My Own Notes

Candide, Or The Optimist
Voltaire

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The old woman soon returned, supporting, with great difficulty, a young lady, who appeared scarce able to stand. She was of a majestic mien and stature, her dress was rich and glittering with diamonds, and her face was covered with a veil. "Take off that veil," said the old woman to Candide. The young man approaches, and with a trembling hand takes off her veil. What a happy moment! What surprise! He thought he beheld Miss Cunegund. He did behold her: it was she herself! His strength fails him, he cannot utter a word, he falls at her feet. Cunegund faints upon the sofa. The old woman bedews them with spirits; they recover; they begin to speak. At first they could express themselves only in broken accents their questions and answers were alternately interrupted with sighs, tears, and exclamations. The old woman desired them to make less noise, and after this prudent admonition, left them together. "Good heavens!" cried Candide, "is it you? Is it Miss Cunegund I behold, and alive? Do I find you again in Portugal? Then you have not been ravished? They did not rip you open, as the philosopher Pangloss informed me?" "Indeed, but they did," replied Miss Cunegund;" but these two accidents do not always prove mortal." "But were your father and mother killed?" "Alas!" answered she, "it is but too true!" and she wept. "And your brother?" "And my brother also." "And how came you into Portugal? And how did you know of my being here? And by what strange adventure did you contrive to have me brought into this house? And how--" I will tell you all," replied the lady; "but  first you must acquaint me with all that has befallen you since the innocent kiss you gave me, and the rude kicking you received in consequence of it."  

Candide, with the greatest submission, prepared to obey the commands of his fair mistress, and though he was still wrapt in amazement, though his voice was low and tremulous, though his back pained him, yet he gave her a most ingenious account of everything that had befallen him since the moment of their separation.
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