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of his provisions, were the result of pride or ostentation. He delighted in appearing what he was, and not in seeming what he was not; by which means he obtained a far more respectable character than that which he actually aimed at.

Opposite to his house dwelt Arimazes, a person puffed up with pride; who having never been able to obtain so much success in life as he wished for, sought to revenge himself by railing against all mankind. Although he was rich, he found it difficult to procure flatterers. He was greatly provoked at the attling of the chariots which approached the door of Zadig; but was still more aggravated by the sound of his praises. He sometimes intruded himself so far as to sit down at Zadig's table without any invitation, and when there he constantly interrupted the mirth of the company, as harpies are said to corrupt all the provisions they touch.

Arimazes one day intended to give an entertainment to a young lady; but instead of accepting it, she went to sup at Zadig's. Another time, as Zadig and he were conversing together in the palace, a minister of state came up, and invited Zadig to supper, but took no notice of Arimazes. The most implacable hatred has seldom a more solid foundation. This person, who in Babylon was called the Envious Man, resolved to ruin Zadig, because he was usually distinguished by the appellation of the Happy Man. An opportunity of doing mischief is found an hundred times in a day, but that of doing good only once in a year; as says the wise Zoroaster.

Arimazes went one day to see Zadig, who was walking in his garden with two friends and a lady, to

whom he said abundance of fine things, without any other intention than the innocent pleasure of saying them. The conversation turned on a war the king had just happily concluded against the prince of Hircania, his vassal. Zadig, who had signalized his courage in this short struggle, bestowed great praises on the king, but was still more lavish in his compliments to the lady; and taking out his pocket-book, instantly wrote four lines, which he gave her to look at. His friends then begged to see them; but modesty, or rather a just degree of self-love, prevented him; for he knew that extempore verses are seldom good, except in the opinion of those in honour of whom they are written. He therefore broke in two the tablet on which he had been writing, and threw both pieces into a thicket of roses, where his friends sought for them in vain. A small rain falling presently after, all the company, except Arimazes, returned to the house. He, however, continued in the garden, and sought till he found a piece of the tablet. It had been unfortunately torn in such a manner, that each half of a line formed a complete sense, and even a verse in a very short measure; and by a chance still more strange, the lines were found to contain most injurious reproaches against the king. They ran thus

By crimes of blackest dye,
He's of the throne possess'd,
To peace and liberty,

The enemy profess'd.

Arimazes was now happy, for the first time in his life; since he had in his hands the means of destroying one who was worthy and virtuous. Filled with a

cruel joy, he produced the broken tablet, which contained this virulent satire, before the king; who ordered Zadig to be imprisoned, together with the lady and his two friends. His trial was soon over, with

out his being suffered to speak for himself. When he came to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way, and told him aloud, that his verses were of no value. Zadig was but little displeased at being thought a bad poet, but he could not bear the reflection of being condemned for high treason, and considering that a beautiful lady, and two of his friends, were detained in prison for a crime of which they were entirely innocent. He was not permitted to speak, because his writing spoke: such were the laws of Babylon. They obliged him therefore to go to punishment through a crowd of spectators, brought together by their curiosity, none of whom durst appear to pity him: they threw themselves before him to examine his countenance, and to see if he acted with a becoming fortitude. His relations were, indeed, the only real mourners; for they could not inherit his estate. Three parts of his substance were confiscated to the king's use, and the other was given to Arimazes.

Just as Zadig was preparing himself for death, the king's parrot flew from her cage, and alighted on a rose bush in the garden of Zadig. A peach had been driven thither by the wind from a neighbouring tree; and was fallen on a piece of the tablet, to which it stuck; when the bird carried it away, and alighted on the monarch's knee. The king, seized with curiosity, read the words on the broken tablet, which formed not any meaning, but appeared to be the endings of

a verse.

He was a great admirer of poetry; and there is always some relief to be expected, when a prince is a friend to the muses: the adventure of his parrot made him thoughtful. The queen, who perfectly well remembered what had been written on the piece of Zadig's pocket-book, ordered that part to be brought. They examined the two pieces together, which perfectly fitted each other; and then read the verse as Zadig had wrote it

By crimes of blackest dye, I've seen the earth made hell: He's of the throne possess'd, who all their pow'r can quell. To peace and liberty, love's now the only foe,

The enemy profess'd of mortals here below.

Upon this the king ordered Zadig to be instantly brought before him, and his two friends and the lady to be immediately released from their confinement. Zadig prostrated himself with his face to the earth before the king and queen, and most humbly begged pardon for having made an ill verse. He spoke, indeed, with such a becoming grace, and with so much modesty and good sense, that the king and queen desired to see him again; when they gave him all the wealth of Arimazes, by whom he had been so unjustly accused: but Zadig generously restored him back the whole of his fortune. Arimazes, however, felt no ether sensation, than the pleasure which arose from ais not having lost his substance. The king's esteem for Zadig increased from day to day; he made him share in all his pleasures, and consulted him in all his affairs. The queen from that time shewed him so much respect, and spoke to him in such soft and endearing terms, that it seemed to threaten much dan

ger to herself, her royal consort, to Zadig, and to the kingdom. Zadig now began to believe, that the attainment of happiness was not so difficult as he had formerly imagined.

CHAPTER V.

THE FORCE OF GENEROSITY.

THE time now arrived for celebrating a great feast, held once in five years. It was a custom in Babylon, solemnly to declare, at the end of this period, which of the citizens had done the most generous action.

The grandees and magi always sat as judges on this occasion; and the first satrape, who had the care of the city, made known the most noble actions that had passed under his government. They proceeded by votes, and the king himself pronounced the judgment. Persons of all ranks and degrees came to this solemnity from the most remote parts of the kingdom. The successful person received from the hands of the monarch a gold cup, adorned with precious stones; and the king said these words- Receive this reward of your generosity; and may the gods grant me many thousands of such valuable subjects!'

On this memorable day, when the king appeared on his throne, surrounded by his grandees, the magi, and the deputies of all the surrounding nations who came to these games, where glory was acquired, not by the swiftness of horses, nor by strength and activity of body, but by virtue; the principal satrape reported, with a loud voice, such noble acts as might seem to

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