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....

MELISANDE.

No, no, no!...

PELLEAS.

Go! go! he has seen all!... He will kill us!...

MELISANDE.

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

PELLEAS.

He comes! he comes!... Thy mouth!... Thy mouth!...

MELISANDE.

Yes!... yes! yes!...
[_They kiss desperately._

PELLEAS

Oh! oh! All the stars are falling!...

MELISANDE.

Upon me too! upon me too!...

PELLEAS.

Again! Again!... Give! give!...

MELISANDE.

All! all! all!...

[Golaud rushes upon them, sword in hand, and strikes Pelleas, who
falls at the brink of the fountain. Melisande flees ter