The old philosopher, whose name was Martin, embarked1 then with Candide for Bordeaux. They had both seen and suffered a great deal; and if the vessel2 had sailed from Surinam to Japan, by the Cape3 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 possessed4 of money and jewels, and though he had lost one hundred large red sheep, laden5 with the greatest treasure upon earth; though the knavery6 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 doctrine8.
"But you, Mr. Martin," said he to the philosopher, "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]
FOOTNOTE:
[21] P. 99. _Socinians_; followers9 of the teaching of Lalius and Faustus Socinus (16th century), which denied the doctrine of the Trinity, the deity10 of Christ, the personality of the devil, the native and total depravity of man, the vicarious atonement and eternal punishment. The Socinians are now represented by the Unitarians. _Manicheans_; followers of Manes or Manichaeus (3rd century), a Persian who maintained that there are two principles, the one good and the other evil, each equally powerful in the government of the world.
"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 malignant11 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 exterminate12 some other family. Everywhere the weak execrate13 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 extremity14 of Europe to the other, get their bread by disciplined depredation15 and murder, for want of more honest employment. Even in those cities which seem to enjoy peace, and where the arts flourish, the inhabitants are devoured16 by more envy, care, and uneasiness than are experienced by a besieged17 town. Secret griefs are more cruel than public calamities18. 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 cannon19; 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 diabolical20 in this affair."
While speaking, he saw he knew not what, of a shining red, swimming close to the vessel. 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 victorious21 vessel was a Spaniard, and that the other was a Dutch pirate, and the very same one who had robbed Candide. The immense plunder22 which this villain23 had amassed24, 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 rogue25 of a Dutch skipper has met with the fate he deserved."
"Yes," said Martin; "but why should the passengers be doomed26 also to destruction? God has punished the knave7, 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 caressed27 his sheep.
"Since I have found thee again," said he, "I may likewise chance to find my Cunegonde."
1 embarked | |
乘船( embark的过去式和过去分词 ); 装载; 从事 | |
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2 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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3 cape | |
n.海角,岬;披肩,短披风 | |
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4 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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5 laden | |
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的 | |
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6 knavery | |
n.恶行,欺诈的行为 | |
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7 knave | |
n.流氓;(纸牌中的)杰克 | |
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8 doctrine | |
n.教义;主义;学说 | |
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9 followers | |
追随者( follower的名词复数 ); 用户; 契据的附面; 从动件 | |
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10 deity | |
n.神,神性;被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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11 malignant | |
adj.恶性的,致命的;恶意的,恶毒的 | |
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12 exterminate | |
v.扑灭,消灭,根绝 | |
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13 execrate | |
v.憎恶;厌恶;诅咒 | |
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14 extremity | |
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度 | |
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15 depredation | |
n.掠夺,蹂躏 | |
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16 devoured | |
吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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17 besieged | |
包围,围困,围攻( besiege的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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18 calamities | |
n.灾祸,灾难( calamity的名词复数 );不幸之事 | |
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19 cannon | |
n.大炮,火炮;飞机上的机关炮 | |
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20 diabolical | |
adj.恶魔似的,凶暴的 | |
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21 victorious | |
adj.胜利的,得胜的 | |
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22 plunder | |
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠 | |
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23 villain | |
n.反派演员,反面人物;恶棍;问题的起因 | |
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24 amassed | |
v.积累,积聚( amass的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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25 rogue | |
n.流氓;v.游手好闲 | |
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26 doomed | |
命定的 | |
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27 caressed | |
爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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