years.--And I have not yet looked deep into her gaze. There remains
nothing to me if I go away thus. And all those memories!--it is as if I
were to carry away a little water in a muslin bag.--I must see her one
last time, see to the bottom of her heart.--I must tell her all that I
have never told her." Mélisande enters. Their greeting is simple.
Pelléas bids her come under the shade of the linden. She wishes to
remain where it is lighter; she wishes to stay where she may be seen.
Golaud, she says, is sleeping. It is late. In an hour the great gates of
the castle will be closed. Pelléas tells her that it is perhaps the last
time he shall see her, that he must go away forever. She asks him why it
is that he is always saying that. "Must I tell you what you know
already?" rejoins Pelléas. "You know not what I am going to tell you?"
"Why, no; I know nothing," says Mélisande. "You know not why I must go?
You know not that it is because [he kisses her abruptly] I love you?" "I
love you too," says Mélisande simply, in a low voice. "You love me? you
love me too?" cries Pelléas. "Since when have you loved me?" "Since I
saw you first," she answers. "Oh, how you say that!" cries Pelléas.
"Your voice seems to have blown across the sea in spring!... You say it
so frankly--like an angel questioned.--Your voice! your voice! It is
cooler and more frank than the water is!--It is like pure water on my
lips!--Give me, give me your hands!--Oh, how small your hands are!--I
did not know you were so beautiful! I have never before seen anything so
beautiful!--I was filled with unrest; I sought everywhere; yet I found
not beauty.--And now I have found you!--I do not believe there can be
upon the earth a woman more beautiful!" Their love-scene is harshly
interrupted. "What is that noise?" asks Pelléas. "They are closing the
gates!--We cannot return now. Do you hear the bolts?--Listen!--the great
chains!--It is too late!" "So much the better!" cries Mélisande, in
passionate abandonment. "Do you say that?" exclaims her lover. "See, it
is no longer we who will it so! Come, come!" They embrace. "Listen! my