might refresh themselves for a few hours; when an old servant, ill clothed, let them in with a visible reluctance, and conducted the hermit and Zadig into a stable, where he gave them some rotten olives, bad bread, and sour beer. The hermit eat and drank with as contented an air as he had done the preceding evening: then addressing himself to the old servant, who carefully watched them both, to see that they stole nothing, and often reminded them that the day was declining apace, he gave him the two pieces of gold he had received in the morning, and thanked him for his respectful behaviour, 'Pray,' added he, The servant, permit me to speak to your master.'

filled with astonishment, introduced the two travellers. 'Munificent lord !' said the hermit, I cannot but render you my most humble thanks for the friendly manner in which you have received us: be pleased to accept this golden bason, as a small testimony of my gratitude.' The miser started, and was ready to fall to the earth; the hermit, however, did not give him time to recover from his surprize, but instantly departed with his young traveller. Father,' said Zadig, 'what is the meaning of all I have seen? In nothing do you appear to resemble other men: you have stole a gold bason, set with precious stones from a lord who entertained us magnificently, and have given it to a sordid wretch who treated you with the greatest indignity.'-' My son,' replied the hermit, that magnificent personage, who entertains strangers with no other view than to gratify his pride, and raise their astonishment at the richness of his furniture, will become more wise for the future; and the miser will henceforth learn better to exercise

the duties of hospitality. Be astonished at nothing; but follow me.' Zadig was not yet certain whether his companion was the silliest person in the world, or one who surpassed all mankind in wisdom and discernment: but the hermit spoke with such authority, that Zadig, not to mention his oath, could not nelp following him.

At night they arrived at a house very commodiously built, though with great simplicity, and without the least appearance either of prodigality or avarice. The master was a philosopher, who had retired from the world, that he might cultivate in peace his improvement in wisdom and virtue. In this retreat he re

ceived strangers with great cordiality, but without any ostentation. He went himself to introduce the two travellers, and led them to a commodious apartment, where he desired they would rest themselves. Some time after, he came himself to invite them to a frugal, but genteel repast; during which he talked very intelligently about the late revolutions in Babylon. He appeared sincerely attached to the queen, and wished that Zadig had appeared in the lists to dispute the crown : 'But the people,' added he, 'do not deserve to have a king like Zadig.' A modest blush diffused itself over the cheeks of Zadig at this unexpected compliment, which not only renewed, but redoubled the keen sense of his misfortunes. It was agreed that the affairs of this world are not always conducted so as to please the wise: but the hermit steadily maintained, that the ways of Providence were unknown; and that men were to blame to judge of the whole, when they perceived only the smallest part.

The next topic of their discourse was that of the passions. Alas!' said Zadig, how fatal are their effects!' They are the winds which swell the sails of the vessel,' returned the hermit. 'Sometimes, it is true, they sink it; but there is no sailing without them. The bile renders us sick and choleric, but is yet necessary for the support of life: thus every thing below is dangerous, yet still every thing is necessary.'

They then discoursed of pleasures, and the hermit demonstrated that they were the gifts of Heaven. 'Man,' said he, can give himself neither sensations nor ideas, he receives them all; his pain and pleasure are therefore derived from the same source as his being.'

Zadig was astonished, that a man who had committed such base actions should be able to reason so well. At length, after a conversation, as instructive as it was agreeable, their host led the two strangers back to their apartment, blessing Heaven for having sent him two men so wise and so virtuous. He offered them money in so free a manner, that it was impossible they could be displeased. The hermit refused it, and said that he must take his leave, as he intended to set out for Babylon before it was light. Their separation was polite and tender: Zadig, especially, felt himself filled with esteem and affection for a man of so amiable a disposition. When the hermit and he were retired to their apartment, they spent a long time in bestowing praises on their host. At break of day the old hermit awaked his companion: We must now,' said he,' depart for Babylon; but while every body is yet asleep, I will leave our entertainer a testimony of my esteem and affection.' On saying

these words he lighted a candle, and immediately set fire to the house. Zadig, in the utmost confusion, shrieked out, and would have prevented his committing so horrid an action; but the old man drew him away by a superior force, and the house was soon in flames. When they had reached a convenient distance, the hermit, with amazing serenity, turned to survey the destructive flames. "Thanks be to God,' said he; the house of my dear host will be totaily destroyed! happy, happy man!' Zadig was now tempted, at one and the same instant, to laugh at, to reproach the reverend father, to beat and to leave him he did not, however, think proper to do either; for, subdued by the consequence the hermit had assumed, he followed him, in spite of himself, to the place where they were to take their rest. This was a charitable and virtuous widow's, who had a nephew about fourteen years of age; he was a very promising youth, and constituted her chief happiness. performed, as well as she was able the honours of her house; and the next day ordered her nephew to accompany the travellers to an adjacent bridge, which being lately broken down, was dangerous to be passed by strangers.

She

The youth being attentive to wait on them, walked cheerfully forward. When they were on the bridge -'Come,' said the hermit,' I must shew my gratitude to your aunt.' He then took him gently by the hair, and with great calmness, plunged him into the river. The youth immediately sunk; but soon appeared again on the surface of the water, and was swallowed up by the torrent. 'O monster! O most wicked of men!' cried Zadig. "You have promised to behave with greater patience,'

said the hermit in

terrupting him. 'Learn, then, that under the ruins of that house which Providence has consumed by fire, the master has found an immense treasure, which will enable him the better to exert his beneficence, and render his virtues still more conspicuous. Learn, also, that this youth, whose life Providence has taken away by an untimely death, would have slain his aunt within the space of a year, and thee in that of two. -'Who told you so, barbarian?' cried Zadig. 'And even though you had read such an event in your detested Book of Fate, are you permitted to drown a youth who never injured you?'

While Zadig thus spoke, he perceived that the old man had no longer a beard, and that his face discovered the soft traces of blooming youth; the hermit's habit disappeared, and four lovely wings covered a majestic form resplendant with light. O messenger of Heaven! O divine angel!' cried Zadig, falling prostrate on the earth; 'you are then descended from the Empyrean, to teach a frail mortal submission to the orders of the Eternal !'-' Man,' said the angel Jesrad, judges of all, without knowing any thing. You alone, of all the human race, are the man who best deserved to be enlightened.' Zadig begged that he would permit him to speak. 'I distrust myself,' said he; but suffer me to entreat you to remove one scruple from my mind. Would it not have been better to have corrected the child, and have rendered him virtuous, than to have drowned him in the river?' Jesrad replied-'If he had been virtuous, and had lived, he would himself have been assassinated; together with the wife he would have married, and the little infant, which in that case was destined to be the pledge of their mutual affection.'-' But why,' said