Arkel.
Here…
Melisande.
It is strange… I cannot lift my arms to take her…
Arkel.
It is because you are still very weak… I will hold her myself; look…
Melisande.
She does not laugh… She is little… She will also weep… I pity her…
(The room is invaded, little by little, by maid-servants of the Castle, who range themselves in silence along the walls and wait).
Golaud (rising suddenly).
What is it? What are all these women doing here?
The Physician.
It is the maid servants.
Arkel.
Who called them?
The Physician.
It was not me…
Golaud.
Why do you come here? Nobody asked you… What do you come to do here?—But what is it? Answer!
Arkel.
Do not speak so loud… She is about to sleep; she has closed her eyes…
Golaud.
It is not?…
The Physician.
No, no; look, she breathes…
Arkel.
Her eyes are full of tears.—Now it is her soul that weeps… Why does she stretch her arms this way? What does she want?
The Physician.
It is toward the child, no doubt. It is the struggle of the mother against death…
Golaud.
At this moment?—At this moment? You must say it, speak, speak!
The Physician.
Perhaps…
Golaud.
At once?… Oh, oh! I must tell her…—Melisande! Melisande!… Leave me alone, leave me alone with her!…
Arkel.
No, no; do not approach… Do not trouble her. Do not speak to her any more… You do not know what the soul is…
Golaud.
It is not my fault, it is not my fault!
Arkel.
Attention…attention… We must speak low.—Do not annoy her any more… The human soul is very silent… The human soul likes to go away alone… It suffers so timidly… But the sadness, Golaud… but the sadness of all one sees!… Oh, oh, oh!…
(At this moment all the servants fall suddenly on their knees at the end of the room).
