"You are not mine, Mimi!

You love another gallant!"

Alas! 'tis jealousy that prompts him.

Yet how may I reply?

MAR. Two that live thus, I reckon, Would be surely better parted.

MIMI. You are right, you speak truly: 'Twere best we were parted.

Will you aid us, then, Will you aid us to part?

Oft to do this we have striven, but in vain.

Ah! 'tis true, to part were the best.

MAR. I'm happy with Musetta, And she's happy with me.

Because 'tis mirth that binds us together.

Laughter, music and song, Ever our love prolong.

MIMI. Ah! then, aid us, I pray you!

MAR. 'Tis well, 'tis well! Now will I wake him.

MIMI. Wake him?

MAR. Overcome with fatigue, Just as dawn was approaching, On the bench fast lie slumbers,

(_Motions MIMI to look through the tavern window_)

Behold him! (_MIMI coughs persistently_)

What coughing!

MIMI. Unceasingly it shakes me, And Rudolph now forsakes me.

And says to me, "It is over!"

At daybreak swift escaping, I hurried here to find him.

MAR. (_watching RUDOLPH inside the tavern_) He's moving, waking, and wants me.

Come, then.

MIMI. He must not see me.

MAR. Well, hide yourself out there.

(_Points to the plane-trees. MIMI hides behind the trees._)

RUD. (_coming out of the inn, hastens towards MARCEL_) Marcel! at last I've found you, Where none can hear us.

I want a separation from Mimi.

MAR. Is that your latest whim?

RUD. Love in my heart was dying, almost was dead, But her blue eyes new glory on me shed.

Love, swift revived, all me; what woe is mine!

MAR. Ah! would you now such bitter pain recall?

(_MIMI warily approaches to listen_)

RUD. Yes, always.

MAR. Nay, be prudent! Love is not worth the keeping, That only ends in weeping.

Love must thrive in mirth and gladness, Or else it is but madness.

'Tis that you're jealous!

RUD. Aye, somewhat; And choleric, and lunatic, And a victim of vile suspicion, Unhappy, and stubborn!

MIMI. (_aside_) He's getting in a rage; Poor little Mimi!

RUD. Mimi's a heartless maiden, p.r.o.ne to flirting with all.

A scented dandy, some lordling, Now striveth to win her caresses.

With bosom swaying, One foot displaying, Doth she lure him on With the magic of her smile.

MAR. Shall I be frank? I think 'tis hardly true.

RUD. No, 'tis not true.

In vain, in vain I smother All the torture that racks me.

I love Mimi, she is my only treasure!

I love her, but, oh! I fear it!

(_Mimi surprised, comes closer and closer, under cover of the trees_)

Mimi's so sickly, so ailing, Every day she grows weaker, The poor girl, as I think, is dying.

MAR. (_fearing MIMI may overhear them, tries to keep RUDOLPH further off_) Oh! Rudolph!

MIMI. What's he saying?

RUD. By fierce, incessant coughing Her fragile frame is shaken, While in her cheeks so pallid The fires of fever waken.

MAR. (_agitated, perceiving that Mimi is listening_) Softly!

MIMI. (_weeping_) Woe is me! I'm dying!

RUD. And my room's but a squalid hovel, No fire there burneth, Only the cruel night wind Waileth, waileth there ever.

Yet she's merry and smiling, While, remorseful, despairing, I feel that 'tis I that am guilty.

MAR. (_eager to draw RUDOLPH aside_) List but a moment!

MIMI. (_disconsolately_) Ah! I'm dying!

RUD. Mimi's a hot-house flower!

MAR. Nay, but listen!