IN WHAT MANNER CANDIDE FOUND MISS CUNEGONDE
AND THE OLD WOMAN AGAIN
While Candide, the Baron, Pangloss, Martin, and Cacambo, were relating
their several adventures, and reasoning on the contingent or noncontingent
events of this world; on causes and effects; on moral and physical evil; on
free will and necessity; and on the consolation that may be felt by a person
when a slave and chained to an oar in a Turkish galley, they arrived at the
house of the Transylvanian prince on the shores of the Propontis. The first
objects they beheld there, were Miss Cunegonde and the old woman, who
were hanging some tablecloths on a line to dry.
The Baron turned pale at the sight. Even the tender Candide, that
affectionate lover, upon seeing his fair Cunegonde all sunburned, with
bleary eyes, a withered neck, wrinkled face and arms, all covered with a red
scurf, started back with horror; but, not withstanding, recovering himself, he
advanced towards her 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 shift with till the company should meet with a more
favorable destiny. Cunegonde, not knowing that she was grown ugly, as no
one had informed her of it, reminded Candide of his promise in so
peremptory a manner, that the simple lad did not dare to refuse her; he then
acquainted the Baron that he was going to marry his sister.
"I will never suffer", said the Baron, "my sister to be guilty of an action so
derogatory to her birth and family; nor will I bear this insolence on your
part. No, I never will be reproached that my nephews are not qualified for
the first ecclesiastical dignities in Germany; nor shall a sister of mine ever
be the wife of any person below the rank of Baron of the Empire."
Cunegonde flung herself at her brother's feet, and bedewed them with her
tears; but he still continued inflexible.
"Thou foolish fellow, said Candide, "have I not delivered thee from the
galleys, paid thy ransom, and thy sister's, too, who was a scullion, and is
very ugly, and yet condescend to marry her? and shalt thou pretend to
oppose the match! If I were to listen only to the dictates of my anger, I
should kill thee again."
"Thou mayest kill me again", said the Baron; "but thou shalt not marry my
sister while I am living."