(from Puccini's "La Boheme")
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[It is christmas eve on Paris' left bank. Rodolpho 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, Rodolpho's hand falls upon hers.]
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Che gelida manina!
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Se la lasci riscaldar.
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Cercar che giova?
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Al buio non si trova.
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Ma per fortuna
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e una notte di luna,
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e qui la luna l'abbiamo vicina.
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Aspetti, signorina,
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le diro con due parole chi son,
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chi son, e che faccio, come vivo,
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Vuole?
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Chi son? Chi son? son un poeta.
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Che cosa faccio? Scrivo.
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E come vivo? Vivo.
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In poverta mia lieta
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scialo da gran signore
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rimi ed inni d'amore,
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Per sogni e per chimere
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e per castelli in aria
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l'anima ho milionaria.
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Talor del mio forziere
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ruban tutti i gioelli
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due ladri:gli occhi belli.
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V'entrar con voi pur ora
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ed i miei sogni usati,
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ed i bei sogni miei
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tosto si dileguar!
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Ma il furto non m'accora
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poiche,poiche v'ha preso stanza
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la speranza.
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Or che mi conoscete
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parlate voi. Deh parlate.
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Chi siete? Vi piaccia dir?
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[Translation:]
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How Cold Your Little Hand Is
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How cold your little hand is!
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Will you let me warm it for you?
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Why bother looking?
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It's dark, and we won't find it.
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It's our good luck though,
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this night's filled with moonlight,
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up here the moonlight could rest on our shoulders.
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Please wait, my dear young lady,
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and I will quickly tell you who stands before you, and
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what I do, how I make my living.
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May I?
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Who am I? What am I? I am a poet.
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What keeps me busy? Writing!
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And what do I live on? Nothing!
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In poverty I'm cheerful,
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I am a prince who squanders
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arias and couplets of longing.
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And as for hopes and dreams of love
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and castles-in-the-air, Miss-
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I am a millionaire!
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My fortress could be broken in,
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robbed clean of the fine jewels I store-
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if the thieves were eyes like yours.
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And now that I have seen you,
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all of my lovely dreaming,
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all of the sweetest dreams I've dreamt,
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quickly have slipped away.
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This theft does not upset me,
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because such treasures mean nothing
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now that I'm rich with sweet hope!
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And now that you have met me,
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I ask you please,
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Tell me, lady, who you are, I ask you please!
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-----------------
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Che Gelida Manina
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Michael Bolton |