Chapter 16 Summary

The two escape successfully and find themselves in a field near a stream and Cacambo sets the horses to graze and the two eat a meal. Candide feels remorse for killing the brother of Cunégonde. The sound of women's cries is heard. Two naked girls are running through the field, chased by two monkeys who are biting at their buttocks. Candide shoots the two monkeys, believing that his action of saving the two girls atones for the murder of the Grand Inquisitor and Mr. Issachar. He then sees the two girls cradling the monkeys and crying. Cacambo explains that Candide has killed the girls' lovers. Candide is shocked that the monkeys were the lovers of the girls.

Cacambo persuades Candide to hide in the woods, where they sleep. The two wake up to find themselves bound by the Oreillons. The Oreillons are...