Zadig, is it necessary that there should be crimes and misfortunes, and that misfortune should fall on the guiltless?' 'The wicked,' replied Jesrad,' are always unhappy. Misfortunes serve only as a touchstone, to prove a small number of the just, thinly scattered throughout the earth; nor is there any evil from which some good doth not proceed.'-' What,' said Zadig, if there was only good, and no evil?' 'Then,' replied Jesrad, 'this earth would be another earth; the chain of events would be another arrangement, conducted by wisdom; but this other arrangement, which would be absolutely perfect, can exist only in the eternal abode of the Supreme Being, where no evil is permitted to approach. He has created millions of worlds, among which there are not two that resemble each other. This immense variety proceeds from his omnipotence. There are no two leaves among the trees of the earth, nor two globes in the infinite fields of light, that perfectly resemble one another; and all that you see on the little atom whereon you are born, must of necessity exist in it's own place, and at it's appointed time, according to the immutable decrees of him who comprehends the whole. Mankind imagine that the child who has just perished, is fallen into the water by chance; and that it was also by chance that the house of our generous benefactor was consumed: but there is no such thing as chance or accident; it is all either a trial, a punishment, a reward, or a foresight. Remember the poor fisherman, who thought himself the most unhappy of men; Orosmades sent you to change his destiny. Cease, then, frail mortal, to dispute against what it is your duty to adore.'-' But—' said Zadig. As he pronounced the word 'but,' the

angel took his flight towards the tenth heaven, Zadig sunk on his knees and adored the wonders of Providence, with every mark of the most profound submission when the angel cried from on high'Proceed towards Babylon.'

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE ENIGMAS.

ZADIG, like a person deprived of his senses by loud claps of thunder, walked on without knowing whither. He, however, reached Babylon, on the day in which those who had fought at the tournaments, were assembled in the vestibule of the palace, to explain the enigmas, and to answer the questions of the grand magi; and all the knights were arrived except him who wore the green armour. As soon as Zadig appeared in the city, the people assembled about him; their eyes were not satisfied with seeing him, their lips poured forth blessings upon him, and their hearts wished him the empire. The envious man saw him pass; he frowned, and turned aside. The people, with loud acclamations, attended him even to the palace gate. The queen, who had heard of his ar rival, was in the utmost agony between fear and hope. Inquietude took possession of her mind; she could neither comprehend why Zadig was without arms, nor how Itobad became possessed of the white armour. A confused murmur run through the whole assembly at the sight of Zadig; they were surprized and charmed at seeing him; but none besides the knights who had fought were permitted to appear in

the court.

arms;

Zadig, however, cried out-'I have taken my share in the combats, though another bears my and while I wait till I have the honour to prove my assertion, I demand permission to be admitted, that I may endeavour to explain the enigmas.' The magi put Zadig's request to the vote; and his reputation for probity was still so strongly imprinted on their minds, that they unanimously agreed to admit him.

The first question proposed by the grand magi was this- What is the longest, and yet the shortest thing in the world; the swiftest, and most slow; the most divisible, and the most extended; the least valued, and the most regretted; without which nothing can be done; which devours all that is small, and yet gives life and spirit to every thing that is great?'

Itobad had the honour to speak first. He replied, that so great a man as he had no knowledge of enigmas; and that it was enough for him to have conquered by his valour and the strength of his arm. Some said, that the meaning of the enigma was fortune; others, the earth; others, the light: but Zadig said that it was TIME. 'Nothing is longer,' added he, 'since it is the measure of eternity; nothing is more short, since it is insufficient to complete our projects; nothing is more slow to him who waits, nothing more rapid to him who enjoys; it extends in greatness even to infinitude; it is divisible into infinite smallness; all men neglect it; all lament it's loss; nothing can be done without it: it consigns to oblivion what is unworthy of being known by posterity; and it immortalizes great and noble actions.' The assembly agreed unanimously that Zadig was in the right.

The next question was- What is the thing that we receive without thanks, which we enjoy without knowing how, which we give to others without knowing where it is to be found, and which we lose without being conscious of it's loss?'

Every one gave his own explication; but Zadig alone said that it was LIFE: and he solved all the other enigmas proposed with equal facility. Itobad constantly said that nothing was more plain, and that he could have answered them with the same ease, if he had been inclined to have given himself the trouble. Questions were then proposed respecting justice, the sovereign good, and the art of government. Zadig's answers were still judged to be the most solid. 'What a pity it is,' said the magi,' that a person of such consummate wisdom should be so bad a knight !'

'Most illustrious lords,' cried Zadig, ' I have had the honour to be conqueror in the tournaments, and it is to me that the white armour belongs. Lord Itobad took possession of it while I slept; judging, perhaps, that it would fit him better than the green. I am, however. ready to encounter before this august assembly, with my gown and sword, the usurper of the white armour, that you may be enabled to judge who it is that has had the honour of conquering the brave Otamus.'

Itobad, with the greatest confidence, accepted this challenge. His head being guarded by a helmet, his breast and back by his cuirass, and his arms by his brassarts, he entertained no doubt but that he should easily obtain the advantage over a champion in a cap and gown. Zadig drew his sabre, and with it saluted the queen, who viewed him with a mixture of joy and fear. Itobad drew his, and, without any salutation,

rushed on Zadig like one who had nothing to fear, and was determined to bear down all before him. Zadig, however, knew how to prevent the blow, by opposing the strongest part of his sword to the weakest of his adversary's, by which means Itobad's sword was quickly broken. Zadig then seized him round the body, threw him to the earth, and placing the point of his sword to the opening of his cuirass― 'Suffer yourself to be disarmed,' said Zadig, 'or I will this moment take your life.' Itobad, always surprised that any disgrace should happen to a person of his consequence, suffered Zadig to do as he pleased. He therefore very peacefully took away his magnificent helmet, his superb cuirass, his rich brassarts, and his brilliant cuisses; and clothing himself with them, ran in this dress to throw himself at Astarte's feet. Cador easily proved that the white armour belonged to Zadig; and he was thereupon acknowledged King of Babylon by the unanimous consent of the whole assembly; and more particularly with the approbation of Astarte; who, after such a series of misfortunes, had the happiness of seeing her beloved Zadig thought worthy to possess her in the eyes of all the world. Itobad withdrew, and was obliged to content himself with being called plain lord in his own house; while Zadig was elected king, and possessed happiness equal to his wishes. He now began to reflect on what the angel Jesrad had said to him; he remembered the story of the grain of sand which became a diamond; and both himself and Astarte admired the wonders of Providence. He permitted Missouf, the capricious beauty, to roam where she pleased; and sent in search of Arbogad, the robber, to whom he gave an honourable post in the army,