I was listening to an audio book of Candide yesterday and caught a funny line I didn’t remember. I looked it up in both print editions of the book I have and here is how the translations compare.
Audio book: “With the aid of medicines and blood-letting, Candide’s illness became serious.”
Ha ha right? Almost Douglas Adams-esque with the little reversal in the end. (Much funnier in context of course.)
Littell translation: “However, what with physic and bleeding, Candide’s illness became serious.”
This one is dated so maybe it would be funny if I thought physic and bleeding sounded like medical care instead of symptoms.
Cuffe translation: “However, by dint of many enemas and much bloodletting, Candide’s illness worsened.”
And this one keeps the joke but it is so dry I passed right over it when I read it.
Ok @Lisa_Fav and @MaiaLS, here’s the original French. Is it funny?
“Cependant, à force de médecines et de saignées, la maladie de Candide devint sérieuse.”