Pelléas and Melisande

Front matter

PELLÉAS

AND

MELISANDE

Argument

ARGUMENT

In the First Act Golaud, eldest grandson of old King Arkel, king of Allemond, while hunting in the forest, where he has lost his way, meets a weeping maiden at the edge of a fountain. She will not say whence she comes or what she is—only that she has been cruelly treated and that her name is Melisande. They depart together.

In the second scene. Genevieve, the mother of Golaud and Pelléas, reads a letter to Arkel in which Golaud writes to Pelléas that he has wedded the mysterious Melisande and if it is acceptable to the king a light should be placed on the highest tower at night so that it may be seen from his ship. If no light is there the ship will go on.

The third scene shows the castle. Melisande tells Genevieve how dark and gloomy the place is. The forest is so wild and old with trees that the sky is hidden. Pelléas comes to show the way to Melisande but she is timid of his aid.

In the Second Act Pelléas and Melisande are seen together, close to a fountain in the park. Melisande is playing with her wedding ring, pitching it high in the air. Pelléas warns her to be careful. As he does so the ring eludes her grasp and falls into the water, where it sinks out of sight to a great depth. Melisande is much distressed and wonders what she will say to Golaud. Pelléas tells her to speak the truth.

The second scene is Golaud's sick room with Melisande in dutiful attendance upon him. His horse ran away at the precise moment Melisande lost the ring and Golaud was dashed against a tree. Caressing Melisande's hand he notices the disappearance of the ring and asks where it is. She says it slipped off her finger while seeking shells for little Yniold (Golaud's son) in the grotto by the sea. Golaud says he values the ring above all earthly possessions. She must go to seek for it at once. She is afraid in the dark. He tells her to get Pelléas to help her.

In scene three Pelléas and Melisande are in the grotto. As they enter, by a sudden ray of moonlight they see three blind old men, sleeping. Melisande is frightened. Pelléas says the blind men presage misfortune.

In the Third Act Melisande is seen at a window of the tower arranging her long hair for the night. Pelléas enters the walk below and asks her for her hand to kiss before he goes away. She will not let him have it unless he promises to stay and, when he agrees, she leans so far out to let him reach it that her hair runs down over him in a flood and causes an ecstasy of love to bubble up. Both are so entranced that they give no heed to a menacing shadow in the darkness. It is Golaud. He comes upon them suddenly but treats their alliance as the play of children and leads Pelléas away.

Scene two shows the subterranean vaults beneath the castle. Golaud leads Pelléas to the edge of a rock overlooking a stagnant and miasmatic lake and causes him to look down into it while he holds him back. Pelléas grows faint but Golaud leads him away.

Scene three shows the outside of the vaults. Pelléas is happy at breathing the air of heaven once more. Golaud is gloomy and gives Pelléas a warning about Melisande.

Scene four shows the castle tower and Melisande's window. Golaud questions litte Yniold as to the actions of Pelléas and Melisande together. The child endeavors to shield the two. Melisande's window is lighted up and Golaud hoists Yniold so that he may see into the room. The child says that he sees both Pelléas and Melisande there, looking at each other, motionless.

The Fourth Act shows a passageway of the castle. Pelléas makes a hasty appointment with Melisande to meet him, one last time before he goes away, at the fountain in the park. Arkel comes in and sympathizes with Melisande's joyless life here, but Golaut, entering, is furious. He hints at danger to her and, growing distraught, seizes her by the hair, bringing her to her knees and dragging her one way and another. She takes it all silently but Arkel interferes and Golaud desists.

In scene two Yniold is lifting a stone to find his golden ball when a runaway flock of sheep is heard, followed by a shepherd. Yniold marvels at their number and that they do not know their way home.

Scene three is the fountain. Pelléas awaits Melisande in the dark. She is late but explains that Golaud had a bad dream and that in her haste the nails of the gate tore her dress. Pelléas, about to go, says that he must tell her that he loves her and she then avows her love for him. At this revelation both are overcome and alternate between joy and despair. Suddenly, in the moonlight, they see the shadow of Golaud. Knowing they are both lost, they wildly throw themselves in each other's arms as Golaud springs forward and with his sword strikes Pelléas dead. He then pursues Melisande.

The Fifth Act discloses Golaud. Arkel and the Physician in the room of Melisande, who is extended on the bed. She partly recovers consciousness after weeks of sickness. Golaud, repentant but still savage and morose, wants her to tell the truth—Did she love Pelléas? Yes. Was it a guilty love? No.

Melisande dies.

Pelléas | Genevieve

Melisande | Little Yniold

Golaud | A Physician

Arkel

Act I

Pelleas and Melisande

FIRST ACT.

SCENE I.

Melisande discovered on the edge of a fountain.—Enter Golaud.

Golaud.

I shall not be able to leave this forest again.—God knows how far this beast has led me. Yet I thought I had wounded it unto death; and here are traces of blood. But now, I have lost sight of it. I fear that I am lost myself—and my dogs no longer find me.—I shall retrace my steps…—I hear weeping… Oh, oh, what is it there by the water?… A little girl who weeps near the water? (He coughs.)—She does not hear me. I do not see her face. (He goes near and touches Melisande on the shoulder.) Why dost thou ween? (Melisande rises, trembles and wants to fly.)—Do not fear. You have nothing to be afraid of. Why do you weep here all alone?

Melisande.

Do not touch me! do not touch me!

Golaud.

Have no fear… I will do you no… Oh, you are beautiful!

Melisande.

Do not touch me! Do not touch me! or I shall throw myself in the water…

Golaud.

I do not touch you… See, I'll stay here, against the tree. Have no fear. Has any one hurt you?

Melisande.

Oh, yes, yes, yes!

(She weeps profoundly).

Golaud.

Who has done you harm?

Melisande.

All, all!

Golaud.

What harm has been done to you?

Melisande.

I will not say it. I cannot say it.

Golaud.

Come; do not weep thus. Whence come you?

Melisande.

I escaped, escaped, escaped!

Golaud.

Yes; but from where did you escape?

Melisande.

I am lost… lost here. I am not from here… I was not born there…

Golaud.

Where are you from? Where were you born?

Melisande.

Oh, oh! far from here… far… far…

Golaud.

What sparkles thus at the bottom of the water?

Melisande.

Why, where?—Oh, it is the crown that he gave me. It fell through my weeping.

Golaud.

A crown? Who gave you a crown?—I will try to get it…

Melisande.

No, no; I do not want it any more. I do not want it. I prefer to die at once…

Golaud.

I could recover it easily. The water is not very deep.

Melisande.

I do not want it any more. If you recover it, I shall throw myself in its place!…

Golaud.

No, no; I shall leave it there. Yet one could get it very easily. It appears very handsome.—Is it long since you fled?

Melisande.

Yes, yes… who are you?

Golaud.

I am Prince Golaud—grandson of King Arkel, the old King of Allemond.

Melisande.

Oh! you already have grey hair.

Golaud.

Yes, a few, here, by the temples.

Melisande.

And the beard too… Why do you look at me in that way?

Golaud.

I look at your eyes.—You never close our eyes?

Melisande.

Yes, I do. I close them at night.

Golaud.

Why do you wear such a look of surprise?

Melisande.

You are a giant.

Golaud.

I am a man like any other…

Melisande.

Why did you come here?

Golaud.

I do not know, myself. I was hunting in the forest. I followed a boar. I missed my way.—You look very young. How old are you?

Melisande.

I begin to feel cold…

Golaud.

Will you come with me?

Melisande.

No, no: I remain here…

Golaud.

You cannot remain alone. You cannot remain here all night… What is your name?

Melisande.

Melisande.

Golaud.

You cannot remain here, Melisande Come with me…

Melisande.

I stay here…

Golaud.

You will be afraid, all alone. One does not know what there is here… all night… all alone, it is not possible. Melisande, come, give me your hand…

Melisande.

Oh! do not touch me…

Golaud.

Do not cry out… I will not touch you. But come with me. The night is very dark and very cold. Come with me…

Melisande.

Where are you going?

Golaud.

I do not know… I am lost also.

(They depart.)

SCENE II.

(A Room in the Castle. Arkel and Genevieve discovered).

Genevieve.

Here is what he has written to his brother, Pelléas: 'One evening, I found her all in tears on the rim of a fountain, in the forest where I had lost myself. I know not her age, nor whom she is, nor whence she comes and I do not dare question her, for she must have had a great fright, and when I ask her what had happened to her, she weeps all at once like a child and sobs so deeply that one is afraid. It is now six months that I married her and I know no more than the day of our meeting. In the meantime, my dear Pelléas, you that I love more than a brother, even though we were not born of the same father; in the meantime, prepare my return. I know that my mother will willingly forgive me. But I fear Arkel, spite of all his goodness, for I deceived, by this strange marriage, all his political projects, and I fear that the beauty of Mélisande will not excuse in his eyes, so wise, my folly. If, nevertheless, he consents to receive her as he would receive his own daughter, the third evening that follows this letter, light a lamp at the summit of the tower that looks on the sea. I shall perceive it from the bridge of our ship: if not, I shall go farther and shall never return'… What do vou say of it?

Arkel.

I say nothing of it. It may appear strange to us, for we never see but the reverse of destinies… He had always followed my advice until this; I had thought to make him happy in sending him to ask for the hand of the Princess Ursula… He could not remain alone, and since the death of his wife he was sad in being alone; and this marriage was to put an end to long wars and to some ugly hatreds… He would not have it so: Let it be as he wishes. I have never put myself at cross purposes with a destiny: and he knows his future better than me. There, perhaps, happen no useless events…

Genevieve.

He has always been so prudent, so serious and so firm. Since the death of his wife he only lived for his son, the little Yniold. He has forgotten everything.—What shall we do?

(Enter Pelléas.)

Arkel.

Who enters there?

Genevieve.

It is Pelléas. He has wept.

Arkel.

Is it you, Pelléas?—Come a little nearer, that I may see you in the light…

Pelléas.

Grandfather, I received, at the same time as the letter from my brother, another letter; a letter from my friend Marcellus. He is about to die and he calls me.

He says he knows exactly the day that death must come. He tells me that I can arrive before it if I please, but that there is no more time to lose.

Arkel.

And yet it is needful to wait awhile. We do not know what the return of your brother prepares for us. And besides is not your father here, just above us, sicker, perhaps, than your friend. Could you choose between the father and the friend?

(He leaves).

Genevieve.

Be careful to light the lamp from to-night on. Pelléas.

(They go out separately.)

SCENE III.

(In front of the Castle. Enter Genevieve and Melisande.

Melisande.

It is dark in the gardens. And what forests, what forests around the palaces!…

Genevieve.

Yes; it astonished me too when I came here, and it astonishes everybody. There are places where one never sees the sun. But one is soon used to it. It is a long time, it is a long time… It is nearly forty years that I live here…Look on the other side and you will have the light of the sea…

Melisande.

I hear a noise beneath us…

Genevieve.

Yes; it is someone coming up to us… Ah! it is Pelléas… He seems still tired from having waited for you so long…

Melisande.

He has not seen us.

Genevieve.

I think he has seen us, but he does not know what he should do… Pelléas, Pelléas, is it you?

Pelléas.

Yes. I was coming from the side of the sea…

Genevieve.

We also; we were looking for light. Here, it is a little clearer than elsewhere. And yet the sea is dark.

Pelléas.

We shall have a storm to-night. There is one every night since some time… and yet it is so calm this evening… One would embark without knowing it and never come back.

Melisande.

Something leaves the port.

Pelléas.

It must be a large ship. The lights are very high, we will see it by and by, when it enters the ray of light.

Genevieve.

I do not know if we will see it. there is still a mist on the sea.

Pelléas.

It looks as if the mist were slowly rising.

Melisande.

Yes; I perceive, over there, a little light I had not seen.

Pelléas.

It is a beacon; there are others that we do not yet see.

Melisande.

The vessel is in the light. It is already very far…

Pelléas.

It is going away with all sails set.

Melisande.

It is the ship that brought me here. It has great sails. I recognize it by its sails.

Pelléas.

There will be a bad sea to-night.

Melisande.

Why does it go away to-night? One hardly sees it any more. It will perhaps be wrecked.

Pelléas.

Night is falling very fast…

(A silence.)

Genevieve.

It is time to go within. Pelléas, show the way to Melisande. I must eo and see, for a moment, the little Yniold.

(She leaves.)

Pelléas.

One no longer sees anything on the sea…

Melisande.

I see other lights.

Pelléas.

It is the other beacons… Do you hear the sea? It is the wind that is rising. Let us get down this way. Will you give me your hand?

Melisande.

See. see. I have my hands full of flowers.

Pelléas.

I will support you by your arm; the way is steep and it is very dark. I go away perhaps to-morrow.

Melisande.

Oh!… Why do you go away?

(They leave.)

Act II

SECOND ACT.

SCENE I.

(A Fountain in the Park. Enter Pelléas and Melisande.)

Pelléas.

You do not know where I have brought you—I come often to sit here, toward noon, when it is too hot in the gardens. It is suffocating to-day, even in the shade of the trees.

Melisande.

Oh! the water is clear…

Pelléas.

It is as fresh as in winter. It is an old abandoned fountain. It seems that it was a miraculous fountain.—it made the blind to see.—It is still called the "Fountain of the Blind."

Melisande.

It no longer opens the eves of the blind?

Pelléas.

Since the King is nearly blind himself, no one comes to it any more…

Melisande.

How lonely it is here… one hears nothing.

Pelléas.

There is always an extraordinary silence. One might hear the water sleep. Will you sit on the edge of the marble basin? There is an elm which the sun never penetrates…

Melisande.

I will lie on the marble.—I should like to see the depth of the water…

Pelléas.

No one has ever seen it—It is, perhaps, as deep as the sea.

Melisande.

If something sparkled at the bottom, perhaps one could see it.

Pelléas.

Do not lean over so…

Melisande.

I would like to touch the water…

Pelléas.

Take care of slipping. I will hold your hand…

Melisande.

No. no, I should like to plunge in my two hands…it seems as if my hands were sickly to-day…

Pelléas.

Oh, oh, take care, take care. Melisande! Melisande?—Oh, your hair…

Melisande (drawing herself back).

I cannot, I cannot reach it.

Pelléas.

Your hair is soaked with water.

Melisande.

Yes, it is longer than my arms… It is longer than myself.

(A silence.)

Pelléas.

It is on the brink of a fountain, also, that he found you.

Melisande.

Yes…

Pelléas.

What did he say to you?

Melisande.

Nothing;—I no longer remember…

Pelléas.

Was he quite close to you?

Melisande.

Yes; he wanted to embrace me…

Pelléas.

And you did not wish to?

Melisande.

No.

Pelléas.

Why did you not wish to?

Melisande.

Oh, oh! I saw something pass at the bottom of the water…

Pelléas.

Take care, take care!—You will fall! What are you playing with?

Melisande.

With the ring he gave me…

Pelléas.

Do not play thus, above water so deep.

Melisande.

My hands do not tremble.

Pelléas.

How it shines in the sun!—Do not throw it so high toward the sky…

Melisande.

Oh!

Pelléas.

It has fallen?

Melisande.

It has fallen in the water!…

Pelléas.

Where is it, where is it?

Melisande.

I do not see it sinking…

Pelléas.

I think that I see it sparkle…

Melisande.

My ring?

Pelléas.

Yes, yes,…over there…

Melisande.

Oh, oh, it is so far from us…no, no, that is not it…that is no longer it… It is lost…lost… There is no longer anything but a great circle on the water… What shall we do now?

Pelléas.

There is no need to be anxious over a ring. It is nothing, we will find it again, perhaps. Or else we will find another.

Melisande.

No, no; we shall never find it again, nor shall we find others either. Still I thought I had it in my hands. I had already closed my hands, and it fell in spite of all… I threw it too high, on the sunny side…

Pelléas.

Come, we will return another day…come, it is time. They would come out to meet us. Noon sounded at the moment the ring was lost.

Melisande.

What shall we say to Golaud if he asks where it is?

Pelléas.

The truth, the truth, the truth…

(They go out.)

SCENE II.

1em

Golaud.

Ah, ah! All goes well. It will be nothing. But I cannot explain to myself how it took place. I was hunting quietly in the forest. My horse suddenly ran away, without reason. Did he see something extraordinary?…I had just heard ring the twelve strokes of noon. At the twelfth stroke, he is suddenly frightened, and runs like a blind fool, against a tree. I know no longer what happened. I fell and he must have fallen on me. I thought I had the whole forest on my chest; I thought that my heart was torn apart. But my heart is solid. It appears that it is nothing…

Melisande.

Would you like to drink a little water?

Golaud.

Thanks; I am not thirsty.

Melisande.

Will you have another pillow?… There is a little stain of blood on this one.

Golaud.

No, no; it is not worth the trouble.

Melisande.

Are you sure?… You do not suffer too much?

Golaud.

No, no, I have seen much worse. I am inured to iron and blood.

Melisande.

Shut your eyes and try to sleep. I will remain here all night…

Golaud.

No, no; I will not let you tire yourself thus. I am in want of nothing: I will sleep like a child… What is it, Melisande? Why do you weep all of a sudden?

Melisande (breaking into tears).

I am… I am sick here.

Golaud.

You are sick? What ails you, what ails you, Melisande?…

Melisande.

I do not know… I am sick here… I prefer to tell you to-day; lord, I am not happy here.

Golaud.

What has happened? Someone has done you harm… Has some one offended you?

Melisande.

No, no; no one has done me the least harm… It is not that…

Golaud.

But you must be hiding something from me? Tell me the whole truth. Melisande… Is it the King? Is it my mother? Is it Pelléas?…

Melisande.

No, no; it is not Pelléas. It is nobody… You cannot understand me… it is something that is stronger than myself…

Golaud.

Come; be reasonable, Melisande.—What would you have me do?—You are no longer a child.—Is it me that you would leave?

Melisande.

Oh no! it is not that… I would like to go away with you… It is here that I cannot longer live… I feel that I should not live long.

Golaud.

But there still needs a reason. They will think you mad. They will think you have childish dreams. Come, is it Pelléas, perhaps? I think he does not speak to you often…

Melisande.

Yes, yes; he speaks to me at times. He does not like me, I think; I have seen it in his eyes… But he speaks to me when he meets me…

Golaud.

You must not mind him. He has always been that way. He is a little singular. He will change, you will see; he is young…

Melisande.

But it is not that… it is not that.

Golaud.

What is it then? Can you not fit yourself to the life we lead here? Is it too sad here? It is true that this castle is very old and very sombre. It is very cold and very deep. And all those who live in it are already old. And the country side may seem very sad also, with all its forests, all its old forests without light. But we can make all that gayer if we want to. And after that joy, joy. One does not taste it every day; one must take things as they are. But tell me something: no matter what, I will do all that you wish.

Melisande.

Yes, it is true…one never sees the clear sky… I saw it for the first time this morning…

Golaud.

So it is that which makes you weep, my poor Melisande?—Then it is only that.—You weep to have not seen the sky.—Come, you are no longer at the age when one weeps for these things… And then, is not summer here? You will see the sky every day. And then next year… Come, give me your hand: give me your two little hands. (He takes her hands.) Oh, these little hands that I could crush like flowers…—Eh, where is the ring that I gave to you?

Melisande.

The ring?

Golaud.

Yes; our nuptial ring, where is it?

Melisande.

I think… I think it fell…

Golaud.

Fell!—Where did it fall?—You have not lost it?

Melisande.

No, it fell…it must have fallen…but I do not know where it is.

Golaud.

Where is it?

Melisande.

You know very well…you know…the grotto on the seashore?

Golaud.

Yes.

Melisande.

Very well, it is there…it must be there…yes, yes; I remember… I went there this morning, to gather shells for little Yniold…there are some beautiful ones…it slipped from my finger…and then the sea came in: and I had to go before having found it.

Golaud.

Are you sure that it was there?

Melisande.

Yes, yes; entirely sure… I felt it slip…

Golaud.

You must go and look for it at once.

Melisande.

Now!—at once—in the dark?

Golaud.

Now, at once, in the dark. I would sooner have lost all I have than to have lost this ring. You do not know what it is. You do not know whence it comes. The sea will be very high to-night. The sea will come to take it before you… You must hurry.

Melisande.

I dare not… I dare not go alone…

Golaud.

Go there, go there, it matters not with whom. But you must go at once, do you hear? Hurry; ask Pelléas to go with you.

Melisande.

Pelléas!— With Pelléas?— But Pelléas would not like…

Golaud.

Pelléas will do whatever you ask him. I know Pelléas better than you. Go, hasten. I will not sleep until I have the ring.

Melisande.

Oh, oh! I am far from happy… I am not happy!

(She goes out weeping.)

SCENE III.

1em

Pelléas (speaking with great excitement).

Yes, it is here, we have arrived. It is so black that the entrance to the grotto cannot be distinguished from the rest of the night… There are no stars on this side… Let us await until the moon has torn apart this great cloud; it will light up the whole grotto and then we can enter without danger. There are dangerous places and the path is very narrow, between two lakes of which they have not found the bottom. I had not thought of bringing a torch or a lantern, but I think that the light of heaven will suffice us.—You have penetrated into this grotto?

Melisande.

No…

Pelléas.

Let us enter… You must be able to describe the place where you lost the ring, if he questions you. It is very large and very beautiful. It is full of blue darkness. When one lights a little lamp, it is as if the vault were covered with stars, like the heavens. Give me your hand, do not tremble, do not tremble so. There is no danger: we will stop at the moment when we longer see the light of the sea… Is it the noise of the grotto that frightens you? Do you hear the sea behind us?—It does not seem happy to-night… Ah! here comes the light.

The moon clearly illuminates the entrance and a part of the darkness of the grotto: and one perceives, at a certain depth, three old, poor, men with white hair, seated side by side, supporting each other and asleep against a boulder.

Melisande.

Ah!

Pelléas.

What is it?

Melisande.

It is… it is…

(She points at the three poor men.)

Pelléas.

Yes, yes; I saw them also…

Melisande.

Let us go!… Let us go!…

Pelléas.

It is three old poor men who have fallen asleep… Why have they come to sleep here?… There will be a famine in the country.

Melisande.

Let us go… Come… Let us go!…

Pelléas.

Take care, do not speak so loud… Let us not awaken them… They still sleep profoundly… Come.

Melisande.

Let me be: I prefer to walk alone…

Pelléas.

We will return another day…

(They go out.)