La Boheme | Page 5

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