Bohemia; or, La Bohème. Henry Murger
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else.
Durandin
You’re settled on it, right? You don’t wish to understand anything?
Rodolphe
My uncle, I understand nothing about business. You do it, as much as you like, I am not preventing you.
Durandin
Truly? And as for you, you’ll write odes to the moon, right? And you will curse the egoistic century that refuses to nourish you for doing nothing.
Rodolphe
Wrong, my uncle, grave mistake! I am not seated at the banquet of life with the intention of cursing fellow guests over dessert. By dessert, I’m rolling under the table, and my muse, a good fat wench with an insolent eye and a turned up nose picks me up, leads me stumbling to my lodging, and we spend the night laughing at those who’ve paid us to dine. It’s ingratitude if you like, but it’s amusing.
Durandin
And is this what concerns you?
Rodolphe
What concerns me? Absolutely nothing for the moment. But that will concern me later. You’ve studied men and you speculate on the telegraphs. You live by your enterprise. As for me, I want to live by my imagination. I will do whatever they wish—sad, gay, pleasant, grave. I will feel like fasting and jesting loudly after dinner—(striking his head) My capital is here. A superb enterprise under the direction of Piochage and Company. Social capital—courage, wit, and gaiety.
Durandin
But, truly, I am really glad to hear that from you. Madame de Rouvre is coming today—in an hour.
Rodolphe
You did quite well to warn me, my uncle. I’m going out right away.
Durandin
Not another step or I’ll disinherit you.
Rodolphe
Damn! I ask to sit down.
Durandin (sitting on the bench with his nephew)
Listen, my boy, in the past you paid court to Madame de Rouvre, you pressed her assiduously for an entire winter.
Rodolphe
I cannot deny it, uncle.
Durandin
In the Spring, we spent a month at her country estate—and, between us, those walks in the solitary alleys of her park—
Rodolphe
Hush! Be as discreet as I am, uncle.
Durandin
I’m not reproaching you. On the contrary, you did well, it was a masterful stroke—for she’s very rich and she loves you.
Rodolphe
She loves me?
Durandin
I’m sure of it.
Rodolphe
She’s a woman of wit, she will understand that I don’t want to marry her.
Durandin
You don’t want to marry her?
Rodolphe
I never promised her that.
Durandin
Promised—this lad is a bit conceited.
Rodolphe
Why no, uncle, I wish to remain a bachelor, that’s all.
Durandin
But, wretch, Madame de Rouvre is pretty.
Rodolphe
I know it, uncle.
Durandin
Well?
Rodolphe
Well! So much the worse for the others.
Durandin
By marrying her, you would have from your wife’s side alone, forty thousand francs of income. You would have a calm, quiet position. You would have children.
Rodolphe
Yes, that’s right, many children and rabbits. Thanks, that doesn’t suit me. I need air, freedom, a picturesque life, tempestuous, if you like, free not to dine every day—that’s all the same with me—in the days of feasting, I will eat for a month.
Durandin
You will never do anything in your life. You will follow in the tracks of your father.
Rodolphe
Ah, uncle, let’s not speak of that, let’s not rake up the ashes.
Durandin
That’s very well, but nonetheless, it is true that my brother also didn’t want to do anything except as he pleased, and when he died, he owed everybody.
Rodolphe (serious)
Except you, uncle.
Durandin
I’ll have to be bled from four veins to support a mad man.
Rodolphe
No, uncle, you’ve done well. After all, my father left me an honorable name—a name that is respected—and some paintings that are admired. But once again, let’s not speak of that.
Durandin
So be it! I have to leave to greet Madame de Rouvre. I hope, on my return, you’ll be in a better frame of mind.
Rodolphe
Can’t swear to it, uncle. There’s nothing immutable under the sun.
Durandin
Think about it, and if you become reasonable you won’t regret it.
Durandin and Rodolphe Together (singing)
True happiness
There’s no happiness
Is for the heart.
In marriage in my heart.
No slavery No slavery
For us For between you and me
No slavery No slavery
Is so sweet. Is sweet.
(Durandin goes out by the right.)
Rodolphe (alone)
Uncles are astonishing. They would make you marry every woman you’ve sworn eternal love to by moonlight. Why, they’d have a legalized harem. For me to marry Madame Césarine de Rouvre, the most flirtatious and imperious woman on earth, who orders you to love her so to speak—I’m not so crazy! From tomorrow I shall take my flight. I am fleeing this insipid and monotonous villa that no one ever visits by chance or unexpectedly.
Chorus (outside)
Our future must light up
In the sunshine of our youth.
Let’s love and sing some more.
Youth comes only once.
Rodolphe
What’s that? Could it be the unexpected I asked for? (goes to the back) Some artists and grisettes, not doubt. They are having lunch on the grass. Bon appétit! Now there’s happiness as I understand it. Walks without gloves and dinners without forks. Heavens, they’re bowing to me. (he bows and comes back) I almost want to hurl myself into the midst of their group and invite myself. Indeed, why not?
Marcel (appearing above the balustrade)
Sir—Sir!
Rodolphe
Who’s calling me?
Marcel
I