Et c'est pour ces raisons,élléasandMé et pour d'autres encore qu'on pourrait rechercher dans les mêmes parages, que j'avais destiné mes petits drames à des êtres indulgents aux poèmes, et que, faute de mieux, j'appelle "Marionettes."
In witness of deep friendship, admiration, and gratitude.
GENEVIÈVE, _mother of Pélléas and Golaud_.
PÉLLÉAS,} }_grandsons of Arkël._ GOLAUD, }
LITTLE YNIOLD, _son of Golaud (by a former marriage)._
Who is there? Why do you come and wake me up? Go out by the little gates; there are enough of them!...
We have come to wash the threshold, the gate, and the steps; open, then! open!
There are going to be great fêtes! Open quickly!...
Wait! wait! I do not know whether I shall be able to open it;... it is never opened.... Wait till it is light....
It is light enough without; I see the sunlight through the chinks....
Here are the great keys.... Oh! oh! how the bolts and the locks grate!... Help me! help me!...
Ah! ah! It is opening! it is opening slowly!
How it shrieks! how it shrieks! it will wake up everybody....
_[Appearing on the threshold.]_ Oh, how light it is already out-of-doors!
It is open.... It is wide open!... [_All the maidservants appear on the threshold and pass over it._]
We shall never be able to clean all this.
Yes, yes; pour on water; pour on water; pour on all the water of the Flood! You will never come to the end of it....
SCENE II.--_A forest._ MÉLISANDE _discovered at the brink of a spring._
I shall never be able to get out of this forest again.--God knows where that beast has led me. And yet I thought I had wounded him to death; and here are traces of blood. But now I have lost sight of him; I believe I am lost myself--my dogs can no longer find me--I shall retrace my steps....--I hear weeping.... Oh! oh! what is there yonder by the water's edge?... A little girl weeping by the water's edge? [_He coughs._]--She does not hear me. I cannot see her face. [_He approaches and touches_ MÉLISANDE _on the shoulder._] Why weepest thou? [MÉLISANDE _trembles, starts up, and would flee._]--Do not be afraid. You have nothing to fear. Why are you weeping here all alone?
Do not be afraid.... I will not do you any.... Oh, you are beautiful!
Do not touch me! do not touch me! or I throw myself in the water!...