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.
In a castle in Westphalia that belonged to the Baron of Thunder-ten-Tronckh lived a young man. Nature had given him the gentlest manners. His face was a true picture of his soul. He had sound judgment and a simple spirit. This, I believe, is why they called him Candide. The family's old servants suspected he was the son of the Baron's sister and a good, honest local gentleman. The young lady refused to marry him because he could prove only seventy-one quarterings. The rest of his family tree had been lost over 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 was one of the most powerful lords in Westphalia. His castle had not only a gate but also windows. Even his great hall was hung with tapestries. All the dogs in his farmyards could form a pack of hounds when needed. His grooms served as his huntsmen. The village curate acted as his chief 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 was the oracle of the family, and little Candide heard his lessons with all the good faith of his age and character.
The Baron's wife weighed about three hundred and fifty pounds. She was therefore a person of great importance. She ran the household with a dignity that earned even more respect. Her daughter Cunegonde was seventeen. She had a fresh complexion. She was pretty, plump, and desirable. The Baron's son seemed worthy of his father in every way. The tutor Pangloss was the family's oracle. Little Candide listened to his lessons with the trusting faith of his age and character.
The name Pangloss is derived from two Greek words signifying "all" and "language."
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.
Pangloss was professor of metaphysico-theologico-cosmolo-nigology. He proved admirably that there is no effect without a cause. He also proved 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."
"It is demonstrable," he said, "that things cannot be otherwise than as they are. Since everything was created for an end, everything is necessarily for the best end. Observe that the nose was formed to wear spectacles, and so we have spectacles. Legs are plainly designed for stockings, and we have stockings. Stones were made to be cut and to build castles, and so my lord has a magnificent castle. After all, the greatest baron in the province ought to be the best housed. Pigs were made to be eaten, and so we eat pork all year round. Consequently, those who say 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.
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 the first degree of happiness was to be born Baron of Thunder-ten-Tronckh. The second degree was to be Miss Cunegonde. The third was to see her every day. The fourth was to hear Master Pangloss, the greatest philosopher in the whole province, and therefore in 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.
One day, while walking near the castle in a small wood they called a park, Cunegonde saw Dr. Pangloss between the bushes. He was giving a lesson in experimental science to her mother's chambermaid. The maid was a small, brown-skinned girl, very pretty and very obedient. Miss Cunegonde had a strong interest in the sciences. She watched the repeated experiments breathlessly. She clearly understood the force of the doctor's arguments, the effects, and the causes. She turned away very flustered and thoughtful. She was filled with the desire to learn. She dreamed that she could well be a sufficient reason for young Candide, and that he could be one 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 the young lady's hand with particular vivacity, sensibility, and grace; their lips met, their eyes sparkled, their knees trembled, their hands strayed. Baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh passed near the screen and beholding this cause and effect chased Candide from the castle with great kicks on the backside; Cunegonde fainted away; she was boxed on the ears by the Baroness, as soon as she came to herself; and all was consternation in this most magnificent and most agreeable of all possible castles.
She met Candide as she reached the castle, and she blushed. Candide blushed too. She wished him good morning in a faltering voice, and Candide spoke to her without knowing what he said. The next day after dinner, as they left the table, Cunegonde and Candide found themselves behind a screen. Cunegonde dropped her handkerchief, and Candide picked it up. She innocently took him by the hand. The young man just as innocently kissed the young lady's hand with particular liveliness, feeling, and grace. Their lips met, their eyes sparkled, their knees trembled, their hands strayed. Baron Thunder-ten-Tronckh passed near the screen. Seeing this cause and effect, he chased Candide from the castle with great kicks on the backside. Cunegonde fainted. As soon as she came to, the Baroness boxed her ears. And all was consternation in this most magnificent and most agreeable of all possible castles.