She then drew off, with a negligent but artful air, her long silk gloves, and displayed her naked arms, which were of an admirable form, and rivalled the snow in whiteness.' 'You see,' said she, 'that these are The pontiff found that his heart told little worth. him they were worth a great deal; his eyes said so; and his mouth confirmed it, by the most solemn protestations that he had never before seen such lovely arms. 'Alas!' said the widow, 'my arms may not be quite so bad as the rest; but you will confess that my neck was not worthy of the least regard. She then discovered the most charming bosom that nature had ever formed. A rose bud on an apple of ivory, when compared to her breast, would have appeared like madder on the wood of the box-tree, and the whiteness of new-washed lambs would have seemed but a dusky yellow. Her delicate neck; her full black eyes, which languished with the soft lustre of a tender fire; her cheeks, which were animated with the most lovely purple, blended with the whiteness of the purest milk; her nose, which somewhat resembled the tower on Mount Lebanon; her lips, that were as two borders of coral enclosing the most beautiful pearls in the Arabian sea; in short, the pleasing combination of charms which appeared before him, made the old priest fancy himself not more than twenty: and, with a trembling voice, he began to utter a ten. der declaration of his passion. Almona, seeing him enflamed, begged he would pardon Zadig. 'Alas! lovely fair one l' said he, 'though I should grant you his pardon, my indulgence would be of little avail: it is necessary that it should be signed by three others, my brethren.'-' Sign it first, however, replied Al mona. 'I will do it freely,' said the priest, 'on condition that your favours be the price of my readiness to serve you.'-' You load me with honour,' said Almona; 'but, if you will be pleased to come to my chamber after sun-set, and as soon as the bright star Scheat twinkles in the horizon, you will find me on a rose-coloured sofa, embroidered with silver, and you may there use your pleasure with your servant.' She then departed with Zadig's general pardon, which the pontiff had signed, and left him full of love, though not without distrust of his abilities. The remainder of the day he spent in bathing; he drank enlivening draughts of a liquor composed of the cinnamon of Ceylon, and the precious spices of Tidor and Ternate; and waited with great impatience the rising of the brilliant Scheat. The lovely Almona, in the mean time, went to the second. He assured her, that the sun, the moon, and all the fires in the firmament, were but as insignificant meteors in comparison of her charms. She demanded the same favour of him, and he proposed to grant it at the same price. Almona suffered herself to be overcome, and appointed the second pontiff to meet her at the rising of the star Algenib. From thence she passed to the third, and to the fourth priest; still obtaining a signature from each, and making the assignation from star to star. She then sent for the judges to come to her house on an affair of the greatest importance. They waited on her accordingly, and she laid before them the pardon of Zadig, signed with the names of the four priests, informing them of the conditions upon which it had been obtained. The priests, in the mean time, punctually kept their appointment, and each was greatly surprised at finding his brethren; but still more, at seeing there the judges, before whom his shame was manifest. By this stratagem Zadig was saved; and Setoc was so charmed at the dexterity of Almona, that he shortly after made her his wife. Zadig now departed, having thrown himself at the feet of his fair deliverer: and Setoc and he separated from each other with tears, vowing a mutual and eternal friendship; and promising, that the first of the two who should raise a splendid fortune, should share it with the other. Zadig travelled by the side of Assyria, constantly thinking on the unhappy Astarte, and reflecting on the fates, which seemed obstinately bent on sporting with him, and making him the subject of new persecutions. What,' said he, 'four hundred ounces of gold for not having seen a dog! condemned to lose my life for four lines of bad poetry in praise of the king! ready to be strangled because the queen looked kindly upon me! reduced to slavery for having relieved a woman who was beat! and on the point of being consumed to ashes, for having saved the lives of all the young widows in Arabia.' CHAPTER XIII. THE ROBBER. WHEN Zadig arrived on the frontiers which separate Arabia Petrea from Assyria, as he passed near a pretty strong castle, a party of armed Arabians sallied out; and immediately surrounding him, cried-'Whatever property you have belongs to us, and your persons are at the disposal of our master.' Zadig answered by drawing his sword: and his servant, who was a man of great courage, did the same. They presently overthrew those who had first attacked them; and though the numbers of their opponents redoubled, they seemed not at all dismayed, but resolved to die fighting. Two men fought against a multitude; and such a combat could not be of long continuance. The master of the castle, whose name was Arbogad, having beheld from a window the intrepid behaviour of Zadig, felt his mind filled with esteem: he descended in haste, and came himself to call off his men, and to deliver the two travellers. Whatever passes over my territories,' said he, becomes my property, as well as what I find in the possession of others; but your bravery, Sir, shall exempt you from this consequence.' He then made him enter into his castle; ordered his domestics to treat him with the greatest respect; and in the evening they supped together. Although Arbogad was an Arabian robber, yet, amidst a multitude of bad actions, he sometimes performed such as were worthy of the highest praise. He plundered mankind, it is true, with a furious rapacity, but he also behaved with great liberality. He was intrepid in action; easy in his dealings; a debauchee at his table, but gay even in his debauchery; and had, above all, a free and open frankness. He was much pleased with Zadig, the gaiety of whose conversation prolonged their repast. At length Arbogad said to him- I advise you to enroll yourself under me; it is impossible for you to do better. My occupation is not a bad one, and you may one day become what I am at present.'-' I could wish to know,' replied Zadig, how long you have exercised this noble profession?'-' From my most tender youth,' returned this great man: I was at first only servant to an Arabian; who, indeed, treated me kindly enough. But any state of servitude was to me insupportable: I was unhappy in considering that Fate had given me no portion in a world to which all mankind have an equal claim. I imparted my uneasiness to an old sage Arabian, and he thus endeavoured to comfort me-" My son," said he, " do not despair: there was formerly a grain of sand which lamented its being an atom unknown in the deserts; but at the end of some years it became a diamond, and is at present the richest and most admired ornament of the Indian crown." This discourse made a very strong impression upon me: I considered myself as the grain of sand, and determined, if possible, to become the diamond. Accordingly, I began by stealing two horses; associated to myself companions, and put myself in a condition to rob small caravans; and thus, by degrees, I soon lessened the disproportion there appeared between me and other people. I not only enjoyed my share of the good things of this life, but was even recompensed with usury for my former sufferings. I now grew much respected, and became the captain of a band of robbers. This castle was gained by violence: the satrape of Assyria, however, resolved to dispossess me; but I was too rich to have any thing to fear; for, by giving him money, I not only preserved this castle, but increased my possessions. He even made me treasurer of the tributes |