have you touch me, do you understand?" he cries. "I came to get my
sword." "It is here, on the prie-Dieu," says Mélisande, and she brings
it to him. "Why do you tremble so?" he says to her. "I am not going to
kill you.--You hope to see something in my eyes without my seeing
anything in yours? Do you suppose I may know something?" He turns to
Arkël. "Do you see those great eyes?--it is as if they gloried in their
power." "I see," responds Arkël, "only a great innocence." "A great
innocence!" cries Golaud wildly. "They are more than innocent!... They
are purer than the eyes of a lamb.--They might teach God lessons in
innocence! A great innocence! Listen! I am so near them that I can feel
the freshness of their lashes when they close--and yet I am less far
from the great secrets of the other world than from the smallest secret
of those eyes!--A great innocence?--More than innocence! One would say
that the angels of heaven celebrated there an unceasing baptism. I know
those eyes! I have seen them at their work! Close them! close them! or I
shall close them forever!--You need not put your right hand to your
throat so; I am saying a very simple thing--I have no concealed meaning.
If I had, why should I not speak it? Ah!--do not attempt to
flee!--Here!--Give me that hand!--Ah! your hands are too hot!--Away! the
touch of your flesh disgusts me!--Here!--You shall not escape me now!"
He seizes her by the hair. "Down on your knees! On your knees before
me!--Ah! your long hair is of some use at last!" He throws her from side
to side, holding her by her hair. "Right, left!--Left, right!--Absalom!
Absalom!--Forward! now back! To the ground! to the ground! Ha! ha! you
see, I laugh already like an imbecile!" Arkël, running up, seeks to
restrain him. Golaud affects a sudden and disdainful calmness. "You are
free to act as you please," he says.--"It is of no consequence to me.--I
am too old to care; and, besides, I am not a spy. I shall await my
chance; and then.... Oh! then!... I shall simply act as custom demands."
"What is the matter?--Is he drunk?" asks Arkël. "No, no!" cries