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.
Candide, the Baron, Pangloss, Martin, and Cacambo told one another about their adventures. They discussed whether events in the universe are contingent or necessary. They argued about causes and effects, about moral and physical evil, and about free will and necessity. They also debated how a slave might find comfort even on a Turkish galley. While they talked, they reached the house of the Transylvanian prince on the banks of the Propontis. The first things they saw 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.
The Baron paled at this sight. Candide, tender and loving, saw his beautiful Cunegonde darkened. Her eyes were bloodshot. Her neck was shriveled. Her cheeks were wrinkled. Her arms were rough and red. He stepped back three paces, horrified, then stepped forward again out of politeness. Cunegonde 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.
There was a small farm nearby. The old woman suggested that Candide use it for a while. They would stay there until they could be provided for more comfortably. Cunegonde did not know she had become ugly, because no one had told her. She reminded Candide of his promise in such a firm tone that the good man did not dare refuse her. So he told the Baron that he planned to marry 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."
"I will not tolerate," said the Baron, "such meanness on her part, and such insolence on yours. I will never be blamed for this scandalous thing. My sister's children would never be allowed into the church in Germany. No. My sister will only marry a baron of the empire."
Cunegonde flung herself at his feet, and bathed them with her tears; still he was inflexible.
Cunegonde threw herself at his feet and bathed them in her tears. He remained unmoved.
"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."
"You foolish fellow," said Candide. "I pulled you out of the galleys. I paid your ransom, and your sister's too. She was a kitchen maid and is very ugly. Yet I'm generous enough to marry her. And you dare to oppose the match? If I followed my anger, I would kill you again."
"Thou mayest kill me again," said the Baron, "but thou shalt not marry my sister, at least whilst I am living."
"You may kill me again," said the Baron, "but you will not marry my sister, at least while I am alive."