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Voltaire's Candide or Optimism, Chapter 20

Chapter 20

XX WHAT HAPPENED AT SEA TO CANDIDE AND MARTIN.

The old philosopher, whose name was Martin, embarked then with Candide for Bordeaux. They had both seen and suffered a great deal; and if the vessel had sailed from Surinam to Japan, by the Cape of Good Hope, the subject of moral and natural evil would have enabled them to entertain one another during the whole voyage.

Candide, however, had one great advantage over Martin, in that he always hoped to see Miss Cunegonde; whereas Martin had nothing at all to hope. Besides, Candide was possessed of money and jewels, and though he had lost one hundred large red sheep, laden with the greatest treasure upon earth; though the knavery of the Dutch skipper still sat heavy upon his mind; yet when he reflected upon what he had still left, and when he mentioned the name of Cunegonde, especially towards the latter end of a repast, he inclined to Pangloss's doctrine.

"But you, Mr. Martin," said he to the philosopher,[Pg 99] "what do you think of all this? what are your ideas on moral and natural evil?" "Sir," answered Martin, "our priests accused me of being a Socinian, but the real fact is I am a Manichean. "[21] "You jest," said Candide; "there are no longer Manicheans in the world." "I am one," said Martin. "I cannot help it; I know not how to think otherwise." "Surely you must be possessed by the devil," said Candide. "He is so deeply concerned in the affairs of this world," answered Martin, "that he may very well be in me, as well as in everybody else; but I own to you that when I cast an eye on this globe, or rather on this little ball, I cannot help thinking that God has abandoned it to some malignant being. I except, always, El Dorado. I scarcely ever knew a city that did not desire the destruction of a neighbouring city, nor a family that did not wish to exterminate some other family. Everywhere the weak execrate the powerful, before whom they cringe; and the powerful beat them like sheep whose wool and flesh they sell. A million regimented assassins, from one extremity of Europe to the other, get their bread by disciplined depredation and murder, for want of more honest employment. Even in those cities which seem to enjoy peace, and[Pg 100]where the arts flourish, the inhabitants are devoured by more envy, care, and uneasiness than are experienced by a besieged town. Secret griefs are more cruel than public calamities. In a word I have seen so much, and experienced so much that I am a Manichean." "There are, however, some things good," said Candide. "That may be," said Martin; "but I know them not." In the middle of this dispute they heard the report of cannon; it redoubled every instant. Each took out his glass. They saw two ships in close fight about three miles off. The wind brought both so near to the French vessel that our travellers had the pleasure of seeing the fight at their ease. At length one let off a broadside, so low and so truly aimed, that the other sank to the bottom. Candide and Martin could plainly perceive a hundred men on the deck of the sinking vessel; they raised their hands to heaven and uttered terrible outcries, and the next moment were swallowed up by the sea.

"Well," said Martin, "this is how men treat one another." "It is true," said Candide; "there is something diabolical in this affair." While speaking, he saw he knew not what, of a shining red, swimming close to the vessel. [Pg 101] They put out the long-boat to see what it could be: it was one of his sheep! Candide was more rejoiced at the recovery of this one sheep than he had been grieved at the loss of the hundred laden with the large diamonds of El Dorado.

The French captain soon saw that the captain of the victorious vessel was a Spaniard, and that the other was a Dutch pirate, and the very same one who had robbed Candide. The immense plunder which this villain had amassed, was buried with him in the sea, and out of the whole only one sheep was saved.

"You see," said Candide to Martin, "that crime is sometimes punished. This rogue of a Dutch skipper has met with the fate he deserved." "Yes," said Martin; "but why should the passengers be doomed also to destruction? God has punished the knave, and the devil has drowned the rest." The French and Spanish ships continued their course, and Candide continued his conversation with Martin. They disputed fifteen successive days, and on the last of those fifteen days, they were as far advanced as on the first. But, however, they chatted, they communicated ideas, they consoled each other. Candide caressed his sheep.

"Since I have found thee again," said he, "I may likewise chance to find my Cunegonde."


Chapter 20 Bölüm 20

XX WHAT HAPPENED AT SEA TO CANDIDE AND MARTIN.

The old philosopher, whose name was Martin, embarked then with Candide for Bordeaux. They had both seen and suffered a great deal; and if the vessel had sailed from Surinam to Japan, by the Cape of Good Hope, the subject of moral and natural evil would have enabled them to entertain one another during the whole voyage. Ils avaient tous deux vu et beaucoup souffert; et si le navire avait navigué du Surinam au Japon, par le cap de Bonne-Espérance, le sujet du mal moral et naturel leur aurait permis de se divertir pendant tout le voyage.

Candide, however, had one great advantage over Martin, in that he always hoped to see Miss Cunegonde; whereas Martin had nothing at all to hope. Besides, Candide was possessed of money and jewels, and though he had lost one hundred large red sheep, laden with the greatest treasure upon earth; though the knavery of the Dutch skipper still sat heavy upon his mind; yet when he reflected upon what he had still left, and when he mentioned the name of Cunegonde, especially towards the latter end of a repast, he inclined to Pangloss’s doctrine. D'ailleurs, Candide possédait de l'argent et des bijoux, et bien qu'il eût perdu cent gros moutons rouges, chargés du plus grand trésor de la terre; bien que l'escroquerie du skipper hollandais était toujours pesante dans son esprit; cependant, lorsqu'il réfléchit à ce qu'il lui restait, et lorsqu'il mentionna le nom de Cunégonde, surtout vers la fin d'un repas, il inclina vers la doctrine de Pangloss.

"But you, Mr. Martin," said he to the philosopher,[Pg 99] "what do you think of all this? what are your ideas on moral and natural evil?" "Sir," answered Martin, "our priests accused me of being a Socinian, but the real fact is I am a Manichean. "[21] "You jest," said Candide; "there are no longer Manicheans in the world." "I am one," said Martin. "I cannot help it; I know not how to think otherwise." "Je n'y peux rien; je ne sais pas comment penser autrement." "Surely you must be possessed by the devil," said Candide. "He is so deeply concerned in the affairs of this world," answered Martin, "that he may very well be in me, as well as in everybody else; but I own to you that when I cast an eye on this globe, or rather on this little ball, I cannot help thinking that God has abandoned it to some malignant being. «Il est si profondément préoccupé par les affaires de ce monde,» répondit Martin, «qu'il peut très bien être en moi, aussi bien qu'en tout le monde; mais je vous avoue que lorsque je jette un œil sur ce globe, ou plutôt sur cette petite boule, je ne peux m'empêcher de penser que Dieu l'a abandonnée à quelque être malin. I except, always, El Dorado. I scarcely ever knew a city that did not desire the destruction of a neighbouring city, nor a family that did not wish to exterminate some other family. Everywhere the weak execrate the powerful, before whom they cringe; and the powerful beat them like sheep whose wool and flesh they sell. Partout, les faibles exécrent les puissants, devant lesquels ils grincent des dents; et les puissants les battent comme des moutons dont ils vendent la laine et la chair. A million regimented assassins, from one extremity of Europe to the other, get their bread by disciplined depredation and murder, for want of more honest employment. Un million d'assassins en régiment, d'une extrémité à l'autre de l'Europe, tirent leur pain de la déprédation et du meurtre disciplinés, faute d'un emploi plus honnête. Even in those cities which seem to enjoy peace, and[Pg 100]where the arts flourish, the inhabitants are devoured by more envy, care, and uneasiness than are experienced by a besieged town. Même dans les villes qui semblent jouir de la paix, et [Pg 100] où les arts fleurissent, les habitants sont dévorés par plus d'envie, de soins et d'inquiétude qu'une ville assiégée. Secret griefs are more cruel than public calamities. In a word I have seen so much, and experienced so much that I am a Manichean." En un mot, j'ai tellement vu et vécu tellement de choses que je suis un Manichéen. " "There are, however, some things good," said Candide. "That may be," said Martin; "but I know them not." In the middle of this dispute they heard the report of cannon; it redoubled every instant. Au milieu de cette dispute, ils entendirent le rapport du canon; il redoublait à chaque instant. Each took out his glass. Chacun a sorti son verre. They saw two ships in close fight about three miles off. Ils ont vu deux navires en combat rapproché à environ trois milles. The wind brought both so near to the French vessel that our travellers had the pleasure of seeing the fight at their ease. Le vent les rapprochait si près du vaisseau français que nos voyageurs eurent le plaisir de voir le combat à leur aise. At length one let off a broadside, so low and so truly aimed, that the other sank to the bottom. Enfin l'un laissa échapper un bord si bas et si bien visé, que l'autre tomba au fond. Candide and Martin could plainly perceive a hundred men on the deck of the sinking vessel; they raised their hands to heaven and uttered terrible outcries, and the next moment were swallowed up by the sea.

"Well," said Martin, "this is how men treat one another." "It is true," said Candide; "there is something diabolical in this affair." While speaking, he saw he knew not what, of a shining red, swimming close to the vessel. [Pg 101] They put out the long-boat to see what it could be: it was one of his sheep! [Pg 101] Ils ont sorti la chaloupe pour voir ce qu'elle pouvait être: c'était une de ses brebis! Candide was more rejoiced at the recovery of this one sheep than he had been grieved at the loss of the hundred laden with the large diamonds of El Dorado.

The French captain soon saw that the captain of the victorious vessel was a Spaniard, and that the other was a Dutch pirate, and the very same one who had robbed Candide. The immense plunder which this villain had amassed, was buried with him in the sea, and out of the whole only one sheep was saved. L'immense pillage que ce méchant avait amassé fut enterré avec lui dans la mer, et de l'ensemble, un seul mouton fut sauvé.

"You see," said Candide to Martin, "that crime is sometimes punished. This rogue of a Dutch skipper has met with the fate he deserved." Ce voyou d'un skipper néerlandais a connu le sort qu'il méritait. " "Yes," said Martin; "but why should the passengers be doomed also to destruction? «Oui,» a dit Martin; "mais pourquoi les passagers devraient-ils aussi être voués à la destruction? God has punished the knave, and the devil has drowned the rest." The French and Spanish ships continued their course, and Candide continued his conversation with Martin. They disputed fifteen successive days, and on the last of those fifteen days, they were as far advanced as on the first. But, however, they chatted, they communicated ideas, they consoled each other. Candide caressed his sheep.

"Since I have found thee again," said he, "I may likewise chance to find my Cunegonde." «Depuis que je t'ai retrouvé, dit-il, je peux également avoir la chance de retrouver mon Cunégonde.