Che gelida manina! Se la lasci riscaldar. Cercar che giova? Al buio non si trova. Ma per fortuna e una notte di luna,
e qui la luna l´abbiiamo vicina. Aspetti, signorina, le diro con due parole chi son, chi son, e che faccio, come vivo, Vuole? Chi son? Chi son? Son un poeta. Che cosa faccio? Scrivo. E come vivo? Vivo. In poverta mia lieta scialo da gran signore rimi ed inni d´amore. Per sogni e per chimere e per castelli in aria l´anima ho milionaria. Talor del mio forziere ruban tutti i gioielle due ladri: gli occhi belli. V´entrar con voi pur ora ed i miei sogni usati, ed i bei sogni miei tosto si dileguar! Ma il furto non m´accora poiche, poiche v´ha preso stanza la speranza. Or che mi conoscete parlate voi. Deh parlate. Chi siete? Vi piaccia dir?
SYNOPSES It is Christmas Eve on Paris´ Left Bank. Rodolfo is at home writing when a stranger knocks at the door. It is Mimi, a neighbor, who needs to borrow a match to relight her candle. Mimi is barely out the door, when she realizes she has lost her key. As they search for it, Rodolfos´ hand falls upon hers.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION How cold your little hand is! Will you let me warm it for you? Why bother looking? It´s dark, and we won´t find it. It´s our good luck, though, this night´s filled with moonlight, up here the moonlight could rest on our shoulders.
Please wait, my dear young lady, and I will quickly tell you who stands before you, and what I do, how I make my living. May I? Who am I? What am I? I am a poet. What keeps me busy? Writing! And what do I live on? Nothing! In poverty I´m cheerful, I am a prince who squanders arias and couplets of longing. And as for hopes and dreams of love and castles-in-the-air, Miss, I am a millionaire! My fortress could be broken in, robbed clean of the fine jewels I store; if the thieves were eyes like yours. And now that I have seen you, all of my lovely dreaming,
all of the sweetest dreams I´ve dreamt, quickly have slipped away. This theft does not upset me, because such treasures mean nothing now that I´m rich with sweet hope! And now that you have met me, I ask you please, Tell me, lady, who you are, I ask you please!