บทที่ บทที่ 13 · HOW CANDIDE WAS FORCED AWAY FROM HIS FAIR CUNEGONDE AND THE OLD WOMAN.

The beautiful Cunegonde 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-fe_; he would tell us most amazing

things in regard to the physical and moral evils that overspread 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 Ayres. Cunegonde, Captain Candide, and the old

woman, waited on the Governor, Don Fernando d'Ibaraa, y Figueora, y

Mascarenes, y Lampourdos, y Souza. 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. Cunegonde 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 favour among the

ancients, and although it could be useful to the moderns, his soul was

too pure to betray the truth.

"Miss Cunegonde," said he, "is to do me the honour to marry me, and we

beseech your excellency to deign to sanction our marriage."

Don Fernando d'Ibaraa, y Figueora, y Mascarenes, y Lampourdos, y Souza,

turning up his moustachios, smiled mockingly, and ordered Captain

Candide to go and review his company. Candide obeyed, and the Governor

remained alone with Miss Cunegonde. 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. Cunegonde 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 Cunegonde:

"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 moustachios. Is it for you to pique yourself upon

inviolable fidelity? You have been ravished by Bulgarians; a Jew and an

Inquisitor have enjoyed your favours. Misfortune 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 Grey Friar who stole

Cunegonde's money and jewels in the town of Badajos, when she and

Candide were escaping. The Friar wanted to sell some of the diamonds to

a jeweller; the jeweller knew them to be the Grand Inquisitor's. The

Friar before he was hanged confessed he had stolen them. He described

the persons, and the route they had taken. The flight of Cunegonde 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 Ayres. 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," said she to Cunegonde, "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 Cunegonde,

and where could he flee for shelter?

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