You will tell him nothing, if you wish for his happiness....
Joyzelle.
But I must tell him everything, since I love him!... No, no, I can see clearly, that cannot be, that does not exist; and there must be gods or demons to prevent such things: if not, I cannot see why one should wish to live.... I have confidence in them, I have confidence in you.... It was only a proof; and all this is not, cannot be real.... It seems to me that already you look at me with less ill-will.... See, I beseech you, I throw myself at your feet and kiss your hands.... I will confess all to you.... I did not love you, you hated him too much; but I never believed that you were unjust or unworthy of love.... When you came in, I did not hesitate, I went up to you, I asked you to snatch from death the only man I love; and yet I knew that you love me too.... But, I do not know why, my instinct told me that you were generous and capable of doing what I would have done for you, what he himself would have done; and, when you have done what we would have done, you shall have in our hearts a part of our love that is not the least good part, nor the least fine, nor the most perishable....
Merlin.
Yes, I know: when I have given him back his life, at the risk of my own, he will have the kisses, the lips and the eyes, the days and the nights, all, in short, that forms love's vain and ephemeral happiness!... But I, I shall have something much better; and sometimes, by chance, in passing, I shall be vouchsafed a kindly smile, which will not perish, provided that I refrain from demanding it too often.... No, Joyzelle, at my age we are no longer satisfied with illusions of that kind nor with those deceptive dregs. The hour of heroic falsehoods is past for me. I wish to have what he will have. I care little for your smile, which I know to be impossible: I want yourself; I want you absolutely, were it only for a moment; but I shall have that moment: he will give it me.... (Approaching Lancéor.) Look at him, Joyzelle: his features are becoming distorted; we have waited too long and the danger increases with each minute that passes.... Will you come?...
Joyzelle.
(Casting a bewildered glance around her.) Nothing bursts, nothing falls and I am alone in the world!...
Merlin.
(Feeling Lancéor's body.) The danger is becoming grave.... I know the symptoms....