MELISANDE.

I weep always when I think of thee....

PELLEAS.

I too....  I too, Melisande....  I am quite near thee; I weep for joy, and yet ...[He kisses her again.]—­Thou art strange when I kiss thee so....  Thou art so beautiful that one would think thou wert about to die....

MELISANDE.

Thou too....

PELLEAS.

There, there....  We do not what we will....  I did not love thee the first time I saw thee....

MELISANDE.

Nor I ... nor I....  I was afraid....

PELLEAS.

I could not admit thine eyes....  I would have gone away at once ... and then....

MELISANDE.

And I,—­I would not have come....  I do not yet know why,—­I was afraid to come....

PELLEAS.

There are so many things one never knows.  We are ever waiting; and then....  What is that noise?—­They are closing the gates!...

MELISANDE.

Yes, they have closed the gates....

PELLEAS.

We cannot go back now?—­Hearest thou the bolts?—­Listen! listen!... the great chains!... the great chains!...  It is too late; it is too late!...

MELISANDE.

All the better! all the better! all the better!...

PELLEAS.

Thou—...?  Behold, behold!...  It is no longer we who will it so!...  All’s lost, all’s saved! all is saved to-night!—­Come, come....  My heart beats like a madman,—­up to my very throat.... [They embrace.] Listen! listen! my heart is almost strangling me....  Come! come!...  Ah, how beautiful it is in the shadows!...

MELISANDE.

There is some one behind us!...

PELLEAS.

I see no one....

MELISANDE.

I heard a noise....

PELLEAS.

I hear only thy heart in the dark....

MELISANDE.

I heard the crackling of dead leaves....

PELLEAS.

Because the wind is silent all at once....  It fell as we were kissing....

MELISANDE.

How long our shadows are to-night!...

PELLEAS.

They embrace to the very end of the garden.  Oh, how they kiss far away from us!...  Look! look!...

MELISANDE.(a stifled voice).

A-a-h!—­He is behind a tree!

PELLEAS.

Who?

MELISANDE.

Golaud!

PELLEAS.

Golaud!—­where?—­I see nothing....

MELISANDE.

There ... at the end of our shadows.

PELLEAS.

Yes, yes; I saw him....  Let us not turn abruptly....

MELISANDE.

He has his sword....

PELLEAS.

I have not mine....

MELISANDE.

He saw us kiss....

PELLEAS.

He does not know we have seen him....  Do not stir; do not turn your head....  He would rush headlong on us....  He will remain there while he thinks we do not know.  He watches us....  He is still motionless....  Go, go at once this way....  I will wait for him....  I will stop him....