I'll go along.
(They leave.)

MIMÌ
Have they gone? I pretended to sleep
because I wanted to be alone with you.
I've so many things to tell you,
or just one thing - huge as the sea,
deep and infinite as the sea. ..
I love you...you're all my life.

RODOLFO
Ah! my beautiful Mimì!

MIMÌ
Am I beautiful still?

RODOLFO
Beautiful as the dawn.

MIMÌ
You've mistaken the image:
you should have said,
beautiful as the sunset.
"They call me Mimì...
but I don't know why."

RODOLFO
The swallow has come back
to her nest to twitter.
(He takes the bonnet from its place over his heart.)

MIMÌ
My bonnet!
My bonnet!
Ah! do you remember
when I came in here
the first time?

RODOLFO
Do I remember!

MIMÌ
The light had gone out.

RODOLFO
You were so upset.
Then you lost your key...

MIMÌ
And you knelt to hunt for it!

RODOLFO
I searched and searched...

MIMÌ
My dear sir,
now I can tell you:
you found it quick enough.

RODOLFO
I was helping Fate.

MIMÌ
It was dark. You couldn't
see me blushing.
"How cold your little hand is...
Let me warm it for you..."
It was dark. You took
my hand in yours...
(Mimì has another spasm, a fit of choking.)

RODOLFO
Good God! Mimì!
(Schaunard enters at that moment.)

SCHAUNARD
What's wrong?

MIMÌ
Nothing. I'm fine.

RODOLFO
Please...don't talk.

MIMÌ
Yes, yes forgive me.
Now I'll be good.
(Marcello and Musetta come back, then Colline.
Musetta sets a candle on the table.)

MUSETTA
Is she sleeping?

RODOLFO
She's resting.

MARCELLO
I saw the doctor.
He's coming. I made him hurry.
Here's the cordial.

MIMÌ
Who's speaking?

MUSETTA
(handing her the muff)
Me. Musetta.

MIMÌ
Oh, how lovely and soft it is.
No more, no more...my hands all
ugly and cold...The warmth will heal them.
(to Rodolfo)
Did you give it to me?

MUSETTA
Yes, he did.

MIMÌ
You spendthrift!
Thank you...but the cost...
You're crying? I'm well.
Why are you crying like this?
Here, beloved...with you always!
My hands...the warmth...to sleep.
(Silence.)

RODOLFO
What did the doctor say?

MARCELLO
He's coming.

MUSETTA
(praying)
Oh blessed Mother,
be merciful to this poor child
who doesn't deserve to die.
(breaking off, to Marcello)
We need a screen here;
the candle's flickering.
(Marcello sets a book on the table which acts as a
screen.)

That's better.
Let her get well,
Holy Mother, I know
I'm unworthy of forgiveness,
but Mimì is an angel
come down from heaven.

RODOLFO
I still have hope.
You think it's serious?

MUSETTA
I don't think so.
(Schaunard approaches the bed.)

SCHAUNARD
(softly to Marcello)
Marcello, she's dead.

COLLINE
(enters, and gives money to Musetta)
Here, Musetta.
How is she?

RODOLFO
You see, she's resting.
(Rodolfo becomes aware of the strange expression of the others.)
What does this mean?
This going back and forth?
Why are you looking at me like this?

MARCELLO
Courage.
(Rodolfo runs over to the bed.)

RODOLFO
Mimì! Mimì! Mimì!

THE END

libretto by William Fense Weaver

Contents: Roles; Act One; Act Two; Act Three; Act Four