Chapter CLXXXIII: Act IV: Scene X. In a room in the castle Pelléas and Mélisande

meet. This evening he must see her. She promises to go in the park to the old fountain where she formerly lost the ring. It will be their last meeting. Yet _Mélisande_ does not understand what is driving the youth away. The old _King Arkel_ enters the room. The aged man has taken _Mélisande_ to his heart. He feels that the young wife is unhappy. Now _Golo_ also enters. He can scarcely remain master of his inner commotion. The sight of his wife, who appears the picture of innocence, irritates him so much that he finally in a mad rage throws her on her knees and drags her across the room by her hair.

Scene XI. By the old spring in the park. There is an oppressive feeling of disaster in the air. Only little _Yniold_ does not suffer this gripping burden. It is already growing dark when _Mélisande_ goes to _Pelléas_. And yet in their farewell, perhaps also on account of _Golo's_ outburst of anger, the couple clearly see what has caused their condition. And there comes over them something like the affirmation of death and the joy of dying. How fate shuts the gates upon them; like a fate they see _Golo_ coming. They rejoice in the idea of death. _Pelléas_ falls by _Golo's_ sword, _Mélisande_ flees from her husband's pursuit into the night.