religion and race between them..
Lakmé warns her beloved of the danger closing in upon him, and points out to him a little hut in the forest where they can meet. But he cannot flee from his military unit, and before she can persuade him to yield to her view, they are interrupted by the passing of a procession of Brahmin worshippers bearing the statue of the goddess Durga of the ten arms.
Nilakantha comes with his priests... and while the others conceal Gérald with their flowing robes, Nilakantha slips in among them and stabs him; he falls to the ground, and Lakmé rushes to him. But a cry of joy escapes her when she sees that his wound is not fatal, and she bursts into this song: "I shall live for you alone. May God guard our love!" And as the curtain falls she calls her servant and slave Hadji to help her carry away her wounded beloved...
Act Three
The Scene: in the heart of the Indian forest.
Here is the little hut, hidden behind the flowers, the sweet herbs, and plants of every kind — the hut to which Lakmé has carried Gérald. And here is the wounded officer, lying on a bed of leaves, while his beloved sits before him singing him this song: "Beneath the sky bright with stars." When he wakes, he joins her in a song in which the two speak of their future together. The sound of a chorus is heard rising from outside... it is a band of lovers on their way to a sacred spring, in keeping with the tradition which holds that lovers who drink from this spring are assured of mutual love forever, for the goddess blesses their love. Gérald questions his beloved about
this, and she eagerly agrees to go to the spring and bring the holy water back to him...
No sooner has Lakmé left the hut than the officer Frederic, Gérald's comrade, appears. He has followed the two to this remote refuge by means of the broken brambles and the blood that stained their leaves. Frederic informs his comrade that their unit has been given orders to put down the revolt, and reminds him of his duty toward his country. And after a violent struggle between Gérald's head and his heart, between his duty and his love, he decides to return to his unit.
Lakmé returns, carrying a cup filled with the water of the sacred spring, and offers it to Gérald; but she is astonished at the manner in which he receives her. Military music is heard in the distance, and he turns to listen to the drums and fifes of the marching soldiers. Lakmé is now certain that she has lost him. At once she stretches out her hand, plucks one of the poisonous flowers, and puts it in her mouth. Gérald cries out in utter horror and takes her in his arms, swearing to love her forever, and drinks with her the cup of holy water, while their two voices rise in ecstasy.
Before the poisonous flower can do its work, Nilakantha and his followers burst into the hut. But they stand thunderstruck when Lakmé tells them what has happened. Poor Gérald begs the priest to kill him, but he does not. Lakmé offers her life to the goddess as she breathes her last breaths. Gérald weeps, knowing that it is for his sake she is dying. And Nilakantha bears away his daughter's body, repeating that she has ascended to the life eternal...