en.... If I could tell it, thou wouldst see as I
do!... I see all! I see all!... But I loved thee so!... I loved thee
so!... But now there is some one dying.... It is I who am dying....
And I would know.... I would ask thee.... Thou'lt bear me no
ill-will.... I would.... The truth must be told to a dying man.... He
must know the truth, or else he could not sleep.... Swearest thou to
tell me the truth?
MELISANDE
Yes.
GOLAUD.
Didst thou love Pelleas?
MELISANDE.
Why, yes; I loved him.--Where is he?
GOLAUD.
Thou dost not understand me?--Thou wilt not understand me?--It seems
to me ... it seems to me.... Well, then, here: I ask thee if thou
lovedst him with a forbidden love?... Wert thou ... were you guilty?
Say, say, yes, yes, yes!...
MELISANDE.
No, no; we were not guilty.--Why do you ask that?
GOLAUD.
Melisande!... tell me the truth, for the love of God!
MELISANDE.
Why have I not told the truth?
GOLAUD.
Do not lie so any more, at the moment of death!
MELISANDE.
Who is dying?--Is it I?
GOLAUD.
Thou, thou! and I, I too, after thee!... And we must have the
truth.... We must have the truth at last, dost thou understand?...
Tell me all! Tell me all! I forgive thee all!...
MELISANDE.
Why am I going to die?--I did not know it....
GOLAUD.
Thou knowest it now!... It is time! It is time!... Quick! quick!...
The truth! the truth!...
MELISANDE.
The truth ... the truth....
GOLAUD.
Where art thou?--Melisande!--Where art thou?--It is not natural!
Melisande! Where art thou?--Where goest thou? [_Perceiving_ ARKEL
_and the_ PHYSICIAN _at the door of the room.]--_ Yes, yes; you may
come in.... I know nothing; it is useless.... It is too late; she is
already too far away from us.... I shall never know!... I shall die
here like a blind man!...
ARKEL.
What have you done? You will kill her....
GOLAUD.
I have already killed her....
ARKEL.
Melisande....
MELISANDE.
Is it you, grandfather?
ARKEL.
Yes, my daughter.... What would you have me do?
MELISANDE.
Is it true that the winter is beginning?...
ARKEL.
Why dost thou ask?
MELISANDE.
Because it is cold, and there are no more leaves....
ARKEL.
Thou art cold?--Wilt thou have the windows closed?
MELISANDE.
No, no,... not till the sun be at the bottom of the sea.--It sinks
slowly; then it is the winter beginning?
ARKEL.
Yes.--Thou dost not like the winter?
MELISANDE.
O
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