WHAT BEFELL CANDIDE AND MARTIN ON THEIR
PASSAGE
The old philosopher, whose name was Martin, took shipping with Candide
for Bordeaux. Both had seen and suffered a great deal, and had the ship
been going from Surinam to Japan round the Cape of Good Hope, they
could have found sufficient entertainment for each other during the whole
voyage, in discoursing upon moral and natural evil.
Candide, however, had one advantage over Martin: he lived in the pleasing
hopes of seeing Miss Cunegonde once more; whereas, the poor
philosopher had nothing to hope for. Besides, Candide had money and
jewels, and, not withstanding he had lost a hundred red sheep laden with the
greatest treasure outside of El Dorado, and though he still smarted from the
reflection of the Dutch skipper's knavery, yet when he considered what he
had still left, and repeated the name of Cunegonde, especially after meal
times, he inclined to Pangloss's doctrine.
"And pray", said he to Martin, "what is your opinion of the whole of this
system? What notion have you of moral and natural evil?"
"Sir", replied Martin, "our priest accused me of being a Socinian; but the
real truth is, I am a Manichaean."
"Nay, now you are jesting", said Candide; "there are no Manichaeans
existing at present in the world."
"And yet I am one", said Martin; "but I cannot help it. I cannot for the soul of
me think otherwise."
"Surely the Devil must be in you", said Candide.
"He concerns himself so much", replied Martin, "in the affairs of this world
that it is very probable he may be in me as well as everywhere else; but I
must confess, when I cast my eye on this globe, or rather globule, I cannot
help thinking that God has abandoned it to some malignant being. I always
except El Dorado. I scarce ever knew a city that did not wish the destruction
of its neighboring city; nor a family that did not desire to exterminate some
other family. The poor in all parts of the world bear an inveterate hatred to
the rich, even while they creep and cringe to them; and the rich treat the
poor like sheep, whose wool and flesh they barter for money; a million of
regimented assassins traverse Europe from one end to the other, to get
their bread by regular depredation and murder, because it is the most
gentlemanlike profession. Even in those cities which seem to enjoy the
blessings of peace, and where the arts flourish, the inhabitants are
devoured with envy, care, and inquietudes, which are greater plagues than
any experienced in a town besieged. Private chagrins are still more dreadful
than public calamities. In a word", concluded the philosopher, "I have seen
and suffered so much that I am a Manichaean."
"And yet there is some good in the world", replied Candide.
"Maybe so", said Martin, "but it has escaped my knowledge."
While they were deeply engaged in this dispute they heard the report of
cannon, which redoubled every moment. Each took out his glass, and they
spied two ships warmly engaged at the distance of about three miles. The
wind brought them both so near the French ship that those on board her
had the pleasure of seeing the fight with great ease. After several smart
broadsides the one gave the other a shot between wind and water which
sunk her outright. Then could Candide and Martin plainly perceive a
hundred men on the deck of the vessel which was sinking, who, with hands
uplifted to Heaven, sent forth piercing cries, and were in a moment
swallowed up by the waves.
"Well", said Martin, "you now see in what manner mankind treat one
another."
"It is certain", said Candide, "that there is something diabolical in this
affair." As he was speaking thus he spied something of a shining red hue,
which swam close to the vessel. The boat was hoisted out to see what it
might be, when it proved to be one of his sheep. Candide felt more joy at
the recovery of this one animal than he did grief when he lost the other
hundred, though laden with the large diamonds of El Dorado.
The French captain quickly perceived that the victorious ship belonged to
the crown of Spain; that the other was a Dutch pirate, and the very same
captain who had robbed Candide. The immense riches which this villain had
amassed, were buried with him in the deep, and only this one sheep saved
out of the whole.
"You see", said Candide to Martin, "that vice is sometimes punished. This
villain, the Dutch skipper, has met with the fate he deserved."
"Very true", 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 cruise, and Candide and
Martin their conversation. They disputed fourteen days successively, at the
end of which they were just as far advanced as the first moment they
began. However, they had the satisfaction of disputing, of communicating
their ideas, and of mutually comforting each other. Candide embraced his
sheep with transport.
"Since I have found thee again", said he, "I may possibly find my
Cunegonde once more."