Kabanata Kabanata 29 · HOW CANDIDE FOUND CUNEGONDE 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 Cunegonde and the old woman

hanging towels out to dry.

The Baron paled at this sight. The tender, loving Candide, seeing his

beautiful Cunegonde embrowned, with blood-shot 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 neighbourhood which the old woman

proposed to Candide to make a shift with till the company could be

provided for in a better manner. Cunegonde 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."

Cunegonde 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 sister's 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."

XXX