Candide | Page 3

to Candide and Martin 98
XXI. Candide and Martin, reasoning, draw near the Coast of France
102
XXII. What happened in France to Candide and Martin 105
XXIII. Candide and Martin touched upon the Coast of England, and
what they saw there 122
XXIV. Of Paquette and Friar Giroflée 125
XXV. The Visit to Lord Pococurante, a Noble Venetian 133
XXVI. Of a Supper which Candide and Martin took with Six Strangers,
and who they were 142
XXVII. Candide's Voyage to Constantinople 148
XXVIII. What happened to Candide, Cunegonde, Pangloss, Martin, etc.
154
XXIX. How Candide found Cunegonde and the Old Woman again 159
XXX. The Conclusion 161
[Illustration: VOLTAIRE'S CANDIDE]

CANDIDE

I
HOW CANDIDE WAS BROUGHT UP IN A MAGNIFICENT
CASTLE, AND HOW HE WAS EXPELLED THENCE.
In a castle of Westphalia, belonging to the Baron of
Thunder-ten-Tronckh, lived a youth, whom nature had endowed with
the most gentle manners. His countenance was a true picture of his soul.
He combined a true judgment with simplicity of spirit, which was the
reason, I apprehend, of his being called Candide. The old servants of
the family suspected him to have been the son of the Baron's sister, by
a good, honest gentleman of the neighborhood, whom that young lady
would never marry because he had been able to prove only seventy-one
quarterings, the rest of his genealogical tree having been lost through
the injuries of time.
The Baron was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia, for his
castle had not only a gate, but windows. His great hall, even, was hung
with tapestry. All the dogs of his farm-yards formed a pack of hounds
at need; his grooms were his huntsmen; and the curate of the village
was his grand almoner. They called him "My Lord," and laughed at all
his stories.
The Baron's lady weighed about three hundred and fifty pounds, and
was therefore a person of great consideration, and she did the honours
of the house with a dignity that commanded still greater respect. Her
daughter Cunegonde was seventeen years of age, fresh-coloured,
comely, plump, and desirable. The Baron's son seemed to be in every
respect worthy of his father. The Preceptor Pangloss[1] was the oracle
of the family, and little Candide heard his lessons with all the good
faith of his age and character.
Pangloss was professor of metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology.
He proved admirably that there is no effect without a cause, and that, in
this best of all possible worlds, the Baron's castle was the most
magnificent of castles, and his lady the best of all possible Baronesses.

"It is demonstrable," said he, "that things cannot be otherwise than as
they are; for all being created for an end, all is necessarily for the best
end. Observe, that the nose has been formed to bear spectacles--thus we
have spectacles. Legs are visibly designed for stockings--and we have
stockings. Stones were made to be hewn, and to construct
castles--therefore my lord has a magnificent castle; for the greatest
baron in the province ought to be the best lodged. Pigs were made to be
eaten--therefore we eat pork all the year round. Consequently they who
assert that all is well have said a foolish thing, they should have said all
is for the best."
Candide listened attentively and believed innocently; for he thought
Miss Cunegonde extremely beautiful, though he never had the courage
to tell her so. He concluded that after the happiness of being born of
Baron of Thunder-ten-Tronckh, the second degree of happiness was to
be Miss Cunegonde, the third that of seeing her every day, and the
fourth that of hearing Master Pangloss, the greatest philosopher of the
whole province, and consequently of the whole world.
One day Cunegonde, while walking near the castle, in a little wood
which they called a park, saw between the bushes, Dr. Pangloss giving
a lesson in experimental natural philosophy to her mother's
chamber-maid, a little brown wench, very pretty and very docile. As
Miss Cunegonde had a great disposition for the sciences, she
breathlessly observed the repeated experiments of which she was a
witness; she clearly perceived the force of the Doctor's reasons, the
effects, and the causes; she turned back greatly flurried, quite pensive,
and filled with the desire to be learned; dreaming that she might well be
a sufficient reason for young Candide, and he for her.
She met Candide on reaching the castle and blushed; Candide blushed
also; she wished him good morrow in a faltering tone, and Candide
spoke to her without knowing what he said. The next day after dinner,
as they went from table, Cunegonde and Candide found themselves
behind a screen; Cunegonde let fall her handkerchief, Candide picked it
up, she took him innocently by the hand, the youth as innocently kissed