r alone just now,
Almost dead with exhaustion.
She murmured: "I'm dying! dying!
But listen; I want to die near him.
Maybe he's waiting!
Take me thither, Musetta!"

MAR. Hush! (_MUSETTA moves farther away from MIMI._)

MIMI. I feel so much better.
All here seems just the same as ever.
(_with a sweet smile_)
Ah! It is all so pleasant here!
Saved from sadness,
All is gladness;
Once again new life is mine!

RUD. Lips delightful, speak again to me!
Once more enchant me!

MIMI. Ah! beloved! Ah! leave me not!

MUS. (_aside to the others_) What is there to give her?

MAR. _and_ COL. Nothing!

MUS. No coffee? no wine?

MAR. (_in great dejection_) Nothing; the larder's empty.

SCH. (_looking closely at Mimi_) In an hour she'll be dead!

MIMI. I feel so cold!
If I had but my muff here!
My poor hands are simply frozen!
How shall I get them warm?
(_Mimi coughs; Rudolph takes her hands in his and chafes them._)

RUD. In mine, in mine, love!
Silence! for speaking tires you.

MIMI. Tis coughing tires me.
I'm used to that, though.
(_seeing RUDOLPH'S friends, she calls them by name, when they hasten
to her side_)
Good-morrow, Marcel!
Schaunard, Colline, good-morrow!
All are here, as I see, glad to welcome Mimi.

RUD. Hush! Mimi, do not talk.

MIMI. I'll speak low; don't be frightened.

(_SCHAUNARD and COLLINE mournfully withdraw; the former sits at
the table, burying his face in his hands, the latter is a prey to
sad thoughts._)

MIMI. (_motioning Marcel to approach_) Marcel, now believe me,
A good girl is Musetta.

MAR. (_giving Musetta his hand_) I know, I know.

MUS. (_drawing Marcel away from Mimi, takes off her earrings and gives
them to him as she whispers_) Look here! sell them,
And buy some tonic for her--
Send for a doctor! (_Mimi gradually grows drowsy; Rudolph takes a
chair and sits down beside the bed._)

RUD. Keep quiet.

MIMI. You will not leave me?

RUD. No, no! (_MARCEL is about to go, when Musetta stops him and takes
him still further from Mimi._)

MUS. Stay, listen! Maybe, what she has asked us
Will be her last request on earth, little darling!
I'll go for the muff--I'll come with you.

MAR. How good you are, Musetta!

(_MUSETTA and MARCEL hastily go out._)

COL. (_who has removed his overcoat while Marcel and Musetta were
talking_)
Garment antique and rusty!
A last good-bye! farewell!
Faded friend, so tried and trusty,
We must part, you and I.
For never yet your back