Chapters 31
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1 Chapter 00 - Introduction 8:04
Candide by Voltaire. Introduction by Philip Littel. Ever since 1759, when Voltaire wrote Candide in ridicule of the notion that this is the best of all possible worlds, this world has been a gayer place for readers. Voltaire wrote it in three days, and five or six generations have found that its laughter does not grow old. Candide has not aged. Yet, how different the book would have looked if Voltaire had written it a hundred and fifty years later than 1759. It would have been, among other things, a book of sights and sounds. A modern writer would have tried to catch and fix in words some of those Atlantic changes which broke the Atlantic monotony of that voyage from Cadiz to Buenos Aires. When Martin and Candide were sailing the length of the Mediterranean, we should have had a contrast between naked, scarped Balearic cliffs and headlands of Calabria in their mists.
We should have had quarter distances, far horizons, the altering silhouettes of an Ionian island. Colored birds would have filled Paraguay with their silver or acid cries. Dr. Pangloss, to prove the existence of design in the universe, says that noses were made to carry spectacles, and so we have spectacles. A modern satirist would not try to paint with Voltaire's quick brush the doctrine that he wanted to expose, and he would choose a more complicated doctrine than Dr. Pangloss's optimism, would study it more closely, Feel his destructive way about it with a more learned and caressing malice. His attack, stealthier, more flexible, and more patient than Voltaire's, would call upon us, especially when his learning got a little out of control, to be more than patient.
Now and then he would bore us. Candide never bored anybody, except William Wordsworth. Voltaire's men and women point his case against optimism by starting high and falling low. A modern could not go about it after this fashion. He would not plunge his people into an unfamiliar misery. He would just keep them in the misery they were born to. But such an account of Voltaire's procedure is as misleading as the plaster cast of a dance. Look at his procedure again. Mademoiselle Cunegonde, the illustrious Westphalian, sprung from a family that could prove seventy-one quarterings, descends and descends until we find her earning her keep by washing dishes in the propontis. The aged, faithful attendant, victim of a hundred acts of rape by Negro pirates, remembers that she is the daughter of a Pope, And that in honor of her approaching marriage with a prince of Massa Carrara, all Italy wrote sonnets, of which not one was passable.
We do not need to know French literature before Voltaire, in order to feel, although the lurking parody may escape us, that he is poking fun at us, and at himself. His laughter at his own methods grows more unmistakable at the last when he caricatures them by casually assembling six fallen monarchs in an inn at Venice. A modern assailant of optimism would arm himself with social pity. There is no social pity in Candide. Voltaire, whose light touch on familiar institutions opens them and reveals their absurdity, likes to remind us that the slaughter and pillage and murder which Candide witnessed among the Bulgarians was perfectly regular, having been conducted according to the laws and usages of war.
Had Voltaire lived today, he would have done to poverty what he did to war. Pitying the poor, he would have shown us poverty as a ridiculous anachronism, and both the ridicule and the pity would have expressed his indignation. Almost any modern essaying a philosophic tale would make it long. Candide is only a hamlet and a half long. It would hardly have been shorter if Voltaire had spent three months on it instead of those three days. A conciseness to be matched in English by nobody except Pope, who can say a plagiarizing enemy steals much, spends little, and has nothing left. A conciseness which Pope toiled and sweated for, came as easy as wit to Voltaire. He can afford to be witty, parenthetically, by the way, prodigally, without saving, because he knows there is more wit where that came from.
One of Max Bierbaum's cartoons shows us the young 20th century going at top speed and watched by two of his predecessors. Underneath is this legend, the grave misgivings of the 19th century and the wicked amusement of the 18th in watching the progress, or whatever it is, of the 20th. This eighteenth-century snuff-taking and maliciousness is like Voltaire, who nevertheless must know, if he happens to think of it, that not yet in the twentieth century, not for all its speed mania, has anyone come near to equalling the speed of a prose tale by Voltaire. Candide is a full book. It is filled with mockery, with inventiveness, with things as concrete as things to eat and coins, It has time for the neatest intellectual clickings.
It is never hurried, and it moves with the most amazing rapidity. It has the rapidity of high spirits playing a game. The dry high spirits of this destroyer of optimism make most optimists look damp and depressed. Contemplation of the stupidity which deems happiness possible almost made Voltaire happy. His attack on optimism is one of the gayest books in the world. Gayety has been scattered everywhere, up and down its pages, by Voltaire's lavish hand, by his thin fingers. Many propagandist satirical books have been written with Candide in mind, but not too many. Today especially, when new faiths are changing the structure of the world, Fates which are still plastic enough to be deformed by every disciple, each disciple for himself, and which have not yet received the final deformation known as universal acceptance.
Today, Candide is an inspiration to every narrative satirist who hates one of these new fates, or hates every interpretation of it but his own. Either hatred will serve as a motive to satire. That is why the present is one of the right moments to republish Candide. I hope it will inspire younger men and women, the only ones who can be inspired, to have a try at Theodore or Militarism, Jane or Pacifism, and so-and-so, the Pragmatist or the Freudian. And I hope, too, that they will, without trying, hold their pens with an eighteenth-century lightness, not inappropriate to a philosophic tale. In Voltaire's fingers, as Anatole France has said, the pen runs and laughs. End of the introduction to Candide by Philip Littell.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, please visit LibriVox.org. Recorded by Ted DeLorme in Fort Mill, South Carolina in January 2007.
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2 Chapter 01 6:10
Candide by Voltaire. Chapter One. How Candide was brought up in a magnificent castle, and how he was expelled thence. In a castle of Westphalia, belonging to the barren Thunder Tin Trunk, lived a youth whom nature had endowed with the most gentle manners. His countenance was a true picture of his soul, He combined a true judgment with simplicity of spirit, which was the reason, I apprehend, of his being called Candide. The old servants of the family suspected him to have been the son of the baron's sister, by a good honest gentleman of the neighborhood, whom that young lady would never marry because he had been able to prove only seventy-one quarterings, The rest of his genealogical tree having been lost through the injuries of time.
The Baron was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his castle had not only a gate but windows. His great hall, even, was hung with tapestry. All the dogs of his farmyards formed a pack of hounds at need. His grooms were his huntsmen. And the curate of the village was his grand almoner. They called him my lord, and laughed at all his stories. The baron's lady weighed about three hundred and fifty pounds, and was therefore a person of great consideration, and she did the honors of the house with a dignity that commanded still greater respect. Her daughter, Cunegonda, was seventeen years of age, Fresh-colored, comely, plump, and desirable. The barren son seemed to be in every respect worthy of his father.
The preceptor Pangloss was the oracle of the family, and little Candide heard his lessons with all the good faith of his age and character. Pangloss was professor of metaphysico-theologico-cosmologology. He proved admirably that there is no effect without a cause, and that, in this best of all possible worlds, the Baron's Castle was the most magnificent of castles, and his lady the best of all possible Baronesses. "'It is demonstrable,' said he, "'that things cannot be otherwise than as they are, for all being created for an end, All is necessarily for the best end. Observe that the nose has been formed to bear spectacles. Thus we have spectacles. Legs are visibly designed for stockings, and we have stockings.
Stones were made to be hewn and to construct castles. Therefore my lord has a magnificent castle, for the greatest baron in the province ought to be the best lodged. Pigs were made to be eaten. Therefore we eat pork all the year round. Consequently, they who assert that all is well have said a foolish thing. They should have said, All is for the best. Candide listened attentively and believed innocently, for he thought Miss Coonaganda extremely beautiful, though he never had the courage to tell her so. He concluded that after the happiness of being born of Baron Thundertentrunk, the second degree of happiness was to be Miss Cunegonda, the third that of seeing her every day, and the fourth that of hearing Master Pangloss, the greatest philosopher of the whole province, and consequently of the whole world.
One day Cunegonda, while walking near the castle in a little wood which they called a park, saw between the bushes Dr. Pangloss giving a lesson in experimental natural philosophy to her mother's chambermaid, a little brown wench, very pretty and very docile. As Miss Cunegonda had a great disposition for the sciences, she breathlessly observed the repeated experiments of which she was a witness. She clearly perceived the force of the doctor's reasons, the effects, and the causes. She turned back, greatly flurried, quite pensive, and filled with the desire to be learned, dreaming that she might well be a sufficient reason for young Candide, and he for her. She met Candide on reaching the castle, and blushed.
Candide blushed also. She wished him good morrow in a faltering tone, and Candide spoke to her without knowing what he said. The next day after dinner, as they went from table, Cunegonda and Candide found themselves behind a screen. Cunegonda let fall her handkerchief. Candide picked it up. She took him innocently by the hand. The youth as innocently kissed the young lady's hand with particular vivacity, sensibility, and grace. Their lips met. Their eyes sparkled. Their knees trembled, their hands strayed. Barren Thunder Tin Tronk passed near the screen, and beholding this cause and effect chased Candide from the castle with great kicks on the backside. Cunagonda fainted away. She was boxed on the ears by the Baroness as soon as she came to herself.
And all was consternation in this most magnificent and most agreeable of all possible castles.
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3 Chapter 02 5:50
Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Two What Became of Candide Among the Bulgarians? Candide, driven from terrestrial paradise, walked a long while without knowing where, weeping, raising his eyes to heaven, turning them often towards the most magnificent of castles which imprisoned the purest of noble young ladies, He lay down to sleep without supper in the middle of a field between two furrows. The snow fell in large flakes. Next day, Candide, all benumbed, dragged himself towards the neighboring town, which was called Waldberghof Traabdickdorf. Having no money, dying of hunger and fatigue, he stopped sorrowfully at the door of an inn. Two men dressed in blue observed him. Comrade, said one, Here is a well-built young fellow, and of proper height.
They went up to Candide, and very civilly invited him to dinner. "'Gentlemen,' replied Candide, with a most engaging modesty, "'you do me great honor, but I have not wherewithal to pay my share.' "'Oh, sir,' said one of the Blues to him, "'people of your appearance and of your merit never pay anything. Are you not five feet five inches high?' "'Yes, sir, that is my height,' answered he, making a low bow. "'Come, sir, seat yourself. Not only will we pay your reckoning, but we will never suffer such a man as you to want money. Men are only born to assist one another.' "'You are right,' said Candide. "'This is what I was always taught by Dr. Pangloss, and I see plainly that all is for the best.' They begged of him to accept a few crowns.
He took them, and wished to give them his note. They refused. They seated themselves at table. "'Love you not deeply?' "'Oh, yes,' answered he. "'I deeply love Miss Cunegonda.' "'No,' said one of the gentlemen. "'We ask you if you do not deeply love the king of the Bulgarians.' "'Not at all,' said he, "'for I have never seen him.' What? He is the best of kings, and we must drink his health. Oh, very willingly, gentlemen. And he drank. That is enough, they tell him. Now you are the help, the support, the defender, the hero of the Bulgarians. Your fortune is made, and your glory is assured. Instantly they fettered him and carried him away to the regiment. There he was made to wheel about to the right and to the left, to draw his rammer, to return his rammer, to present, to fire, to march, and they gave him thirty blows with a cudgel.
The next day he did his exercise a little less badly, and he received but twenty blows. The day following they gave him only ten, and he was regarded by his comrades as a prodigy. Candide, all stupefied, could not yet very well realize how he was a hero. He resolved one fine day in spring to go for a walk, marching straight before him, believing that it was a privilege of the human, as well as of the animal species, to make use of their legs as they pleased. He had advanced two leagues when he was overtaken by four others, heroes of six feet, who bound him and carried him to a dungeon. He was asked which he would like the best, to be whipped six-and-thirty times through all the regiment, or to receive at once twelve balls of lead in his brain.
He vainly said that human will is free, and that he chose neither the one nor the other. He was forced to make a choice. He determined, in virtue of that gift of God called liberty, to run the gauntlet six-and-thirty times. He bore this twice. The regiment was composed of two thousand men, that composed for him four thousand strokes, which laid bare all his muscles and nerves, from the nape of his neck quite down to his rump. As they were going to proceed to a third whipping, Candide, able to bear no more, begged as a favor that they would be so good as to shoot him. He obtained this favor, They bandaged his eyes and bade him kneel down. The king of the Bulgarians passed at this moment, and ascertained the nature of the crime.
As he had great talent, he understood from all that he learnt of Candide that he was a young metaphysician, extremely ignorant of the things of this world, and he accorded him his pardon with a clemency which will bring him praise in all the journals, and throughout all ages. An able surgeon cured Candide in three weeks by means of emollients taught by Dioscorides. He had already a little skin, and was able to march when the king of the Bulgarians gave battle to the king. King of the Abares. Candide by Voltaire.
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4 Chapter 03 5:39
Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Three. How Candide made his escape from the Bulgarians, and what afterwards became of him? There was never anything so gallant, so spruce, so brilliant, and so well disposed as the two armies, trumpets, fifes, Hotboys, drums, and cannon made music such as hell itself had never heard. The cannons, first of all, laid flat about six thousand men on each side. The muskets swept away from this best of worlds nine or ten thousand ruffians who infested its surface. The bayonet was also a sufficient reason for the death of several thousands. The whole might amount to thirty thousand souls. Candide, who trembled like a philosopher, hid himself as well as he could during this heroic butchery.
At length, while the two kings were causing Te Deum to be sung each in his own camp, Candide resolved to go and reason elsewhere on effects and causes. He passed over heaps of dead and dying, and first reached a neighboring village. It was in Cinders. It was an Abare village, which the Bulgarians had burnt according to the laws of war. Here, old men, covered with wounds, beheld their wives, hugging their children to their bloody breasts, massacred before their faces, there their daughters disemboweled and breathing their last after having satisfied the natural wants of Bulgarian heroes, while others, half burnt in the flames, begged to be dispatched, The earth was strewn with brains, arms, and legs.
Candide fled quickly to another village. It belonged to the Bulgarians, and the Ibarian heroes had treated it in the same way. Candide, walking always over palpitating limbs or across ruins, arrived at last beyond the seat of war, with a few provisions in his knapsack, and Miss Cunegonda always in his heart. His provisions failed him when he arrived in Holland, but having heard that everybody was rich in that country, and that they were Christians, he did not doubt but he should meet with the same treatment from them as he had met with in the Baron's Castle, before Miss Cunegonda's bright eyes were the cause of his expulsion thence. He asked alms of several grave-looking people, who all answered him that if he continued to follow this trade, they would confine him to the House of Correction, where he should be taught to get a living.
The next he addressed was a man who had been haranguing a large assembly for a whole hour on the subject of charity. But the orator, looking askew, said, "'What are you doing here? Are you for the good cause?' "'There can be no effect without a cause,' modestly answered Candide. "'The whole is necessarily concatenated and arranged for the best. It was necessary for me to have been banished from the presence of Miss Cunegonda, to have afterwards run the gauntlet, and now it is necessary I should beg my bread until I learn to earn it. All this cannot be otherwise.' "'My friend,' said the orator to him, "'do you believe the pope to be the Antichrist?' "'I have not heard it,' answered Candide. "'But whether he be or whether he be not, I want bread.' "'Thou dost not deserve to eat,' said the other.
"'Begone, rogue, begone, wretch! Do not come near me again!' The orator's wife, putting her head out of the window and spying a man that doubted whether the Pope was the Antichrist, poured over him a full—oh, heavens, to what excess does religious zeal carry the ladies? A man who had never been christened, a good anabaptist named James, beheld the cruel and ignominious treatment shown to one of his brethren, an unfeathered biped with a rational soul, He took him home, cleaned him, gave him bread and beer, presented him with two florins, and even wished to teach him the manufacture of Persian stuffs which they make in Holland. Candide, almost prostrating himself before him, cried, Master Pangloss has well said that all is for the best in this world, for I am infinitely more touched by your extreme generosity than with the inhumanity of that gentleman in the black coat and his lady.
The next day, as he took a walk, he met a beggar all covered with scabs, his eyes diseased, the end of his nose eaten away. His mouth distorted, his teeth black, choking in his throat, tormented with a violent cough, and spitting out a tooth at each effort. End of chapter three. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Ted. in Fort Mill, South Carolina during January 2007.
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5 Chapter 04 8:22
Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Four. How Candide found his old master Pangloss, and what happened to them? Candide, yet more moved with compassion than with horror, gave to this shocking beggar the two florins which he had received from the honest Anabaptist James. The spectre looked at him very earnestly, Dropped a few tears and fell upon his neck. Candide recoiled in disgust. "'Alas,' said one wretch to the other, "'do you no longer know your dear Pangloss?' "'What do I hear? You, my dear master, you in this terrible plight?' What misfortune has happened to you? Why are you no longer in the most magnificent of castles? What has become of Miss Cunegonda, the pearl of girls and nature's masterpiece?
I am so weak that I cannot stand, said Pangloss, upon which Candide carried him to the Anabaptists' stable, and gave him a crust of bread. As soon as Pangloss had refreshed himself a little, well, said Candide, Cunegonda? She is dead, replied the other. Candide fainted at this word. His friend recalled his senses with a little bad vinegar, which he found by chance in the stable. Candide reopened his eyes. Cunegonda is dead. Ah, best of worlds, where art thou? But of what illness did she die? Was it not for grief upon seeing her father kick me out of his magnificent castle? "'No,' said Pangloss. "'She was ripped open by the Bulgarian soldiers. After having been violated by many, they broke the Baron's head for attempting to defend her.
My lady, her mother, was cut in pieces. My poor pupil was served just in the same manner as his sister. But as for the castles, they have not left one stone upon another.' Not a barn, not a sheep, nor a duck, nor a tree. But we have had our revenge, for the Abares have done the very same thing to a neighboring barony, which belonged to a Bulgarian lord. At this discourse, Candide fainted again, but coming to himself, and having said all that it became him to say, inquired into the cause and effect, As well as into the sufficient reason that had reduced Pangloss to so miserable a plight. "'Alas,' said the other, "'it was love. Love, the comfort of the human species, the preserver of the universe, the soul of all sensible things.
Love, tender love.' "'Alas,' said Candide, "'I know this love.' That sovereign of hearts, that soul of our souls. Yet it never cost me more than a kiss and twenty kicks on the backside. How could this beautiful cause produce in you an effect so abominable? Pangloss made answer in these terms. Oh, my dear Candide, you remember, Paquette, that pretty wench who waited on our noble baroness? In her arms I tasted the delights of Paradise, which produced in me those hell torments with which you see me devoured. She was infected with them. She is perhaps dead of them. This present Parquet received of a learned grey friar, who had traced it to its source. He had had it of an old countess, who had received it from a cavalry captain.
who owed it to a marchioness, who took it from a page, who had received it from a Jesuit, who, in a novice, had it in a direct line from one of the companions of Christopher Columbus. For my part, I shall give it to nobody. I am dying. Oh, Pangloss, cried Candide, what a strange genealogy! Is not the devil the original stock of it? Not at all, replied this great man. It was a thing unavoidable, a necessary ingredient in the best of worlds. For if Columbus had not, in an island of America, caught this disease, which contaminates the source of life, frequently even hinders generation, and which is evidently opposed to the great end of nature, we should have neither chocolate nor cochineal. We are to observe that upon our continent, This distemper is like religious controversy, confined to a particular spot.
The Turks, the Indians, the Persians, the Chinese, the Siamese, the Japanese, know nothing of it. But there is a sufficient reason for believing that they will know it in their turn in a few centuries. In the meantime, it has made marvelous progress among us. Especially in those great armies composed of honest, well-disciplined hirelings who decide the destiny of states. For we may safely affirm that, when an army of thirty thousand men fights another of an equal number, there are about twenty thousand of them poxed on each side.
This is wonderful," said Candide, but you must get cured. "'Alas, how can I?' said Pangloss. "'I have not a farthing, my friend, and all over the globe there is no letting of blood or taking a glister without paying, or somebody paying for you.'" These last words determined Candide. He went and flung himself at the feet of the charitable Anabaptist James, and gave him so touching a picture of the state to which his friend was reduced, that the good man did not scruple to take Dr. Pangloss into his house, and had him cured at his expense. In the cure, Pangloss lost only an eye and an ear. He wrote well and knew arithmetic perfectly. The Anabaptist James made him his bookkeeper. At the end of two months, being obliged to go to Lisbon about some mercantile affairs, he took the two philosophers with him in his ship.
Pangloss explained to him how everything was so constituted that it could not be better. James was not of this opinion. It is more likely, said he, Mankind have a little corrupted nature, for they were not born wolves, and they have become wolves. God has given them neither cannon of four-and-twenty pounders nor bayonets, and yet they have made cannon and bayonets to destroy one another. Into this account I might throw not only bankrupts, but justice which seizes on the effects of bankrupts, to cheat the creditors. All this was indispensable, replied the One-Eyed Doctor, for private misfortunes make the general good. So that the more private misfortunes there are, the greater is the general good.
While he reasoned, the sky darkened, the winds blew from the four quarters, and the ship was assailed by a most terrible tempest within sight of the port of Lisbon.
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6 Chapter 05 6:34
Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Five Tempest Shipwreck Earthquake and What Became of Dr. Pangloss, Candide, and James the Anabaptist. Half dead of that inconceivable anguish which the rolling of a ship produces, one half of the passengers were not even sensible of the danger. The other half shrieked and prayed. The sheets were rent, the masts broken, the vessel gaped. Work who would? No one heard, no one commanded. The Anabaptist, being upon deck, bore a hand. When a brutish sailor struck him roughly and laid him sprawling, but with the violence of the blow he himself tumbled head foremost overboard and stuck upon a piece of the broken mast. Honest James ran to his assistance, hauled him up, And from the effort he made was precipitated into the sea in sight of the sailor, who left him to perish, without deigning to look at him.
Candide drew near and saw his benefactor, who rose above the water one moment and was then swallowed up forever. He was just going to jump after him, but was prevented by the philosopher Pangloss, who demonstrated to him that the Bay of Lisbon had been made on purpose for the Anabaptist to be drowned. While he was proving this a priori, the ship foundered. All perished except Pangloss, Candide, and that brutal sailor who had drowned the good Anabaptist. The villain swam safely to the shore, while Pangloss and Candide were borne thither upon a plank. As soon as they recovered themselves a little, they walked towards Lisbon. They had some money left. With which they hoped to save themselves from starving after they had escaped drowning.
Scarcely had they reached the city, lamenting the death of their benefactor, when they felt the earth tremble under their feet. The sea swelled and foamed in the harbor, and beat to pieces the vessels riding at anchor. Whirlwinds of fire and ashes covered the streets and public places. Houses fell, roofs were flung upon the pavements, and the pavements were scattered. Thirty thousand inhabitants of all ages and sexes were crushed under the ruins. The sailor, whistling and swearing, said there was booty to be gained here. What can be the sufficient reason of this phenomenon, said Pangloss? "'This is the last day,' cried Candide. The sailor ran among the ruins, facing death, to find money. Finding it, he took it, got drunk, and having slept himself sober, purchased the favors of the first good-natured wench whom he met on the ruins of the destroyed houses.
And in the midst of the dying and the dead, Pangloss pulled him by the sleeve. "'My friend,' he said, "'this is not right.' "'You sin against the universal reason. You choose your time badly.' "'Splod and fury,' answered the other. "'I am a sailor and born in Batavia. Four times have I trampled upon the crucifix in four voyages to Japan. A fig for thy universal reason.' Some falling stones had wounded Candide. He lay stretched in the street, covered with rubbish. "'Alas,' he said to Pangloss, Get me a little wine and oil. I am dying." "'This concussion of the earth is no new thing,' answered Pangloss. "'The city of Lima in America experienced the same convulsions last year, the same cause, the same effects.
There is certainly a train of sulphur underground from Lima to Lisbon.' "'Nothing more probable,' said Candide. "'But for the love of God, a little oil and wine?' How probable, replied the philosopher. I maintain that the point is capable of being demonstrated. Candide fainted away, and Pangloss fetched him some water from a neighboring fountain. The following day they rummaged among the ruins and found provisions with which they repaired their exhausted strength. After this they joined with others in relieving those inhabitants who had escaped death. Some, whom they had succored, gave them as good a dinner as they could in such disastrous circumstances. True, the repast was mournful, and the company moistened their bread with tears, but Pangloss consoled them, assuring them that things could not be otherwise.
For, he said, all that is, is for the best. If there is a volcano at Lisbon, it cannot be elsewhere. It is impossible that things should be other than they are, for everything is right. A little man dressed in black, familiar of the Inquisition, who sat by him, politely took up his word, and said, Apparently, then, sir, you do not believe in original sin, for if all is for the best, there has been neither fall nor punishment. "'I humbly ask your excellency's pardon,' answered Pangloss, still more politely, "'for the fall and curse of man necessarily entered into the system of the best of worlds.' "'Sir,' said the familiar, "'you do not then believe in liberty?' "'Your excellency will excuse me,' said Pangloss.
"'Liberty is consistent with absolute necessity. For it was necessary we should be free.' For, in short, the determinate will— Pangloss was in the middle of his sentence when the familiar beckoned to his footman, who gave him a glass of wine from Porto or Oporto.
This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire. Read by Ted DeLorme in Fort Mill, S.C. in January 2007.
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7 Chapter 06 3:28
Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Six How the Portugese made a beautiful auto-da-fay to prevent any further earthquakes, and how Candide was publicly whipped. After the earthquake had destroyed three-fourths of Lisbon, the sages of that country could think of no means more effectual to prevent utter ruin than to give the people a beautiful auto-da-fay. For it had been decided by the University of Coimbra that the burning of a few people alive by a slow fire and with great ceremony is an infallible secret to hinder the earth from quaking. In consequence hereof, they had seized on a biscayner convicted of having married his godmother, and on two Portuguese for rejecting the bacon which larded a chicken they were eating.
After dinner they came and secured Dr. Pangloss and his disciple Candide, the one for speaking his mind, the other for having listened with an air of approbation. They were conducted to separate apartments, extremely cold, as they were never incommoded by the sun. Eight days after, they were dressed in sanbenitos, and their heads ornamented with paper mitres. The mitre and sanbenito, belonging to Candide, were painted with reversed flames, and with devils that had neither tails nor claws. But Pangloss's devils had claws and tails, and the flames were upright. They marched in procession thus habited, and heard a very pathetic sermon, followed by fine church music. Candide was whipped in cadence while they were singing, the Biscayner and the two men who had refused to eat bacon were burnt, and Pangloss was hanged, though that was not the custom.
The same day the earth sustained a most violent concussion. Candide, terrified, amazed, desperate, all bloody, all palpitating, said to himself, If this is the best of possible worlds, what then are the others? Well, if I had been only whipped, I could put up with it, for I experienced that among the Bulgarians. But, O my dear Pangloss, thou greatest of philosophers, that I should have seen you hanged without knowing. For what? O my dear Anabaptist, thou best of men, That thou shouldst have been drowned in the very harbor. Oh, Miss Coonagonda, thou pearl of girls, that thou shouldst have had thy belly ripped open. Thus he was musing, scarce able to stand, preached at, whipped, absolved, and blessed, when an old woman accosted him, saying, My son, take courage and follow me.
End of chapter six.
Please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire. Recorded by Ted DeLorme in Fort Mill, South Carolina, during January 2007.
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8 Chapter 07 5:01
Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Seven. How the old woman took care of Candide, and how he found the object he loved. Candide did not take courage, but followed the old woman to a decayed house, where she gave him a pot of pomatum to anoint his sores, showed him a very neat little bed, with a suit of clothes hanging up, and left him something to eat and drink. Eat, drink, sleep," said she, and may our Lady of Atocha, the great Saint Anthony of Padua, and the great Saint James of Compostela, receive you under their protection. I shall be back to-morrow. Candide, amazed at all he had suffered, and still more with the charity of the old woman, wished to kiss her hand. "'It is not my hand you must kiss,' said the old woman.
I shall be back to-morrow. Anoint yourself with the palmatum. Eat and sleep. Candide, notwithstanding so many disasters, ate and slept. The next morning the old woman brought him his breakfast, looked at his back, and rubbed it herself with another ointment. In like manner she brought him his dinner, and at night she returned with his supper. The day following she went through the very same ceremonies. "'Who are you?' said Candide. "'Who has inspired you with so much goodness? What return can I make you?' The good woman made no answer. She returned in the evening, but brought no supper. "'Come with me,' she said, "'and say nothing.' She took him by the arm, and walked with him about a quarter of a mile into the country.
They arrived at a lonely house, surrounded with gardens and canals. The old woman knocked at a little door. It opened. She led Candide up a private staircase into a small apartment, richly furnished. She left him on a brocaded sofa, shut the door, and went away. Candide thought himself in a dream, indeed, that he had been dreaming unluckily all his life, and that the present moment was the only agreeable part of it all. The old woman returned very soon, supporting with difficulty a trembling woman of a majestic figure, brilliant with jewels and covered with a veil. Take off that veil, said the old woman to Candide. The young man approaches. He raises the veil with a timid hand. Oh, what a moment!
What surprise! He believes he beholds Miss Cunegonda? He really sees her. It is herself! His strength fails him. He cannot utter a word, but drops at her feet. Kunagonda falls upon the sofa. The old woman supplies a smelling-bottle. They come to themselves and recover their speech, as they began with broken accents, with questions and answers interchangeably interrupted with sighs, with tears and cries. The old woman desired they would make less noise, and then she left them to themselves. What? Is it you? said Candide. You live? I find you again in Portugal. Then you have not been ravished? Then they did not rip open your belly, as Dr. Pangloss informed me? Yes, they did, said the beautiful Cunegonda.
But those two accidents are not always mortal. But were your father and mother killed? It is but true, answered Cunegonda in tears. And your brother? My brother was also killed. And why are you in Portugal? And how did you know of my being here? And by what strange adventure did you contrive to bring me to this house? I will tell you all that, replied the lady. But first of all, let me know your history, since the innocent kiss you gave me and the kicks which you received. Candide respectfully obeyed her, and though he was still in a surprise, though his voice was feeble and trembling, though his back still pained him, yet he gave her a most ingenuous account of everything that had befallen him since the moment of their separation.
Cunegonda lifted up her eyes to heaven, shed tears upon hearing of the death of the good Anabaptist and of Pangloss, after which she spoke as follows to Candide, who did not lose a word, and devoured her with his eyes.
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Candied by Voltaire. Chapter Eight. The History of Cunegonda. I was in bed, fast asleep, when it pleased God to send the Bulgarians to our delightful castle of Thunder Tintrunk. They slew my father and brother, and cut my mother in pieces. A tall Bulgarian, six feet high, perceiving that I had fainted away at this sight, began to ravish me. This made me recover. I regained my senses. I cried, I struggled, I bit, I scratched. I wanted to tear out the tall Bulgarian's eyes, not knowing that what happened at my father's house was the usual practice of war. The brute gave me a cut in the left side with his hanger, and the mark is still upon me. Ah, I hope I shall see it, said honest Candide. You shall, said Cuneganda.
But let us continue. Do so, replied Candide. Thus she resumed the thread of her story. A Bulgarian captain came in, saw me all bleeding, and the soldier not in the least disconcerted. The captain flew into a passion at the disrespectful behavior of the brute, and slew him on my body. He ordered my wounds to be dressed, and took me to his quarters as a prisoner of war. I washed the few shirts that he had. I did his cooking. He thought me... Very pretty. He avowed it. On the other hand, I must own he had a good shape, and a soft and white skin, but he had little or no mind or philosophy, and you might see plainly that he had never been instructed by Dr. Pangloss. In three months' time, having lost all his money, and being grown tired of my company, he sold me to a Jew named Don Issachar, who traded to Holland and Portugal, and had a strong passion for women.
This Jew was much attached to my person, but could not triumph over it. I resisted him better than the Bulgarian soldier. A modest woman may be ravished once, but her virtue is strengthened by it. In order to render me more tractable, he brought me to his country house. Hitherto I had imagined that nothing could equal the beauty of Thunder Tintronk Castle, but I found I was mistaken. The Grand Inquisitor, seeing me one day at Mass, stared long at me, and sent to tell me that he wished to speak on private matters. I was conducted to his palace, where I acquainted him with the history of my family, and he represented to me how much it was beneath my rank to belong to an Israelite. A proposal was then made to Don Issachar that he should resign me to my lord.
Don Issachar, being the court banker and a man of credit, would hear nothing of it. The Inquisitor threatened him with an auto de fe. At last my Jew, intimidated, concluded a bargain by which the house and myself should belong to both in common. The Jew should have for himself Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, and the Inquisitor should have the rest of the week. It is now six months since this agreement was made. Quarrels have not been wanting, for they could not decide whether the night from Saturday to Sunday belonged to the old law or to the new. For my part, I have so far held out against both, and I verily believe that this is the reason why I am still beloved. At length, to avert the scourge of earthquakes, and to intimidate Don Issacar, my Lord Inquisitor was pleased to celebrate an auto da fe.
He did me the honor to invite me to the ceremony. I had a very good seat, and the ladies were served with refreshments between Mass and the execution. I was, in truth, seized with horror at the burning of those two Jews, and of the honest Biscayner who had married his godmother. But what was my surprise, my fright, my trouble, when I saw in a sanbenito and mitre a figure which resembled that of Pangloss? I rubbed my eyes. I looked at him attentively. I saw him hung. I fainted. Scarcely had I recovered my senses that I saw you stripped, stark naked, and this was the height of my horror, consternation, grief, and despair. I tell you truthfully that your skin is yet whiter and of a more perfect color than that of my Bulgarian captain.
This spectacle redoubled all the feelings which overwhelmed and devoured me. I screamed out, and would have said, Stop, barbarians! But my voice failed me, and my cries would have been useless after you had been severely whipped. How is it possible, said I, that the beloved Candide and the wise Pangloss should both be at Lisbon? The one to receive a hundred lashes, and the other to be hanged by the Grand Inquisitor, of whom I am the well-beloved. Pangloss most cruelly deceived me when he said that everything in the world is for the best. Agitated, lost, sometimes beside myself, and sometimes ready to die of weakness, my mind was filled with the massacre of my father, mother, and brother. With the insolence of the ugly Bulgarian soldier, with the stab that he gave me, with my servitude under the Bulgarian captain, with my hideous Don Issachar, with my abominable Inquisitor, with the execution of Dr.
Pangloss, with the grand miserere to which they whipped you, and especially with the kiss I gave you behind the screen the day that I had last seen you. I praised God for bringing you back to me after so many trials, and I charged my old woman to take care of you, and to conduct you hither as soon as possible. She has executed her commission perfectly well. I have tasted the inexpressible pleasure of seeing you again, of hearing you, of speaking with you. But you must be hungry, for myself I am famished. Let us have supper. They both sat down to table, and when supper was over, they placed themselves once more on the sofa, where they were when Signor Don Issachar arrived. It was the Jewish Sabbath, and Issachar had come to enjoy his rites, and to explain his tender love.
End chapter 8. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Nine What Became of Cunegonda Candide, the Grand Inquisitor and the Jew. This Issachar was the most choleric Hebrew that had ever been seen in Israel since the captivity in Babylon. What, said he, thou bitch of a Galilean, was not the inquisitor enough for thee? Must this rascal also share with me? In saying this he drew a long poniard which he always carried about him, and, not imagining that his adversary had any arms, he threw himself upon Candide. But our honest Westphalian had received a handsome sword from the old woman, along with the suit of clothes. He drew his rapier, despite his gentleness, and laid the Israelite stone dead upon the cushions at Cunegonde's feet.
Holy Virgin, cried she, what will become of us? A man killed in my apartment? If the officers of justice come, we are lost. Had not Pangloss been hanged, said Cangeide, he would have given us good counsel in this emergency, for he was a profound philosopher. Failing him, let us consult the old woman. She was very prudent, and commenced to give her opinion, when suddenly another little door opened. It was an hour after midnight. It was the beginning of Sunday. This day belonged to my lord the inquisitor. He entered, and saw the whipped Candide, sword in hand, a dead man on the floor, Cunegonda aghast, and the old woman giving counsel. At this moment the following is what passed in the soul of Candide, and how he reasoned.
If this holy man call in assistance, he will surely have me burnt, and Cunegonda will perhaps be served in the same manner. He was the cause of my being cruelly whipped. He is my rival, and, as I have now begun to kill, I will kill away, for there is no time to hesitate. This reasoning was clear and instantaneous, so that without giving time to the inquisitor to recover from his surprise, he pierced him through and through, and cast him beside the Jew. Yet again, said Cunegonda. Now there is no mercy for us. We are excommunicated. Our last hour has come. How could you do it, you, naturally so gentle, to slay a Jew and a prelate in two minutes? My beautiful young lady, responded Candide, when one is a lover, jealous and whipped by the Inquisition, one stops at nothing.
The old woman then put in her word, saying, There are three Andalusian horses in the stable, with bridles and saddles. Let the brave Candide get them ready. Madam has money, jewels. Let us therefore mount quickly on horseback, though I can sit only on one buttock. Let us set out for Cadiz. It is the finest weather in the world, and there is great pleasure in travelling in the cool of the night. Immediately, Candide saddled the three horses, and Coonagonda, the old woman, and he traveled thirty miles at a stretch. While they were journeying, the Holy Brotherhood entered the house. My Lord the Inquisitor was interred in a handsome church, and Issachar's body was thrown upon a dunghill. Candide, Cunegonda, and the old woman had now reached the little town of Avacenna in the midst of the mountains of the Sierra Morena, and were speaking as follows in a public inn.
Chapter Nine.
Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 10. In what distress, Candide, Cunegonda, and the old woman arrived at Cadiz, and of their embarkation. Who was it that robbed me of my money and jewels? said Cunegonda, all bathed in tears. How shall we live? What shall we do? Where find inquisitors or Jews who will give me more? "'Alas,' said the old woman, "'I have a shrewd suspicion of a reverend grey friar who stayed last night in the same inn with us at Badagos. God preserve me from judging rashly, but he came into our room twice, and he set out upon his journey long before us.' "'Alas,' said Candide, "'dear Pangloss has often demonstrated to me that the goods of this world are common to all men.' And that each has an equal right to them.
But according to these principles, the grey friar ought to have left us enough to carry us through our journey. Have you nothing at all left, my dear Cunegonda? Not a farthing, said she. What, then, must we do, said Candide? Sail one of the horses, replied the old woman. I will ride behind Miss Cunegonda, although I can hold myself only on one buttock, and we shall reach Cadiz. In the same inn there was a Benedictine prior who bought the horse for a cheap price. Candide, Cunegonda, and the old woman, having passed through Lucena, Chilas, and Lebrixa, arrived at length in Cadiz. A fleet was there getting ready, and troops assembling to bring to reason the reverend Jesuit fathers of Paraguay, accused of having made one of the native tribes in the neighborhood of San Sacrament revolt against the kings of Spain and Portugal.
Candide, having been in the Bulgarian service, performed the military exercise before the general of this little army with so graceful an address, with so intrepid an air, and with such agility and expedition, that he was given the command of a company afoot. Now he was a captain. He set sail with Miss Cunegonda, the old woman, two valets, and the two Andalusian horses, which had belonged to the Grand Inquisitor of Portugal. During their voyage, they reasoned a good deal on the philosophy of poor Pangloss. "'We are going into another world,' said Candide, "'and surely it must be there that all is for the best. For I must confess, there is reason to complain a little of what passeth in our world in regard to both natural and moral philosophy.' "'I love you with all my heart,' said Cunegonda.
But my soul is still full of fright at that which I have seen and experienced. "'All will be well,' replied Candide. "'The sea of this new world is already better than our European sea. It is calmer, the winds more regular. It is certainly the new world which is the best of all possible worlds.' "'God grant it,' said Cunegonda. "'But I have been so horribly unhappy there that my heart is almost closed to hope.' "'You complain,' said the old woman. "'Alas, you have not known such misfortunes as mine.' Cunegonda almost broke out laughing, finding the good woman very amusing for pretending to have been as unfortunate as she. "'Alas,' said Cunegonda, "'my good mother, unless you have been ravished by two Bulgarians, have received two deep wounds in your belly, have had two castles demolished, have had two mothers cut to pieces before your eyes, and two of your lovers whipped at an auto-de-fae, I do not conceive how you could be more unfortunate than I.' Add that I was born a baroness of seventy-two quarterings, and have been a cook.
"'Miss,' replied the old woman, "'you do not know my birth, and were I to show you my backside, you would not talk in that manner, but would suspend your judgment.' This speech having raised extreme curiosity in the minds of Cunegonda and Candide, the old woman spoke to them as follows.
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I hate not always bleared eyes and red eyelids. Neither did my nose always touch my chin. Nor was I always a servant. I am the daughter of Pope Urban X, and of the Princess of Palestrina. Until the age of fourteen I was brought up in a palace, to which all the castles of your German barons would scarcely have served for stables, and one of my robes was worth more than all the magnificence of Westphalia. As I grew up, I improved in beauty, wit, and every graceful accomplishment, in the midst of pleasures, hopes, and respectful homage. Already I inspired love. My throat was formed, and such a throat, white, firm, shaped like that of the Venus of Medici. And what eyes, what eyelids, what black eyebrows, such flames darted from my dark pupils that they eclipsed the scintillation of the stars.
As I was told by the poets in our part of the world, my waiting women, when dressing and undressing me, used to fall into an ecstasy, whether they viewed me before or behind. How glad would a gentleman have been to perform that office for them. I was affianced to the most excellent prince of Masa Carrara. Such a prince! As handsome as myself, sweet-tempered, agreeable, brilliantly witty, and sparkling with love. I loved him as one loves for the first time, with idolatry, with transport. The nuptials were prepared. There was surprising pomp and magnificence. There were feats, carousels, continual opera boeufs, and all Italy composed sonnets in my praise, though not one of them was passable. I was just upon the point of reaching the summit of bliss when an old marchioness who had been mistress to the prince, my husband, invited him to drink chocolate with her.
He died in less than two hours of most terrible convulsions, but this is only a bagatelle. My mother, in despair, and scarcely less afflicted than myself, determined to absent herself for some time from so fatal a place. She had a very fine estate in the neighborhood of Gaeta. We embarked on board a galley of the country, which was gilded like the great altar of St. Peter's at Rome. A salleic corsair swooped down and boarded us. Our men defended themselves like the Pope's soldiers. They flung themselves upon their knees and threw down their arms, begging of the corsair an absolution in articulo mortis. Instantly they were stripped as bare as monkeys. My mother, our maids of honor, and myself were all served in the same manner.
It is amazing with what expedition those gentry undress people. But what surprised me most was that they thrust their fingers into the part of our bodies which the generality of women suffered no other instrument but pipes to enter. It appeared to me a very strange kind of ceremony, but thus one judges of things when one has not seen the world. I afterwards learned that it was to try whether we had concealed any diamonds. This is the practice established from time immemorial among civilized nations that scour the seas. I was informed that the very religious knights of Malta never fail to make this search when they take any Turkish prisoners of either sex. It is a law of nations, from which they never deviate.
I need not tell you how great a hardship it was for a young princess and her mother to be made slaves and carried to Morocco. You may easily imagine all we had to suffer on board the pirate vessel. My mother was still very handsome. Our maids of honor and even our waiting women had more charms than are to be found in all Africa. As for myself, I was ravishing. Was exquisite grace itself. And I was a virgin. I did not remain so long. This flower, which had been reserved for the handsome prince of Massa Carrara, was plucked by the corsair captain. He was an abominable negro, and yet believed that he did me a great deal of honor. Certainly the princess of Palestrina and myself must have been very strong to go through all that we experienced until our arrival in Morocco.
But let us pass on. These are such common things as not to be worth mentioning. Morocco swam in blood when we arrived. Fifty sons of the Emperor Mule Ismail had each their adherents. This produced fifty civil wars, of blacks against blacks, and blacks against tawnees, and tawnees against tawnees, and mulattoes against mulattoes. In short, it was a continual carnage throughout the empire. No sooner were we landed than the blacks of a contrary faction to that of my captain attempted to rob him of his booty. Next to jewels and gold, we were the most valuable things he had. I was witness to such a battle as you have never seen in your European climates. The northern nations have not that heat in their blood, nor that raging lust for women so common in Africa.
It seems that you Europeans have only milk in your veins, but it is vitriol, it is fire, which runs in those of the inhabitants of Mount Atlas and the neighboring countries. They fought with the fury of the lions, tigers, and serpents of the country to see who should have us. A moor seized my mother by the right arm, while my captain's lieutenant hailed her by the left. A moorish soldier had hold of her by one leg, and one of our courcelles hailed her by the other. Thus almost all our women were drawn in quarters by four men. My captain concealed me behind him, and with his drawn scimitar cut and slashed every one that opposed his fury. At length I saw all our Italian women, and my mother herself, torn, mangled, massacred by the monsters who disputed over them, the slaves, my companions, those who had taken them, soldiers, sailors, blacks, whites, mulattoes, and at last, my captain, all were killed.
And I remained dying on a heap of dead. Such sins as this were transacted through an extent of three hundred leagues, and yet they never missed the five prayers a day ordained by Mohammed. With difficulty I disengaged myself from such a heap of slaughtered bodies, and crawled to a large orange tree on the bank of a neighboring ribulet, where I fell. Oppressed with fright, fatigue, horror, despair, and hunger, immediately after, my senses, overpowered, gave themselves up to sleep, which was yet more swooning than repose. I was in this state of weakness and insensibility between life and death when I felt myself pressed by something that moved upon my body. I opened my eyes. And saw a white man of good countenance who sighed and who said between his teeth, Oce siagura de sere senza coglioni.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 12. The Adventures of the Old Woman Continued. Astonished and delighted to hear my native language, and no less surprised at what this man said, I made answer that there were much greater misfortunes than that of which he complained. I told him in a few words of the horrors which I had endured, and fainted a second time. He carried me to a neighboring house, put me to bed, gave me food, waited on me, consoled me, flattered me. He told me that he had never seen me. He had not seen anyone so beautiful as I, and that he never so much regretted the loss of what it was impossible to recover. I was born at Naples, said he. There they gild two or three thousand children every year.
Some die of the operation, others acquire a voice more beautiful than that of women, and others are raised to offices of state. This operation was performed on me with great success, and I was chapel musician to Madame, the Princess of Palestrina. "'To my mother?' cried I. "'Your mother?' cried he, weeping. "'What? Can you be that young princess whom I brought up until the age of six years, and who promised so early to be as beautiful as you?' "'It is I, indeed, but—' My mother lies four hundred yards hence, torn in quarters under a heap of dead bodies. I told him all my adventures, and he made me acquainted with his, telling me that he had been sent to the Emperor of Morocco by a Christian power.
To conclude a treaty with that prince, in consequence of which he was to be furnished with military stores and ships to help to demolish the commerce of other Christian governments. My mission is done," said the honest eunuch. "'I go to embark for Guita, and I will take you to Italy, Marches Iagura de Ceres in the Corpione.' I thanked him with tears of commiseration. And instead of taking me to Italy, he conducted me to Algiers, where he sold me to the day. Scarcely was I sold, and the plague which had made the tour of Africa, Asia, and Europe broke out with great malignancy in Algiers. You have seen earthquakes, but pray, miss, have you ever seen the plague? Never, answered Cunegonda. If you had.
said the old woman. You would acknowledge that it is far more terrible than an earthquake. It is common in Africa, and I caught it. Imagine to yourself the distressed situation of the daughter of a pope, only fifteen years old, who in less than three months had felt the miseries of poverty and slavery. Had been ravished almost every day, had beheld her mother drawn in quarters, had experienced famine and war, and was dying of the plague in Algiers. I did not die, however, but my eunuch and the day, and almost the whole Seraglio of Algiers perished. As soon as the first fury of this terrible pestilence was over, a sale was made of the day's slaves. I was purchased by a merchant, and carried to Tunis.
This man sold me to another merchant, who sold me again to another at Tripoli. From Tripoli I was sold to Alexandria, from Alexandria to Smyrna, and from Smyrna to Constantinople. At length I became the property of an aga of the Janissaries, who was soon ordered away to the defense of Ezoph, then besieged by the Russians. The aga, who was a very gallant man, took his whole Seraglio with him, and lodged us in a small fort on the Pallas Mautides, guarded by two black eunuchs and twenty soldiers. The Turks killed prodigious numbers of the Russians, but the latter had their revenge. Azov was destroyed by fire, the inhabitants put to the sword, neither sex nor age was spared, until there remained only our little fort, and the enemy wanted to starve us out.
The twenty janissaries had sworn they would never surrender. The extremities of famine to which they were reduced obliged them to eat our two eunuchs for fear of violating their oath, and at the end of a few days they resolved also to devour the women. We had a very pious and humane iman who preached an excellent sermon, exhorting them not to kill us all at once. "'Only cut off a buttock of each of those ladies,' said he, "'and you'll fare extremely well. If you must go to it again, there will be the same entertainment a few days hence. Heaven will accept of so charitable an action, and send you relief.' He had great eloquence. He persuaded them. We underwent this terrible operation. The Iman applied the same balsam to us as he does to children after circumcision, and we all nearly died.
Scarcely had the Janissaries finished the repast with which we had furnished them than the Russians came in flat-bottomed boats. Not a Janissary escaped. The Russians paid no attention to the condition we were in. There are French surgeons in all parts of the world. One of them, who was very clever, took us under his care. He cured us, and as long as I live I shall remember that as soon as my wounds were healed he made proposals to me. He bid us all be of good cheer, telling us that the like had happened in many sieges, and that it was according to the laws of war. As soon as my companions could walk, they were obliged to set out for Moscow. I fell to the share of a boyard who made me his gardener, and gave me twenty lashes a day.
But this nobleman having in two years' time been broke upon the wheel, along with thirty more boyards for some broils at court, I profited by that event. I fled. I traversed all Russia. It was a long time an innholder's servant at Riga, the same at Rostock, at Wismar, at Leipzig, at Kassel, at Utrecht, at Leiden, at The Hague, at Rotterdam. I waxed old in misery and disgrace, having only one half of my posteriors, and always remembering I was a Pope's daughter. A hundred times I was upon the point of killing myself, But still, I loved life. This ridiculous foible is perhaps one of our most fatal characteristics, for is there anything more absurd than to wish to carry continually a burden which one can always throw down?
To detest existence, and yet to cling to one's existence. In brief, To caress the serpent which devours us, till he has eaten our very heart. In the different countries which it has been my lot to traverse, and the numerous inns where I have been servant, I have taken notice of a vast number of people who held their own existence in abhorrence, and yet I never knew of more than eight. who voluntarily put an end to their misery. Three Negroes, four Englishmen, and a German professor named Robeck. I ended by being servant to the Jew, Don Issachar, who placed me near your presence, my fair lady. I am determined to share your fate, and have been much more affected with your misfortunes than with my own.
I would never even have spoken to you of my misfortunes had you not piqued me a little, and if it were not customary to tell stories on board a ship in order to pass away the time. In short, Miss Cunegonda, I have had experience. I know the world. Therefore I advise you to divert yourself, and prevail upon each passenger to tell his story. And if there be one of them all that has not cursed his life many a time, that has not frequently looked upon himself as the unhappiest of mortals, I give you leave to throw me head foremost into the sea.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 13. How Candide was forced away from his fair Cunegonda and the old woman. The beautiful Cunegonda, having heard the old woman's history, paid her all the civilities due to a person of her rank and merit. She likewise accepted her proposal, and engaged all the passengers, one after the other, to relate their adventures. And then both she and Candide allowed that the old woman was in the right. It is a great pity, said Candide, that the sage Pangloss was hanged, contrary to custom at an auto-da-f. He would tell us most amazing things in regard to the physical and moral evils that overspread the earth and sea, and I should be able, with due respect, to make a few objections.
While each passenger was recounting his story, the ship made her way. They landed at Buenos Aires. Cunegonda, Captain Candide, and the old woman waited on the governor. Don Fernando de Barra y Figueroa, y Mascarenes, y Lampordos y Susa. This nobleman had a stateliness becoming a person who bore so many names. He spoke to men with so noble a disdain, carried his nose so loftily, raised his voice so unmercifully, assumed so imperious an air, and stalked with such intolerable pride that those who saluted him were strongly inclined to give him a good drubbing. Cunegonda appeared to him the most beautiful he had ever met. The first thing he did was to ask, Whether she was not the captain's wife. The manner in which he asked the question alarmed Candide.
He durst not say she was his wife, because indeed she was not. Neither durst he say she was his sister, because it was not so. And although this obliging lie had been formerly much in favor among the ancients, and although it could be useful to the moderns, his soul was too pure to betray the truth. Miss Cunegonda, said he, is to do me the honor to marry me, and we beseech Your Excellency to deign to sanction our marriage. Don Fernando de Barra, y Figueroa, y Mascarenas, y Lampurdos, y Sousa, turning up his mustachios, smiled mockingly, and ordered Captain Candide to go and review his company. Candide obeyed. And the governor remained alone with Miss Cunegonda. He declared his passion, protesting he would marry her the next day in the face of the church, or otherwise, just as should be agreeable to herself.
Cunegonda asked a quarter of an hour to consider of it, to consult the old woman, and to take her resolution. The old woman spoke thus to Cunegonda. Miss, you have seventy-two quarterings, and not a farthing. It is now in your power to be wife to the greatest lord in South America, who has very beautiful mustachios. Is it for you to pique yourself upon inviolable fidelity? You have been ravished by Bulgarians. A Jew and an inquisitor have enjoyed your favors. Miss Fortune gives sufficient excuse. I own that if I were in your place I should have no scruple in marrying the governor and in making the fortune of Captain Candide. While the old woman spoke with all the prudence which age and experience gave, a small ship entered the port on board of which were an alcalde and his alguazils.
And this was what had happened. As the old woman had shrewdly guessed, it was a gray friar who stole Cunegonda's money and jewels in the town of Badajoz, when she and Candide were escaping. The friar wanted to sell some of the diamonds to a jeweler. The jeweler knew them to be the grand inquisitors. The friar, before he was hanged, confessed he had stolen them. He described the persons and the route they had taken, The flight of Cunaganda and Candide was already known. They were traced to Cadiz. A vessel was immediately sent in pursuit of them. The vessel was already in the port of Buenos Aires. The report spread that the Alcalde was going to land, and that he was in pursuit of the murderers of my lord, the Grand Inquisitor.
The prudent old woman saw at once what was to be done. "'You cannot run away,' she said to Cunegonda. "'And you have nothing to fear, for it was not you that killed my lord. Besides, the governor who loves you will not suffer you to be ill-treated. Therefore stay.' She then ran immediately to Candide. "'Fly,' said she, or in an hour you will be burnt.' There was not a moment to lose. But how could he part from Cunegonda, and where could he flee for shelter? End of chapter 13. Please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Fourteen. How Candide and Cacambo were received by the Jesuits of Paraguay. Candide had brought such a valet with him from Cadiz as one often meets with on the coasts of Spain and in the American colonies. He was a quarter Spaniard, born of a Mongol in Tucumán. He had been singing-boy, sacristan, sailor, monk, peddler, soldier, and lackey. His name was Cacambo, and he loved his master, because his master was a very good man. He quickly saddled the two Andalusian horses. "'Come, master. Let us follow the old woman's advice. Let us start and run without looking behind us.' Candide shed tears. Oh, my dear Cunegonda, must I leave you just at a time when the governor was going to sanction our nuptials?
Cunegonda, brought to such a distance, what will become of you? She will do as well as she can, said Cucumbo. The women are never at a loss. God provides for them. Let us run. "'Whither art thou carrying me? Where shall we go? What shall we do without Cunegonda?' said Candide. "'By St. James of Compostela,' said Cucumber. "'You were going to fight against the Jesuits. Let us go to fight for them. I know the road well. I'll conduct you to their kingdom, where they will be charmed to have a captain that understands the Bulgarian exercise. You'll make a prodigious fortune.' If we cannot find our account in one world, we shall in another. It is a great pleasure to see and do new things. Eh? You have before been in Paraguay, then, said Candide?
Ay, sure, answered Cacambo. I was servant in the College of the Assumption, and am acquainted with the government of the Goodfathers, as well as I am with the streets of Cadiz. It is an admirable government. The kingdom is upwards of three hundred leagues in diameter, and divided into thirty provinces. There the fathers possess all, and the people nothing. It is a masterpiece of reason and justice. For my part, I see nothing so divine as the fathers who here make war upon the kings of Spain and Portugal, and in Europe confess those kings, who here kill spaniards, and in Madrid send them to heaven. This delights me. Let us push forward. You are going to be the happiest of mortals. What pleasure will it be to those fathers to hear that a captain who knows the Bulgarian exercise has come to them?
As soon as they reached the first barrier, Cacambo told the advanced guard that a captain wanted to speak with my lord, the commandant. Notice was given to the main guard, and immediately a Paraguayan officer ran and laid himself at the feet of the commandant to impart this news to him. Candide and Cacambo were disarmed, and their two Andalusian horses seized. The strangers were introduced between two files of musketeers. The commandant was at the further end, with the three-cornered cap on his head, his gown tucked up, a sword by his side, and a spontoon in his hand. He beckoned, and straightway the newcomers were encompassed by four-and-twenty soldiers. A sergeant told them they must wait, that the commandant could not speak to them.
and that the reverend father provincial does not suffer any Spaniard to open his mouth but in his presence, or to stay above three hours in the province. "'And where is the reverend father provincial?' said Cacambo. "'He is upon the parade just after celebrating mass,' answered the sergeant. "'And you cannot kiss his spurs till three hours hence.' However, said Cacambo, the captain is not a Spaniard but a German. He is ready to perish with hunger as well as myself. Cannot we have something for breakfast while we wait for his reverence? The sergeant went immediately to acquaint the commandant with what he had heard. "'God be praised,' said the reverend commandant. "'Since he is a German, I may speak to him.
Take him to my arbor.'" Candide was at once conducted to a beautiful summer-house, ornamented with a very pretty colonnade of green and gold marble, and with trellises, inclosing parroquets, humming-birds, fly-birds, guinea-hens, and all other rare birds. An excellent breakfast was provided in vessels of gold, and while the Paraguayans were eating maize out of wooden dishes in the open fields and exposed to the heat of the sun, the Reverend Father Commandant retired to his arbor. He was a very handsome young man, with a full face, white skin, but high in color. He had an arched eyebrow, a lively eye, Red ears, vermilion lips, a bold air, but such a boldness as neither belonged to a Spaniard nor a Jesuit.
They returned their arms to Candide and Cacambo, and also the two Andalusian horses, to whom Cacambo gave some oats to eat just by the arbor, having an eye upon them all the while, for fear of a surprise. Candide first kissed the hem of the commandant's robe. Then they sat down to table. "'You are, then, a German?' said the Jesuit to him in that language. "'Yes, reverend father,' answered Candide. "'As they pronounced these words, they looked at each other with great amazement, and with such an emotion as they could not conceal. "'And from what part of Germany do you come?' said the Jesuit. "'I am from the dirty province of Westphalia,' answered Candide. "'I was born in the castle of Thundertentrunk.
Oh!' Heavens! Is it possible? cried the commandant. What a miracle! cried Candide. Is it really you? said the commandant. It is not possible! said Candide. They drew back. They embraced. They shed rivulets of tears. What? Is it you, reverend father? You, the brother of the fair Cunegonda? You that was slain by the Bulgarians? You, the barren son? You? A Jesuit in Paraguay. I must confess, this is a strange world that we live in. Oh, Pangloss, Pangloss, how glad you would be if you had not been hanged. The commandant sent away the Negro slaves and the Paraguayans, who served them with liquors in goblets of rock-crystal. He thanked God and St. Ignatius a thousand times. He clasped Candide in his arms, and their faces were all bathed in tears.
You will be more surprised, more affected, and transported, said Candide, when I tell you that Cunegonda, your sister, whom you believe to have been ripped open, is in perfect health. Where? In your neighborhood, with the governor of Buenos Aires, and I was going to fight against you. Every word which they uttered in this long conversation but added wonder to wonder. Their souls fluttered on their tongues, listened in their ears, and sparkled in their eyes. As they were Germans, they sat a good while at table, waiting for the Reverend Father Provincial. And the commandant spoke to his dear Candide as follows.
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16 Chapter 15 5:15
Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 15 How Candide killed the brother of his dear Cunegonda. I shall have ever present to my memory the dreadful day on which I saw my father and mother killed and my sister ravished. When the Bulgarians retired, my dear sister could not be found. But my mother, my father, and myself, with two maidservants and three little boys, all of whom had been slain, were put in a hearse, to be conveyed for interment to a chapel belonging to the Jesuit, within two leagues of our family seat. A Jesuit sprinkled us with some holy water. It was horribly salt. A few drops of it fell into my eyes. The father perceived that my eyelids stirred a little. He put his hand upon my heart and felt it beat.
I received assistance, and at the end of three weeks I recovered. You know, my dear Candide, I was very pretty, but I grew much prettier, and the Reverend Father Didrier, superior of that house, conceived the tenderest friendship for me. He gave me the habit of the order some years after I was sent to Rome. The Father General needed new levies of young German Jesuits. The sovereigns of Paraguay admit as few Spanish Jesuits as possible. They prefer those of other nations as being more subordinate to their commands. I was judged fit by the Reverend Father General to go and work in this vineyard. We set out, a Pole, a Tyreleese, and myself. Upon my arrival, I was honored with a subdeaconship and a lieutenancy.
I am to-day Colonel and Priest. We shall give a warm reception to the king of Spain's troops. I will answer for it that they shall be excommunicated and well beaten. Providence sends you here to assist us. But is it indeed true that my dear sister Cunegonda is in the neighborhood with the governor of Buenos Aires? Candida assured him on oath that nothing was more true. And their tears began afresh. The baron could not refrain from embracing Candide. He called him his brother, his savior. "'Ah! Perhaps,' said he, "'we shall together, my dear Candide, "'enter the town as conquerors, "'and recover my sister Cunegonda.' "'That is all I want,' said Candide. "'For I intend to marry her, and I still hope to do so.' "'You insolent,' replied the baron.
"'Would you have the impudence to marry my sister, who has seventy-two quarterings? I find thou hast the most consummate effrontery to dare to mention so presumptuous a design.' Candide, petrified at this speech, made answer. "'Reverend father, all the quarterings in the world signify nothing. I rescued your sister from the arms of a Jew and of an inquisitor. She has great obligations to me.' She wishes to marry me. Master Pangloss always told me that all men are equal, and certainly I will marry her. "'We shall see that, thou scoundrel,' said the Jesuit baron, de Thunder-tin Tronck, and that instant struck him across the face with the flat of his sword. Candide in an instant drew his rapier, and plunged it up to the hilt in the Jesuit's belly, but in pulling it out, reeking hot, He burst into tears.
"'Good God,' said he, "'I have killed my old master, my friend, my brother-in-law. I am the best-natured creature in the world, and yet I have already killed three men, and of these three, two were priests.' Cacambo, who stood sentry by the door of the arbor, ran to him. "'We have nothing more for it than to sell our lives as dearly as we can,' said his master to him. "'Without doubt some one will soon enter the arbor, and we must die sword in hand.' Cacambo, who had been in a great many scrapes in his lifetime, did not lose his head. He took the Baron's Jesuit habit, put it on Candide, gave him the square cap, and made him mount on horseback. All this was done in the twinkling of an eye. Let us gallop fast, master.
Everybody will take you for a Jesuit going to give directions to your men, and we shall have passed the frontiers before they will be able to overtake us. He flew as he spoke these words, crying aloud in Spanish, Make way, make way for the Reverend Father Colonel. End of chapter 15. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, Please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire.
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17 Chapter 16 8:27
XVI.
ADVENTURES OF THE TWO TRAVELERS WITH TWO GIRLS, TWO MONKEYS, AND THE SAVAGES CALLED O'RYLONS. Candide and his valet had got beyond the barrier before it was known in the camp that the German Jesuit was dead. The wary Cacambo had taken care to fill his wallet with bread, chocolate, bacon, fruit, and a few bottles of wine. With their Andalusian horses, they penetrated into an unknown country, where they perceived no beaten track. At length, they came to a beautiful meadow, intersected with purling rills. Here our two adventurers fed their horses. Cacambo proposed to his master to take some food, and he set him an example. How can you ask me to eat ham, said Candide, after killing the Baron's son, and being doomed nevermore to see the beautiful Coonergonda?
What will it avail me to spin out my wretched days, and drag them, far from her, in remorse and despair? And what will the Journal of Trevaux say? While he was thus lamenting his fate, he went on eating. The sun went down. The two wanderers heard some little cries which seemed to be uttered by women. They did not know whether they were cries of pain or joy, but they started up precipitately with that inquietude and alarm which every little thing inspires in an unknown country. The noise was made by two naked girls, who tripped along the mead while two monkeys were pursuing them and biting their buttocks. Candide was moved with pity. He had learned to fire a gun in the Bulgarian service, and he was so clever at it that he could hit a filbert in a hedge without touching a leaf of the tree.
He took up his double-barreled Spanish fusel, let it off, and killed the two monkeys. God be praised! My dear Cacambo, I have rescued those two poor creatures from a most perilous situation. If I have committed a sin in killing an inquisitor and a Jesuit, I have made ample amends by saving the lives of these girls. Perhaps they are young ladies of family, and this adventure may procure us great advantages in this country. He was continuing. But stopped short when he saw the two girls tenderly embracing the monkeys, bathing their bodies in tears, and rending the air with the most dismal lamentations. Little did I expect to see such good nature, said he at length to Cacambo, who made answer. Master, you have done a fine thing now.
You have slain the sweethearts of those two young ladies. The sweetheart? Is it possible? You are jesting, Cacambo. I can never believe it. Dear master, replied Cacambo, you are surprised at everything. Why should you think it so strange that in some countries there are monkeys which insinuate themselves into the good graces of the ladies? They are a fourth part human, as I am a fourth part Spaniard. Alas, replied Candide, I remember to have heard Master Pangloss say that formerly such accidents used to happen, that these mixtures were productive of centaurs, fawns, and satyrs, and that many of the ancients had seen such monsters. But I looked upon the whole as fabulous. You ought now to be convinced, said Cacambo, that it is the truth, and you see what use is made of those creatures by persons that have not had a proper education.
All I fear is that those ladies will play us some ugly trick. These sound reflections induced Candide to leave the meadow and to plunge into a wood. He supped there with Cacambo, and after cursing the Portuguese inquisitor, the governor of Buenos Aires, and the baron, they fell asleep en masse. On awakening, they felt that they could not move, for during the night the O'rylons, who inhabited that country, and to whom the ladies had denounced them, had bound them with cords made of the bark of trees. They were encompassed by fifty naked O'rylons, armed with bows and arrows, with clubs and flint hatchets. Some were making a large cauldron boil, others were preparing spits, and all cried, "'A Jesuit!' "'A Jesuit!
We shall be revenged! We shall have excellent cheer! Let us eat the Jesuit! Let us eat him up!' "'I told you, my dear master,' cried Cacambo sadly, "'that those two girls would play us some ugly trick!' Candide, seeing the cauldron in the spits, cried, "'We are certainly going to be either roasted or boiled!' Ah, what would Master Pangloss say? Were he to see how pure nature is formed, everything is right, may be, but I declare it is very hard to have lost Miss Cunegonda and to be put on a spit by O'Rylons. Cacambo never lost his head. Do not despair, said he to the disconsolate Candide. I understand a little of the jargon of these people. I will speak to them. Be sure," said Candide, to represent to them how frightfully inhuman it is to cook men, and how very unchristian.
Gentlemen, said Cacambo, you reckon you are to-day going to feast upon a Jesuit. It is all very well. Nothing is more unjust than thus to treat your enemies. Indeed, the law of nature teaches us to kill our neighbor, and such is the practice all over the world. If we do not accustom ourselves to eating them, it is because we have better fare. But you have not the same resources as we. Certainly it is much better to devour your enemies than to resign to the crows and rooks the fruits of your victory. But, gentlemen, surely you would not choose to eat your friends. You believe that you are going to spit a Jesuit, and he is your defender. It is the enemy of your enemies that you are going to roast.
As for myself, I was born in your country. This gentleman is my master, and, far from being a Jesuit, he has just killed one whose spoils he wears. And thence comes your mistake. To convince you of the truth of what I say, take his habit, and carry it to the first barrier of the Jesuit kingdom, and inform yourselves whether my master did not kill a Jesuit officer. It will not take you long, and you can always eat us if you find that I have lied to you. But I have told the truth. You are too well acquainted with the principles of public law, humanity, and justice not to pardon us. The O'Rylons found this speech very reasonable. They deputed two of their principal people with all expedition to inquire into the truth of the matter.
These executed their commission like men of sense, and soon returned with good news. The O'Rylons untied their prisoners, showed them all sorts of civilities, offered them girls, gave them refreshment, and reconducted them to the confines of their territories, proclaiming with great joy, "'He is no Jesuit! He is no Jesuit!' Candide could not help being surprised at the cause of his deliverance. "'What people!' said he. "'What men! What manners!' "'If I had not been so lucky as to run Miss Cunegonda's brother through the body, I should have been devoured without redemption. But after all, pure nature is good, since these people, instead of feasting upon my flesh, have shown me a thousand civilities when then I was not a Jesuit.' End of chapter 16.
Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 17 Arrival of Candide and his valet at El Dorado and what they saw there. You see, said Cacambo to Candide, as soon as they had reached the frontiers of the O'Reillons, that this hemisphere is not better than the others. Take my word for it. Let us go back to Europe by the shortest way. How go back? said Candide. And where shall we go? To my own country? The Bulgarians and the Abares are slaying all. To Portugal. There I shall be burnt. And if we abide here, we are every moment in danger of being spitted. But how can I resolve to quit a part of the world where my dear Cunegonda resides? Let us turn towards Cayenne, said Cacambo. There we shall find Frenchmen who wander all over the world.
They may assist us. God will perhaps have pity on us. It was not easy to get to Cayenne. They knew vaguely in which direction to go, but rivers, precipices, robbers, savages, obstructed them all the way. Their horses died of fatigue. Their provisions were consumed. They fed a whole month upon wild fruits, and found themselves at last near a little river, bordered with cocoa-trees, which sustained their lives and their hopes. Cacambo, who was as good a counselor as the old woman, said to Candide, "'We are able to hold out no longer. We have walked enough. I see an empty canoe near the riverside. Let us fill it with cocoa-nuts, throw ourselves into it, and go with the current.' A river always leads to some inhabited spot.
If we do not find pleasant things, we shall at least find new things. With all my heart, said Candide, let us recommend ourselves to Providence. They rowed a few leagues between banks, in some places flowery, in others barren, in some parts smooth, in others rugged. The stream ever widened, and at length lost itself under an arch of frightful rocks, which reached to the sky. The two travelers had the courage to commit themselves to the current. The river, suddenly contracting at this place, whirled them along with a dreadful noise and rapidity. At the end of four-and-twenty hours they saw daylight again, but their canoe was dashed to pieces against the rocks. For a league, they had to creep from rock to rock, until at length they discovered an extensive plain bounded by inaccessible mountains.
The country was cultivated as much for pleasure as for necessity. On all sides, the useful was also the beautiful. The roads were covered, or rather adorned, with carriages of a glittering form and substance, in which were men and women of surprising beauty, drawn by large red sheep, which surpassed in fleetness the finest coursers in Andalusia, Tetouan, and Mekines. Here, however, is a country, said Candide, which is better than Westphalia. He stepped out with cacambo towards the first village which he saw. Some children dressed in tattered brocades played at quarts on the outskirts. Our travelers from the other world amused themselves by looking on. The quarts were large round pieces, yellow, red, and green, which cast a singular luster.
The travelers picked a few of them off the ground. This was of gold, that of emeralds, the other of rubies. The least of them would have been the greatest ornament on the mogul's throne. "'Without doubt,' said Cacambo, "'these children must be the king's sons that are playing at Coits.' The village schoolmaster appeared at this moment and called them to school. "'There,' said Candide, "'is the preceptor of the royal family.' The little truants immediately quitted their game, leaving the Coits on the ground with all their other playthings. Candide gathered them up, ran to the master, and presented them to him in a most humble manner, giving him to understand by signs that their royal highnesses had forgotten their gold and jewels.
The schoolmaster, smiling, flung them upon the ground. Then, looking at Candide with a good deal of surprise, went about his business. The travelers, however, took care to gather up the gold, the rubies, and the emeralds. "'Where are we?' cried Candide. "'The king's children in this country must be well brought up, since they are taught to despise gold and precious stones.' Cacambo was as much surprised as Candide. At length they drew near the first house in the village. It was built like a European palace. A crowd of people pressed about the door, and there was still more in the house.' They heard most agreeable music, and were aware of a delicious odor of cooking. Cacambo went up to the door, and heard they were talking Peruvian.
It was his mother tongue, for it is well known that Cacambo was born in Tucumán, in a village where no other language was spoken. "'I will be your interpreter here,' said he to Candide. "'Let us go in. It is a public house.' Immediately, two waiters and two girls, dressed in cloth of gold and their hair tied up with ribbons, invited them to sit down to table with the landlord. They served four dishes of soup, each garnished with two young parrots, a boiled condor, which weighed two hundred pounds, two roasted monkeys of excellent flavor, three hundred hummingbirds in one dish, and six hundred flybirds in another. Exquisite ragotes, delicious pastries, the whole served up in dishes of a kind of rock-crystal.
The waiters and girls poured out several liqueurs drawn from the sugar-cane. Most of the company were chapmen and wagoners, all extremely polite. They asked Cacambo a few questions with the greatest circumspection, and answered his in the most obliging manner. As soon as dinner was over, Cacambo believed, as well as Candide, that they might well pay their reckoning by laying down two of those large gold pieces which they had picked up. The landlord and ladlady shouted with laughter and held their sides. When the fit was over, Gentlemen, said the landlord, it is plain you are strangers, and such guests we are not accustomed to see. Pardon us, therefore, for laughing when you offered us the pebbles from our highroads in payment of your reckoning.
You doubtless have not the money of the country, but it is not necessary to have any money at all to dine in this house. All hostelries established for the convenience of commerce are paid by the government. You have fared but very indifferently, because this is a poor village. But everywhere else you will be received as you deserve. Cacambo explained this whole discourse with great astonishment to Candide, who was as greatly astonished to hear it. "'What sort of a country, then, is this?' said they to one another. "'A country unknown to all the rest of the world, and where nature is of a kind so Different from ours. It is probably the country where all is well, for there absolutely must be one such place.
And whatever Master Pangloss might say, I often found that things went very ill in Westphalia. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire.
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What they saw in the country of El Dorado. Cacambo expressed his curiosity to the landlord who made answer. I am very ignorant, but not the worse on that account. However, we have in this neighborhood an old man, retired from court, who is the most learned and most communicative person in the kingdom. At once he took Cacambo to the old man. Candide acted now only as second character, and accompanied his valet. They entered a very plain house, for the door was only of silver, and the ceilings were only of gold, but wrought in so elegant a taste as to vie with the richest. The antechamber, indeed, was only encrusted with rubies and emeralds, but the order in which everything was arranged made amends for this great simplicity.
The old man received the strangers on his sofa, which was stuffed with humming-birds feathers, and ordered his servants to present them with liqueurs in diamond goblets, after which he satisfied their curiosity in the following terms. I am now one hundred and seventy-two years old, and I learnt of my late father, master of the horse to the king, the amazing revolutions of Peru, of which he had been an eye-witness. The kingdom we now inhabit is the ancient country of the Incas, who quitted it very imprudently to conquer another part of the world, and were at length destroyed by the Spaniards. More wise by far were the princes of their family, who remained in their native country, and they ordained, with the consent of the whole nation, that none of the inhabitants should ever be permitted to quit this little kingdom.
And this has preserved our innocence and happiness. The Spaniards have had a confused notion of this country. They have called it El Dorado, and an Englishman whose name was Sir Walter Raleigh came very near it about a hundred years ago. But being surrounded by inaccessible rocks and precipices, we have hitherto been sheltered from the rapaciousness of European nations, who have an inconceivable passion for the pebbles and dirt of our land, for the sake of which they would murder us to the last man. The conversation was long. It turned chiefly on their form of government, their manners, their women, their public entertainments, and the arts. At length, Candide, having always had a taste for metaphysics, made Cacambo ask whether there was any religion in that country.
The old man reddened a little. "'How, then,' said he, "'can you doubt it? Do you take us for ungrateful wretches?' Cacambo humbly asked, What was the religion in El Dorado? The old man reddened again. "'Can there be two religions?' said he. "'We have, I believe, the religion of all the world. We worship God, night and morning.' "'Do you worship but one God?' said Cacambo, who still acted as interpreter in representing Candide's doubts. "'Surely,' said the old man, There are not two, nor three, nor four. I must confess, the people from your side of the world ask very extraordinary questions. Candide was not yet tired of interrogating the good old man. He wanted to know in what manner they prayed to God in El Dorado.
"'We do not pray to him,' said the worthy sage. "'We have nothing to ask of him. He has given us all we need, and we return him thanks without ceasing.' Candide, having a curiosity to see the priests, asked where they were. The good old man smiled. "'My friend,' said he, "'we are all priests. "'The king and all the heads of families "'sing solemn canticles of thanksgiving every morning, "'accompanied by five or six thousand musicians. "' What? Have you no monks who teach, who dispute, who govern, who cabal, and who burn people that are not of their opinion? We must be mad indeed, if that were the case, said the old man. Here we are all of one opinion, and we know not what you mean by monks. During this whole discourse Candide was in raptures, and he said to himself, This is vastly different from Westphalia and the Baron's Castle.
Had our friend Pangloss seen El Dorado, he would no longer have said that the Castle of Thunder Tin Tronk was the finest upon earth. It is evident that one must travel. After this long conversation, the old man ordered a coach and six sheep to be got ready, and twelve of his domestics to conduct the travelers to court. Excuse me, said he, if my age deprives me of the honor of accompanying you. The king will receive you in a manner that cannot displease you, and no doubt you will make an allowance for the customs of the country if something should not be to your liking. Candide and Cacambo got into the coach. The six sheep flew, and in less than four hours they reached the king's palace, situated at the extremity of the capital.
The portal was two hundred and twenty feet high, and one hundred wide. But words are wanting to express the materials of which it was built. It is plain such materials must have prodigious superiority over those pebbles and sand, which we call gold and precious stones. Twenty beautiful damsels of the Kingsguard received Candide and Cacambo as they alighted from the coach, conducted them to the bath, And dressed them in robes woven of the down of humming-birds, after which the great crown officers of both sexes led them to the king's apartment, between two files of musicians, a thousand on each side. When they drew near to the audience chamber, Cacambo asked one of the great officers in what way he should pay his obeisance to his majesty.
Whether they should throw themselves upon their knees or on their stomachs, whether they should put their hands upon their heads or behind their backs, whether they should lick the dust off the floor. In a word, what was the ceremony? The custom, said the great officer, is to embrace the king and to kiss him on each cheek. Candide and Cacambo threw themselves round his majesty's neck. He received them with all the goodness imaginable, and politely invited them to supper. While waiting, they were shown the city, and saw the public edifices raised as high as the clouds, The market-places ornamented with a thousand columns, the fountains of spring water, those of rose water, those of liqueurs drawn from sugar cane, incessantly flowing into the great squares, which were paved with a kind of precious stone, which gave off a delicious fragrancy like that of cloves and cinnamon.
Candide asked to see the Court of Justice, the Parliament. They told him they had none. and that they were strangers to lawsuits. He asked if they had any prisons, and they answered no. But what surprised him most, and gave him the greatest pleasure, was the Palace of Sciences, where he saw a gallery two thousand feet long, and filled with instruments employed in mathematics and physics. After rambling about the city the whole afternoon, and seeing but a thousandth part of it, They were reconducted to the royal palace, where Candide sat down to table with his majesty, his valet Cacambo, and several ladies. Never was there a better entertainment, and never was more wit shown at table than that which fell from his majesty.
Cacambo explained the king's bon mots to Candide, and notwithstanding they were translated, they still appeared to be bon mots. Of all the things that surprised Candide, this was not the least. They spent a month in this hospitable place. Candide frequently said to Cacambo, I own, my friend, once more, that the castle where I was born is nothing in comparison with this. But after all, Miss Coonagonda is not here, and you have without doubt some mistress in Europe. If we abide here, we shall only be upon a footing with the rest. Whereas if we return to our old world only with twelve sheep laden with the pebbles of El Dorado, we shall be richer than all the kings in Europe. We shall have no more inquisitors to fear, and we may easily recover Miss Cunegonda.
This speech was agreeable to Cacambo. Mankind are so fond of roving, of making a figure in their own country, and of boasting of what they have seen in their travels, that the two happy ones resolve to be no longer so, but to ask his majesty's leave to quit the country. "'You are foolish,' said the king. "'I am sensible that my kingdom is but a small place.' But when a person is comfortably settled in any part, he should abide there. I have not the right to detain strangers. It is a tyranny which neither our manners nor our laws permit. All men are free. Go when you wish, but the going will be very difficult. It is impossible to ascend that rapid river on which you came as by a miracle, and which runs under vaulted rocks.
The mountains which surround my kingdom are ten thousand feet high, and as steep as walls. They are each over ten leagues in breadth, and there is no other way to descend them than by precipices. However, since you absolutely wish to depart, I shall give orders to my engineers to construct a machine that will convey you very safely. When we have conducted you over the mountains, no one can accompany you further. For my subjects have made a vow never to quit the kingdom, and they are too wise to break it. Ask me besides anything that you please. "'We desire nothing of your majesty,' said Candide, "'but a few sheep, laden with provisions, pebbles, and the earth of this country.' The king laughed.
"'I cannot conceive,' said he, "'what pleasure you Europeans find in our yellow clay. But take as much as you like.' And great good may it do you. At once he gave directions that his engineers should construct a machine to hoist up these two extraordinary men out of the kingdom. Three thousand good mathematicians went to work. It was ready in fifteen days, and did not cost more than twenty million sterling in the specie of that country. They placed Candide and Cacambo on the machine. There were two great red sheep, saddled and bridled to ride upon as soon as they were beyond the mountains, twenty pack sheep, laden with provisions, thirty with presents of the curiosities of the country, and fifty with gold, diamonds, and precious stones.
The king embraced the two wanderers very tenderly. Their departure With the ingenious manner in which they and their sheep were hoisted over the mountains was a splendid spectacle. The mathematicians took their leave after conveying them to a place of safety, and Candide had no other desire, no other aim, than to present his sheep to Miss Cunegonda. Now, said he, we are able to pay the governor of Buenos Aires if Miss Cunegonda can be ransomed. Let us journey towards Cayenne. Let us embark, and we will afterwards see what kingdom we shall be able to purchase.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 19 What happened to them at Suriname, and how Candide got acquainted with Martin? Our travelers spent the first day very agreeably. They were delighted with possessing more treasure than all Asia, Europe, and Africa could scrape together. Candide, in his raptures, cut Cunegonda's name on the trees. The second day, two of their sheep plunged into a morass, where they and their burdens were lost. Two more died of fatigue a few days after. Seven or eight perished with hunger in a desert, and others subsequently fell down precipices. At length, after traveling a hundred days, only two sheep remained. Said Candide to Cacambo, My friend, you see how perishable are the riches of this world.
There is nothing solid but virtue, and the happiness of seeing Coonagonda once more. I grant all you say, said Cacambo. But we have still two sheep remaining, with more treasure than the king of Spain will ever have, and I see a town which I take to be Surinam, belonging to the Dutch. We are at the end of all our troubles, and at the beginning of happiness. As they drew near the town, they saw a negro stretched upon the ground with only one moiety of his clothes, that is, of his blue linen drawers. The poor man had lost his left leg and his right hand. Good God, said Candide, in Dutch, what art thou doing here, friend, in that shocking condition? I am waiting for my master. "'Myneer van der Dender, the famous merchant,' answered the negro.
"'Was it myneer van der Dender,' said Candide, "'that treated thee thus?' "'Yes, sir,' said the negro. "'It is the custom.' They give us a pair of linen drawers for our whole garment twice a year. When we work at the sugar-canes and the mill snatches hold of a finger, they cut off the hand, and when we attempt to run away, they cut off the leg. Both cases have happened to me. This is the price at which you eat sugar in Europe. Yet when my mother sold me for tin patagons on the coast of Guinea, she said to me— My dear child, bless our fetishes. Adore them forever, for they will make thee live happily. Thou hast the honor of being the slave of our lords, the wights, which is making the fortune of thy father and mother.
Alas, I know not whether I have made their fortunes. This I know, that they have not made mine. Dogs, monkeys, and parrots are a thousand times less wretched than I. The Dutch fetiches, who have converted me, declare every Sunday that we are all of us children of Adam, blacks as well as whites. I am not a genealogist, but if these preachers tell truth, we are all second cousins. Now, you must agree that it is impossible to treat one's relations in a more barbarous manner. "'Oh, Pangloss,' cried Candide, "'thou hadst not guessed at this abomination. It is the end. I must at last renounce thy optimism.' "'What is this optimism?' said Cacambo. "'Alas,' said Candide, "'it is the madness of maintaining that everything is right when it is wrong.' Looking at the negro, he shed tears, and weeping he entered Suriname.
The first thing they inquired after was whether there was a vessel in the harbor which could be sent to Buenos Aires. The person to whom they applied was a Spanish sea-captain, who offered to agree with them upon reasonable terms. He appointed to meet them at a public house, whither Candide and the faithful Cucumber went with their two sheep, and awaited his coming. Candide, who had his heart upon his lips, told the Spaniard all his adventures, and avowed that he intended to elope with Miss Cunegonda. "'But I will take care not to carry you to Buenos Aires,' said the seaman. "'I should be hanged, and so would you. The fair Cunegonda is my lord's favourite mistress.' This was a thunderclap for Candide.
He wept for a long while. At last he drew Cucambo aside. "'Here,' My dear friend," said he to him, this thou must do. We have, each of us in his pocket, five or six millions in diamonds. You are more clever than I. You must go and bring Miss Cunegonda from Buenos Aires. If the governor makes any difficulty, give him a million. If he will not relinquish her, give him two. As you have not killed an inquisitor, they will have no suspicion of you. I'll get another ship and go and wait for you at Venice. That's a free country, where there is no danger either from Bulgarians, Abares, Jews, or Inquisitors. Cacambo applauded this wise resolution. He despaired at parting from so good a master who had become his intimate friend.
But the pleasure of serving him prevailed over the pain of leaving him. They embraced with tears. Candide charged him not to forget the good old woman. Cacambo set out that very same day. This Cacambo was a very honest fellow. Candide stayed some time longer in Suriname, waiting for another captain to carry him and the two remaining sheep to Italy. After he had hired domestics, and purchased everything necessary for a long voyage, mynheer van der Dinder, captain of a large vessel, came and offered his services. "'How much will you charge?' said he to this man. "'To carry me straight to Venice, me, my servants, my baggage, and these two sheep.' The skipper asked, "'Ten thousand piastres.' Candide did not hesitate.
"'Oh, oh,' said the prudent van der Dender to himself, "'this stranger gives ten thousand piastres unhesitatingly. He must be very rich.' Returning a little while after, he let him know that—' Upon second consideration, he could not undertake the voyage for less than twenty thousand piastres. "'Well, you shall have them,' said Candide. "'Aye,' said the skipper to himself, "'this man agrees to pay twenty thousand piastres with as much ease as ten.' "'Hm!' He went back to him again, and declared that he could not carry him to Venice for less than thirty thousand piastres. "'Then you shall have thirty thousand,' replied Candide. "'Oh, ho!' said the Dutch skipper once more to himself. "'Thirty thousand piastres are a trifle to this man.
Surely these sheep must be laden with an immense treasure. Let us say no more about it. First of all, let him pay down the thirty thousand piastres. Then we shall see.' Candide sold two small diamonds, the least of which was worth more than what the skipper asked for his freight. He paid him in advance. The two sheep were put on board. Candide followed in a little boat to join the vessel in the roads. The skipper seized this opportunity, set sail, and put out to sea, the wind favoring him. Candide, dismayed and stupefied, soon lost sight of the vessel. "'Alas,' said he, "'this is a trick worthy of the old world.' He put back, overwhelmed with sorrow, for indeed he had lost sufficient to make the fortune of twenty monarchs.
He waited upon the Dutch magistrate, and in his distress he knocked over loudly at the door. He entered and told his adventure, raising his voice with unnecessary vehemence. The magistrate began by fining him ten thousand piastres for making a noise. Then he listened patiently, promised to examine into his affair at the skipper's return, and ordered him to pay ten thousand piastres for the expense of the hearing. This drove Candide to despair. He had indeed endured misfortunes a thousand times worse. The coolness of the magistrate and of the skipper who had robbed him roused his choler and flung him into a deep melancholy. The villainy of mankind presented itself before his imagination in all its deformity, and his mind was filled with gloomy ideas.
At length, hearing that a French vessel was ready to set sail for Bordeaux, as he had no sheep laden with diamonds to take along with him, he hired a cabin at the usual price. He made it known in the town that he would pay the passage and board, and give two thousand piastres to any honest man who would make the voyage with him, upon condition that this man was the most dissatisfied with his state, and the most unfortunate in the whole province. Such a crowd of candidates presented themselves that a fleet of ships could hardly have held them. Candide, being desirous of selecting from among the best, Marked out about one-twentieth of them, who seemed to be sociable men, and who all pretended to merit his preference.
He assembled them at his inn, and gave them a supper, on condition that each took an oath to relate his history faithfully, promising to choose him who appeared to be most justly discontented with his state, and to bestow some presents upon the rest. They sat until four o'clock in the morning, Candide, in listening to all their adventures, was reminded of what the old woman had said to him in their voyage to Buenos Aires, and of her wager that there was not a person on board the ship but had met with very great misfortunes. He dreamed of Pangloss at every adventure told to him. This Pangloss, said he, would be puzzled to demonstrate his system. I wish that he were here. Certainly, if all things are good, it is in El Dorado and not in the rest of the world.
At length he made choice of a poor man of letters, who had worked ten years for the booksellers of Amsterdam. He judged that there was not in the whole world a trade which could disgust one more. This philosopher was an honest man, but he had been robbed by his wife. beaten by his son, and abandoned by his daughter, who got a Portuguese to run away with her. He had just been deprived of a small employment, on which he subsisted, and he was persecuted by the preachers of Suriname, who took him for a socinian. We must allow that the others were at least as wretched as he, but Candide hoped that the philosopher would entertain him during the voyage. All the other candidates complained that Candide had done them great injustice.
But he appeased them by giving one hundred piastres to each.
Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 20. What happened at sea to Candide and Martin? The old philosopher, whose name was Martin, embarked then with Candide for Bordeaux. They had both seen and suffered a great deal, and if the vessel had sailed from Suriname to Japan by the Cape of Good Hope, The subject of moral and natural evil would have enabled them to entertain one another during the whole voyage. Candide, however, had one great advantage over Martin, in that he always hoped to see Miss Cunegonda, whereas Martin had nothing at all to hope. Besides, Candide was possessed of money and jewels, and though he had lost one hundred large red sheep laden with the greatest treasure upon earth, though the knavery of the Dutch skipper still sat heavy on his mind, yet when he reflected upon what he had still left, and when he mentioned the name of Coonagonda, especially towards the latter end of a repast, he inclined to Pangloss's doctrine.
"'But you, Mr. Martin,' said he to the philosopher, "'what do you think of all this? What are your ideas on moral and natural evil?' "'Sir,' answered Martin, "'our priests accused me of being a Socinian. But the real fact is, I am a Manichaean.' "'You jest,' said Candide. "'There are no longer Manichaeans in the world.' "'I am one,' said Martin. "'I cannot help it. I know not how to think otherwise.' Surely you must be possessed by the devil," said Candide. "'He is so deeply concerned in the affairs of this world,' answered Martin, "'that he may very well be in me, as well as in everybody else. But I own to you that when I cast an eye on this globe, or rather on this little ball, I cannot help thinking that God has abandoned it to some malignant being I accept always El Dorado.'" I scarcely ever knew a city that did not desire the destruction of a neighboring city, nor a family that did not wish to exterminate some other family.
Everywhere the weak execrate the powerful, before whom they cringe, and the powerful beat them like sheep whose wool and flesh they sell. A million regimented assassins, from one extremity of Europe to the other, get their bread by disciplined depredation and murder, for want of more honest employment. Even in those cities which seem to enjoy peace, and where the arts flourish, the inhabitants are devoured by more envy, care, and uneasiness than are experienced by a besieged town. Secret griefs are more cruel than public calamities. In a word, I have seen so much, and experienced so much, that I am a Manichean. There are, however, some things good, said Candide. That may be, said Martin, but I know them not.
In the middle of this dispute, they heard the report of Cannon. It redoubled every instant. Each took out his glass. They saw two ships in close fight about three miles off. The wind brought both so near to the French vessel that our travelers had the pleasure of seeing the fight at their ease. At length, one let off a broadside, so low and so truly aimed, that the other sank to the bottom. Candide and Martin could plainly perceive a hundred men on the deck of the sinking vessel. They raised their hands to heaven and uttered terrible outcries, and the next moment were swallowed up by the sea. "'Well,' said Martin, "'this is how men treat one another.' "'It is true,' said Candide. "'There is something diabolical in this affair.' While speaking, he saw he knew not what, of a shining red, Swimming close to the vessel.
They put out the long-boat to see what it could be. It was one of his sheep. Candide was more rejoiced at the recovery of this one sheep than he had been grieved at the loss of the hundred laden with the large diamonds of El Dorado. The French captain soon saw that the captain of the victorious vessel was a Spaniard, and that the other was a Dutch pirate, and the very same one who had robbed Candide. The immense plunder which this villain had amassed was buried with him in the sea, and out of the hole only one sheep was saved. "'You see,' said Candide to Martin, "'that crime is sometimes punished. This rogue of a Dutch skipper has met with the fate he deserved.' "'Yes,' said Martin, "'but why should the passengers be doomed also to destruction?' God has punished the knave, and the devil has drowned the rest.
The French and Spanish ships continued their course, and Candide continued his conversation with Martin. They disputed fifteen successive days, and on the last of those fifteen days they were as far advanced as on the first. But, however, they chatted, they communicated ideas, they consoled each other. Candide caressed his sheep. Since I have found thee again, said he, I may likewise chance to find my cunegonda.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 21 Candide and Martin Reasoning Draw Near the Coast of France. At length they descried the coast of France. Were you ever in France, Mr. Martin? said Candide. Yes, said Martin. I have been in several provinces. In some, one-half of the people are fools. In others, they are too cunning. In some, they are weak and simple. In others, they affect to be witty. In all, the principal occupation is love, the next is slander, and the third is talking nonsense. But, Mr. Martin, have you seen Paris? Yes, I have. All these kinds are found there. It is a chaos, a confused multitude, where everybody seeks pleasure, and scarcely any one finds it, at least as it appeared to me. I made a short stay there.
On my arrival, I was robbed of all I had by pickpockets at the fair of St. Germain. I myself was taken for a robber, and was imprisoned for eight days. After which I served as corrector of the press to gain the money necessary for my return to Holland on foot. I knew the whole scribbling rabble, the party rabble, the fanatic rabble. It is said that there are very polite people in that city, and I wish to believe it. For my part, I have no curiosity to see France, said Candide. You may easily imagine that after spending a month at El Dorado, I can desire to behold nothing upon earth but Miss Cunegonda. I go to await her at Venice. We shall pass through France on our way to Italy. Will you bear me company?
With all my heart, said Martin. It is said that Venice is fit only for its own nobility, but that strangers meet with a very good reception if they have a good deal of money. I have none of it. You have. Therefore I will follow you all over the world. But do you believe, said Candide, that the earth was originally a sea, as we find it asserted in that large book belonging to the captain? I do not believe a word of it, said Martin. Any more than I do of the many ravings which have been published lately. "'But for what end, then, has this world been formed?' said Candide. "'To plague us to death,' answered Martin. "'Are you not greatly surprised,' continued Candide, "'at the love which these two girls of the O'Rylons had for those monkeys, of which I have already told you?' "'Not at all,' said Martin.
"'I do not see that that passion was strange.' I have seen so many extraordinary things that I have ceased to be surprised." "'Do you believe,' said Candide, That men have always massacred each other as they do to-day? That they have always been liars, cheats, traitors, ingrates, brigands, idiots, thieves, scoundrels, gluttons, drunkards, misers, envious, ambitious, bloody-minded, calumniators, debauchers, fanatics, hypocrites, and fools? Do you believe, said Martin? That hawks have always eaten pigeons when they have found them? Yes, without doubt, said Candide. Well then, said Martin, if hawks have always had the same character, why should you imagine that men may have changed theirs? Oh, said Candide, there is a vast deal of difference for free will.
And reasoning thus, they arrived at Bordeaux. End chapter 21. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 22 What Happened in France to Candide and Martin? Candide stayed in Bordeaux no longer than was necessary for the selling of a few of the pebbles of El Dorado, and for hiring a good chaise to hold two passengers, for he could not travel without his philosopher Martin. He was only vexed at parting with his sheep, which he left to the Bordeaux Academy of Sciences, who set as a subject for that year's prize to find why this sheep's wool was red. And the prize was awarded to a learned man of the North, who demonstrated by a, B, C, Z, that the sheep must be red and die of the rot. Meanwhile all the travelers whom Candide met in the inns along his route said to him, "'We go to Paris.' This general eagerness at length gave him, too, a desire to see this capital, and it was not so very great a detour from the road to Venice.
He entered Paris by the suburb of St. Marceau, and fancied that he was in the dirtiest village of Westphalia. Scarcely was Candide arrived at his inn than he found himself attacked by a slight illness caused by fatigue. As he had a very large diamond on his finger, and the people of the inn had taken notice of a prodigiously heavy box among his baggage, there were two physicians to attend him, though he had never sent for them, and two devotees who warmed his brats. I remember, Martin said, also to have been sick at Paris in my first voyage. I was very poor, thus I had neither friends, devotees, nor doctors, and I recovered. However, what with physic and bleeding, Candide's illness became serious.
A parson of the neighborhood came with great meekness to ask for a bill for the other world, payable to the bearer. Candide would do nothing for him, but the devotees assured him it was the new fashion. He answered that he was not a man of fashion. Martin wished to throw the priest out of the window. The priest swore that they would not bury Candide. Martin swore that he would bury the priest if he continued to be troublesome. The quarrel grew heated. Martin took him by the shoulders and roughly turned him out of doors, which occasioned great scandal. And a lawsuit. Candide got well again, and during his convalescence he had very good company to sup with him. They played high. Candide wondered why it was that the ace never came to him, but Martin was not at all astonished.
Among those who did him the honors of the town was a little Abbe of Perigord, one of those busybodies who are ever alert, officious, Forward, fawning, and complacent, who watch for strangers in their passage through the capital, tell them the scandalous history of the town, and offer them pleasure at all prices. He first took Candide and Martin to La Comédie, where they played a new tragedy. Candide happened to be seated near some of the fashionable wits. This did not prevent his shedding tears at the well-acted scenes. One of these critics at his side said to him between the acts, "'Your tears are misplaced. That is a shocking, Ectris. The actor who plays with her is yet worse, and the play is still worse than the Ectors.
The author does not know a word of Arabic, yet the scene is in Arabia. Moreover, he is a man that does not believe in innate ideas.' And I will bring you to-morrow twenty pamphlets written against him. "'How many dramas have you in France, sir?' said Candide to the abb. "'Five or six thousand.' "'What a number,' said Candide. "'How many good?' "'Fifteen or sixteen,' replied the other. "'What a number,' said Martin. Candide was very pleased with an actress who played Queen Elizabeth in a somewhat insipid tragedy, sometimes acted, That actress, said he to Martin, pleases me much. She has a likeness to Miss Cunegonda. I should be very glad to wait upon her. The Perigordian Abbe offered to introduce him.
Candide, brought up in Germany, asked what was the etiquette, and how they treated Queens of England in France. It is necessary to make distinction, said the Abbey. In the provinces one takes them to the inn. In Paris one respects them when they are beautiful, and throws them on the highway when they are dead. Queen's on the highway, said Candide. Yes, truly, said Martin. The Abbey is right. I was in Paris when Miss Monnemy passed, as the saying is, from this life to the other. She was refused what people call the honors of sepulchre, that is to say, of rotting with all the beggars of the neighborhood in an ugly cemetery. She was interred all alone by her company at the corner of the Rue de Beaugone, which ought to trouble her much, for she thought nobly.
"'That was very uncivil,' said Candide. "'What would you have?' said Martin. "'These people are made thus. Imagine all contradictions, all possible incompatibilities. You will find them in the government, in the law courts, in the churches, in the public shows of this droll nation.' "'Is it true that they always laugh in Paris?' said Candide. "'Yes,' said the abb. But it means nothing, for they complain of everything with great fits of laughter. They even do the most detestable things while laughing. "'Who,' said Candide, "'is that great pig who spoke so ill of the peace at which I wept, and of the actors who gave me so much pleasure?' "'He is a bad character,' answered the abb, "'who gains his livelihood by saying evil of all plays, and of all books.' He hates whatever succeeds, as the eunuchs hate those who enjoy.
He is one of the serpents of literature, who nourish themselves on dirt and spite. He is a folliculaire. "'What is a folliculaire?' said Candide. "'It is,' said the abbé, "'a pamphleteer, a freron.' Thus Candide, Martin, and the Perigordian conversed on the staircase while watching everyone go out after the performance. Although I am eager to see Coonagonda again, said Candide, I should like to sup with Miss Cleron, for she appears to me admirable. The Abbe was not the man to approach Miss Cleron, who saw only good company. She is engaged for this evening, he said, but I shall have the honor to take you to the house of a lady of quality, and there you will know Paris as if you had lived in it for years.
Candide, who was naturally curious, let himself be taken to this lady's house at the end of the Faubourg St. Honore. The company was occupied in playing Pharaoh. A dozen melancholy punters held each in his hand a little pack of cards, a bad record of his misfortunes. Profound silence reigned. Pallor was on the faces of the punters, anxiety on that of the banker, and the hostess, sitting near the unpitying banker, noticed with Link's eyes all the doubled and other increased As each player dog's-eared his cards, she made them turn down the edges again with severe but polite attention. She showed no vexation for fear of losing her customers. The lady insisted upon being called the Marchioness of Parolinac.
Her daughter, aged fifteen, was among the punters, and notified with a covert glance the cheatings of the poor people who tried to repair the cruelties of fate. The Perigordian abb, Candide, and Martin entered. No one rose, no one saluted them, no one looked at them. All were profoundly occupied with their cards. The Baroness of Thunder Tintranc was more polite, said Candide. However, the Abbe whispered to the Marchioness, who half rose, honored Candide with a gracious smile, and Martin with a condescending nod. She gave a seat and a pack of cards to Candide, who lost fifty thousand francs in two deals, after which they supped very gaily, and every one was astonished that Candide was not moved by his loss.
The servants said among themselves in the language of servants, Some English lord is here this evening. The supper passed at first, like most Parisian suppers, in silence, followed by a noise of words which could not be distinguished, then with pleasantries, of which most were insipid, with false news, with bad reasoning, a little politics, and much evil speaking. They also discussed new books. Have you seen, said the Perigordian Abbey, the romance of Sir Gawshott, Doctor of Divinity? Yes, said one of the guests, but I have not been able to finish it. We have a crowd of silly writings, but altogether do not approach the impertinence of Gawshott, Doctor of Divinity. I am so satiated with the great number of detestable books with which we are inundated that I am reduced to punting at Pharaoh.
And the melanges of Archdeacon Troublet. What do you say of that? said the Abbe. Ah, said the marchioness of Parolignac, the wearisome mortal! How curiously he repeats to you all that the world knows! How heavily he discusses that which is not worth the trouble of lightly remarking upon! How without wit he appropriates the wit of others. How he spoils what he steals. How he disgusts me. But he will disgust me no longer. It is enough to have read a few of the archdeacon's pages. There was at table a wise man of taste, who supported the marchioness. They spoke afterwards of tragedies. The lady asked why there were tragedies which were sometimes played, and which could not be read. The man of taste explained very well how a piece could have some interest, and have almost no merit.
He proved in a few words that it was not enough to introduce one or two of those situations which one finds in all romances, and which always seduced the spectator, but that it was necessary to be new without being odd, Often sublime and always natural, to know the human heart and to make it speak, to be a great poet, without allowing any person in the piece to appear to be a poet, to know language perfectly, to speak it with purity, with continuous harmony, and without rhythm ever taking anything from sense. Whoever," added he, does not observe all these rules, can produce one or two tragedies, applauded at a theater, but he will never be counted in the ranks of good writers. There are very few good tragedies.
Some are idols in dialogue, well written and well rhymed, others political reasonings which lull to sleep, or amplifications which repel. Others, demoniac dreams in barbarous style, interrupted in sequence with long apostrophes to the gods, because they do not know how to speak to men with false maxims, with bombastic commonplaces. Candide listened with attention to this discourse, and conceived a great idea of the speaker. And as the marchioness had taken care to place him beside her, he leaned towards her and took the liberty of asking who was the man who had spoken so well. "'He is a scholar,' said the lady, "'who does not play, whom the abb sometimes brings to supper. He is perfectly at home among tragedies and books, and he has written a tragedy which was hist, And a book of which nothing has ever been seen outside his bookseller's shop, excepting the copy which he dedicated to me.
The great man, said Candide, he is another Pangloss. Then, turning towards him, he said, Sir, you think, doubtless, that all is for the best in the moral and physical world, and that nothing could be otherwise than it is. Aye, sir, answered the scholar. I know nothing of all that. I find that all goes awry with me, that no one knows either what is his rank nor what is his condition, what he does nor what he ought to do, and that except supper which is always gay, and where there appears to be enough concord, All the rest of the time is passed in impertinent quarrels. Jansenist against Molinist, Parliament against the Church, Men of Letters against Men of Letters, Courtesans against Hortizans, Financiers against the People, Wives against Husbands, Relatives against Relatives.
It is eternal war. "'I have seen the worst,' Candide replied. "'But a wise man, who since has had the misfortune to be hanged, Taught me that all is marvellously well. These are but the shadows on a beautiful picture. Your hanged man mocked the world, said Martin. The shadows are horrible blots. They are men who make the blots, said Candide, and they cannot be dispensed with. It is not their fault, then, said Martin. Most of the punters who understood nothing of this language drank, and Martin reasoned with the scholar, and Candide related some of his adventures to his hostess. After supper, the marchioness took Candide into her boudoir, and made him sit upon a sofa. "'Ah, well,' said she to him, "'you love desperately Miss Cunegonda of Thunder Tin Trunk.' "'Yes, madam,' answered Candide.
The marchioness replied to him with a tender smile. "'You answer me like a young man from Westphalia. A Frenchman would have said, "'It is true that I have loved Miss Coonergonder, but seeing you, madame, I think I no longer love her.'" "'Alas, madame,' said Candide, "'I will answer you as you wish.'" "'Your passion for her,' said the marchioness, commenced by picking up her handkerchief, I wish that you would pick up my garter. "'With all my heart,' said Candide, and he picked it up. "'But I wish that you would put it on,' said the lady, and Candide put it on. "'You see,' said she, "'you are a foreigner. I sometimes make my Parisian lovers languish for fifteen days, but I give myself to you the first night.' Because one must do the honors of one's country to a young man from Westphalia.
The lady, having perceived two enormous diamonds upon the hands of the young foreigner, praised them with such good faith that from Candide's fingers they passed to her own. Candide, returning with the Peregordian Abbey, felt some remorse in having been unfaithful to Miss Cunegonda. The abb sympathized in his trouble. He had had but a light part of the fifty thousand francs lost at play, and of the value of the two brilliants, half-given, half-extorted. His design was to profit as much as he could by the advantages which the acquaintance of Candide could procure for him. He spoke much of Coonagonda, and Candide told him that he should ask forgiveness of that beautiful one for his infidelity when he should see her in Venice.
The Abbe redoubled his politeness and attentions, and took a tender interest in all that Candide said, in all that he did, in all that he wished to do. "'And so, sir, you have a rendezvous at Venice?' "'Yes, monsieur Abbe,' answered Candide. "'It is absolutely necessary that I go to meet Miss Cunegonda.' And then the pleasure of talking of that which he loved induced him to relate, according to his custom, part of his adventures with the fair Westphalian. "'I believe,' said the abbé, "'that Miss Cunegonda has a great deal of wit, and that she writes charming letters.' "'I have never received any from her,' said Candide, "'for, being expelled from the castle on her account, I had not an opportunity for writing to her.' Soon after that I heard she was dead.
Then I found her alive. Then I lost her again. And last of all, I sent an express to her two thousand five hundred leagues from here, and I wait for an answer. The abbe listened attentively, and seemed to be in a brown study. He soon took his leave of the two foreigners after a most tender embrace. The following day, Candide received, on awaking, a letter couched in these terms. My very dear love, for eight days I have been ill in this town. I learned that you are here. I would fly to your arms if I could but move. I was informed of your passage at Bordeaux, where I left Faithful Cacambo and the old woman, who are to follow me very soon. The governor of Buenos Aires has taken all, but there remains to me your heart.
Come, your presence will either give me life or kill me with pleasure. This charming, this unhoped-for letter transported Candide with an inexpressible joy, and the illness of his dear Cunegonda overwhelmed him with grief. Divided between those two passions, he took his gold and his diamonds and hurried away, with Martin, to the hotel where Miss Cunegonda was lodged. He entered her room trembling, his heart palpitating, his voice sobbing. He wished to open the curtains of the bed and ask for a light. "'Take care what you do,' said the servant-maid. "'The light hurts her,' and immediately she drew the curtain again. "'My dear Cunegonda,' said Candide, weeping, "'how are you? If you cannot see me, at least speak to me.' "'She cannot speak,' said the maid.
The lady then put a plump hand out from the bed, and Candide bathed it with his tears, and afterwards filled it with diamonds, leaving a bag of gold upon the easy-chair. In the midst of these transports in came an officer, followed by the abb and a file of soldiers. "'There,' said he, "'are the two suspected foreigners,' and at the same time he ordered them to be seized and carried to prison." "'Travelers are not treated thus in El Dorado,' said Candide. "'I am more a Manichean now than ever,' said Martin. "'But pray, sir, where are you going to carry us?' said Candide." "'Toward Donjon,' answered the officer." Martin, having recovered himself a little, judged that the lady who acted the part of Cunegonda was a cheat, that the Peragordian Abbe was a knave who had imposed upon the honest simplicity of Candide, and that the officer was another knave, whom they might easily silence.
Candide, advised by Martin, and impatient to see the real Cunegonda, rather than expose himself before a court of justice, proposed to the officer to give him three small diamonds, each worth about three thousand pistoles. "'Ah, sir,' said the man with the ivory baton, "'had you committed all the imaginable crimes, you would be to me the most honest man in the world.'" "'Three diamonds!' Each worth three thousand pistoles. Sir, instead of carrying you to jail, I would lose my life to serve you. There are orders for arresting all foreigners, but leave it to me. I have a brother at Dieppe in Normandy. I'll conduct you thither, and if you have a diamond to give him, he'll take as much care of you as I would.
And why, said Candide, should all foreigners be arrested? It is, the Perigordian abb then made answer, because a poor beggar of the country of Aterbatae heard some foolish things said. This induced him to commit a parricide. Not such as that of sixteen ten in the month of May, but such as that of fifteen ninety four in the month of December, and such as others, which have been committed in other years and other months by other poor devils who had heard nonsense spoken. The officer then explained what the Abbe meant. Ah, the monsters, cried Candide. What horrors among a people who dance and sing! Is there no way of getting quickly out of this country, where monkeys provoke tigers? I have seen no bears in my country, but men I have beheld nowhere except in El Dorado.
In the name of God, sir, conduct me to Venice, where I am to await Miss Cunegonda. I can conduct you no further than Lower Normandy, said the officer. Immediately he ordered his irons to be struck off, acknowledged himself mistaken, Sent away his men, set out with Candide and Martin for Dieppe, and left them in the care of his brother. There was then a small Dutch ship in the harbor. The Norman, who by the virtue of three more diamonds had become the most subservient of men, put Candide and his attendants on board a vessel that was just ready to set sail for Portsmouth in England. This was not the way to Venice, but Candide thought he had made his way out of hell, and reckoned that he would soon have an opportunity for resuming his journey.
End chapter 22. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox. Candide by Voltaire. Recorded by Ted DeLorme in Fort Mill, South Carolina during January 2007.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 23 Candide and Martin touched upon the coast of England, and what they saw there. Ah Pangloss, Pangloss, ah Martin, Martin, ah my dear Cooner Gonder, what sort of a world is this? said Candide on board the Dutch ship. Something very foolish and abominable, said Martin. "'You know, England? Are they as foolish there as in France?' "'It is another kind of folly,' said Martin. "'You know that these two nations are at war for a few acres of snow in Canada, and that they spend over this beautiful war much more than Canada is worth.' To tell you exactly whether there are more people fit to send to a madhouse in one country than the other is what my imperfect intelligence will not permit.
I only know in general that the people we are going to see are very atrabilious. Talking thus, they arrived at Portsmouth. The coast was lined with crowds of people, whose eyes were fixed on a fine man kneeling with his eyes bandaged on board one of the men-of-war in the harbor. Four soldiers stood opposite to this man. Each of them fired three balls at his head with all the calmness in the world, and the whole assembly went away very well satisfied. "'What is all this?' said Candide. "'And what demon is it that exercises his empire in this country?' He then asked who was that fine man who had been killed with so much ceremony. They answered he was an admiral. "'And why kill this admiral?' "'It is because he did not kill a sufficient number of men himself.
He gave battle to a French admiral, and it has been proved that he was not near enough to him.' But, replied Candide, the French Admiral was as far from the English Admiral. There is no doubt of it, but in this country it is found good from time to time to kill one Admiral to encourage the others. Candide was so shocked and bewildered by what he saw and heard that he would not set foot on shore, and he made a bargain with the Dutch skipper, were he even to rob him like the Suriname captain, to conduct him without delay to Venice. The skipper was ready in two days. They coasted France. They passed in sight of Lisbon, and Candide trembled. They passed through the Straits, and entered the Mediterranean.
At last they landed at Venice. God be praised, said Candide, embracing Martin. It is here that I shall see again my beautiful Cunegonda. I trust Cacambo as myself. All is well. All will be well. All goes as well as possible.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Twenty Four of Paquette and Friar. Upon their arrival at Venice, Candide went to search for Cacambo at every inn and coffee-house, and among all the ladies of pleasure, but to no purpose. He sent every day to inquire on all ships that came in, but there was no news of Cacambo. What? He said to Martin. I have had time to voyage from Suriname to Bordeaux, to go from Bordeaux to Paris, from Farris to Dieppe, from Dieppe to Portsmouth, to coast along Portugal and Spain, to cross the whole Mediterranean, to spend some months. And yet the beautiful Cunegonda has not arrived. Instead of her, I have only met a Parisian Wintz and a Perigordian Abbe. Cunegonda is dead without doubt.
And there is nothing for me but to die. Alas, how much better it would have been for me to have remained in the paradise of El Dorado than to come back to this cursed Europe. You are in the right, my dear Martin. All is misery and illusion. He fell into a deep melancholy, and neither went to see the opera nor any of the other diversions of the carnival. Nay, he was... Proof against the temptations of all the ladies. "'You are in truth very simple,' said Martin to him. "'If you imagine that a mongrel valet who has five or six million in his pocket will go to the other end of the world to seek your mistress and bring her to you, to Venice. If he find her, he will keep her to himself. If he do not find her, he will get another.' I advise you to forget your valet, Cacambo, and your mistress, Cunagonda.
Martin was not consoling. Candide's melancholy increased, and Martin continued to prove to him that there was very little virtue or happiness upon earth, except perhaps in El Dorado, where nobody could gain admittance. While they were disputing on this important subject, and waiting for Cunegonda, Candide saw a young Theotin friar in St. Mark's Piazza holding a girl on his arm. The Theotin looked fresh-colored, plump, and vigorous. His eyes were sparkling, his air assured, his look lofty, and his step bold. The girl was very pretty, and sang. She looked amorously at her Theotin, and from time to time, Pinched his fat cheeks. "'At least you will allow me,' said Candide to Martin, "'that these two are happy.
Hitherto I have met with none but unfortunate people in the whole habitable globe, except in El Dorado. But as to this pair, I would venture to lay a wager that they are very happy.' "'I lay you they are not,' said Martin. "'We need only ask them to dine with us,' said Candide. "'And you will see whether I am mistaken.' Immediately he accosted them. Presented his compliments, and invited them to his inn to eat some macaroni with Lombard partridges and caviar, and to drink some Montepulciano, Lacrimi Christi, Cyprus, and Samos wine. The girl blushed. The Theotin accepted the invitation, and she followed him, casting her eyes on Candide with confusion and surprise, and dropping a few tears. No sooner had she set foot in Candide's apartment than she cried out, "'Ah, Mr.
Candide does not know Paquette again.' Candide had not viewed her as yet with attention, his thoughts being entirely taken up with Cunegonda, but recollecting her as she spoke. "'Alas,' said he, "'my poor child, it is you who reduced Dr. Pangloss to the beautiful condition in which I saw him.' "'Alas, it was I, sir, indeed,' answered Paquette. I see that you have heard all. I have been informed of the frightful disasters that befell the family of my lady baroness and the fair Cunegonda. I swear to you that my fate has been scarcely less sad. I was very innocent when you knew me. A grey friar who was my confessor easily seduced me. The consequences were terrible. I was obliged to quit the castle some time after the baron had sent you away with kicks on the backside.
If a famous surgeon had not taken compassion on me, I should have died, for some time I was this surgeon's mistress. Merely out of gratitude, his wife, who was mad with jealousy, beat me every day unmercifully. She was a fury. The surgeon was one of the ugliest of men, and I the most wretched. of women, to be continually beaten for a man I did not love. You know, sir, what a dangerous thing it is for an ill-natured woman to be married to a doctor. Incensed at the behavior of his wife, he one day gave her so effectual a remedy to cure her of a slight cold that she died two hours after, in most horrid convulsions. The wife's relations prosecuted the husband. He took flight, and I was thrown into jail.
My innocence would not have saved me if I had not been good-looking. The judge set me free on condition that he succeeded the surgeon. I was soon supplanted by a rival, turned out of doors quite destitute, and obliged to continue this abominable trade. Which appears so pleasant to you men, while to us women it is the utmost abyss of misery. I have come to exercise the profession at Venice. Ah, sir, if you could only imagine what it is to be obliged to caress indifferently an old merchant, a lawyer, a monk, a gondolier, an abb, to be exposed to abuse and insults. To be often reduced to borrowing a petticoat, only to go and have it raised by a disagreeable man, to be robbed by one of what one has earned from another, to be subject to the extortions of the officers of justice, and to have in prospect only a frightful old age, a hospital and a dunghill.
You would conclude that I am one of the most unhappy creatures in the world. Paquette thus opened her heart to honest Candide, in the presence of Martin, who said to his friend, "'You see that already I have won half the wager.' "'Friar Garofale stayed in the dining-room and drank a glass or two of wine while he was waiting for dinner. "'But,' said Candide to Paquette, "'you looked so gay and content when I met you. You sang and you behaved so lovingly to the theatre that you seemed to me as happy—' As you pretend to be now the reverse. "'Ah, sir,' answered Paquette, "'this is one of the miseries of the trade. Yesterday I was robbed and beaten by an officer, yet to-day I must put on good humor to please a friar.' Candide wanted no more convincing.
He owned that Martin was in the right. They sat down to table with Paquette and the Theotin. The repast was entertaining, and towards the end they conversed with all confidence. "'Father,' said Candide to the Friar, "'you appear to me to enjoy a state that all the world might envy. The flower of health shines in your face. Your expression makes plain your happiness. You have a very pretty girl for your recreation, and you seem well satisfied with your state as a theotan.' "'My faith, sir,' said Friar Garofle, I wish that all the theatrans were at the bottom of the sea. I have been tempted a hundred times to set fire to the convent and go and become a Turk. My parents forced me at the age of fifteen to put on this detestable habit, to increase the fortune of a cursed elder brother whom God confound.
Jealousy, discord, and fury dwell in the convent. It is true I have preached a few bad sermons that have brought me in a little money, of which the prior stole half, while the rest serves to maintain my girls. But when I return at night to the monastery, I am ready to dash my head against the walls of the dormitory, and all my fellows are in the same case." Martin turned towards Candide with his usual coolness. "'Well,' said he, "'have I not won the whole wager?' Candide gave two thousand piasters to Parquet, and one thousand to Friar Garofle. "'I'll answer for it,' said he, "'that with this they will be happy.' "'I do not believe it at all,' said Martin. "'You will, perhaps, with these piasters, only render them the more unhappy.' "'Let that be as it may,' said Candide.
But one thing consoles me. I see that we often meet with those whom we expected never to see more, so that, perhaps, as I have found my red sheep and Paquette, it may well be that I shall also find Coonagonda. I wish, said Martin. She may one day make you very happy, but I doubt it very much. You are very hard of belief, said Candide. I have lived, said Martin. "'You see those gondoliers,' said Candide. "'Are they not perpetually singing?' "'You do not see them,' said Martin, "'at home with their wives and brats. The doge has his troubles, the gondoliers have theirs. It is true that all things considered, the life of a gondolier is preferable to that of a doge, but I believe the difference to be so trifling that it is not worth the trouble of examining.' People talk, said Candide, of the senator Pococcurante, who lives in that fine palace on the Brenta, where he entertains foreigners in the politest manner.
They pretend that this man has never felt any uneasiness. I should be glad to see such a rarity, said Martin. Candide immediately sent to ask the Lord Pococcurante permission to wait upon him the next day. End of chapter twenty-four.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter XXV. The Visit to Lord Pococurante, a noble Venetian. Candide and Martin went in a gondola on the Brinta, and arrived at the palace of the noble Signor Pococurante. The gardens, laid out with taste, were adorned with fine marble statues. The palace was beautifully built. The master of the house was a man of sixty, and very rich. He received the two travelers with polite indifference, which put Candide a little out of countenance, but was not at all disagreeable to Martin. First, two pretty girls, very neatly dressed, served them with chocolate, which was frothed exceedingly well. Candide could not refrain from commending their beauty, grace, and address. "'They are good enough creatures,' said the senator.
I make them lie with me sometimes, for I am very tired of the ladies of the town, of their coqueteries, of their jealousies, of their quarrels, of their humours, of their pettinesses, of their prides, of their follies, and of the sonnets which one must make, or have made, for them. But after all, these two girls begin to weary me. After breakfast, Candide, walking into a long gallery, was surprised by the beautiful pictures. He asked, by what master were the two first? "'May I buy Raphael,' said the senator. "'I bought them at a great price out of vanity some years ago. They are said to be the finest things in Italy, but they do not please me at all.' The colors are too dark. The figures are not sufficiently rounded, nor in good relief.
The draperies in no way resemble Stoff's. In a word, whatever may be said, I do not find there a true imitation of nature. I only care for a picture when I think I see nature itself, and there are none of this sort. I have a great many pictures, but I prize them very little. While they were waiting for dinner, Pococcurante ordered a concert. Candide found the music delicious. "'This noise,' said the senator, "'may amuse one for half an hour, but if it were to last longer, it would grow tiresome to everybody, though they durst not own it.'" Music to-day is only the art of executing difficult things, and that which is only difficult cannot please long. Perhaps I should be fonder of the opera if they had not found the secret of making of it a monster which shocks me.
Let who will go to see bad tragedy set to music, where the scenes are contrived for no other end than to introduce two or three songs ridiculously out of place to show off an actress's voice. Let who will, or who can, Die away with pleasure at the sight of a eunuch quavering the rule of Caesar or of Cato, and strutting awkwardly upon the stage. For my part, I have long since renounced those paltry entertainments which constitute the glory of modern Italy, and are purchased so dearly by sovereigns. Candide disputed the point a little, but with discretion. Martin was entirely of the senator's opinion. They sat down to table, and after an excellent dinner they went into the library. Candide, seeing a homer magnificently bound, commended the virtuoso on his good taste.
"'There,' said he, "'is a book that was once the delight of the great Pangloss, the best philosopher in Germany.' "'It is not mine,' answered Pococurante coolly. They used it one time to make me believe that I took a pleasure in reading him. But what continual repetition of battles so extremely like one another, those gods that are always active without doing anything decisive, that Helen who is the cause of the war, and who yet scarcely appears in the peace, that Troy so long besieged without being taken, all these together caused me great weariness. I have sometimes asked learned men whether they were not as weary as I of that work. Those who were sincere have owned to me that the poem made them fall asleep.
Yet it was necessary to have it in their library as a monument of antiquity, or like those rusty medals which are no longer of use in commerce. But Your Excellency does not think thus of Virgil, said Candide. I grant, said the senator, that the second, fourth, and sixth books of his Aenid are excellent. But as for his pious Aeneas, his strong Cloanthus, his friend Acates, his little Asenius, his silly King Latinus, his bourgeois Amata, his insipid Lavinia, I think there can be nothing more flat and disagreeable. I prefer Tasso a good deal, or even the soporific tales of Ariosto. May I presume to ask you, sir, said Candide, whether you do not receive a great deal of pleasure from reading Horace?
There are maxims in this writer, answered Pococurante, from which a man of the world may reap great benefit, and being written in energetic verse, they are more easily impressed upon the memory, But I care little for this journey to Brundusium, and his account of a bad dinner, or of his low quarrel between one Rupilius, whose words he says were full of poisonous filth, and another whose language was imbued with vinegar. I have read with much distaste his indelicate verses against old women and witches, Nor do I see any merit in telling his friend, Maecenas, that if he will but rank him in the choir of lyric poets, his lofty head shall touch the stars. Fools admire everything in an author of reputation.
For my part I read only to please myself. I like only that which serves my purpose. Candide, having been educated never to judge for himself, was much surprised at what he heard. Martin found there was a good deal of reason in Pococurante's remarks. "'Oh, here is Cicero,' said Candide. "'Here is the great man whom I fancy you are never tired of reading.' "'I never read him,' replied the Venetian. "'What is it to me whether he pleads for Rabirius or Cluentius? I try causes enough myself.' His philosophical work seemed to me better, but when I found that he doubted of everything, I concluded that I knew as much as he, and that I had no need of a guide to learn ignorance. "'Ah! Here are fourscore volumes of the Academy of Sciences,' cried Martin.
"'Perhaps there is something valuable in this collection.' There might be, said Pococcurante, if only one of those rakers of rubbish had shown how to make pins. But in all these volumes there is nothing but chimerical systems, and not a single useful thing. And what dramatic works I see here, said Candide, in Italian, Spanish, and French. Yes, replied the senator, there are three thousand, and not three dozen of them good for anything. As to those collections of sermons which altogether are not worth a single page of Seneca, and those huge volumes of theology, you may well imagine that neither I nor anyone else ever opens them. Martin saw some shelves filled with English books. I have a notion, said he, that a Republican must be greatly pleased with most of these books, which are written with a spirit of freedom.
Yes, answered Pococcurante. It is noble to write as one thinks. This is the privilege of humanity. In all our Italy we write only what we do not think. Those who inhabit the country of the Caesars and the Antoninuses dare not acquire a single idea without the permission of a Dominican friar. I should be pleased with the liberty which inspires the English genius, if— Passion and party spirit did not corrupt all that is estimable in this precious liberty. Candide, observing a Milton, asked whether he did not look upon this author as a great man. Who, said Pococurante, that barbarian who writes a long commentary in ten books of harsh verse on the first chapter of Genesis? That coarse imitator of the Greeks, who disfigures a creation, and who, while Moses represents the Eternal, producing the world by a word, makes the Messiah take a great pair of compasses from the armory of heaven to circumscribe his work.
How can I have any esteem for a writer who has spoiled Tasso's Hell and the Devil, who transforms Lucifer sometimes into a toad and other times into a pygmy, who makes him repeat the same things a hundred times, who makes him dispute on theology, who, by a serious imitation of Ariosto's comic invention of firearms, represents the Devil's cannonading in Heaven. Neither I nor any man in Italy could take pleasure in those melancholy extravagances, and the marriage of sin and death, and the snakes brought forth by sin, are enough to turn the stomach of any one with the least taste, and his long description of a pest-house is good only for a grave-digger. This obscure, whimsical, and disagreeable poem was despised upon its first publication, and I only treat it now as it was treated in its own country by contemporaries.
For the matter of that, I say what I think, and I care very little whether others think as I do. Candide was grieved at this speech, for he had a respect for Homer, and was fond of Milton. "'Alas,' said he softly to Martin, I am afraid that this man holds our German poets in very great contempt. "'There would not be much harm in that,' said Martin. "'Oh, what a superior man,' said Candide, below his breath. "'What a great genius is this Pococurante. Nothing can please him.' After their survey of the library, they went down into the garden, where Candide praised its several beauties. "'I know of nothing in so bad a taste,' said the master. "'All you see here is merely trifling. After tomorrow I will have it planted with a nobler design.' "'Well,' said Candide to Martin, when they had taken their leave, "'you will agree that this is the happiest of mortals, for he is above everything he possesses.' "'But do you not see,' answered Martin, "'that he is disgusted with all he possesses?' Plato observed a long while ago that those stomachs are not the best that reject all sorts of food.
"'But is there not a pleasure,' said Candide, "'in criticizing everything, in pointing out faults where others see nothing but beauties?' "'That is to say,' replied Martin, "'that there is some pleasure in having no pleasure.' "'Well,' Well, said Candide, I find that I shall be the only happy man when I am blessed with the sight of my dear Cunegonda. It is always well to hope, said Martin. However the days and the weeks passed. Cacambo did not come, and Candide was so overwhelmed with grief that he did not even reflect that Paquette and Friar Garofle did not return to thank him. End of chapter 25. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org.
Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Twenty Six of a Supper which Candide and Martin took with six strangers and who they were. One evening that Candide and Martin were going to sit down to supper with some foreigners who lodged in the same inn, a man whose complexion was as black as soot came behind Candide, and taking him by the arm said, Get yourself ready to go along with us. Do not fail. Upon this he turned round and saw Cacambo. Nothing but the sight of Coonagonda could have astonished and delighted him more. He was on the point of going mad with joy. He embraced his dear friend. Coonagonda is here without doubt. Where is she? Take me to her, that I may die of joy in her company. Cunagonda is not here, said Cacambo.
She is at Constantinople. Oh, heavens, at Constantinople! But were she in China, I would fly thither. Let us be off. We shall set out after supper, replied Cacambo. I can tell you nothing more. I am a slave. My master awaits me. I must serve him at table. Speak not a word. Eat, and then get ready. Candide, distracted between joy and grief, delighted at seeing his faithful agent again, astonished at finding him a slave, filled with the fresh hope of recovering his mistress, his heart palpitating, his understanding confused, sat down to table with Martin, who saw all these scenes quite unconcerned, and with six strangers who had come to spend the carnival at Venice. Cacambo waited at table upon one of the strangers.
Towards the end of the entertainment, he drew near his master and whispered in his ear, "'Sire, your majesty may start when you please. The vessel is ready.' On saying these words, he went out. The company, in great surprise, looked at one another without speaking a word, when another domestic approached his master and said to him, "'Sire, your majesty's chaise is at Padua.' And the boat is ready. The master gave a nod, and the servant went away. The company all stared at one another again, and their surprise redoubled. A third valet came up to a third stranger, saying, "'Sire, believe me, your majesty ought not to stay here any longer. I am going to get everything ready.' And immediately he disappeared.
Candide and Martin did not doubt that this was a masquerade of the carnival. Then a fourth domestic said to a fourth master, Your Majesty may depart when you please. Saying this, he went away like the rest. The fifth valet said the same thing to the fifth master, but the sixth valet spoke differently to the sixth stranger, who sat near Candide. He said to him, Faith, sir, They will no longer give credit to your majesty nor to me, and we may perhaps both of us be put in jail this very night. Therefore I will take care of myself. Adieu. The servants being all gone, the six strangers with Candide and Martin remained in a profound silence. At length Candide broke in. Gentlemen, said he, this is a very good joke indeed, but why should you all be kings?
For me, I own that neither Martin nor I is a king. Cacambo's master then gravely answered an Italian, I am not joking. My name is Achmet III. I was a great sultan many years. I dethroned my brother, my nephew dethroned me, my vizirs were beheaded, and I am condemned to end my days in the old Seraglio. My nephew, the great Sultan Mahmud, permits me to travel sometimes for my health, and I am come to spend the carnival at Venice. A young man who sat next to Achmed spoke then as follows. My name is Ivan. I was once emperor of all the Russias, but was dethroned in my cradle. My parents were confined in prison, and I was educated there. Yet I am sometimes allowed to travel in company with persons who act as guards, and I am come to spend the carnival at Venice.
The third said, I am Charles Edward, King of England. My father has resigned all his legal rights to me. I have fought in defense of them, and above eight hundred of my adherents have been hanged, drawn, and quartered. I have been confined in prison. I am going to Rome to pay a visit to the king, my father, who was dethroned as well as myself and my grandfather, and I am come to spend carnival at Venice. The fourth spoke thus in his turn. I am the king of Poland. The fortune of war has stripped me of my hereditary dominions. My father underwent the same vicissitudes. I resign myself to providence in the same manner as Sultan Achmet, the Emperor Ivan, and King Charles Edward, whom God long preserve, and I am come to the Carnival at Venice.
The fifth said, I am King of Poland also. I have been twice dethroned, but Providence has given me another country, where I have done more good than all the Sarmatian kings were ever capable of doing on the banks of the Vistula. I resign myself likewise to Providence, and am come to pass the conval at Venice. It was now the sixth monarch's turn to speak. Gentlemen, said he, I am not so great a prince as any of you. However, I am a king. I am Theodore, elected king of Corsica. I had the title of Majesty, and now I am scarcely treated as a gentleman. I have coined money, and now I am not worth a farthing. I have had two secretaries of state, and now I have scarce a valet. I have seen myself on a throne, and I have seen myself upon straw in a common jail in London.
I am afraid that I shall meet with the same treatment here, though, like your majesties, I am come to see the carnival at Venice. The other five kings listened to this speech with generous compassion. Each of them gave twenty sequins to King Theodore to buy him clothes and linen. And Candide made him a present of a diamond worth two thousand sequins. "'Who can this private person be?' said the five kings to one another, "'who is able to give, and really has given, "'a hundred times as much as any of us.' Just as they rose from the table, in came four serene highnesses who had also been stripped of their territories by the fortune of war, and were come to spend the carnival at Venice. But Candide paid no regard to these newcomers.
His thoughts were entirely employed on his voyage to Constantinople in search of his beloved Cunegonda. End of chapter twenty six. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire.
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CANDIDE'S VOYAGE TO CONSTANTINOPLE. The faithful Cacambo had already prevailed upon the Turkish skipper, who was to conduct the sultan Achmet to Constantinople to receive Candide and Martin on his ship. They both embarked after having made their obeisance to his miserable highness. You see," said Candide to Martin on the way, "'we supped with six dethroned kings, and of those six there was one to whom I gave charity. Perhaps there are many other princes yet more unfortunate. For my part I have only lost a hundred sheep, and now I am flying into Cunegonda's arms. My dear Martin, yet once more Pangloss was right. All is for the best.' "'I wish it,' answered Martin. But, said Candide, it was a very strange adventure we met with at Venice.
It has never before been seen or heard that six dethroned kings have supped together at a public inn. It is not more extraordinary, said Martin, than most of the things that have happened to us. It is a very common thing for kings to be dethroned, and as for the honor we have had of supping in their company, it is a trifle not worth our attention. No sooner had Candide got on board the vessel than he flew to his old valet and friend Cacambo, and tenderly embraced him. Well, said he, what news of Cunegonda? Is she still a prodigy of beauty? Does she love me still? How is she? Thou hast doubtless bought her a palace at Constantinople. "'My dear master,' answered Cacambo, "'Cunagonda washes dishes on the banks of the Propontis, in the service of a prince who has very few dishes to wash.
She is a slave in the family of an ancient sovereign named Ragotsky, to whom the Grand Turk allows three crowns a day in his exile.' But what is worse still is that she has lost her beauty, and has become horribly ugly. Well, handsome or ugly, replied Candide, I am a man of honor, and it is my duty to love her still. But how came she to be reduced to so abject a state with the five or six millions that you took to her? Ah, said Cucumbo, Was I not to give two millions to signor Don Fernando de Ibarra y Figueroa y Mascarenes y Lampordos y Susa, governor of Buenos Aires, for permitting Miss Cunegonda to come away? And did not a corsair bravely rob us of all the rest? Did not this corsair carry us to Cape Matapan, to Milo, to Nicaria, to Samos, to Petra, to the Dardanelles, to Marmora, to Scutari?
Cunegonda and the old woman served the prince I now mention to you, and I am slave to the dethroned sultan. "'What a series of shocking calamities!' cried Candide. "'But after all, I have some diamonds left, and I may easily pay Cunegonda's ransom. Yet it is a pity that she has grown so ugly.' Then, turning towards Martin, who do you think, said he, is most to be pitied, the Sultan Achmet, the Emperor Ivan, King Charles Edward, or I? How should I know? answered Martin. I must see into your hearts, to be able to tell. Ah, said Candide, if Pangloss were here, he could tell. "'I know not,' said Parton, "'in what sort of scales your Pangloss would weigh the misfortunes of mankind, and set a just estimate on their sorrows.
All that I can presume to say is that there are millions of people upon earth who have a hundred times more to complain of than King Charles Edward, the Emperor Ivan, or the Sultan Achmet.' "'That may well be,' said Candide.' In a few days they reached the Bosphorus, and Candide began by paying a very high ransom for Cacambo. Then, without losing time, he and his companions went on board a galley in order to search on the banks of the Propontis for his Cunegonda, however ugly she might have become. Among the crew there were two slaves who rode very badly, and to whose bare shoulders the Levantine captain would now and then apply blows from a bull's-pizzle. Candide, from a natural impulse, looked at these two slaves more attentively than at the other oarsmen, and approached them with pity.
Their features, though greatly disfigured, had a slight resemblance to those of Pangloss and the unhappy Jesuit and Westphalian Baron, brother to Miss Cunegonda. This moved and saddened him. He looked at them still more attentively. Indeed, said he to Cacambo, if I had not seen Master Pangloss hanged, and if I had not had the misfortune to kill the Baron, I should think it was they that were rowing. At the names of the baron and of Pangloss, the two galley-slaves uttered a loud cry, held fast by the seat, and let drop their oars. The captain ran up to them and redoubled his blows with the bull's pistol. "'Stop, stop, sir,' cried Candide. "'I will give you what money you please.' "'What? It is Candide!' said one of the slaves.
"'What? It is Candide!' said the other. Do I dream, cried Candide, or am I awake, or am I on board a galley? Is this the Baron whom I killed? Is this Master Pangloss whom I saw hanged? It is we, it is we, answered they. Well, is this the great philosopher, said Martin. Ah, Captain, said Candide, what ransom will you take for Monsieur de Thundertentrunk, one of the first barons of the empire, and for Monsieur Pangloss, the profoundest metaphysician in Germany? Dog of a Christian, answered the Levantine captain. Since these two dogs of Christian slaves are barons and metaphysicians, which I doubt not are high dignities in their country, you shall give me fifty thousand sequins. "'You shall have them, sir.
Carry me back at once to Constantinople, and you shall receive the money directly. But no, carry me first to Miss Cunegonda.' Upon the first proposal made by Candide, however, the Levantine captain had already tacked about, and made the crew ply their oars quicker than a bird cleaves the air. Candide embraced the Baron and Pangloss a hundred times. And how happened it, my dear baron, that I did not kill you? And, my dear Pangloss, how came you to life again after being hanged? And why are you both in a Turkish galley? "'And it is true that my dear sister is in this country?' said the baron. "'Yes,' answered Cacambo. "'Then I behold once more my dear Candide!' cried Pangloss. Candide presented Martin and Cacambo to them.
They embraced each other, and all spoke at once. The galley flew. They were already in the port. Instantly Candide sent for a Jew, to whom he sold for fifty thousand sequins, a diamond worth a hundred thousand, though the fellow swore to him by Abraham that he could give him no more. He immediately paid the ransom for the baron and Pangloss. The latter threw himself at the feet of his deliverer, and bathed them with his tears. The former thanked him with a nod, and promised to return him the money on the first opportunity. "'But it is indeed possible that my sister can be in Turkey,' said he. "'Nothing is more possible,' said Cacambo, "'since she scours the dishes in the service of a Transylvanian prince.' Candide sent directly for two Jews, and sold them some more diamonds, and then they all set out together in another galley to deliver Cunegonda from slavery.
End chapter XXVII This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Twenty Eight What Happened to Candide, Cunegonda, Pangloss, Martin, etc. I ask your pardon once more, said Candide to the Baron. Your pardon, Reverend Father, for having run you through the body. Say no more about it, answered the baron. I was a little too hasty, I own, but since you wish to know by what fatality I came to be a galley slave, I will inform you. After I had been cured by the surgeon of the college of the wound you gave me, I was attacked and carried off by a party of Spanish troops who confined me in prison at Buenos Aires at the very time my sister was setting out thence. I asked leave to return to Rome to the general of my order. I was appointed chaplain to the French ambassador at Constantinople.
I had not been eight days in this employment when one evening I met with a young Ichoglan, who was a very handsome fellow. The weather was warm, the young man wanted to bathe, and I took this opportunity of bathing also. I did not know that it was a capital crime for a Christian to be found naked with a young mussulman. A cadi ordered me a hundred blows on the soles of the feet, and condemned me to the galleys. I do not think there ever was a greater act of injustice, but I should be glad to know how my sister came to be a scullion to a Transylvanian prince who has taken shelter among the Turks. "'But you, my dear Pangloss,' said Candide, "'how can it be that I behold you again?' "'It is true,' said Pangloss, "'that you saw me hanged.
I should have been burnt, but you may remember it rained exceedingly hard when they were going to roast me. The storm was so violent that they despaired of lighting the fire, so I was hanged because they could do no better. A surgeon purchased my body, carried me home, and dissected me.' He began with making a crucial incision on me from the navel to the clavicula. One could not have been worse hanged than I was. The executioner of the Holy Inquisition was a subdeacon, and knew how to burn people marvellously well, but he was not accustomed to hanging. The cord was wet and did not slip properly, and besides it was badly tied. In short, I still drew my breath when the crucial incision made me give such a frightful scream that my surgeon fell flat upon his back, and imagining that he had been dissecting the devil, he ran away, dying with fear, and fell down the staircase in his flight.
His wife, hearing the noise, Flew from the next room. She saw me stretched out upon the table with my crucial incision. She was seized with yet greater fear than her husband, fled, and tumbled over him. When they came to themselves a little, I heard the wife say to her husband, "'My dear, how could you take it into your head to dissect a heretic? Do you not know that these people always have the devil in their bodies?' I will go and fetch a priest this minute to exercise him. At this proposal I shuddered, and, mustering up what little courage I had still remaining, I cried out aloud, "'Have mercy on me!' At length the Portuguese barber plucked up his spirits. He sewed up my wounds. His wife even nursed me.
I was upon my legs at the end of fifteen days." The barber found me a place as lackey to a knight of Malta who was going to Venice, but finding that my master had no money to pay me my wages, I entered the service of a Venetian merchant, and went with him to Constantinople. One day I took it into my head to step into a mosque, where I saw an old iman with a very pretty young devotee who was saying her paternosters. Her bosom was uncovered, and between her breasts she had a beautiful bouquet of tulips, roses, anemones, ranunculus, hyacinths, and auriculas. She dropped her bouquet. I picked it up, and presented it to her with a profound reverence. I was so long in delivering it that the iman began to get angry, and seeing that I was a Christian, he called out for help.
They carried me before the cadi, who ordered me a hundred lashes on the soles of the feet, and sent me to the galleys. I was chained to the very same galley and the same bench as the young baron. On board this galley there were four young men from Marseilles, five Neapolitan priests, and two monks from Corfu, who told us similar adventures happened daily. The Baron maintained that he had suffered greater injustice than I, and I insisted that it was far more innocent to take up a bouquet and place it again on a woman's bosom than to be found stark naked with an Ichiglan. We were continually disputing, and received twenty lashes with a bull's-pizzle when the concatenation of universal events brought you to our galley, and you were good enough to ransom us.
"'Well, my dear Pangloss,' said Candide to him, "'when you had been hanged, dissected, whipped, and were tugging at the oar, did you always think that everything happens for the best?' I am still of my first opinion, answered Pangloss, for I am a philosopher, and I cannot retract, especially as Leibniz could never be wrong. And besides, the pre-established harmony is the finest thing in the world, and so is his plenum and materiae subtylus. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Candide by Voltaire. Read by Ted DeLorme in Fort Mill, S.C. During January, 2007.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter Twenty-Nine. How Candide found Kunaganda and the old woman again. While Candide, the baron Pangloss, Martin, and Cacambo were relating their several adventures, were reasoning on the contingent or non-contingent events of the universe, disputing on effects and causes, on moral and physical evil, on liberty and necessity, and on the consolations a slave may feel even on a Turkish galley. They arrived at the house of the Transylvanian prince on the banks of the Propontis. The first objects which met their sight were Coonagonda and the old woman, hanging towels out to dry. The Baron paled at this sight. The tender, loving Candide, seeing his beautiful Coonagonda embrowned with bloodshot eyes, withered neck, wrinkled cheeks, and rough red arms, recoiled three paces, seized with horror, and then advanced out of good manners.
She embraced Candide and her brother, they embraced the old woman, and Candide ransomed them both. There was a small farm in the neighborhood which the old woman proposed to Candide to make a shift with till the company could be provided for in a better manner. Cunegonda did not know she had grown ugly, for nobody had told her of it, and she reminded Candide of his promise in so positive a tone that the good man durst not refuse her. He therefore intimated to the baron that he intended marrying his sister. "'I will not suffer,' said the baron. "'Such meanness on her part, and such insolence on yours.' "'I will never be reproached with this scandalous thing. My sister's children would never be able to enter the church in Germany.
No, my sister shall only marry a baron of the empire.' Kunagonda flung herself at his feet, and bathed them with her tears. Still he was inflexible. "'Thou foolish fellow,' said Candide, "'I have delivered thee out of the galleys. I have paid thy ransom, and thy sisters also. She was a scullion, and is very ugly. Yet I am so condescending as to marry her. And dost thou pretend to oppose the match? I should kill thee again, were I only to consult my anger.' Thou mayest kill me again, said the baron, but thou shalt not marry my sister, at least whilst I am living. End of chapter twenty-nine. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org.
Candide by Voltaire.
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Candide by Voltaire. Chapter 30. The Conclusion. At the bottom of his heart, Candide had no wish to marry Cunegonda, but the extreme impertinence of the baron determined him to conclude the match, and Cunegonda pressed him so strongly that he could not go from his word. He consulted Pangloss, Martin, and the faithful Cacambo. Pangloss drew up an excellent memorial wherein he proved that the baron had no right over his sister, and that according to all the laws of the empire she might marry Candide with her left hand. Martin was for throwing the baron into the sea. Cacambo decided that it would be better to deliver him up again to the captain of the galley, after which they thought to send him back to the general father of the order at Rome by the first ship.
This advice was well received. The old woman approved it. They said not a word to his sister. The thing was executed for a little money, and they had the double pleasure of entrapping a Jesuit and punishing the pride of a German baron. It is natural to imagine that after so many disasters, Candide married, and living with the philosopher Pangloss, the philosopher Martin, the prudent Cacambo, and the old woman, having besides brought so many diamonds from the country of the ancient Incas, must have led a very happy life. But he was so much imposed upon by the Jews that he had nothing left except his small farm. His wife became uglier every day, more peevish and unsupportable. The old woman was infirm, and even more fretful than Cunegonda.
Cacambo, who worked in the garden and took vegetables for sale to Constantinople, was fatigued with hard work, and cursed his destiny. Pangloss was in despair at not shining in some German university. For Martin, he was firmly persuaded that he would be as badly off elsewhere, and therefore bore things patiently. Candide, Martin, and Pangloss sometimes disputed about morals and metaphysics. They often saw passing under the windows of their farm boats full of effindies, pashas, and caddies, who were going into banishment to Lemnos, Mytilene, or Erzurum. And they saw other caddies, pashas, and effindies Coming to supply the place of the exiles, and afterwards exiled in their turn. They saw heads decently impaled for presentation to the sublime porte.
Such spectacles as these increased the number of their dissertations, and when they did not dispute, time hung so heavily upon their hands that one day the old woman ventured to say to them, I want to know which is worth. To be ravished a hundred times by Negro pirates, to have a buttock cut off, to run the gauntlet among the Bulgarians, to be whipped and hanged at an auto-dofay, to be dissected, to row in the galleys, in short, to go through all the miseries we have undergone, or to stay here and have nothing to do? It is a great question, said Candide. This discourse gave rise to new reflections, and Martin especially concluded that man was born to live either in a state of distracting inquietude or of lethargic disgust.
Candide did not quite agree to that, but he affirmed nothing. Pangloss owned that he had always suffered horribly, but as he had once asserted that everything went wonderfully well, he asserted it still. Though he no longer believed it. What helped to confirm Martin in his detestable principles, to stagger Candide more than ever, and to puzzle Pangloss, was that one day they saw Paquette and Friar Garofale land at the farm in extreme misery. They had soon squandered their three thousand piastres, parted, were reconciled, Quarrelled again, were thrown into jail, had escaped, and Friar Garofale had at length become Turk. Paquette continued her trade, wherever she went, but made nothing of it. "'I foresaw,' said Martin de Candide, "'that your presents would soon be dissipated, but only make them the more miserable.' You have rolled in millions of money, you and Cacambo, and yet you are not happier than Frayer Garofale and Paquette.
"'Ha!' said Pangloss to Paquette. "'Providence has then brought you amongst us again, my poor child. Do you know that you cost me the tip of my nose, an eye, and an ear, as you may see? What a world this is!' And now this new adventure set them philosophizing more than ever. In the neighborhood there lived a very famous dervish who was esteemed the best philosopher in all Turkey, and they went to consult him. Pangloss was the speaker. Master, said he, we come to beg you to tell why so strange an animal as man was made. "'With what medallest thou?' said the dervish. "'Is it thy business?' "'But, reverend father,' said Candide, "'there is horrible evil in this world.' "'What signifies it?' said the dervish.
"'Whether there be evil or good. "'When his highness sends a ship to Egypt, "'does he trouble his head, "'whether the mice on board are at their ease or not?' "'What, then, must we do?' said Pangloss. "'Hold your tongue,' answered the dervish. "'I was in hopes,' said Pangloss, "'that I should reason with you a little about causes and effects, about the best of possible worlds, the origin of evil, the nature of the soul, and a pre-established harmony.' At these words the dervish shut the door in their faces. During this conversation, the news was spread that two viziers and the Mufti had been strangled at Constantinople, and that several of their friends had been impaled. This catastrophe made a great noise for some hours.
Pangloss, Candide, and Martin, returning to the little farm, saw a good old man taking the fresh air at his door under an orange bower. Pangloss, who was as inquisitive as he was argumentative, asked the old man what was the name of the strangled mufti. "'I do not know,' answered the worthy man. "'And I have not known the name of any mufti, nor of any vizier. I am entirely ignorant of the event you mention.' I presume, in general, that they who meddle with the administration of public affairs die sometimes miserably, and that they deserve it. But I never trouble my head about what is transacting at Constantinople. I content myself with sending there for sale the fruits of the garden which I cultivate.
Having said these words, he invited the strangers into his house. His two sons and two daughters presented them with several sorts of sherbet, which they made themselves, with kymak, enriched with the candied peel of citrons, with oranges, lemons, pineapples, pistachio-nuts, and mocha coffee, unadulterated with the bad coffee of Batavia or the American Islands, after which the two daughters of the honest mussulman perfumed the stranger's beards. "'You must have a vast and magnificent estate,' said Candide to the Turk. "'I have only twenty acres,' replied the man. "'I and my children cultivate them. Our labor preserves us from three great evils—weariness, vice, and want.' Candide, on his way home, made profound reflections on the old man's conversation.
This honest Turk," said he to Pangloss and Martin, "'seems to be in a situation far preferable to that of the six kings with whom we had the honor of supping.' Grandeur," said Pangloss, "'is extremely dangerous according to the testimony of philosophers. For, in short, Eglon, king of Moab, was assassinated by Ehud. Absalom was hung by his hair and pierced with three darts. King Nadab, son of Jeroboam, was killed by Barca, King Elah by Zimri, Ahaziah by Jehu, Athaliah by Jehoiada. The kings Jehoakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah were led into captivity. You know how perished Croesus, Astyages, Darius, Dernitius of Syracuse, Pyrrhus, Perseus, Hannibal, Jugurta, Ariovistus, Caesar, Pompey, Nero, Otho, Vitellius, Domitian, Richard, the Second of England, Edward, the Second, Henry, the Sixth, Richard, the Third, Mary Stuart, Charles, the First, the Three Henrys of France, the Emperor Henry, the Fourth.
You know. I also know, said Candide, that we must cultivate our garden. "'You are right,' said Pangloth. "'For when man was first placed in the Garden of Eden, he was put there out operative him, that he might cultivate it, which shows that man was not born to be idle.' "'Let us work,' said Martin. "'Without disputing it, it is the only way to render life tolerable.' The whole little society entered into this laudable design, according to their different abilities. Their little plot of land produced plentiful crops. Cunegonda was, indeed, very ugly, but she became an excellent pastry-cook. Paquette worked at embroidery. The old woman looked after the linen. They were all, not excepting Friar Garofle, of some service or other.
For he made a good joiner, and became a very honest man. Pangloss sometimes said to Candide, "'There is a concatenation of events in this best of all possible worlds, for if you had not been kicked out of a magnificent castle for love of Miss Coonagonda, if you had not been put into the Inquisition, if you had not walked over America, If you had not stabbed the baron, if you had not lost all your sheep from the fine country of El Dorado, you would not be here eating preserved citrons and pistachio-nuts. All that is very well, answered Candide. But let us cultivate our garden.
End of the book. Candide by Voltaire. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit Thank you for listening.