La Boheme | Page 8

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 caf��._) 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