uld be an insult to the creation. Everything
would be an abyss. You know not what you say, Dea. You shall live! I
command you to live! You must obey me! I am your husband and your
master; I forbid you to leave me! O heavens! O wretched Man! No, it
cannot be--I to remain in the world after you! Why, it is as monstrous
as that there should be no sun! Dea! Dea! recover! It is but a moment
of passing pain. One feels a shudder at times, and thinks no more about
it. It is absolutely necessary that you should get well and cease to
suffer. _You_ die! What have I done to you? The very thought of it
drives me mad. We belong to each other, and we love each other. You have
no reason for going! It would be unjust! Have I committed crimes?
Besides, you have forgiven me. Oh, you would not make me desperate--have
me become a villain, a madman, drive me to perdition? Dea, I entreat
you! I conjure you! I supplicate you! Do not die!"

And clenching his hands in his hair, agonized with fear, stifled with
tears, he threw himself at her feet.

"My Gwynplaine," said Dea, "it is no fault of mine."

There then rose to her lips a red froth, which Ursus wiped away with the
fold of her robe, before Gwynplaine, who was prostrate at her feet,
could see it.

Gwynplaine took her feet in his hands, and implored her in all kinds of
confused words.

"I tell you, I will not have it! _You_ die? I have no strength left to
bear it. Die? Yes; but both of us together--not otherwise. _You_ die, my
Dea? I will never consent to it! My divinity, my love! Do you understand
that I am with you? I swear that you shall live! Oh, but you cannot have
thought what would become of me after you were gone. If you had an idea
of the necessity which you are to me, you would see that it is
absolutely impossible! Dea! you see I have but you! The most
extraordinary things have happened to me. You will hardly believe that I
have just explored the whole of life in a few hours! I have found out
one thing--that there is nothing in it! You exist! if you did not, the
universe would have no meaning. Stay with me! Have pity on me! Since you
love me, live on! If I have just found you again, it is to keep you.
Wait a little longer; you cannot leave me like this, now that we have
been together but a few minutes! Do not be impatient! O Heaven, how I
suffer! You are not angry with me, are you? You know that I could not
help going when the wapentake came for me. You will breathe more easi