Melisande.
No; I never lie; I only lie to your brother…
Pelléas.
Oh how you say that!… Your voice, your voice! It is fresher and franker than water. One thinks of pure water on your lips. One would imagine pure water on my hands. Give me, give me, your hands… Oh, your hands are little!… I did not know you were so beautiful! I had, before you, never seen anything so beautiful… I was anxious, I sought everywhere in the house… I sought everywhere in the country…and I did not find beauty… And now I have found you…I have found you… I do not believe that on earth there is a woman more beautiful …Where are you?… I do not hear you breathe any more…
Melisande.
It is that I look at you…
Pelléas.
Why do you look at me so gravely?— We are already in the shadow.—It is too dark under this tree. Come into the light. We cannot see how happy we are. Come, come; there remains so little time for us…
Melisande.
No. no, let us stay here… I am nearer to you in the darkness.
Pelléas.
Where are your eyes?—You are not going to run away from me? You are not thinking of me at this moment.
Melisande.
Yes, I am. I only think of you…
Pelléas.
You were looking elsewhere…
Melisande.
I saw you elsewhere…
Pelléas.
You are absent minded… What is the matter?—You do not seem happy to me.
Melisande.
Yes, I am; I am happy but I am sad…
Pelléas.
What is this noise?—They are closing the gates!…
Melisande.
Yes, they have closed the gates…
Pelléas.
We can no longer get in!—Do you hear the bolts? Listen, listen! the great chains! It is too late, it is too late!…
Melisande.
All the better, all the better!
Pelléas.
You?… There, there… 'Tis no longer our will… All is lost, all is gained! All is gained this night! Come, come… My heart beats wildly even to the bottom of my throat… (He enfolds her.) Listen! my heart is on the point of strangling me. Come, come! Ah, how beautiful it is in the dark…
Melisande.
There is some one behind us…
Pelléas.
I see nobody…
Melisande.
I heard a noise…
Pelléas.
I only hear your heart in the darkness…
Melisande.
I heard the crackling of dead leaves…
