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_ ACT FIFTH
SCENE I.--A lower hall in the castle. The women servants discovered, gathered together, while without children are playing before one of the ventilators of the hall.
AN OLD SERVANT.
You will see, you will see, my daughters; it will be to-night.--Some one will come to tell us by and by....
ANOTHER SERVANT.
They will not come to tell us.... They don't know what they are doing any longer....
THIRD SERVANT.
Let us wait here....
FOURTH SERVANT.
We shall know well enough when we must go up....
FIFTH SERVANT.
When the time is come, we shall go up of ourselves....
SIXTH SERVANT.
There is no longer a sound heard in the house....
SEVENTH SERVANT.
We ought to make the children keep still, who are playing before the ventilator.
EIGHTH SERVANT.
They will be still of themselves by and by.
NINTH SERVANT.
The time has not yet come....
[Enter an old Servant.]
THE OLD SERVANT.
No one can go in the room any longer. I have listened more than an hour.... You could hear the flies walk on the doors.... I heard nothing....
FIRST SERVANT.
Has she been left alone in the room?
THE OLD SERVANT.
No, no; I think the room is full of people.
FIRST SERVANT.
They will come, they will come, by and by....
THE OLD SERVANT.
Lord! Lord! It is not happiness that has come into the house.... One may not speak, but if I could say what I know...
SECOND SERVANT.
It was you who found them before the gate?
THE OLD SERVANT.
Why, yes! why, yes! it was I who found them. The porter says it was he who saw them first; but it was I who waked them. He was sleeping on his face and would not get up.--And now he comes saying, "It was I who saw them first." Is that just?--See, I burned myself lighting a lamp to go down cellar.--Now what was I going to do down cellar?--I can't remember any more what I was going to do down cellar.--At any rate I got up very early; it was not yet very light; I said to myself, I will go across the courtyard, and then I will open the gate. Good; I go down the stairs on tiptoe, and I open the gate as if it were an ordinary gate.... My God! My God! What do I see? Divine a little what I see!...
FIRST SERVANT.
They were before the gate?
THE OLD SERVANT.
They were both stretched out before the gate!... Exactly like poor folk that are too hungry.... They were huddled together like little children who are afraid.... The little princess was nearly dead, and the great Golaud had still his sword in his side.... There was blood on the sill....
SECOND SERVANT.
We ought to make the children keep still.... They are screaming with all their might before the ventilator....
THIRD SERVANT.
You can't hear yourself speak....
FOURTH SERVANT.
There is nothing to be done: I have tried already; they won't keep still....
FIRST SERVANT.
It seems he is nearly cured?
THE OLD SERVANT.
Who?
FIRST SERVANT.
The great Golaud.
THIRD SERVANT.
Yes, yes; they have taken him to his wife's room. I met them just now, in the corridor. They were holding him up as if he were drunk. He cannot yet walk alone.
THE OLD SERVANT.
He could not kill himself; he is too big. But she is hardly wounded, and it is she who is going to die.... Can you understand that?
FIRST SERVANT.
You have seen the wound?
THE OLD SERVANT.
As I see you, my daughter.--I saw everything, you understand.... I saw it before all the others.... A tiny little wound under her little left breast,--a little wound that wouldn't kill a pigeon. Is it natural?
FIRST SERVANT.
Yes, yes; there is something underneath....
SECOND SERVANT.
Yes; but she was delivered of her babe three days ago....
THE OLD SERVANT.
Exactly!... She was delivered on her death-bed; is that a little sign?--And what a child! Have you seen it?--A wee little girl a beggar would not bring into the world.... A little wax figure that came much too soon;... a little wax figure that must live in lambs' wool.... Yes, yes; it is not happiness that has come into the house....
FIRST SERVANT.
Yes, yes; it Is the hand of God that has been stirring....
SECOND SERVANT.
Yes, yes; all that did not happen without reason....
THIRD SERVANT.
It is as good lord Pelleas ... where is he?--No one knows....
THE OLD SERVANT.
Yes, yes; everybody knows.... But nobody dare speak of it.... One does not speak of this;... one does not speak of that;... one speaks no more of anything;... one no longer speaks truth.... But _I_ know he was found at the bottom of Blind Man's Spring;... but no one, no one could see him.... Well, well, we shall only know all that at the last day....
FIRST SERVANT.
I dare not sleep here any longer....
THE OLD SERVANT.
Yes, yes; once ill-fortune is in the house, one keeps silence in vain....
THIRD SERVANT.
Yes; it finds you all the same....
THE OLD SERVANT.
Yes, yes; but we do not go where we would....
FOURTH SERVANT.
Yes, yes; we do not do what we would....
FIRST SERVANT.
They are afraid of us now....
SECOND SERVANT.
They all keep silence....
THIRD SERVANT.
They cast down their eyes in the corridors.
FOURTH SERVANT.
They do not speak any more except in a low voice.
FIFTH SERVANT.
You would think they had all done it together.
SIXTH SERVANT.
One doesn't know what they have done....
SEVENTH SERVANT.
What is to be done when the masters are afraid?...
[A silence.]
FIRST SERVANT.
I no longer hear the children screaming.
SECOND SERVANT.
They are sitting down before the ventilator.
THIRD SERVANT.
They are huddled against each other.
THE OLD SERVANT.
I no longer hear anything in the house....
FIRST SERVANT.
You no longer even hear the children breathe....
THE OLD SERVANT.
Come, come; it is time to go up....
[Exeunt in silence.]
SCENE II.--An apartment in the castle.
[ARKEL, GOLAUD, and the PHYSICIAN discovered in one corner of the room. MELISANDE is stretched upon her bed.]
THE PHYSICIAN.
It cannot be of that little wound she is dying; a bird would not have died of it.... It is not you, then, who have killed her, good my lord; do not be so disconsolate.... She could not have lived.... She was born without reason ... to die; and she dies without reason.... And then, it is not sure we shall not save her....
ARKEL.
No, no; it seems to me we keep too silent, in spite of ourselves, in her room.... It is not a good sign.... Look how she sleeps ... slowly, slowly;... it is as if her soul was cold forever....
GOLAUD.
I have killed her without cause! I have killed her without cause!... Is it not enough to make the stones weep?... They had kissed like little children.... They had simply kissed.... They were brother and sister.... And I, and I at once!... I did it in spite of myself, look you.... I did it in spite of myself....
THE PHYSICIAN.
Stop; I think she is waking....
MELISANDE.
Open the window;... open the window....
ARKEL.
Shall I open this one, Melisande?
MELISANDE.
No, no; the great window ... the great window.... It is to see....
ARKEL.
Is not the sea air too cold to-night? Do it; do it....
MELISANDE.
Thanks.... Is it sunset?
ARKEL.
Yes; it is sunset on the sea; it is late.--How are you, Melisande?
MELISANDE.
Well, well.--Why do you ask that? I have never been better.--And yet it seems to me I know something....
ARKEL.
What sayest thou?--I do not understand thee....
MELISANDE.
Neither do I understand all I say, you see.... I do not know what I am saying.... I do not know what I know.... I no longer say what I would....
ARKEL.
Why, yes! why, yes!... I am quite happy to hear thee speak so; thou hast raved a little these last days, and one no longer understood thee.... But now all that is far away....
MELISANDE.
I do not know....--Are you all alone in the room, grandfather?
ARKEL.
No; there is the physician, besides, who cured thee....
MELISANDE.
Ah!...
ARKEL.
And then there is still some one else....
MELISANDE.
Who is it?
ARKEL.
It is ... thou must not be frightened.... He does not wish thee the least harm, be sure.... If thou'rt afraid, he will go away.... He is very unhappy....
MELISANDE.
Who is it?
ARKEL.
It is thy ... thy husband.... It is Golaud....
MELISANDE.
Golaud is here? Why does he not come by me?
GOLAUD
(dragging himself toward the bed.)
Melisande ... Melisande....
MELISANDE.
Is it you, Golaud? I should hardly recognize you any more.... It is the evening sunlight in my eyes.... Why look you on the walls? You have grown thin and old.... Is it a long while since we saw each other?
GOLAUD
(to ARKEL and the PHYSICIAN).
Will you withdraw a moment, if you please, if you please?... I will leave the door wide open.... One moment only.... I would say something to her; else I could not die.... Will you?--Go clear to the end of the corridor; you can come back at once, at once.... Do not refuse me this.... I am a wretch.... [_Exit_ ARKEL _and the_ PHYSICIAN.]--Melisande, hast thou pity on me, as I have pity on thee?... Melisande?... Dost thou forgive me, Melisande?...
MELISANDE.
Yes, yes, I do forgive thee.... What must I forgive?...
GOLAUD.
I have wrought thee so much ill, Melisande.... I cannot tell thee the ill I have wrought thee.... But I see it, I see it so clearly to-day ... since the first day.... And all I did not know till now leaps in my eyes to-night.... And it is all my fault, all that has happened, all that will happen.... If I could tell it, thou wouldst see as I do!... I see all! I see all!... But I loved thee so!... I loved thee so!... But now there is some one dying.... It is I who am dying.... And I would know.... I would ask thee.... Thou'lt bear me no ill-will.... I would.... The truth must be told to a dying man.... He must know the truth, or else he could not sleep.... Swearest thou to tell me the truth?
MELISANDE.
Yes.
GOLAUD.
Didst thou love Pelleas?
MELISANDE.
Why, yes; I loved him.--Where is he?
GOLAUD.
Thou dost not understand me?--Thou wilt not understand me?--It seems to me ... it seems to me.... Well, then, here: I ask thee if thou lovedst him with a forbidden love?... Wert thou ... were you guilty? Say, say, yes, yes, yes!...
MELISANDE.
No, no; we were not guilty.--Why do you ask that?
GOLAUD.
Melisande!... tell me the truth, for the love of God!
MELISANDE.
Why have I not told the truth?
GOLAUD.
Do not lie so any more, at the moment of death!
MELISANDE.
Who is dying?--Is it I?
GOLAUD.
Thou, thou! and I, I too, after thee!... And we must have the truth.... We must have the truth at last, dost thou understand?... Tell me all! Tell me all! I forgive thee all!...
MELISANDE.
Why am I going to die?--I did not know it....
GOLAUD.
Thou knowest it now!... It is time! It is time!... Quick! quick!... The truth! the truth!...
MELISANDE.
The truth ... the truth....
GOLAUD.
Where art thou?--Melisande!--Where art thou?--It is not natural! Melisande! Where art thou?--Where goest thou? [_Perceiving_ ARKEL _and the_ PHYSICIAN _at the door of the room.]--_ Yes, yes; you may come in.... I know nothing; it is useless.... It is too late; she is already too far away from us.... I shall never know!... I shall die here like a blind man!...
ARKEL.
What have you done? You will kill her....
GOLAUD.
I have already killed her....
ARKEL.
Melisande....
MELISANDE.
Is it you, grandfather?
ARKEL.
Yes, my daughter.... What would you have me do?
MELISANDE.
Is it true that the winter is beginning?...
ARKEL.
Why dost thou ask?
MELISANDE.
Because it is cold, and there are no more leaves....
ARKEL.
Thou art cold?--Wilt thou have the windows closed?
MELISANDE.
No, no,... not till the sun be at the bottom of the sea.--It sinks slowly; then it is the winter beginning?
ARKEL.
Yes.--Thou dost not like the winter?
MELISANDE.
Oh! no. I am afraid of the cold.--I am so afraid of the great cold....
ARKEL.
Dost thou feel better?
MELISANDE.
Yes, yes; I have no longer all those qualms....
ARKEL.
Wouldst thou see thy child?
MELISANDE.
What child?
ARKEL.
Thy child.--Thou art a mother.... Thou hast brought a little daughter into the world....
MELISANDE.
Where is she?
ARKEL.
Here....
MELISANDE.
It is strange.... I cannot lift my arms to take her....
ARKEL.
Because you are still very weak.... I will hold her myself; look....
MELISANDE.
She does not laugh.... She is little.... She is going to weep too.... I pity her....
[The room has been invaded, little by little, by the women servants of the castle, who range themselves in silence along the walls and wait]
GOLAUD
(_rising abruptly_).
What is the matter?--What are all these women coming here for?...
THE PHYSICIAN.
It is the servants....
ARKEL.
Who was it called them?
THE PHYSICIAN.
It was not I....
GOLAUD.
Why do you come here?--No one has asked for you.... What come you here to do?--But what is it, then?--Answer me!...
[The servants make no answer.]
ARKEL.
Do not speak too loud.... She is going to sleep; she has closed her eyes....
GOLAUD.
It is not...?
THE PHYSICIAN.
No, no; see, she breathes....
ARKEL.
Her eyes are full of tears.--It is her soul weeping now.... Why does she stretch her arms out so?--What would she?
THE PHYSICIAN.
It is toward the child, without doubt.... It is the straggle of motherhood against...
GOLAUD.
At this moment?--At this moment?--You must say. Say! Say!...
THE PHYSICIAN.
Perhaps.
GOLAUD.
At once?... Oh! oh! I must tell her....--Melisande! Melisande!... Leave me alone! leave me alone with her!...
ARKEL.
No, no; do not come near.... Trouble her not.... Speak no more to her.... You know not what the soul is....
GOLAUD.
It is not my fault!... It is not my fault!
ARKEL.
Hush!... Hush!... We must speak softly now.--She must not be disturbed.... The human soul is very silent.... The human soul likes to depart alone.... It suffers so timorously.... But the sadness, Golaud ... the sadness of all we see!... Oh! oh! oh!... [At this moment, all the servants fall suddenly on their knees at the back of the chamber.]
ARKEL
(_turning_).
What is the matter?
THE PHYSICIAN
(approaching the bed and feeling the body).
They are right....
[A long silence.]
ARKEL.
I saw nothing.--Are you sure?...
THE PHYSICIAN.
Yes, yes.
ARKEL.
I heard nothing.... So quick, so quick!... All at once!... She goes without a word....
GOLAUD
(_sobbing_).
Oh! oh! oh!
ARKEL.
Do not stay here, Golaud.... She must have silence now.... Come, come.... It is terrible, but it is not your fault.... 'T was a little being, so quiet, so fearful, and so silent.... 'T was a poor little mysterious being, like everybody.... She lies there as if she were the big sister of her child.... Come, come.... My God! My God!... I shall never understand it at all.... Let us not stay here.--Come; the child most not stay here in this room.... She must live now in her place.... It is the poor little one's turn....
[They go out in silence.]
[CURTAIN.]
[THE END]
Maurice Maeterlinck's play: Pelleas and Melisande
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