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Voltaire's Candide or Optimism, Chapter 14

Chapter 14

XIV HOW CANDIDE AND CACAMBO WERE RECEIVED BY THE JESUITS OF PARAGUAY.

Candide had brought such a valet with him from Cadiz, as one often meets with on the coasts of Spain and in the American colonies. He was a quarter Spaniard, born of a mongrel in Tucuman; he had been singing-boy, sacristan, sailor, monk, pedlar, soldier, and lackey. His name was Cacambo, and he loved his master, because his master was a very good man. He quickly saddled the two Andalusian horses.

"Come, master, let us follow the old woman's advice; let us start, and run without looking behind us." Candide shed tears.

"Oh! my dear Cunegonde! must I leave you just at a time when the Governor was going to sanction our nuptials? Cunegonde, brought to such a distance what will become of you?" "She will do as well as she can," said Cacambo; "the women are never at a loss, God provides for them, let us run." "Whither art thou carrying me? Where shall[Pg 59] we go? What shall we do without Cunegonde?" said Candide.

"By St. James of Compostella," said Cacambo, "you were going to fight against the Jesuits; let us go to fight for them; I know the road well, I'll conduct you to their kingdom, where they will be charmed to have a captain that understands the Bulgarian exercise. You'll make a prodigious fortune; if we cannot find our account in one world we shall in another. It is a great pleasure to see and do new things." "You have before been in Paraguay, then?" said Candide.

"Ay, sure," answered Cacambo, "I was servant in the College of the Assumption, and am acquainted with the government of the good Fathers as well as I am with the streets of Cadiz. It is an admirable government. The kingdom is upwards of three hundred leagues in diameter, and divided into thirty provinces; there the Fathers possess all, and the people nothing; it is a masterpiece of reason and justice. For my part I see nothing so divine as the Fathers who here make war upon the kings of Spain and Portugal, and in Europe confess those kings; who here kill Spaniards, and in Madrid send them to heaven; this delights me, let us push forward. You are going to be the happiest of mortals. What pleasure will it be to those[Pg 60] Fathers to hear that a captain who knows the Bulgarian exercise has come to them!" As soon as they reached the first barrier, Cacambo told the advanced guard that a captain wanted to speak with my lord the Commandant. Notice was given to the main guard, and immediately a Paraguayan officer ran and laid himself at the feet of the Commandant, to impart this news to him. Candide and Cacambo were disarmed, and their two Andalusian horses seized. The strangers were introduced between two files of musketeers; the Commandant was at the further end, with the three-cornered cap on his head, his gown tucked up, a sword by his side, and a spontoon[15] in his hand. He beckoned, and straightway the new-comers were encompassed by four-and-twenty soldiers. A sergeant told them they must wait, that the Commandant could not speak to them, and that the reverend Father Provincial does not suffer any Spaniard to open his mouth but in his presence, or to stay above three hours in the province.

"And where is the reverend Father Provincial?" said Cacambo.

"He is upon the parade just after celebrating mass," answered the sergeant, "and you cannot kiss his spurs till three hours hence." "However," said Cacambo, "the captain is not a Spaniard, but a German, he is ready to perish[Pg 61] with hunger as well as myself; cannot we have something for breakfast, while we wait for his reverence?" The sergeant went immediately to acquaint the Commandant with what he had heard.

"God be praised!" said the reverend Commandant, "since he is a German, I may speak to him; take him to my arbour." Candide was at once conducted to a beautiful summer-house, ornamented with a very pretty colonnade of green and gold marble, and with trellises, enclosing parraquets, humming-birds, fly-birds, guinea-hens, and all other rare birds. An excellent breakfast was provided in vessels of gold; and while the Paraguayans were eating maize out of wooden dishes, in the open fields and exposed to the heat of the sun, the reverend Father Commandant retired to his arbour.

He was a very handsome young man, with a full face, white skin but high in colour; he had an arched eyebrow, a lively eye, red ears, vermilion lips, a bold air, but such a boldness as neither belonged to a Spaniard nor a Jesuit. They returned their arms to Candide and Cacambo, and also the two Andalusian horses; to whom Cacambo gave some oats to eat just by the arbour, having an eye upon them all the while for fear of a surprise. [Pg 62]

Candide first kissed the hem of the Commandant's robe, then they sat down to table.

"You are, then, a German?" said the Jesuit to him in that language.

"Yes, reverend Father," answered Candide. As they pronounced these words they looked at each other with great amazement, and with such an emotion as they could not conceal.

"And from what part of Germany do you come?" said the Jesuit.

"I am from the dirty province of Westphalia," answered Candide; "I was born in the Castle of Thunder-ten-Tronckh." "Oh! Heavens! is it possible?" cried the Commandant.

"What a miracle!" cried Candide.

"Is it really you?" said the Commandant.

"It is not possible!" said Candide.

They drew back; they embraced; they shed rivulets of tears.

"What, is it you, reverend Father? You, the brother of the fair Cunegonde! You, that was slain by the Bulgarians! You, the Baron's son! You, a Jesuit in Paraguay! I must confess this is a strange world that we live in. Oh, Pangloss! Pangloss! how glad you would be if you had not been hanged!" The Commandant sent away the negro slaves and the Paraguayans, who served them with[Pg 63] liquors in goblets of rock-crystal. He thanked God and St. Ignatius a thousand times; he clasped Candide in his arms; and their faces were all bathed with tears.

"You will be more surprised, more affected, and transported," said Candide, "when I tell you that Cunegonde, your sister, whom you believe to have been ripped open, is in perfect health." "Where?" "In your neighbourhood, with the Governor of Buenos Ayres; and I was going to fight against you." Every word which they uttered in this long conversation but added wonder to wonder. Their souls fluttered on their tongues, listened in their ears, and sparkled in their eyes. As they were Germans, they sat a good while at table, waiting for the reverend Father Provincial, and the Commandant spoke to his dear Candide as follows.

Chapter 14 Capítulo 14 فصل 14

XIV HOW CANDIDE AND CACAMBO WERE RECEIVED BY THE JESUITS OF PARAGUAY. XIV WIE CANDIDE UND CACAMBO VON DEN JESUITEN VON PARAGUAY EMPFANGEN WURDEN. XIV COMMENT CANDIDE ET CACAMBO ONT ÉTÉ REÇUS PAR LES JÉSUITS DU PARAGUAY.

Candide had brought such a valet with him from Cadiz, as one often meets with on the coasts of Spain and in the American colonies. Candide hatte aus Cadiz einen solchen Diener mitgebracht, wie man ihn oft an den Küsten Spaniens und in den amerikanischen Kolonien antrifft. Candide avait amené avec lui un tel valet de Cadix, comme on en rencontre souvent sur les côtes d'Espagne et dans les colonies américaines. He was a quarter Spaniard, born of a mongrel in Tucuman; he had been singing-boy, sacristan, sailor, monk, pedlar, soldier, and lackey. Er war ein Viertelspanier, geboren von einem Mischling in Tucuman; er war Singknabe, Mesner, Matrose, Mönch, Hausierer, Soldat und Lakai gewesen. C'était un quart d'Espagnol, né d'un bâtard à Tucuman; il avait été chanteur, sacristain, marin, moine, colporteur, soldat et laquais. His name was Cacambo, and he loved his master, because his master was a very good man. He quickly saddled the two Andalusian horses. Schnell sattelte er die beiden andalusischen Pferde.

"Come, master, let us follow the old woman’s advice; let us start, and run without looking behind us." "Komm, Meister, lass uns dem Rat der alten Frau folgen; lass uns anfangen und laufen, ohne hinter uns zu schauen." Candide shed tears. Candide vergoss Tränen. Candide a versé des larmes.

"Oh! my dear Cunegonde! meine liebe Kunigunde! must I leave you just at a time when the Governor was going to sanction our nuptials? Muss ich Sie gerade zu einem Zeitpunkt verlassen, an dem der Gouverneur unsere Hochzeit genehmigen wollte? Cunegonde, brought to such a distance what will become of you?" Kunigunde, so weit gebracht, was wird aus dir werden? Cunégonde, si éloigné que vous deviendrez? "She will do as well as she can," said Cacambo; "the women are never at a loss, God provides for them, let us run." "Sie wird es so gut machen, wie sie kann," sagte Cacambo; "Die Frauen sind nie ratlos, Gott sorgt für sie, lasst uns laufen." "Elle fera de son mieux", a déclaré Cacambo; "les femmes ne sont jamais perdues, Dieu pourvoit à elles, courons." "Whither art thou carrying me? «Où me transportez-vous? Where shall[Pg 59] we go? What shall we do without Cunegonde?" said Candide.

"By St. James of Compostella," said Cacambo, "you were going to fight against the Jesuits; let us go to fight for them; I know the road well, I’ll conduct you to their kingdom, where they will be charmed to have a captain that understands the Bulgarian exercise. Jakobus von Compostella«, sagte Cacambo, »du wolltest gegen die Jesuiten kämpfen; Lasst uns für sie kämpfen; Ich kenne die Straße gut, ich werde Sie in ihr Königreich führen, wo sie entzückt sein werden, einen Kapitän zu haben, der die bulgarischen Übungen versteht. Jacques de Compostelle, dit Cacambo, vous alliez vous battre contre les jésuites; allons nous battre pour eux; Je connais bien la route, je vous conduirai dans leur royaume, où ils seront charmés d'avoir un capitaine qui comprend l'exercice bulgare. You’ll make a prodigious fortune; if we cannot find our account in one world we shall in another. Sie werden ein erstaunliches Vermögen machen; wenn wir unser Konto in einer Welt nicht finden können, werden wir es in einer anderen tun. Vous ferez une fortune prodigieuse; si nous ne pouvons trouver notre compte dans un monde, nous le ferons dans un autre. It is a great pleasure to see and do new things." "You have before been in Paraguay, then?" "Sie waren also schon einmal in Paraguay?" said Candide.

"Ay, sure," answered Cacambo, "I was servant in the College of the Assumption, and am acquainted with the government of the good Fathers as well as I am with the streets of Cadiz. „Ja, sicher“, antwortete Cacambo, „ich war Diener im Kollegium der Himmelfahrt und kenne die Regierung der guten Väter so gut wie die Straßen von Cádiz. - Oui, bien sûr, répondit Cacambo, j'étais serviteur au Collège de l'Assomption, et je connais le gouvernement des bons Pères aussi bien que je connais les rues de Cadix. It is an admirable government. Es ist eine bewundernswerte Regierung. The kingdom is upwards of three hundred leagues in diameter, and divided into thirty provinces; there the Fathers possess all, and the people nothing; it is a masterpiece of reason and justice. Das Königreich hat einen Durchmesser von mehr als dreihundert Meilen und ist in dreißig Provinzen eingeteilt; dort besitzen die Väter alles und das Volk nichts; es ist ein Meisterwerk der Vernunft und Gerechtigkeit. Le royaume a plus de trois cents lieues de diamètre et est divisé en trente provinces; là, les Pères possèdent tout, et le peuple rien; c'est un chef-d'œuvre de raison et de justice. For my part I see nothing so divine as the Fathers who here make war upon the kings of Spain and Portugal, and in Europe confess those kings; who here kill Spaniards, and in Madrid send them to heaven; this delights me, let us push forward. Ich für meinen Teil sehe nichts so Göttliches als die Väter, die hier gegen die Könige von Spanien und Portugal Krieg führen und diese Könige in Europa bekennen; die hier Spanier töten und sie in Madrid in den Himmel schicken; Das freut mich, lassen Sie uns voranschreiten. Pour ma part, je ne vois rien d'aussi divin que les Pères qui ici font la guerre aux rois d'Espagne et du Portugal, et qui confessent en Europe ces rois; qui tuent ici les Espagnols, et à Madrid les envoient au ciel; cela me ravit, poussons en avant. You are going to be the happiest of mortals. Du wirst der glücklichste aller Sterblichen sein. What pleasure will it be to those[Pg 60] Fathers to hear that a captain who knows the Bulgarian exercise has come to them!" Welche Freude wird es für diese [Pg 60] Väter sein zu hören, dass ein Hauptmann, der die bulgarische Übung kennt, zu ihnen gekommen ist!“ As soon as they reached the first barrier, Cacambo told the advanced guard that a captain wanted to speak with my lord the Commandant. Sobald sie die erste Barriere erreichten, teilte Cacambo der Vorhut mit, dass ein Hauptmann mit meinem Lord, dem Kommandanten, sprechen wolle. Notice was given to the main guard, and immediately a Paraguayan officer ran and laid himself at the feet of the Commandant, to impart this news to him. Die Hauptwache wurde benachrichtigt, und sofort rannte ein paraguayischer Offizier herbei und legte sich dem Kommandanten zu Füßen, um ihm diese Nachricht mitzuteilen. Un avis fut donné à la garde principale, et aussitôt un officier paraguayen courut et se coucha aux pieds du commandant, pour lui communiquer cette nouvelle. Candide and Cacambo were disarmed, and their two Andalusian horses seized. The strangers were introduced between two files of musketeers; the Commandant was at the further end, with the three-cornered cap on his head, his gown tucked up, a sword by his side, and a spontoon[15] in his hand. Die Fremden wurden zwischen zwei Musketierreihen eingeführt; der Kommandant war am anderen Ende, mit der dreieckigen Kappe auf dem Kopf, seinem hochgeschlagenen Kleid, einem Schwert an seiner Seite und einem Sponton [15] in seiner Hand. Les étrangers ont été introduits entre deux files de mousquetaires; le commandant était à l'autre bout, la casquette à trois coins sur la tête, sa robe relevée, une épée à ses côtés et un sponton [15] à la main. He beckoned, and straightway the new-comers were encompassed by four-and-twenty soldiers. Er winkte, und alsbald wurden die Neuankömmlinge von vierundzwanzig Soldaten umringt. Il fit signe, et aussitôt les nouveaux venus furent englobés par vingt-quatre soldats. A sergeant told them they must wait, that the Commandant could not speak to them, and that the reverend Father Provincial does not suffer any Spaniard to open his mouth but in his presence, or to stay above three hours in the province. Ein Sergeant sagte ihnen, sie müssten warten, der Kommandant könne nicht mit ihnen sprechen, und der ehrwürdige Pater Provinzial erlaube keinem Spanier, den Mund zu öffnen, außer in seiner Gegenwart, oder länger als drei Stunden in der Provinz zu bleiben. Un sergent leur dit qu'ils devaient attendre, que le commandant ne pouvait pas leur parler, et que le révérend père provincial ne permettait à aucun Espagnol d'ouvrir la bouche mais en sa présence, ou de rester plus de trois heures dans la province.

"And where is the reverend Father Provincial?" said Cacambo.

"He is upon the parade just after celebrating mass," answered the sergeant, "and you cannot kiss his spurs till three hours hence." „Er ist gleich nach der Messe auf der Parade,“ antwortete der Feldwebel, „und Sie können seine Sporen erst in drei Stunden küssen.“ «Il est sur le défilé juste après avoir célébré la messe,» a répondu le sergent, «et vous ne pouvez pas embrasser ses éperons jusqu'à trois heures d'ici. "However," said Cacambo, "the captain is not a Spaniard, but a German, he is ready to perish[Pg 61] with hunger as well as myself; cannot we have something for breakfast, while we wait for his reverence?" «Cependant,» a dit Cacambo, «le capitaine n'est pas un Espagnol, mais un Allemand, il est prêt à périr [Pg 61] avec la faim aussi bien que moi; ne pouvons-nous pas avoir quelque chose pour le petit déjeuner, en attendant sa révérence? The sergeant went immediately to acquaint the Commandant with what he had heard. Le sergent alla immédiatement informer le commandant de ce qu'il avait entendu.

"God be praised!" "Dieu soit loué!" said the reverend Commandant, "since he is a German, I may speak to him; take him to my arbour." Candide was at once conducted to a beautiful summer-house, ornamented with a very pretty colonnade of green and gold marble, and with trellises, enclosing parraquets, humming-birds, fly-birds, guinea-hens, and all other rare birds. Candide fut aussitôt conduit dans une belle maison d'été, ornée d'une très jolie colonnade de marbre vert et or, et de treillis renfermant des parraquets, des colibris, des mouches, des pintades et tous les autres oiseaux rares. An excellent breakfast was provided in vessels of gold; and while the Paraguayans were eating maize out of wooden dishes, in the open fields and exposed to the heat of the sun, the reverend Father Commandant retired to his arbour. Un excellent petit déjeuner était servi dans des vases d'or; et tandis que les Paraguayens mangeaient du maïs dans des plats en bois, dans les champs ouverts et exposés à la chaleur du soleil, le révérend Père Commandant se retira dans sa tonnelle.

He was a very handsome young man, with a full face, white skin but high in colour; he had an arched eyebrow, a lively eye, red ears, vermilion lips, a bold air, but such a boldness as neither belonged to a Spaniard nor a Jesuit. C'était un très beau jeune homme, avec un visage plein, une peau blanche mais haute de couleur; il avait un sourcil arqué, un œil vif, des oreilles rouges, des lèvres vermillon, un air audacieux, mais une audace telle qu'il n'appartenait ni à un Espagnol ni à un jésuite. They returned their arms to Candide and Cacambo, and also the two Andalusian horses; to whom Cacambo gave some oats to eat just by the arbour, having an eye upon them all the while for fear of a surprise. Ils rendirent leurs armes à Candide et Cacambo, ainsi qu'aux deux chevaux andalous; à qui Cacambo a donné de l'avoine à manger juste à côté de la tonnelle, en les regardant tout le temps par crainte d'une surprise. [Pg 62]

Candide first kissed the hem of the Commandant’s robe, then they sat down to table. Candide embrassa d'abord l'ourlet de la robe du commandant, puis ils se mirent à table.

"You are, then, a German?" said the Jesuit to him in that language.

"Yes, reverend Father," answered Candide. As they pronounced these words they looked at each other with great amazement, and with such an emotion as they could not conceal. Als sie diese Worte aussprachen, sahen sie einander mit großer Verwunderung an und mit einer solchen Rührung, die sie nicht verbergen konnten.

"And from what part of Germany do you come?" said the Jesuit.

"I am from the dirty province of Westphalia," answered Candide; "I was born in the Castle of Thunder-ten-Tronckh." "Oh! Heavens! is it possible?" cried the Commandant.

"What a miracle!" cried Candide.

"Is it really you?" said the Commandant.

"It is not possible!" said Candide.

They drew back; they embraced; they shed rivulets of tears. Ils ont reculé; ils se sont embrassés; ils ont versé des ruisseaux de larmes.

"What, is it you, reverend Father? You, the brother of the fair Cunegonde! You, that was slain by the Bulgarians! Du, das wurde von den Bulgaren erschlagen! You, the Baron’s son! You, a Jesuit in Paraguay! I must confess this is a strange world that we live in. Oh, Pangloss! Pangloss! how glad you would be if you had not been hanged!" que vous seriez heureux si vous n'aviez pas été pendu! " The Commandant sent away the negro slaves and the Paraguayans, who served them with[Pg 63] liquors in goblets of rock-crystal. Le commandant renvoya les esclaves nègres et les Paraguayens, qui leur servirent des liqueurs [Pg 63] dans des coupes de cristal de roche. He thanked God and St. Ignatius a thousand times; he clasped Candide in his arms; and their faces were all bathed with tears. Ignace mille fois; il serra Candide dans ses bras; et leurs visages étaient tous baignés de larmes.

"You will be more surprised, more affected, and transported," said Candide, "when I tell you that Cunegonde, your sister, whom you believe to have been ripped open, is in perfect health." "Where?" "In your neighbourhood, with the Governor of Buenos Ayres; and I was going to fight against you." «Dans votre quartier, avec le gouverneur de Buenos Ayres; et j'allais me battre contre vous. Every word which they uttered in this long conversation but added wonder to wonder. Chaque mot qu'ils prononçaient dans cette longue conversation ajoutait de l'émerveillement à l'émerveillement. Their souls fluttered on their tongues, listened in their ears, and sparkled in their eyes. Leurs âmes flottaient sur leurs langues, écoutaient dans leurs oreilles et brillaient dans leurs yeux. As they were Germans, they sat a good while at table, waiting for the reverend Father Provincial, and the Commandant spoke to his dear Candide as follows. Comme ils étaient Allemands, ils se sont assis un bon moment à table, attendant le révérend Père Provincial, et le Commandant a parlé à son cher Candide comme suit.