While Candide, the Baron, Pangloss, Martin, and Cacambo, were relating their several adventures, and reasoning on the contingent or noncontingent events of this world;on causes and effects;on moral and physical evil;on free will and necessity;and on the consolation that may be felt by a person when a slave and chained to an oar in a Turkish galley, they arrived at the house of the Transylvanian prince on the shores of the Propontis. The frst objects they beheld there, were Miss Cunegund and the old woman, who were hanging some tablecloths on a line to dry.
The Baron turned pale at the sight. Even the tender Candide, that affectionate lover, upon seeing his fair Cunegund all sunburned, with bleary eyes, a withered neck, wrinkled face and arms, all covered with a red scurf, started back with horror;but, not withstanding, recovering himself, he advanced towards her out of good manners.She embraced Candide and her brother;they embraced the old woman, and Candide ransomed them both.
There was a small farm in the neighborhood which the old woman proposed to Candide to make shift with till the company should meet with a more favorable destiny. Cunegund, not knowing that she was grown ugly, as no one had informed her of it, reminded Candide of his promise in so peremptory a manner, that the simple lad did not dare to refuse her;he then acquainted the Baron that he was going to marry his sister.
“I will never suffer,”said the Baron,“my sister to be guilty of an action so derogatory to her birth and family;nor will I bear this insolence on your part. No, I never will be reproached that my nephews are not qualifed for the frst ecclesiastical dignities in Germany;nor shall a sister of mine ever be the wife of any person below the rank of Baron of the Empire.”
Cunegund fung herself at her brother's feet, and bedewed them with her tears;but he still continued infexible.
“Thou foolish fellow,”said Candide,“have I not delivered thee from the galleys, paid thy ransom, and thy sister's, too, who was a scullion, and is very ugly, and yet condescend to marry her?And shalt thou pretend to oppose the match!If I were to listen only to the dictates of my anger, I should kill thee again.”
“Thou mayest kill me again,”said the Baron;“but thou shalt not marry my sister while I am living.”
老實人、男爵、邦葛羅斯、瑪丁和加剛菩,講著他們的經(jīng)歷,談著世界上一切偶然的或非偶然的事故,討論著因果關(guān)系,精神痛苦與物質(zhì)痛苦,自由與命運,在土耳其商船上如何自慰等等,終于到了普羅篷提特海邊上,德朗西未尼阿王的屋子前面。一眼望去,先就看到居內(nèi)貢和老婆子在繩上晾飯巾。
男爵一見,臉就白了。多情的老實人,看到他美麗的居內(nèi)貢皮膚變成棕色,眼中全是血筋,乳房干癟了,滿臉皺紋,通紅的手臂長滿著魚鱗般的硬皮,不由得毛發(fā)悚然,倒退了幾步;然后為了禮貌關(guān)系,只得走近前去。居內(nèi)貢把老實人和她的哥哥擁抱了;大家也擁抱了老婆子。老實人把她們倆都贖了出來。
附近有一塊分種田;老婆子勸老實人暫且拿下,等日后大家時來運轉(zhuǎn),再做計較。居內(nèi)貢不知道自己變丑了,也沒有一個人向她道破:她和老實人提到當(dāng)年的婚約,口氣那么堅決,忠厚的老實人竟不敢拒絕。他便通知男爵,說要和他的妹子結(jié)婚了。
男爵道:“像她那樣的下流,像你那樣的狂妄,我萬萬不能容忍;我決不為這樁玷辱門楣的事分擔(dān)責(zé)任,我妹妹的兒女將來永遠(yuǎn)不能寫上德國的貴族譜。告訴你,我的妹子只能嫁給一個德國的男爵?!?/p>
居內(nèi)貢倒在他腳下,哭著哀求;他執(zhí)意不允。
老實人對他說:“你瘋了;我把你救出苦役,付了你的身價,付了你妹妹的身價;她在這兒替人洗碗,變得這么丑,我好心娶她為妻,你倒膽敢拒絕;逞我性子,恨不得把你再殺一次才好!”
男爵道:“再殺就再殺;要我活著答應(yīng)你娶我的妹子,可是休想?!?/p>
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