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_ ACT THIRD
SCENE I.--An apartment in the castle. PELLEAS and MELISANDE discovered, MELISANDE plies her distaff at the back of the room.
PELLEAS.
Yniold does not come back; where has he gone?
MELISANDE.
He had heard something in the corridor; he has gone to see what it is.
PELLEAS.
Melisande....
MELISANDE.
What is it?
PELLEAS.
... Can you see still to work there?...
MELISANDE.
I work as well in the dark....
PELLEAS.
I think everybody is already asleep in the castle. Golaud does not come back from the chase. It is late, nevertheless.... He no longer suffers from his fall?...
MELISANDE.
He said he no longer suffered from it.
PELLEAS.
He must be more prudent; his body is no longer as supple as at twenty years.... I see the stars through the window and the light of the moon on the trees. It is late; he will not come back now. [_Knocking at the door._] Who is there?... Come in!...
[Little YNIOLD opens the door and enters the room.]
It was you knocking so?... That is not the way to knock at doors. It is as if a misfortune had arrived; look, you have frightened little mother.
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I only knocked a tiny little bit.
PELLEAS.
It is late; little father will not come back to-night; it is time for you to go to bed.
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I shall not go to bed before you do.
PELLEAS.
What?... What is that you are saying?
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I say ... not before you ... not before you....
[Bursts into sobs and takes refuge by MELISANDE.]
MELISANDE.
What is it, Yniold?... What is it?... why do you weep all at once?
YNIOLD
(sobbing).
Because ... oh! oh! because ...
MELISANDE.
Because what?... Because what?... Tell me ...
YNIOLD.
Little mother ... little mother ... you are going away....
MELISANDE.
But what has taken hold of you, Yniold?... I have never dreamed of going away....
YNIOLD.
Yes, you have; yes, you have; little father has gone away.... Little father does not come back, and you are going to go away too.... I have seen it ... I have seen it....
MELISANDE.
But there has never been any idea of that, Yniold.... Why, what makes you think that I would go away?...
YNIOLD.
I have seen it ... I have seen it.... You have said things to uncle that I could not hear....
PELLEAS.
He is sleepy.... He has been dreaming.... Come here, Yniold; asleep already?... Come and look out at the window; the swans are fighting with the dogs....
YNIOLD
(at the window).
Oh! oh! they are chasing the dogs!... They are chasing them!... Oh! oh! the water!... the wings!... the wings!... they are afraid....
PELLEAS.
(coming back by MELISANDE).
He is sleepy; he is struggling against sleep; his eyes were closing....
MELISANDE
(singing softly as she spins).
Saint Daniel and Saint Michael....
Saint Michael and Saint Raphael....
YNIOLD
(at the window).
Oh! oh! little mother!...
MELISANDE
(rising abruptly).
What is it, Yniold?... What is it?...
YNIOLD.
I saw something at the window?...
[PELLEAS and MELISANDE run to the window.]
PELLEAS.
What is there at the window?... What have you seen?...
YNIOLD.
Oh! oh! I saw something!...
PELLEAS.
But there is nothing. I see nothing....
MELISANDE.
Nor I....
PELLEAS.
Where did you see something? Which way?...
YNIOLD.
Down there, down there!... It is no longer there....
PELLEAS.
He does not know what he is saying. He must have seen the light of the moon on the forest. There are often strange reflections,... or else something must have passed on the highway ... or in his sleep. For see, see, I believe he is quite asleep....
YNIOLD
(at the window).
Little father is there! little father is there!
PELLEAS
(going to the window).
He is right; Golaud is coming into the courtyard....
YNIOLD.
Little father!... little father!... I am going to meet him!...
[Exit, running,--A silence.]
PELLEAS.
They are coming up the stair....
[Enter GOLAUD and little YNIOLD with a lamp.]
GOLAUD.
You are still waiting in the dark?
YNIOLD.
I have brought a light, little mother, a big light!... [He lifts the lamp and looks at MELISANDE.] You have been weeping, little mother?... You have been, weeping?... [He lifts the lamp toward_ PELLEAS and looks in turn at him.] You too, you too, you have been weeping?... Little father, look, little father; they have both been weeping....
GOLAUD.
Do not hold the light under their eyes so....
SCENE II.--_One of the towers of the castle.--watchman's round passes under a window in the tower._
MELISANDE
(at the window, combing her unbound hair).
My long locks fall foaming
To the threshold of the tower,--
My locks await your coming
All along the tower,
And all the long, long hour,
And all the long, long hour.
_Saint Daniel and Saint Michael,_
_Saint Michael and Saint Raphael._
I was born on a Sunday,
A Sunday at high noon....
[Enter PELLEAS by the watchman's round.]
PELLEAS.
Hola! Hola! ho!...
MELISANDE.
Who is there?
PELLEAS.
I, I, and I!... What art thou doing there at the window, singing like a bird that is not native here?
MELISANDE.
I am doing my hair for the night...
PELLEAS.
Is it that I see upon the wall?... I thought you had some light....
MELISANDE.
I have opened the window; it is too hot in the tower.... It is beautiful to-night....
PELLEAS.
There are innumerable stars; I have never seen so many as to-night;... but the moon is still upon the sea.... Do not stay in the shadow, Melisande; lean forward a little till I see your unbound hair....
MELISANDE.
I am frightful so....
[She learn out at the window.]
PELLEAS.
Oh! oh! Melisande!... oh, thou art beautiful!... thou art beautiful so!... Lean out! lean out!... Let me come nearer thee....
MELISANDE.
I cannot come nearer thee.... I am leaning out as far as I can....
PELLEAS.
I cannot come up higher;... give me at least thy hand to-night ... before I go away.... I leave to-morrow....
MELISANDE.
No, no, no!...
PELLEAS.
Yes, yes, yes; I leave, I shall leave to-morrow.... Give me thy hand, thy hand, thy little hand upon my lips....
MELISANDE.
I give thee not my hand if thou wilt leave....
PELLEAS.
Give, give, give!...
MELISANDE.
Thou wilt not leave?...
PELLEAS.
I will wait; I will wait....
MELISANDE.
I see a rose in the shadows....
PELLEAS.
Where?... I see only the boughs of the willow hanging over the wall....
MELISANDE.
Further down, further down, in the garden; further down, in the sombre green....
PELLEAS.
It is not a rose.... I will go see by and by, but give me thy hand first; first thy hand....
MELISANDE.
There, there;... I cannot lean out further....
PELLEAS.
I cannot reach thy hand with my lips....
MELISANDE.
I cannot lean out further.... I am on the point of falling....--Oh! oh! my hair is falling down the tower!...
[Her tresses fall suddenly over her head, as she is leaning out so, and stream over PELLEAS]
PELLEAS.
Oh! oh! what is it?... Thy hair, thy hair is falling down to me!... All thy locks, Melisande, all thy locks have fallen down the tower!... I hold them in my hands; I hold them in my mouth.... I hold them in my arms; I put them about my neck.... I will not open my hands again to-night....
MELISANDE.
Let me go! let me go!... Thou wilt make me fall!...
PELLEAS.
No, no, no;... I have never seen such hair as thine, Melisande!... See, see, see; it comes from so high and yet it floods me to the heart!... And yet it floods me to the knees!... And it is sweet, sweet as if it fell from heaven!... I see the sky no longer through thy locks. Thou seest, thou seest?... I can no longer hold them with both hands; there are some on the boughs of the willow.... They are alive like birds in my hands,... and they love me, they love me more than thou!...
MELISANDE.
Let me go; let me go!... Some one might come....
PELLEAS.
No, no, no; I shall not set thee free to-night.... Thou art my prisoner to-night; all night, all night!...
MELISANDE.
Pelleas! Pelleas!...
PELLEAS.
I tie them, I tie them to the willow boughs.... Thou shalt not go away now;... thou shalt not go away now.... Look, look, I am kissing thy hair.... I suffer no more in the midst of thy hair.... Hearest thou my kisses along thy hair?... They mount along thy hair.... Each hair must bring thee some.... Thou seest, thou seest, I can open my hands.... My hands are free, and thou canst not leave me now....
MELISANDE.
Oh! oh! thou hurtest me.... [_Doves come out of the tower and fly about them in the night._]--What is that, Pelleas?--What is it flying about me?
PELLEAS.
It is the doves coming oat of the tower.... I have frightened them; they are flying away....
MELISANDE.
It is my doves, Pelleas.--Let us go away, let me go; they will not come back again....
PELLEAS.
Why will they not come back again?
MELISANDE.
They will be lost in the dark.... Let me go; let me lift my head.... I hear a noise of footsteps.... Let me go!--It is Golaud!... I believe it is Golaud!... He has heard us....
PELLEAS.
Wait! Wait!... Thy hair is about the boughs.... It is caught there in the darkness.... Wait, wait!... It is dark....
[Enter GOLAUD, by the watchman's round.]
GOLAUD.
What do you here?
PELLEAS.
What do I here?... I....
GOLAUD.
You are children.... Melisande, do not lean out so at the window; you will fall.... Do you not know it is late?--It is nearly midnight.--Do not play so in the darkness.--You are children.... [Laughing nervously.] What children!... What children!...
[Exit, with PELLEAS.]
SCENE III.--The-vaults of the castle.
[Enter GOLAUD and PELLEAS.]
GOLAUD.
Take care; this way, this way.--You have never penetrated into these vaults?
PELLEAS.
Yes; once, of old; but it was long ago....
GOLAUD.
They are prodigious great; it is a succession of enormous crypts that end, God knows where. The whole castle is builded on these crypts. Do you smell the deathly odor that reigns here?--That is what I wished, to show you. In my opinion, it comes from the little underground lake I am going to have you see. Take care; walk before me, in the light of my lantern. I will warn you when we are there, [_They continue to walk in silence._] Hey! hey! Pelleas! stop! stop!--[_He seizes him by the arm._] For God's sake!... Do you not see?--One step more, and you had been in the gulf!...
PELLEAS.
But I did not see it!... The lantern no longer lighted me....
GOLAUD.
I made a misstep.... but if I had not held you by the arm.... Well, this is the stagnant water that I spoke of to you.... Do you perceive the smell of death that rises?--Let us go to the end of this overhanging rock, and do you lean over a little. It will strike you in the face.
PELLEAS.
I smell it already;... you would say a smell of the tomb.
GOLAUD.
Further, further.... It is this that on certain days has poisoned the castle. The King will not believe it comes from here.--The crypt should be walled up in which this standing water is found. It is time, besides, to examine these vaults a little. Have you noticed those lizards on the walls and pillars of the vaults?--There is a labor hidden here you would not suspect; and the whole castle will be swallowed up one of these nights, if it is not looked out for. But what will you have? nobody likes to come down this far.... There are strange lizards in many of the walls.... Oh! here ... do you perceive the smell of death that rises?
PELLEAS.
Yes; there is a smell of death rising about us....
GOLAUD.
Lean over; have no fear.... I will hold you ... give me ... no, no, not your hand ... it might slip ... your arm, your arm!... Do you see the gulf? [_Moved._]--Pelleas? Pelleas?...
PELLEAS.
Yes; I think I see the bottom of the gulf.... Is it the light that trembles so?... You ... [He straightens up, turns, and looks at GOLAUD.]
GOLAUD
(with a trembling voice).
Yes; it is the lantern.... See, I shook it to lighten the walls....
PELLEAS.
I stifle here;... let us go out....
GOLAUD.
Yes; let us go out....
[Exeunt in silence.]
SCENE IV.--A terrace at the exit of the vaults. Enter GOLAUD and PELLEAS.
PELLEAS.
Ah! I breathe at last!... I thought, one moment, I was going to be ill in those enormous crypts; I was on the point of falling.... There is a damp air there, heavy as a leaden dew, and darkness thick as a poisoned paste.... And now, all the air of all the sea!... There is a fresh wind, see; fresh as a leaf that has just opened, over the little green waves.... Hold! the flowers have just been watered at the foot of the terrace, and the smell of the verdure and the wet roses comes up to us.... It must be nearly noon; they are already in the shadow of the tower.... It is noon; I hear the bells ringing, and the children are going down to the beach to bathe.... I did not know that we had stayed so long in the caverns....
GOLAUD.
We went down towards eleven o'clock....
PELLEAS.
Earlier; it must have been earlier; I heard it strike half-past ten.
GOLAUD.
Half-past ten or a quarter to eleven....
PELLEAS.
They have opened all the windows of the castle. It will be unusually hot this afternoon.... Look, there is mother with Melisande at a window of the tower....
GOLAUD.
Yes; they have taken refuge on the shady side.--Speaking of Melisande, I heard what passed and what was said last night. I am quite aware all that is but child's play; but it need not be repeated. Melisande is very young and very impressionable; and she must be treated the more circumspectly that she is perhaps with child at this moment.... She is very delicate, hardly woman; and the least emotion might bring on a mishap. It is not the first time I have noticed there might be something between you.... You are older than she; it will suffice to have told you.... Avoid her as much as possible; without affectation moreover; without affectation....--What is it I see yonder on the highway toward the forest?...
PELLEAS.
Some herds they are leading to the city....
GOLAUD.
They cry like lost children; you would say they smelt the butcher already.--It will be time for dinner.--What a fine day! What a capital day for the harvest!...
[Exeunt.]
SCENE V.--Before the castle.
[Enter GOLAUD and little YNIOLD.]
GOLAUD.
Come, we are going to sit down here, Yniold; sit on my knee; we shall see from here what passes in the forest. I do not see you any more at all now. You abandon me too; you are always at little mother's.... Why, we are sitting just under little mother's windows.--Perhaps she is saying her evening prayer at this moment.... But tell me, Yniold, she is often with your uncle Pelleas, isn't she?
YNIOLD.
Yes, yes; always, little father; when you are not there, little father....
GOLAUD.
Ah!--look; some one is going by with a lantern in the garden.--But I have been told they did not like each other.... It seems they often quarrel;... no? Is it true?
YNIOLD.
Yes, yes; it is true.
GOLAUD.
Yes?--Ah! ah!--But what do they quarrel about?
YNIOLD.
About the door.
GOLAUD.
What? about the door?--What are you talking about?--No, come, explain yourself; why do they quarrel about the door?
YNIOLD.
Because it won't stay open.
GOLAUD.
Who wants it to stay open?--Come, why do they quarrel?
YNIOLD.
I don't know, little father; about the light.
GOLAUD.
I am not talking to you about the light; we will talk of that by and by. I am talking to you about the door. Answer what I ask you; you must learn to talk; it is time.... Do not put your hand in your mouth so;... come....
YNIOLD.
Little father! little father!... I won't do it any more.... [He cries.]
GOLAUD.
Come; what are you crying for now? What has happened?
YNIOLD.
Oh! oh! little father, you hurt me....
GOLAUD.
I hurt you?--Where did I hurt you? I did not mean to....
YNIOLD.
Here, here; on my little arm....
GOLAUD.
I did not mean to; come, don't cry any more, and I will give you something to-morrow.
YNIOLD.
What, little father?
GOLAUD.
A quiver and some arrows; but tell me what you know about the door.
YNIOLD.
Big arrows?
GOLAUD.
Yes, yes; very big arrows.--But why don't they want the door to be open?--Come, answer me sometime!--no, no; do not open your mouth to cry. I am not angry. We are going to have a quiet talk, like Pelleas and little mother when they are together. What do they talk about when they are together?
YNIOLD.
Pelleas and little mother?
GOLAUD.
Yes; what do they talk about?
YNIOLD.
About me; always about me.
GOLAUD.
And what do they say about you?
YNIOLD.
They say I am going to be very big.
GOLAUD.
Oh, plague of my life!... I am here like a blind man searching for his treasure at the bottom of the ocean!... I am here like a new-born child lost in the forest, and you ... Come, come, Yniold, I was wandering; we are going to talk seriously. Do Pelleas and little mother never speak of me when I am not there?...
YNIOLD.
Yes, yes, little father; they are always speaking of you.
GOLAUD.
Ah!... And what do they say of me?
YNIOLD.
They say I shall grow as big as you are.
GOLAUD.
You are always by them?
YNIOLD.
Yes, yes, always, always, little father.
GOLAUD.
They never tell you to go play somewhere else?
YNIOLD.
No, little father; they are afraid when I am not there.
GOLAUD.
They are afraid?... What makes you think they are afraid?
YNIOLD.
Little mother always says, "Don't go away; don't go away!"... They are unhappy, but they laugh....
GOLAUD.
But that does not prove they are afraid.
YNIOLD.
Yes, yes, little father; she is afraid....
GOLAUD.
Why do you say she is afraid?
YNIOLD.
They always weep in the dark.
GOLAUD.
Ah! ah!...
YNIOLD.
That makes one weep too.
GOLAUD.
Yes, yes!...
YNIOLD.
She is pale, little father.
GOLAUD.
Ah! ah!... patience, my God, patience!...
YNIOLD.
What, little father?
GOLAUD.
Nothing, nothing, my child.--I saw a wolf go by in the forest.--Then they get on well together?--I am glad to learn they are on good terms.--They kiss each other sometimes--No?...
YNIOLD.
Kiss each other, little father?--No, no,--ah! yes, little father, yes; yes; once ... once when it rained....
GOLAUD.
They kissed?--But how, how did they kiss?
YNIOLD.
So, little father, so!... [_He gives him a kiss on the mouth, laughing._] Ah! ah! your beard, little father!... It pricks! it pricks! it pricks! It is getting all gray, little father, and your hair, too; all gray, all gray, all gray.... [_The window under which they are sitting is lighted up at this moment, and the light falls upon them._] Ah! ah! little mother has lit her lamp. It is light, little father; it is light....
GOLAUD.
Yes; it is beginning to be light....
YNIOLD.
Let us go there too, little father; let us go there too....
GOLAUD.
Where do you want to go?
YNIOLD.
Where it is light, little father.
GOLAUD.
No, no, my child; let us stay in the dark a little longer.... One cannot tell, one cannot tell yet.... Do you see those poor people down there trying to kindle a little fire in the forest?--It has rained. And over there, do you see the old gardener trying to lift that tree the wind has blown down across the road?--He cannot; the tree is too big; the tree is too heavy, and it will lie where it fell. All that cannot be helped.... I think Pelleas is mad....
YNIOLD.
No, little father, he is not mad; he is very good.
GOLAUD.
Do you want to see little mother?
YNIOLD.
Yes, yes; I want to see her!
GOLAUD.
Don't make any noise; I am going to hoist you up to the window. It is too high for me, for all I am so big.... [_He lifts the child._] Do not make the least noise; little mother would be terribly afraid.... Do you see her?--Is she in the room?
YNIOLD.
Yes.... Oh, how light it is!
GOLAUD.
She is alone?
YNIOLD.
Yes;... no, no; Uncle Pelleas Is there, too.
GOLAUD.
He--...!
YNIOLD.
Ah! ah! little father! you have hurt me!...
GOLAUD.
It is nothing; be still; I will not do it any more; look, look, Yniold!... I stumbled; speak lower. What are they doing?--
YNIOLD.
They are not doing anything, little father; they are waiting for something.
GOLAUD.
Are they near each other?
YNIOLD.
No, little father.
GOLAUD.
And ... and the bed? are they near the bed?
YNIOLD.
The bed, little father?--I can't see the bed.
GOLAUD.
Lower, lower; they will hear you. Are they speaking?
YNIOLD.
No, little father; they do not speak.
GOLAUD.
But what are they doing?--They must be doing something....
YNIOLD.
They are looking at the light.
GOLAUD.
Both?
YNIOLD.
Yes, little father.
GOLAUD.
They do not say anything?
YNIOLD.
No, little father; they do not close their eyes.
GOLAUD.
They do not come near each other?
YNIOLD.
No, little father; they do not stir.
GOLAUD.
They are sitting down?
YNIOLD.
No, little father; they are standing upright against the wall.
GOLAUD.
They make no gestures?--They do not look at each other?--They make no signs?...
YNIOLD.
No, little father.--Oh! oh! little father; they never close their eyes.... I am terribly afraid....
GOLAUD.
Be still. They do not stir yet?
YNIOLD.
No, little father.--I am afraid, little father; let me come down!...
GOLAUD.
Why, what are you afraid of?--Look! look!...
YNIOLD.
I dare not look any more, little father!... Let me come down!...
GOLAUD.
Look! look!...
YNIOLD.
Oh! oh! I am going to cry, little father!--Let me come down! let me come down!,..
GOLAUD.
Come; we will go see what has happened.
[Exeunt.] _
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