Voltaire · Complete work
Chapter XXIX
Chapter XXIX of 30. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal French
Comment Candide retrouva Cunégonde et la vieille.
Pendant que Candide, le baron, Pangloss, Martin, et Cacambo, contaient leurs aventures, qu’ils raisonnaient sur les événements contingents ou non contingents de cet univers, qu’ils disputaient sur les effets et les causes, sur le mal moral et sur le mal physique, sur la liberté et la nécessité, sur les consolations que l’on peut éprouver lorsqu’on est aux galères en Turquie, ils abordèrent sur le rivage de la Propontide, à la maison du prince de Transylvanie. Les premiers objets qui se présentèrent furent Cunégonde et la vieille, qui étendaient des serviettes sur des ficelles pour les faire sécher.
Le baron pâlit à cette vue. Le tendre amant Candide en voyant sa belle Cunégonde rembrunie, les yeux éraillés, la gorge sèche, les joues ridées, les bras rouges et écaillés, recula trois pas, saisi d’horreur, et avança ensuite par bon procédé. Elle embrassa Candide et son frère: on embrassa la vieille: Candide les racheta toutes deux.
Il y avait une petite métairie dans le voisinage; la vieille proposa à Candide de s’en accommoder, en attendant que toute la troupe eût une meilleure destinée. Cunégonde ne savait pas qu’elle était enlaidie, personne ne l’en avait avertie: elle fit souvenir Candide de ses promesses avec un ton si absolu, que le bon Candide n’osa pas la refuser. Il signifia donc au baron qu’il allait se marier avec sa soeur. Je ne souffrirai jamais, dit le baron, une telle bassesse de sa part, et une telle insolence de la vôtre; cette infamie ne me sera jamais reprochée: les enfants de ma soeur ne pourraient entrer dans les chapitres d’Allemagne. Non, jamais ma soeur n’épousera qu’un baron de l’empire. Cunégonde se jeta à ses pieds, et les baigna de larmes; il fut inflexible. Maître fou, lui dit Candide, je t’ai réchappé des galères, j’ai payé ta rançon, j’ai payé celle de ta soeur; elle lavait ici des écuelles, elle est laide, j’ai la bonté d’en faire ma femme; et tu prétends encore t’y opposer! je te retuerais si j’en croyais ma colère. Tu peux me tuer encore, dit le baron, mais tu n’épouseras pas ma soeur de mon vivant.
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the French text of all thirty chapters (Beuchot edition, 1829) for fidelity, the author’s force and cadence, and modern clarity. The editor’s notes are omitted.
How Candide Found Cunégonde and the Old Woman Again.
While Candide, the Baron, Pangloss, Martin, and Cacambo recounted their adventures, reasoned about the contingent and noncontingent events of this universe, debated effects and causes, moral evil and physical evil, freedom and necessity, and the consolations available to a man in the galleys in Turkey, they landed on the shore of the Propontis at the house of the prince of Transylvania. The first people they saw were Cunégonde and the old woman, hanging towels on lines to dry.
The Baron turned pale at the sight. The tender lover Candide, seeing his beautiful Cunégonde with her darkened complexion, bloodshot eyes, withered breast, wrinkled cheeks, and red, scaly arms, recoiled three steps in horror, then came forward out of courtesy. She embraced Candide and her brother; they all embraced the old woman. Candide bought the freedom of both women.
There was a small farm nearby. The old woman suggested that Candide settle there until the whole company should meet with a better fate. Cunégonde did not know that she had grown ugly; no one had told her. She reminded Candide of his promises in so commanding a tone that the good Candide did not dare refuse her. He therefore informed the Baron that he intended to marry his sister. "I shall never tolerate," said the Baron, "such a degradation on her part, or such insolence on yours. This disgrace shall never be laid at my door: my sister's children would not be eligible for the cathedral chapters of Germany. No, my sister shall never marry anyone but a baron of the empire." Cunégonde threw herself at his feet and bathed them in tears; he remained inflexible. "You mad fool," Candide told him, "I rescued you from the galleys, I paid your ransom, I paid your sister's ransom. She was washing dishes here, she is ugly, and I am good enough to make her my wife; yet you still propose to stand in my way! If I gave in to my anger, I would kill you again." "You may kill me again," said the Baron, "but you shall not marry my sister while I live."
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete Plain English edition, made independently and directly from the French text of all thirty chapters (Beuchot edition, 1829). The editor’s notes are omitted.
How Candide found Cunégonde and the old woman again.
Candide, the baron, Pangloss, Martin, and Cacambo were telling one another about their adventures. They were considering whether the events of this universe happen by chance or must happen, and arguing about effects and causes, moral and physical evil, freedom and necessity, and what comfort a person can find while serving on a galley in Turkey. As they talked, they came ashore on the Propontide at the house of the prince of Transylvania. The first people they saw were Cunégonde and the old woman, hanging towels on lines to dry.
The baron turned pale at the sight. When Candide, the devoted lover, saw his beautiful Cunégonde with her darkened complexion, bloodshot eyes, dry chest, wrinkled cheeks, and red, scaly arms, he recoiled three steps in horror. Then he stepped forward out of courtesy. She embraced Candide and her brother. Everyone embraced the old woman. Candide paid to free both women.
There was a small farm nearby. The old woman suggested that Candide take it until the whole group found a better future. Cunégonde did not know that she had grown ugly; no one had told her. She reminded Candide of his promises in such a commanding tone that the good Candide did not dare refuse her. So he informed the baron that he was going to marry his sister. "I will never allow her to stoop so low," said the baron, "or let you be so insolent. No one will be able to hold such a disgrace against me. My sister's children would not be admitted to the cathedral chapters of Germany. No, my sister will never marry anyone but a baron of the empire." Cunégonde fell at his feet and soaked them with tears, but he would not give in. "You fool," Candide told him, "I saved you from the galleys. I paid your ransom, and I paid your sister's. She was washing dishes here. She is ugly, and I am kind enough to marry her. Yet you still mean to stand in my way! I would kill you again if I gave in to my anger." "You can kill me again," said the baron, "but you will not marry my sister while I am alive."