Pélléas and Mélisande; Alladine and Palomides; Home
Chapter 9
_discovered_, MÉLISANDE _plies her distaff at the back of the room._
PÉLLÉAS.
Yniold does not come back; where has he gone?
MÉLISANDE
He had heard something in the corridor; he has gone to see what it is.
PÉLLÉAS.
Mélisande....
MÉLISANDE
What is it?
PÉLLÉAS.
... Can you see still to work there?...
MÉLISANDE
I work as well in the dark....
PÉLLÉAS.
I think everybody is already asleep in the castle. Golaud does not come back from the chase. It is late, nevertheless.... He no longer suffers from his fall?...
MÉLISANDE.
He said he no longer suffered from it.
PÉLLÉAS.
He must be more prudent; his body is no longer as supple as at twenty years.... I see the stars through the window and the light of the moon on the trees. It is late; he will not come back now. [_Knocking at the door._] Who is there?... Come in!...
_Little_ YNIOLD _opens the door and enters the room._
It was you knocking so?... That is not the way to knock at doors. It is as if a misfortune had arrived; look, you have frightened little mother.
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I only knocked a tiny little bit.
PÉLLÉAS.
It is late; little father will not come back to-night; it is time for you to go to bed.
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I shall not go to bed before you do.
PÉLLÉAS.
What?... What is that you are saying?
LITTLE YNIOLD.
I say ... not before you ... not before you....
[_Bursts into sobs and takes refuge by_ MÉLISANDE.]
MÉLISANDE.
What is it, Yniold?... What is it?... why do you weep all at once?
YNIOLD _(sobbing)._
Because ... oh! oh! because ...
MÉLISANDE.
Because what?... Because what?... Tell me ...
YNIOLD.
Little mother ... little mother ... you are going away....
MÉLISANDE.
But what has taken hold of you, Yniold?... I have never dreamed of going away....
YNIOLD.
Yes, you have; yes, you have; little father has gone away.... Little father does not come back, and you are going to go away too.... I have seen it ... I have seen it....
MÉLISANDE.
But there has never been any idea of that, Yniold.... Why, what makes you think that I would go away?...
YNIOLD.
I have seen it ... I have seen it.... You have said things to uncle that I could not hear....
PÉLLÉAS.
He is sleepy.... He has been dreaming.... Come here, Yniold; asleep already?... Come and look out at the window; the swans are fighting with the dogs....
YNIOLD _(at the window)._
Oh! oh! they are chasing the dogs!... They are chasing them!... Oh! oh! the water!... the wings!... the wings!... they are afraid....
PÉLLÉAS. _(coming back by_ MÉLISANDE_)._
He is sleepy; he is struggling against sleep; his eyes were closing....
MÉLISANDE _(singing softly as she spins)._
Saint Daniel and Saint Michaël.... Saint Michaël and Saint Raphaël....
YNIOLD _(at the window)._
Oh! oh! little mother!...
MÉLISANDE _(rising abruptly)._
What is it, Yniold?... What is it?...
YNIOLD.
I saw something at the window?... [PÉLLÉAS _and_ MÉLISANDE _run to the window._
PÉLLÉAS.
What is there at the window?... What have you seen?...
YNIOLD.
Oh! oh! I saw something!...
PÉLLÉAS.
But there is nothing. I see nothing....
MÉLISANDE.
Nor I....
PÉLLÉAS.
Where did you see something? Which way?...
YNIOLD.
Down there, down there!... It is no longer there....
PÉLLÉAS.
He does not know what he is saying. He must have seen the light of the moon on the forest. There are often strange reflections,... or else something must have passed on the highway ... or in his sleep. For see, see, I believe he is quite asleep....
YNIOLD _(at the window)._
Little father is there! little father is there!
PÉLLÉAS _(going to the window)._
He is right; Golaud is coming into the courtyard....
YNIOLD.
Little father!... little father!... I am going to meet him!... [_Exit, running,--A silence._
PÉLLÉAS.
They are coming up the stair....
_Enter_ GOLAUD _and little_ YNIOLD _with a lamp._
GOLAUD.
You are still waiting in the dark?
YNIOLD.
I have brought a light, little mother, a big light!... [_He lifts the lamp and looks at_ MÉLISANDE.] You have been weeping, little mother?... You have been, weeping?... [_He lifts the lamp toward_ PÉLLÉAS _and looks in turn at him._] You too, you too, you have been weeping?... Little father, look, little father; they have both been weeping....
GOLAUD.
Do not hold the light under their eyes so....