An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 688 words)
OW THE OLD WOMAN TOOK CARE OF CANDIDE, AND HOW HE FOUND THE OBJECT HE
LOVED.
Candide did not take courage, but followed the old woman to a decayed
house, where she gave him a pot of pomatum to anoint his sores, showed
him a very neat little bed, with a suit of clothes hanging up, and left
him something to eat and drink.
"Eat, drink, sleep," said she, "and may our lady of Atocha,[9] the great
St. Anthony of Padua, and the great St. James of Compostella, receive
you under their protection. I shall be back to-morrow."
Candide, amazed at all he had suffered and still more with the charity
of the old woman, wished to kiss her hand.
"It is not my hand you must kiss," said the old woman; "I shall be back
to-morrow. Anoint yourself with the pomatum, eat and sleep."
Candide, notwithstanding so many disasters, ate and slept. The next
morning the old woman brought him his breakfast, looked at his back, and
rubbed it herself with another ointment: in like manner she brought him
his dinner; and at night she returned with his supper. The day following
she went through the very same ceremonies.
"Who are you?" said Candide; "who has inspired you with so much
goodness? What return can I make you?"
The good woman made no answer; she returned in the evening, but brought
no supper.
"Come with me," she said, "and say nothing."
She took him by the arm, and walked with him about a quarter of a mile
into the country; they arrived at a lonely house, surrounded with
gardens and canals. The old woman knocked at a little door, it opened,
she led Candide up a private staircase into a small apartment richly
furnished. She left him on a brocaded sofa, shut the door and went away.
Candide thought himself in a dream; indeed, that he had been dreaming
unluckily all his life, and that the present moment was the only
agreeable part of it all.
The old woman returned very soon, supporting with difficulty a trembling
woman of a majestic figure, brilliant with jewels, and covered with a
veil.
"Take off that veil," said the old woman to Candide.
The young man approaches, he raises the veil with a timid hand. Oh!
what a moment! what surprise! he believes he beholds Miss Cunegonde? he
really sees her! it is herself! His strength fails him, he cannot utter
a word, but drops at her feet. Cunegonde falls upon the sofa. The old
woman supplies a smelling bottle; they come to themselves and recover
their speech. As they began with broken accents, with questions and
answers interchangeably interrupted with sighs, with tears, and cries.
The old woman desired they would make less noise and then she left them
to themselves.
"What, is it you?" said Candide, "you live? I find you again in
Portugal? then you have not been ravished? then they did not rip open
your belly as Doctor Pangloss informed me?"
"Yes, they did," said the beautiful Cunegonde; "but those two accidents
are not always mortal."
"But were your father and mother killed?"
"It is but too true," answered Cunegonde, in tears.
"And your brother?"
"My brother also was killed."
"And why are you in Portugal? and how did you know of my being here? and
by what strange adventure did you contrive to bring me to this house?"
"I will tell you all that," replied the lady, "but first of all let me
know your history, since the innocent kiss you gave me and the kicks
which you received."
Candide respectfully obeyed her, and though he was still in a surprise,
though his voice was feeble and trembling, though his back still pained
him, yet he gave her a most ingenuous account of everything that had
befallen him since the moment of their separation. Cunegonde lifted up
her eyes to heaven; shed tears upon hearing of the death of the good
Anabaptist and of Pangloss; after which she spoke as follows to Candide,
who did not lose a word and devoured her with his eyes.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Let's Analyse the Pattern
Genuine human kindness appears from unlikely sources when we need it most, often without conditions or expectations of return.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify genuine help that comes without strings attached or hidden agendas.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone helps without being asked—and practice saying 'thank you' without immediately offering something in return.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Eat, drink, sleep, and may our lady of Atocha, the great St. Anthony of Padua, and the great St. James of Compostella, receive you under their protection."
Context: When she first takes Candide in and tends to his wounds
This shows how practical care combines with spiritual blessing. She offers both physical healing and divine protection, representing complete compassion.
In Today's Words:
Get some food and rest - I'm praying the universe watches over you.
"It is not my hand you must kiss."
Context: When Candide tries to show gratitude for her kindness
She deflects his gratitude mysteriously, suggesting her service has a higher purpose or that she's acting on behalf of someone else.
In Today's Words:
Don't thank me - I'm just the messenger.
"Who are you? Who has inspired you with so much goodness? What return can I make you?"
Context: After days of receiving care from the mysterious woman
Candide can't understand kindness without motive because he's seen so much cruelty. His questions show both gratitude and the human need to understand why people help.
In Today's Words:
Why are you being so nice to me? What's the catch? How can I pay you back?
Thematic Threads
Human Connection
In This Chapter
The old woman's care and Candide's reunion with Cunegonde show how relationships can survive and emerge from chaos
Development
Evolved from earlier isolation—now showing connection as a healing force
In Your Life:
The people who show up during your worst moments often become your most important relationships
Hope
In This Chapter
What seemed impossible—finding Cunegonde alive—becomes reality through the old woman's mysterious guidance
Development
Contrasts sharply with the despair of previous chapters
In Your Life:
When everything feels lost, life sometimes delivers the exact thing you'd given up hoping for
Class
In This Chapter
The old woman's humble appearance conceals her ability to orchestrate miraculous reunions
Development
Continues theme of appearances deceiving, but now positively
In Your Life:
The people with the least status often have the most power to change your life
Survival
In This Chapter
Both Candide and Cunegonde have endured unimaginable trauma but found ways to continue living
Development
Shows survival as more than just staying alive—it's about remaining capable of love
In Your Life:
Your ability to still connect with others after being hurt is proof of your strength
Mystery
In This Chapter
The old woman's secretive behavior and the hidden house create an atmosphere of beneficial conspiracy
Development
Introduced here as positive force rather than threatening unknown
In Your Life:
Sometimes the help you need comes in ways you don't understand until later
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What makes the old woman's kindness different from other help Candide has received?
analysis • surface - 2
Why do you think the old woman refuses to let Candide thank her or kiss her hand?
analysis • medium - 3
When have you encountered someone who helped you without wanting anything in return? How did it feel?
application • medium - 4
How do you tell the difference between genuine kindness and help that comes with strings attached?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter suggest about how hope can survive even in the worst circumstances?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Mercy Network
Think about the last month of your life. Write down three times someone helped you without expecting anything back, and three times you helped someone else the same way. Don't count family obligations or workplace requirements—focus on the moments when someone chose kindness. Then look at your lists and identify what made those moments possible.
Consider:
- •Notice how small acts of mercy often happen when we're not looking for them
- •Consider whether you're better at giving help or receiving it gracefully
- •Think about what barriers prevent you from offering or accepting unconditional kindness
Journaling Prompt
Write about someone who showed you unexpected mercy during a difficult time. What did their help teach you about the kind of person you want to be for others?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 8: Cunegonde's Survival Story
Now Cunegonde must tell her own story of survival. What horrors did she endure after that terrible night? How did she escape, and what price did she pay for her freedom?
