PELLEAS.

Is it that I see upon the wall?...  I thought you had some light....

MELISANDE.

I have opened the window; it is too hot in the tower....  It is beautiful to-night....

PELLEAS.

There are innumerable stars; I have never seen so many as to-night;... but the moon is still upon the sea....  Do not stay in the shadow, Melisande; lean forward a little till I see your unbound hair....

MELISANDE.

I am frightful so....
                                            [She learn out at the window.

PELLEAS.

Oh! oh!  Melisande!... oh, thou art beautiful!... thou art beautiful so!...  Lean out! lean out!...  Let me come nearer thee....

MELISANDE

I cannot come nearer thee....  I am leaning out as far as I can....

PELLEAS.

I cannot come up higher;... give me at least thy hand to-night ... before I go away....  I leave to-morrow....

MELISANDE.

No, no, no!...

PELLEAS.

Yes, yes, yes; I leave, I shall leave to-morrow....  Give me thy hand, thy hand, thy little hand upon my lips....

MELISANDE.

I give thee not my hand if thou wilt leave....

PELLEAS.

Give, give, give!...

MELISANDE.

Thou wilt not leave?...

PELLEAS.

I will wait; I will wait....

MELISANDE.

I see a rose in the shadows....

PELLEAS.

Where?...  I see only the boughs of the willow hanging over the wall....

MELISANDE.

Further down, further down, in the garden; further down, in the sombre green....

PELLEAS.

It is not a rose....  I will go see by and by, but give me thy hand first; first thy hand....

MELISANDE.

There, there;...  I cannot lean out further....

PELLEAS.

I cannot reach thy hand with my lips....

MELISANDE.

I cannot lean out further....  I am on the point of falling....—­Oh! oh! my hair is falling down the tower!...

[Her tresses fall suddenly over her head, as she is leaning out so, and stream over PELLEAS]

PELLEAS.

Oh! oh! what is it?...  Thy hair, thy hair is falling down to me!...  All thy locks, Melisande, all thy locks have fallen down the tower!...  I hold them in my hands; I hold them in my mouth....  I hold them in my arms; I put them about my neck....  I will not open my hands again to-night....

MELISANDE.

Let me go! let me go!...  Thou wilt make me fall!...

PELLEAS.

No, no, no;...  I have never seen such hair as thine, Melisande!...  See, see, see; it comes from so high and yet it floods me to the heart!...  And yet it floods me to the knees!...  And it is sweet, sweet as if it fell from heaven!...  I see the sky no longer through thy locks.  Thou seest, thou seest?...  I can no longer hold them with both hands; there are some on the boughs of the willow....  They are alive like birds in my hands,... and they love me, they love me more than thou!...