ZADIG:

OR

THE BOOK OF FAT E.

CHAPTER I.

THE BLIND OF ONE EYE.

THERE lived at Babylon, in the reign of King Moabdar, a man named Zadig. He was endowed by nature with an uncommon genius; and his parents, who were persons of rank, took care to cultivate it with an excellent education. Though rich and young, he knew how to moderate his passions; he had nothing in him affected; he disdained the ostentation of wisdom, and knew how to pity the weaknesses of his fellow-creatures. Every one was surprised to find, that though he had such a fund of wit, he never exposed, by his raillery, those impertinent and seditious discourses, those rash slanders, those ignorant decisions, those rude jests, and that vain sound of words, which, in Babylon, went by the name of polite conversation. He had learned, in the first book of Zoroaster. that self-love is a bladder swelled with wind, from whence tempests proceed whenever it is pierced. In particular, he never boasted of his con

quests among the fair sex, and of his bringing them into subjection. He was too generous to be afraid of conferring obligations on the ungrateful, following this great precept of Zoroaster-' When thou eatest, give to the dogs, though they should growl at thee.' He was as wise as it was possible; for he sought not the company of any but such as were famous for their wisdom. He was acquainted with the sciences of the ancient Chaldeans; was not ignorant of such physical principles of nature as were then discovered; and knew as much of metaphysics as has ever yet been known; that is to say, little or nothing of the matter. He was firmly persuaded, in spite of the philosophy of his time, that the year consisted of three hundred and sixty-five days and an half, and that the sun was situated in the centre of the earth: but when the chief magi told him, with an insulting haughtiness, that he entertained heretical sentiments, and was an enemy to the state, for believing that the sun turned about it's own axis, and that the year consisted of twelve months, he was wise enough to avoid the appearance of anger or contempt.

As Zadig possessed great riches, and had consequently many friends; and as he had also an excellent constitution, an amiable figure, a mind just and moderate, and a heart sincere and noble; he imagined that he might be happy. He therefore determined to marry a gay young lady, named Semira, whose beauty, birth, and fortune, rendered her the most desirable person in Babylon. He had a solid and virtuous affection for this lady, and she loved him with the most passionate tenderness. A short time before their intended union, as they were walking to

gether near one of the gates of Babylon, under a row of palm-trees on the banks of the Euphrates, they saw a band of men, armed with sabres, bows, and arrows, approaching towards them. These were the attendants of young Orcan, nephew to a minister of state, whom the concubines of his uncle had persuaded might commit, with impunity, whatever crimes he pleased. Although he had none of the internal accomplishments of Zadig, yet he imagined himself to be greatly his superior, and was therefore enraged at not being preferred before him. This jealousy, which arose merely from his vanity, induced nim to believe that he loved Semira to distraction; fired with which notion, he determined to carry her away by force. The ruffians rudely seized her; and, in the heat of the encounter, drew the blood of a beauty, the sight of whose charms would have moved to pity even the tigers of Mount Emaus. The injured lady pierced the heavens with her cries; exclaiming 'O my husband! my dear husband! They force me from the arms of him whom alone I adore !' She regarded not her own danger; her thoughts were wholly engrossed by her fears for her dearly beloved Zadig. In the mean time, he defended himself with all the strength and resolution which love and valour usually inspire. Assisted only by two slaves, he put the villains to flight, and carried home Semira, senseless and bloody as she was. The moment she came to herself, she fixed her lovely eyes on her deliverer. "O Zadig!' said she, I not only love thee as my husband, but as him to whom I owe my life; and what to me is far dearer, the preservation of my honour.' Never was a heart more enflamed than Se

mira's; never did such ravishing lips express sentiments so kind and tender: her words were of fire; they were inspired by gratitude for the greatest of all benefits, and the warmest transports of a lawful affection. Her wounds were slight, and were quickly healed. Zadig was wounded in a more dangerous manner; he was struck by an arrow near his left eye. Semira incessantly addressed the gods for the cure of her lover; her cheeks were night and day bathed in tears; and she waited with impatience for the happy moment when the eyes of Zadig should behold her anxiety! But, alas! the wounded eye became so swelled and inflamed, that his friends were in the greatest concern for his sight. They sent even to Memphis, for the great physician Hermes, who immediately attended his patient with a numerous retinue. On his first visit, he declared that Zadig would lose his eye, and predicted the day and hour when this fatal event would happen. If it had been the right eye,' said he, I could have healed it, but the wounds of the left are incurable.' All Babylon, while they lamented the destiny of Zadig, admired the wisdom of Hermes. Two days after, the abscess burst of itself; and Zadig, in a short time, was perfectly recovered. Hermes then wrote a very elaborate treatise, to prove that he ought not to have been cured: which Zadig, however, did not think worth his perusal; but, as soon as he could go abroad, prepared to visit her on whom he founded his hopes of happiness, and for whose sake alone he had wished the restoration of his sight. Semira, he found, had been three aays in the country; and he was at the same time informed, that as this beautiful creature had publicly