Page:Pelléas and Melisande.djvu/33

Rh

(A Terrace at the exit of the Vaults.)

Ah, at last I breathe! I believed for a moment that I was going to be faint in these enormous vaults; I was on the point of falling… There is there a damp and heavy atmosphere like a dew of lead and a thick darkness like a poisoned paste. And now all the air of all the sea! There is a fresh wind, see; fresh as a leaf that has just opened, on the little green blades. Ah! they have just watered the flowers at the foot of the terrace and the smell of the verdure and of wetted roses rises this far… It must be nearly noon, they are already in the shadow of the tower. It is noon; I hear the bells ring and the children descend to the shore to bathe.

Ah, there are our mother and Melisande at a window of the tower.

Yes, they have taken refuge in the shade. On the subject of Melisande, I heard what took place and what was said last night. I know it well, those are children's games; but it must not be repeated. She is very delicate and we must be careful about her, all the more that she may perhaps soon be a mother and that the least emotion might bring about a misfortune. It is not the first time I notice that there might be something between you. You are older than she; it will suffice to have told you…avoid her as much as possible; but besides, without affectation; without affectation.

(They go out.)

Come, we will seat ourselves here, Yniold; come on my knees; we can see from here what goes on in the forest. I don't see you at all for some time past. You abandon me also. You are always with little-mother. Ah, here we are just exactly seated under the windows of little-mother.—She is, perhaps, saying her evening prayer at this moment… But tell me, Yniold, she is often with your uncle Pelléas, is she not?

Yes, yes; always, little-father; when you are not there.

Ah! hallo, someone passing with a lantern in the garden.—But I was told that they did not like each other… It seems that they often quarrel… No? Is it true?

Yes, it is true.

Yes?—Ah, ha!—But about what do they quarrel?

About the door.

How, now? about the door? What are you telling there? But come, explain yourself. Why do they quarrel about the door?

Because it cannot be opened.