Pélléas and Mélisande; Alladine and Palomides; Home — John Shaqi
Pélléas and Mélisande; Alladine and Palomides; HomeMaeterlinck, Maurice
General
Pélléas and Mélisande; Alladine and Palomides; Home
Maeterlinck, Maurice
French drama
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....
MÉLISANDE.
Open the window;... open the window....
ARKËL
Shall I open this one, Mélisande?
MÉLISANDE.
No, no; the great window ... the great window.... It is to see....
ARKËL.
Is not the sea air too cold to-night? Do it; do it....
MÉLISANDE.
Thanks.... Is it sunset?
ARKËL.
Yes; it is sunset on the sea; it is late.--How are you, Mélisande?
MÉLISANDE.
Well, well.--Why do you ask that? I have never been better.--And yet
it seems to me I know something....
ARKËL.
What sayest thou?--I do not understand thee....
MÉLISANDE.
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....
ARKËL.
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....
MÉLISANDE.
I do not know....--Are you all alone in the room, grandfather?
ARKËL.
No; there is the physician, besides, who cured thee....
MÉLISANDE.
Ah!...
ARKËL.
And then there is still some one else....
MÉLISANDE.
Who is it?
ARKËL.
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....
MÉLISANDE.
Who is it?
ARKËL.
It is thy ... thy husband.... It is Golaud....
MÉLISANDE.
Golaud is here? Why does he not come by me?
GOLAUD (_dragging himself toward the bed._)
Mélisande ... Mélisande....
MÉLISANDE.
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_ ARKËL _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_ ARKËL _and the_
PHYSICIAN.]--Mélisande, hast thou pity on me, as I have pity on
thee?... Mélisande?... Dost thou forgive me, Mélisande?...
MÉLISANDE.
Yes, yes, I do forgive thee.... What must I forgive?...
GOLAUD.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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