O Mimì, tu più non torni

English Libretto or Translation:

RODOLFO
to himself
O Mimi, you will return no more. O happy days,
tiny hands, sweet?scented tresses,

MARCELLO
replacing the ribbon in his pocket, to himself
I don't know how it is my ...
... brush works
and slaps on colours
against my will.

RODOLFO
… snow?white neck!
Oh Mimi, my short?lived youth!

MARCELLO
If I want to paint,
whether it be sky or land
or winter or spring,
it draws for me
two dark eyes
and provocative lips.
And there is Musetta's
face again, . . .

RODOLFO
taking a little bonnet from the table drawer; to himself
And you, dainty bonnet,
which she hid under the pillow when she left,
you know all our happiness.
Come to my heart, to my broken heart,
oh, come to my heart,
for love is dead.

MARCELLO
... and there's Musetta's face
all charms and deceits.
Meanwhile, Musetta's enjoying life
and my craven heart calls her,
ails her and waits, my craven heart!

RODOLFO
What time might it be?

MARCELLO
Yesterday's dinner time.

RODOLFO
And Schaunard isn't back?

Schaunard now enters carrying four loaves; he is followed by Colline carrying a parcel.

SCHAUNARD
Here we are.

RODOLFO
Well?

MARCELLO
Well?
as Schaunard puts the loaves on the table, scornfully
Bread?

COLLINE
opening his parcel and producing a herring
And a dish worthy of Demosthenes:
A herring.

SCHAUNARD
Salted.

COLLINE
Supper is served.

They all sit round the table and pretend to enjoy a sumptuous meal.

MARCELLO
This is a veritable feast
of plenty.

SCHAUNARD
as he puts Colline's hat on the table and stands a bottle of water in it.
Now let's put the champagne
on ice.

RODOLFO
offering the bread to Marcello
Choose, baron,
trout or salmon?

MARCELLO
offering bread to Schaunard
Duke, a parrot's tongue?

SCHAUNARD
Thank you, no, it blows me out.
I'm going to a ball tonight.

RODOLFO
to Colline, who has risen from the table
Finished already?

COLLINE
I'm in a hurry.
The king expects me.

MARCELLO
Is there a plot on?

RODOLFO
Some mystery?

SCHAUNARD
A mystery?

MARCELLO
A mystery?

COLLINE
The king has summoned me to the Ministry.

SCHAUNARD
Wonderful!

MARCELLO
Splendid!

RODOLFO
Marvellous!

COLLINE
However …I shall see …Guizot!
to Marcello
Give me the goblet!

MARCELLO
giving him the one and only tumbler
Yes! drink, I'm gorging myself!

SCHAUNARD
raising the glass
I beg the noble company
to permit me ...

RODOLFO, COLLINE
That'll do!

MARCELLO
It's feeble!

COLLINE
What a concoction!

MARCELLO
Off with you!

COLLINE
taking the glass away from Schaunard
Give me the goblet!

SCHAUNARD
I am irresistibly inspired by the spirit of song!

RODOLFO
No!

MARCELLO
No!

COLLINE
No!

SCHAUNARD
giving up
A choreographic exploit then?

RODOLFO, MARCELLO, COLLINE
Yes! Yes!

SCHAUNARD
A dance with vocal accompaniment!