Pélléas and Mélisande; Alladine and Palomides; HomeMaeterlinck, Maurice
General
Pélléas and Mélisande; Alladine and Palomides; Home
Maeterlinck, Maurice
French drama
What is it, then?--Can you not get used to the life one leads here?
Is it too gloomy here?--It is true the castle is very old and very
sombre.... It is very cold, and very deep. And all those who dwell in
it, are already old. And the country may seem gloomy too, with all
its forests, all its old forests without light. But that may all be
enlivened if we will. And then, joy, joy, one does not have it every
day; we must take things as they come. But tell me something; no
matter what; I will do everything you could wish....
MÉLISANDE.
Yes, yes; it is true.... You never see the sky here. I saw it for the
first time this morning....
GOLAUD.
It is that, then, that makes you weep, my poor Mélisande?--It is only
that, then?--You weep, not to see the sky?--Come, come, you are no
longer at the age when one may weep for such things.... And then, is
not the summer yonder? You will see the sky every day.--And then, next
year.... Come, give me your hand; give me both your little hands. [_He
takes her hands._] Oh! oh! these little hands that I could crush like
flowers....--Hold! where is the ring I gave you?
MÉLISANDE.
The ring?
GOLAUD.
Yes; our wedding-ring, where is it?
MÉLISANDE.
I think.... I think it has fallen....
GOLAUD.
Fallen?--Where has it fallen?--You have not lost it?
MÉLISANDE.
No, no; it fell ... it must have fallen.... But I know where it is....
GOLAUD.
Where is it?
MÉLISANDE.
You know ... you know well ... the grotto by the seashore?...
GOLAUD.
Yes.
MÉLISANDE.
Well then, it is there.... It must be it is there.... Yes, yes; I
remember.... I went there this morning to pick up shells for little
Yniold.... There were some very fine ones.... It slipped from my
finger ... then the sea came in; and I had to go out before I had
found it.
GOLAUD.
Are you sure it is there?
MÉLISANDE.
Yes, yes; quite sure.... I felt it slip ... then, all at once, the
noise of the waves....
GOLAUD.
You must go look for it at once.
MÉLISANDE.
I must go look for it at once?
GOLAUD.
Yes.
MÉLISANDE.
Now?--at once?--in the dark?
GOLAUD.
Now, at once, in the dark. You must go look for it at once. I had
rather have lost all I have than have lost that ring. You do not know
what it is. You do not know whence it came. The sea will be very high
to-night. The sea will come to take it before you.... Make haste. You
must go look for it at once....
MÉLISANDE.
I dare not.... I dare not go alone....
GOLAUD.
Go, go with no matter whom. But you must go at once, do you
understand?--Make haste; ask Pélléas to go with you.
MÉLISANDE.
Pélléas?--With Pélléas?--But Pélléas would not....
GOLAUD.
Pélléas will do all you ask of him. I know Pélléas better than you do.
Go, go; hurry! I shall not sleep until I have the ring.
MÉLISANDE.
Oh! oh! I am not happy!... I am not happy!...
[_Exit, weeping._
SCENE III.--_Before a grotto._
_Enter_ PÉLLÉAS _and_ MÉLISANDE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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