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.
After hearing the old woman's story, the beautiful Cunegonde treated her with the polite attention she deserved. She accepted the offer and asked each passenger, one by one, to tell their adventures. Then she and Candide agreed the old woman was right.
"It is a great pity," said Candide, "that the sage Pangloss was hanged contrary to custom at an auto-da-fé; 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."
"It is a great pity," said Candide, "that the wise Pangloss was hanged against custom at an auto-da-fé. He could have told us many amazing things. He could explain the physical and moral evils that spread over the earth and sea. I could, with due respect, 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.
The ship moved on while each passenger told his story. They landed at Buenos Ayres. Cunegonde, Captain Candide, and the old woman went to see the Governor. He was Don Fernando d'Ibaraa y Figueora y Mascarenes y Lampourdos y Souza. He had the dignity expected of someone with so many names. He looked down on people with a noble disdain. He held his nose very high. He raised his voice without mercy. He took on an imperious air and walked with intolerable pride. Those who greeted him felt a strong urge to give him a good beating. Cunegonde seemed the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The first thing he did was ask if she was the captain's wife. The way he asked alarmed Candide. He did not dare say she was his wife because she was not. He also did not dare say she was his sister because that was not true either. Although that obliging lie had been common among the ancients and could be useful to modern people, 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."
"Miss Cunegonde has agreed to marry me. We humbly ask your excellency to approve 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.
Don Fernando d'Ibaraa, y Figueora, y Mascarenes, y Lampourdos, y Souza, curling his mustache, smiled mockingly. He ordered Captain Candide to go and review his company. Candide obeyed. The Governor remained alone with Miss Cunegonde. He declared his passion. He insisted he would marry her the next day before the church, or otherwise, whichever she preferred. Cunegonde asked for fifteen minutes to think it over, to consult the old woman, and to make her decision.
The old woman spoke thus to Cunegonde:
The old woman said 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."
"Miss, you have seventy-two quarterings and not a farthing. You could now be the wife of the greatest lord in South America. He has very beautiful moustaches. Do you have any right to boast of absolute fidelity? You were violated by Bulgarians. A Jew and an Inquisitor have enjoyed your favors. Misfortune is a sufficient excuse. I admit it. If I were in your place, I would have no scruple about marrying the Governor. I would thus make Captain Candide's fortune."
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.
The old woman spoke with the prudence that comes from age and experience. A small ship entered the port. On board were an Alcalde and his alguazils. 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.
As the old woman had shrewdly guessed, a Grey Friar had stolen Cunegonde's money and jewels in Badajos. This happened while she and Candide were fleeing. The friar tried to sell some of the diamonds to a jeweler. The jeweler recognized them as the Grand Inquisitor's. Before he was hanged, the friar confessed to the theft. He named the people and the route they had taken. Cunegonde and Candide's escape was already known. They were traced to Cadiz. A ship was immediately sent after them. That ship was already in the port of Buenos Ayres. Rumor spread that the Alcalde would go ashore. People said he was pursuing the murderers of my lord the Grand Inquisitor. The prudent old woman saw at once what to do.
"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."
"You can't run away," she said to Cunegonde. "You have nothing to fear. You did not kill my lord. Besides, the Governor who loves you will not let anyone mistreat you. So stay."
She then ran immediately to Candide.
She ran straight to Candide.
"Fly," said she, "or in an hour you will be burnt."
"Run," she said. "If you stay, you'll be burned in an hour."
There was not a moment to lose; but how could he part from Cunegonde, and where could he flee for shelter?
There was no time to lose. How could he leave Cunegonde? Where could he flee for shelter?