GOLAUD.
A great innocence!… They are greater than innocence!… They are purer than the eyes of a lamb…. They would give God lessons in innocence! A great innocence! Listen: I am so near them I feel the freshness of their lashes when they wink; and yet I am less far away from the great secrets of the other world than from the smallest secret of those eyes!… A great innocence!… More than innocence! You would say the angels of heaven celebrated there an eternal baptism!… I know those eyes! I have seen them at their work! Close them! close them! or I shall close them for a long while!…—Do not put your right hand to your throat so; I am saying a very simple thing…. I have no under-thought…. If I had an under-thought, why should I not say it? Ah! ah!—do not attempt to flee!—Here!—Give me that hand!—Ah! your hands are too hot…. Go away! Your flesh disgusts me!… Here!—There is no more question of fleeing now!—[He seizes her by the hair.]—You shall follow me on your knees!—On your knees!—On your knees before me!—Ah! ah! your long hair serves some purpose at last!… Right,… left!—Left,… right!—Absalom! Absalom.—Forward! back! To the ground! to the ground!… You see, you see; I laugh already like an old man….
ARKËL (running up).
Golaud!…
GOLAUD (affecting a sudden calm).
You will do as you may please, look you.—I attach no importance to that.—I am too old; and, besides, I am not a spy. I shall await chance; and then … Oh! then!… simply because it is the custom; simply because it is the custom…. [Exit.