Bohemia; or, La Bohème. Henry Murger
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is too short.
Marcel
If the chosen mistress,
Who by luck loves us
And makes our poetry bloom
With the flame of her glance,
Knowing her taste for being beautiful,
Without causing us pain—
Let’s love her all the same—sweet infidel.
Youth is too short.
Chorus
Our future must shine
In the sun of our twenty years.
Let’s love and sing together,
Youth is too short.
Musette
Since the most beautiful things,
Love affairs and beauty
Like lilies and roses,
Have only the season of Summer,
When May in flowering arbors
Drapes the green flag of Spring,
Let’s love and sing some more.
Youth is very short.
Chorus
Our future must shine
In the sun of our twenty years.
Let’s love and sing together,
Youth is too short.
Baptiste (at the back, utters a scream)
Ah!
All
What is it?
Baptiste
Monsieur Durandin! Monsieur Durandin! I notice his carriage—and quick—quick!
Marcel
The devil!
Schaunard
Let’s help the waiter.
(Schaunard puts a bottle in his pocket. Phemie puts cakes and fruits in her pockets.)
Rodolphe
Gentlemen! I am desolated! But—
(All fill the hamper which they carry behind the pavilion.)
Marcel
We understand perfectly.
Rodolphe
We will see each other again soon. There’s time to pack my suitcase and not to embrace my uncle.
Colline (in the back)
The carriage is approaching.
Rodolphe
Wait for me in the little wood that adjoins the garden.
Phemie
But, which way to leave?
Baptiste
Not by the door.
Musette
Over the wall.
Marcel
Doubtless.
Baptiste
The carriage is entering the courtyard.
Musette and Phemie
Save yourself if you can!
(Musette and Phemie go over the balustrade. Marcel shakes Rodolphe’s hand and jumps in his turn. Colline stops and returns.)
Colline
Ah! My God! I’ve forgotten my books.
Schaunard
You will take them another time.
(Colline vanishes.)
Schaunard
Say, Monsieur Rodolphe, I left a chicken leg.
Rodolphe
That doesn’t matter.
(Schaunard disappears.)
Baptiste (looking to the right)
Just in time.
Rodolphe
They’re already far away. Now it’s a question of finding an honest way to leave here.
Baptiste
Ah! My God! Monsieur Million seems so agitated.
Rodolphe
Heavens, he’s alone.
Baptiste
It’s true. Here he is.
Durandin (coming in from the right)
Ah! My friend! My dear nephew.
Rodolphe
What’s the matter with you, Uncle?
Durandin
What an adventure! Madame de Rouvre—
Rodolphe
You are terrifying me!
Durandin
Getting out of the carriage—she sprained her ankle.
Rodolphe
Where is she?
Durandin
At the Lion Inn—a terrible inn.
Rodolphe (aside)
Ah! Now, there’s my way out. (aloud, uneasily) What! Madame de Rouvre will be deprived of those thousand little nothings to which she’s become accustomed! Uncle, I am taking your carriage.
(Rodolphe passes near Baptiste.)
Durandin (aside)
He’s going there.
Rodolphe (to Baptiste)
Ah! Baptiste—a suitcase, some linen, plates, my books to distract her—don’t forget anything. (low) Don’t forget my pipes.
Baptiste
Where are we going?
Rodolphe (low)
To Bohemia. (aloud) Go—run!
(Baptiste leaves by the right.)
Rodolphe (to Durandin)
Goodbye, Uncle.
Durandin
Goodbye, my boy.
(Rodolphe leaves quickly by the right.)
Durandin (alone, rubbing his hands)
The trick succeeded. Now we know what we’ve got. He loves her like a madman. It’s true what they say—what a woman wants, God wants. (a carriage can be heard leaving) Gone already!
Chorus (heard from off)
Our future must shine
In the sun of our twenty years.
Let’s love and sing together,
Youth is too short.
Durandin
What’s that? (runs to the back and looks over the balustrade) Ah! My God, he tricked me.
CURTAIN
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