Chapter 10

_Beyond the toll-gate, the outer boulevard is formed in the background by the Orleans high-road, half hidden by tall houses and the misty gloom of February. To the left is a tavern with a small open space in front of the toll-gate. To the right is the Boulevard d'Enfer; to the left, that of St. Jacques.

On the right also there is the entrance of the Rue d'Enfer, leading to the Quartier Latin.

Over the tavern, as its sign-board, hangs MARCEL's picture, "The Passage of the Red Sea," while underneath, in large letters, is the inscription. "At the Port of Marseilles." On either side of the door are frescoes of a Turk and a Zouave with a huge laurel-wreath round his fez. From the ground-floor windows of the tavern, which faces the toll-gate, light gleams. The plane-trees, grey and gaunt, which flank the toll-gate square, lead diagonally towards the two boulevards. Between each tree is a marble bench. It is towards the close of February; snow covers all.

As the curtain rises, the scene is merged in the dim light of early dawn. In front of a brazier are seated, in a group, snoring custom-house officers. From the tavern at intervals one may hear laughter, shouts, and the clink of glasses. A custom-house official comes out of the tavern with wine. The toll-gate is closed.

Behind the toll-gate, stamping their feet and blowing in their frost-bitten fingers, stand several street-scavengers._

SCAVENGERS. What ho, there! What ho, there! Admit us! Make haste and let us pass, The sweepers are we. (_stamping their feet_) Look how it's snowing! What ho, there! We are frozen!

AN OFFICIAL. (_yawning and stretching himself_) All right!

(_Goes to open the gate; the scavengers pass through to the Rue d'Enfer. The official closes the gate again._)

CHORUS. (_from the tavern; the clink of glasses forms an accompaniment to the song_) Pass the glass, Let each toast his lass; Pass the glass, Let each lad toast his lass; Ha! Ha! Each one as he sips, As he sips his wine, Shall dream of lips Made for love divine!

MUS. (_from the tavern_) Ah! As the toper loves his glass, So the gallant loves his lass.

CHORUS. (_all bursting into laughter_) Noah and Eve!

MILK WOMEN. (_from within_) Houp-la! Houp-la!

(_A sergeant comes out of the guard-house and orders the toll-gate to be opened._)

CUSTOM HOUSE OFFICIAL. Here come the women with their milk.

(_A tinkling of cart-bells is heard._)

CARTERS. (_from within_) Houp-la!

(_Carts pass along the outer boulevard, lighted by large lanterns._)

MILK WOMEN. (_quite close_) Houp-la!

(_The gloom gradually gives way to daylight._)

MILK WOMEN. (_to the officials who admit them to the toll-gate_) Good-morrow!

PEASANT WOMEN. (_who enter carrying baskets_) Butter! Cheese! Chickens and eggs!

SOME. Which way, then, are you going?

OTHERS. Up to Saint Michael's.

SOME. Well, shall we see you later?

OTHERS. At twelve o'clock.

(_They go off in various directions, and the officials remove the bench and brazier._)

(_Enter _MIMI_ from the Rue d'Enfer; she looks about her as if anxious to make sure of her whereabouts. On reaching the first plane-tree she is seized by a violent fit of coughing. Then recovering herself, she sees the sergeant, whom she approaches._)

MIMI. Oh! Please, sir, tell me the name of that tavern Where now a painter's working?

SERGEANT. (_pointing to the tavern_) There it is.

MIMI. Thank you. (_A serving woman comes out of the tavern; _MIMI_ goes to her._) Oh! my good woman, pray do me this favor! Can you find me the painter, Marcel? I fain would see him; the matter's urgent; Just tell him softly that Mimi awaits him.

SERGEANT. (_to a passer-by_) Ho! there! What's in the basket?

OFFICIAL. (_after searching the basket_) Empty.

SERGEANT. Pass, there!

(_Other folk now pass through the toll-gate and move off in different directions. The bell of the Hospice Ste. Therese rings for matins._)

MAR. (_coming out of the inn_) Mimi!

MIMI. I hoped that I should find you here.

MAR. Aye, here we've been for a month: So to pay for our footing, Musetta teaches singing To those who come here. And I, well--I paint warriors-- There, on the house front!

MIMI. Where is Rudolph?

MAR. Here. 'Tis bitter, pray enter!

MIMI. (_bursting into tears_)

Enter I cannot, no!

MAR. Why not?

MIMI. Oh! good Marcel! oh! help me!

MAR. Say, what has happened?

MIMI. Rudolph is madly jealous! He loves and yet avoids me! A glance, a touch, a token, Suffice to make him jealous, And start his senseless fury! And oft at night, When feigning to be sleeping, I felt his eyes were watching to spy upon my slumbers! How oft he would reproach me! "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, Prone 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!

MIMI. Ah me! ah me! All is over, life and loving, All are ended! Mimi must die!

MAR. Softly!

RUD. Want has wasted her beauty, And to bring her back to life Would need far more than love.

MAR. Nay, Rudolph, but listen!

(_Mimi's violent coughing and sobbing reveal her presence._)

RUD. Ha! Mimi! You here! You heard, you heard me? Swayed by each light suspicion, A trifle yet alarms me; Come, come inside here!

(_Seeks to take her into the tavern_)

MIMI. No, that odor is stifling me!

RUD. (_affectionately embracing her_) Ah, Mimi!

(_From the tavern Musetta's brazen laugh is heard._)

MAR. (_running to look through the window._) Tis Musetta that's laughing! Laughing, flirting! Ah! what a hussy! I'll not allow it. (_enters the tavern impetuously_)

MIMI. (_disengaging herself from_ RUDOLPH'S _embrace._) Farewell!

RUD. (_surprised_) What! Going?

MIMI. To the home that she left At the voice of her lover. Sad, forsaken Mimi Must turn back, heavy-hearted. For love and her lover Are gone, and she must die, Farewell, then! I wish you well! Nay, listen! listen! those things, Those few old things I've left behind me, Within my trunk safely arc stored. That bracelet of gold, The prayer-book you gave me, Pray wrap them up together in my little apron, And I will send to fetch them. Yet stay! Beneath the pillow You'll find my little bonnet-- Who knows? Maybe you'd like to keep it To remind you of our love! Farewell! Good-bye! I wish you well!

RUD. Then, you are going to leave me? Yes, you are going, my little Mimi? Ah! farewell, sweet dream of love!

MIMI. Farewell! farewell! Glad awakenings in the morning!

RUD. Farewell, our sweet love that vanished, Yet that your smile reviveth!

MIMI. (_playfully_) Farewell to jealousy and fury! Farewell suspicion, and its bitter anguish!

RUD. Kisses sweet that, as poet, I bought back with caresses!

MIMI and RUD. Lonely in winter, With Death as sole companion! But in glad springtime There's the sun, the glorious sun!

(_From the tavern the sound of breaking plates and glasses is heard_)

MUS. (_from within_) What d'ye mean? What d'ye mean? (_running out_)

MAR. (_from within_) You were laughing, you were flirting By the fireside with that stranger!

(_stopping on the threshold of the inn and confronting _MUSETTA)

And how you colored When I caught you in the corner!

MUS. (_defiantly_) Stuff and nonsense! all he said was: "Are you very fond of dancing?" And, half blushing, I made answer: "I'd be dancing all day long, sir."

MAR. This is talk that only leads to things dishonest.

MUS. My own way I mean to have!

MAR. (_half menacing _MUSETTA) I will teach you better manners; Now if I catch you once more flirting--

MUS. What a bother! Why this anger? Why this fury? We're not married yet, thank goodness!

MAR. You shall not do as you like, miss! I will stop your little game!

MUS. I abhor that sort of lover Who pretends he is your husband!

MAR. I'm not going to be your blockhead, Just because you're fond of flirting!

MUS. I shall flirt just when it suits me!

MAR. You're most frivolous, Musetta!

MUS. Yes, I shall! yes, I shall! I shall flirt just when it suits me!

MAR. You can go, and God be with you!

MUS. Musetta's going away; Yes, going away!

MAR. And for me 'tis a good riddance!

MUS. Fare you well, sir!

MAR. Fare you well, ma'am!

MUS. I say farewell with all my heart!

MAR. Farewell, ma'am, pray begone!

(_She retreats in a fury, but suddenly stops._)

MUS. (_shouting_) Go back and paint your house front!

MAR. Viper! (_enters the tavern_)

MUS. Toad! (exit)

MIMI. I'm so happy in the spring!

RUD. As comrades you've lilies and roses.

MIMI. Forth from each nest Comes a murmur of birdlets!

RUD. and MIMI. When the hawthorn-bough's in blossom, When we have the glorious sun, Murmur the silver fountains, The breezes of the evening Waft fragrant balsams To the world and its sorrow. Shall we await another spring?

MIMI. (_moving away with _RUDOLPH) Always yours forever!

RUD. _and_ MIMI. Our time for parting's when the roses blow!

MIMI. Ah! that our winter might last forever!

RUD. _and_ MIMI. Our time for parting's when the roses blow!