Bohemia; or, La Bohème. Henry Murger

      As for me, I’m a pantheist. Everything is in everything. Have you read Spinoza?

      Baptiste

      Me!

      Colline

      Reread him! Also look at Descartes. (Musette and Phemie come to take the basket) (to Rodolphe) Monsieur, you have a very wise servant. I took him for an article in the Review of Two Worlds. (goes near Marcel)

      Marcel

      Where are you coming from?

      Colline

      By Jove! You are a rare featherbrain. You left our provisions in the midst of the country, where they would have become the prey of scavengers. I had to find them with the aid of Monsieur Baptiste.

      Musette (looking in the basket)

      But the bottles are empty.

      Colline

      In the midst of a serious discussion with this gentleman on the immortality of the soul, we became very exalted. We drank the bottles, but there are the corks.

      Musette

      Well, with what will we eat the duck which is in the pie?

      (Phemie looks in the basket.)

      Phemie

      The duck flew off. All that’s left is the crust.

      (Phemie and Musette throw it all over the balustrade with Marcel’s help.)

      Baptiste

      In the midst of a grave discussion with this gentleman on the objective and the subjective—(to Musette) The mine and the not—mine, if you prefer—as we were very exalted—we ate the duck.

      Musette (to Rodolphe)

      Your servant is sweet. Do you pay him much?

      Rodolphe

      Don’t trouble yourself. We are going to straighten all this out. Baptiste, you understand—(Baptist leaves by the rear) Now, allow me to offer you lunch.

      Schaunard

      Indeed, it’s the hour honest folks spend in the dining room. Let’s go.

      Rodolphe

      The dining room is here—in a moment we will be served and we will drink to Bohemia, my future country!

      All

      What!

      Rodolphe

      Listen to me. Here I am running the greatest dangers.

      Marcel

      You?

      Rodolphe

      They want to marry me.

      Marcel

      That’s horrible.

      Rodolphe

      It’s my Uncle Million who had that idea.

      Musette

      Your Uncle Million?

      Phemie

      What a pretty name!

      Schaunard

      Indeed, I’d like to have your uncle’s money.

      Rodolphe

      Me marry? Can you grasp that? Imprison my freedom in a contract? Throw my heart in the household potboiler, clip the wings of my youth—all that simply to provide for my uncle the pleasure of having little grand-nephews!

      Schaunard

      By Jove, if he wants ‘em—let him make ‘em himself.

      Rodolphe

      I’ve been meditating flight for a long while—but all alone, I wouldn’t know where to go. Now, it’s quite decided—I intend to lead, like you, the beautiful life of work and pleasure. I have a great heart and great courage—you will see me at work. So, if you will permit it, I will be your companion at first—until the day you really want to call me your friend!

      (During this monologue, Baptiste has brought a cloth and placed lunch on the ground.)

      Marcel

      But you already are!

      Musette and Phemie

      Yes, monsieur, you are.

      Baptiste

      You are served.

      Rodolphe

      Baptiste, you will leave with us. You are a studious lad—you will make your way.

      Baptiste

      What an honor.

      Phemie (aside)

      He’s really quite nice, this Baptiste—if only he had a uniform.

      Rodolphe

      And now—to lunch.

      All

      To lunch!

      (They sit on the bench and overturned chairs and attack the lunch.)

      Chorus

      To lunch, my friends.

      Chance gaily unites us

      On this flowered strand.

      Already our places are set.

      Marcel (holding a bottle)

      Royal Champagne, I recognize him by his silver helmet. Stay away from it, it’s not wine!

      Rodolphe (astonished)

      What is it, then?

      Marcel

      Elegant cider.

      Schaunard

      Tasteless.

      Marcel (throwing the bottle to Baptiste)

      Offer it to the ladies. The first duty of wine is to be red. Baptiste, my friend, pass us some Burgundy.

      (Marcel takes a bottle and pours.)

      Baptiste

      Do you want some water?

      Marcel

      Water in wine? That’s like Platonism in love.

      Phemie

      What is Platonism?

      Musette

      Stupidities—the disease of men who don’t dare to embrace women.

      Phemie

      Fie! The horror.

      Musette (embracing Marcel)

      Let’s drink our pure wine.

      Marcel

      And long live youth!

      All (as they drink)

      Long live youth.

      Chorus (all)

      Our future must shine

      In the sun of our twenty years.

      Let’s love and sing together,

      Youth is too short.

      Schaunard

      Armed with patience

      Against evil destiny,

      Courage and hope,

      We mould our bread.

      Our careless attitude

      To the fanfares of our song

      Makes our misery happy,

      Youth is too short.

      Chorus

      Our future must shine

      In