Pelléas et Mélisande | Page 9

highways. They must be
waited for upon the threshold, and let in as they go by; and they go by
every day. You have never seen them? I hardly see them any more
myself; but I will teach you to see them, and I will point them out to
you the day when you would make them a sign. Nevertheless, listen to
me; if you believe it is from the depths of your life this journey is

exacted, I do not forbid your undertaking it, for you must know better
than I the events you must offer to your being or your fate. I shall ask
you only to wait until we know what must take place ere long....
PÉLLÉAS.
How long must I wait?
ARKËL.
A few weeks; perhaps a few days....
PÉLLÉAS.
I will wait....

ACT THIRD

SCENE I.--_An apartment in the castle._ PÉLLÉAS and MÉLISANDE
_discovered_, MÉLISANDE _plies her distaff at the back of the
room._
PÉLLÉAS.
Yniold does not come back; where has he gone?
MÉLISANDE
He had heard something in the corridor; he has gone to see what it is.
PÉLLÉAS.
Mélisande....
MÉLISANDE
What is it?
PÉLLÉAS.
... Can you see still to work there?...
MÉLISANDE
I work as well in the dark....
PÉLLÉAS.
I think everybody is already asleep in the castle. Golaud does not come
back from the chase. It is late, nevertheless.... He no longer suffers
from his fall?...
MÉLISANDE.
He said he no longer suffered from it.
PÉLLÉAS.
He must be more prudent; his body is no longer as supple as at twenty
years.... I see the stars through the window and the light of the moon on
the trees. It is late; he will not come back now. [_Knocking at the

door._] Who is there?... Come in!...
Little YNIOLD _opens the door and enters the room._
It was you knocking so?... That is not the way to knock at doors. It is as
if a misfortune had arrived; look, you have frightened little mother.
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I only knocked a tiny little bit.
PÉLLÉAS.
It is late; little father will not come back to-night; it is time for you to
go to bed.
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I shall not go to bed before you do.
PÉLLÉAS.
What?... What is that you are saying?
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I say ... not before you ... not before you....
[Bursts into sobs and takes refuge by MÉLISANDE.]
MÉLISANDE.
What is it, Yniold?... What is it?... why do you weep all at once?
YNIOLD _(sobbing)._
Because ... oh! oh! because ...
MÉLISANDE.

Because what?... Because what?... Tell me ...
YNIOLD.
Little mother ... little mother ... you are going away....
MÉLISANDE.
But what has taken hold of you, Yniold?... I have never dreamed of
going away....
YNIOLD.
Yes, you have; yes, you have; little father has gone away.... Little father
does not come back, and you are going to go away too.... I have seen
it ... I have seen it....
MÉLISANDE.
But there has never been any idea of that, Yniold.... Why, what makes
you think that I would go away?...
YNIOLD.
I have seen it ... I have seen it.... You have said things to uncle that I
could not hear....
PÉLLÉAS.
He is sleepy.... He has been dreaming.... Come here, Yniold; asleep
already?... Come and look out at the window; the swans are fighting
with the dogs....
YNIOLD _(at the window)._
Oh! oh! they are chasing the dogs!... They are chasing them!... Oh! oh!
the water!... the wings!... the wings!... they are afraid....
PÉLLÉAS. _(coming back by_ MÉLISANDE_)._

He is sleepy; he is struggling against sleep; his eyes were closing....
MÉLISANDE _(singing softly as she spins)._
Saint Daniel and Saint Michaël.... Saint Michaël and Saint Raphaël....
YNIOLD _(at the window)._
Oh! oh! little mother!...
MÉLISANDE _(rising abruptly)._
What is it, Yniold?... What is it?...
YNIOLD.
I saw something at the window?... [PÉLLÉAS and MÉLISANDE _run
to the window._
PÉLLÉAS.
What is there at the window?... What have you seen?...
YNIOLD.
Oh! oh! I saw something!...
PÉLLÉAS.
But there is nothing. I see nothing....
MÉLISANDE.
Nor I....
PÉLLÉAS.
Where did you see something? Which way?...
YNIOLD.

Down there, down there!... It is no longer there....
PÉLLÉAS.
He does not know what he is saying. He must have seen the light of the
moon on the forest. There are often strange reflections,... or else
something must have passed on the highway ... or in his sleep. For see,
see, I believe he is quite asleep....
YNIOLD _(at the window)._
Little father is there! little father is there!
PÉLLÉAS _(going to the window)._
He is right; Golaud is coming into the courtyard....
YNIOLD.
Little father!... little father!... I am going to meet him!... [_Exit,
running,--A silence._
PÉLLÉAS.
They are coming up the stair....
Enter GOLAUD and little YNIOLD _with