 Chapter 12 of Zadeig. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Zadeig or the Book of Fate by Voltaire. Chapter 12 The Rendezvous. Whilst Zadeig attended his friend Setok to Balzora, the priests of the stars were determined to punish him. As all the costly jewels and other valuable decorations, in which every young widow that sacrificed herself on her husband's funeral pile, were their customary fees, it is no great wonder indeed that they were inclined to burn poor Zadeig for playing them such a scurvy trick. Zadeig therefore was accused of holding heretical and damnable tenets in regard to the celestial host. They deposed and swore point-blank that he had been heard to aver that the stars never sat in the sea. This horrid blasphemous declaration thunderstruck all the judges and they were ready to rend their mantles at the sound of such an impious assertion. And they would have made Zadeig, had he been a man of substance, paid very severely for his heretical notions. But in the height of their pity and compassion, for even such an infidel, they would lay no fine upon him, but content themselves with seeing him roasted alive before a slow fire. Zedok, though without hopes of success, used all the interest he had to save his bosom friend from so shocking a death. But they turned a deaf ear to all his remonstrances and obliged him to hold his tongue. The young widow Almona, who by this time was not only reconciled to living a little longer, but had some taste for the pleasures of life, and knew that she was entirely indebted to Zadeig for it, resolved if possible to free her benefactor from being burnt, as he had before convinced her of the folly of it in her case. She pondered upon this weighty affair very seriously, but said nothing to anyone whom so ever. Zadeig was to be executed the next day, and she had only a few hours left to carry her project into execution. Now the readers shall hear, with how much benevolence and discretion this amiable widow behaved on this emergent occasion. In the first place, she made use of the most costly perfumes, and dressed herself to the utmost advantage to render her charms as conspicuous as possible. And, thus gaily attired, demanded a private audience of the high priest of the stars. Upon her first admittance, into his august and venerable presence, she had dressed herself in the following terms. O thou first-born and well-beloved son of the great bear, brother of the bull, and first cousin to the dog, these you must know where the pontiff's high titles. I come to confess myself before you. My conscience is my accuser, and I am terribly afraid I have been guilty of a mortal sin by declining the stated custom of burning myself on my husband's funeral pile. What could tempt me, in short, to a prolongation of my life I can't imagine? I, who am grown a perfect skeleton, all wrinkled and deformed. She paused and, pulling off with a negligent but artful air her long silk gloves, she displayed a soft, plump, naked arm, and as white as snow. You see, sir, said she, that all my charms are blasted. Blast it, madam, said the luscious pontiff. No, your charms are still resistless. His eyes and his mouth, with which he kissed her hand, confirmed their power. Such an arm, madam, by the great rosmides I never saw before. Alas, said the widow, with a modest blush, my arm, sir, at his probable, may have the advantage of any hidden part. But see, good father, what a neck is here. As yellow as saffron, an object not worth regarding. Then she displayed such a snowy, panting bosom, that nature could not mend it. A rosebud on an ivory apple would, if set in competition with her spotless whiteness, make no better appearance than common madder upon a shrub. And the whitest wool, just out of the lava, where she but by, would seem but of a light brown hue. Her neck, her large black sparkling eyes, that languishingly rolled, and seemed us to her on fire, her lovely cheeks glowing with white and red, her nose that was not unlike the tower of Mount Lebanon, her lips which were like two borders of coral, enclosing two rows of the best pearls in the Arabian sea. Such a combination, I say, of charms made the old Pontiff judge she was scarce twenty years of age, and in a kind of flutter, to make her a declaration of his tender regard for her. Almona, perceiving him enamoured, begged his interest in favour of Zadig. Alas, my dear charmer, my interest alone, when you request the favour, would be but a poor compliment. I'll take care his acquittance, shall be signed by three more of my brother priests. Do you sign first, however? said Almona. With all my soul, said the amorous Pontiff, provided you'll be kind, my dearest. You do me too much honour, said Almona, but should you give yourself the trouble to pay me a visit after sunset, as soon as the star shat twinkles on the horizon, you shall find me, most venerable father, reposed upon a rosy coloured silver sofa, where you shall use your pleasure with your humble servant. With that she made him a no-curtsy, took up Zadig's general release as soon as Julie signed, and left the old dotard all over love, though somewhat diffident of his own abilities. The residue of the day he spelt in his bannier. He drank large in livening draughts of a water distilled from the cinnamon of Caillum, and the costly spices of Tidor and Ternate, and waited with the utmost impatience for the uprising of the brilliant Sheat. In the meantime, Almona went to the second Pontiff. He assured her that the sun, moon, and all the starly host of heaven, were but languid fires to her bright eyes. He put the question to her in short at once, and agreed to sign upon her compliance. She suffered herself to be over persuaded, and made an assignation to meet him at a certain place, as soon as the star Algenib should make its appearance. From him she repaired to the third and fourth Pontiff, taking care wherever she went to see Zadig's acquittance duly signed, and made fresh appointments at the rising of star after star. When she had carried her point thus far, she sent a proper message to the judges of the court who had condemned Zadig, requesting that they should come to her house, and that she might advise with them upon an affair of the last importance. They waited on her accordingly. She produced Zadig's discharge duly signed by four several hands, and told them the definitive treaty between all the contracting parties. Each of the Pontifical gallants observed their summons to a moment. Each was startled at the sight of his rival, but perfectly thunderstruck to see the judges before whom the widow had laid open her case. Zadig procured an absolute pardon, and Zetok was so charmed with the artful address of Almona that he married her the next day. Zadig went afterwards to throw himself at the feet of his fair benefactress. Zetok and he took their leave of each other with tears in their eyes, and vowing that an eternal mutual friendship should be preserved between them, and in short, should fortune at any time afterwards prove more propitious than could be well expected to either party, the other should partake of an equal share of his success. Zadig steered his course towards Syria, forever pondering on the hard fate of the justly admired astarting, and reflecting on his own stars that so obstinately darted down their malignant rays, and continued daily to torment him. What, said he, to pay four hundred ounces of gold for only seeing a bitch pass me by, to be condemned to be beheaded for four witless verses in praise of the king, to be strangled to death because a queen was pleased to look upon me, to be made a prisoner and sold as a slave for saving a young lady from being sorely abused by a brute rather than a man, and to be upon the brink of being roasted alive for no other offence than saving for the future all the widows in Arabia from becoming idle burnt offerings, and mingling their ashes with those of their deceased worthless husbands. End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 of Zadig This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVoxlibrivox.org. Zadig or the Book of Feet by Voltaire Chapter 13 The Free Buta Zadig arriving at the frontiers which separated Arabia Padraya from Syria and passing by a very strong castle, several armed Arabians rushed out upon him and surrounding him cried out whatever you have belonging to you as our property but as for your person that is entirely at our sovereign's disposal. Zadig, instead of making any reply, drew his sword and as his attendant was a very courageous fellow he drew likewise. Those he later told on him first fell a sacrifice to their fury, their number redoubled, yet still both Dauntless determined to conquer or to die. When two men defend themselves against a whole gang the contest doubtless cannot last long. The master of the castle won Arbogad by name having been an eyewitness from his window of the intrepidity and surprising exploits of Zadig took a fancy to him. He ran down therefore in haste giving orders himself to his vassals to desist deliver the two travelers out of their hands. Whatever goods or chattels said he come upon my territories are my effects and whatever I find likewise that is valuable upon the premises of others is my free booty but as you appear sir to me to be a gentleman of uncommon courage you shall prove an exception to my general rule. Upon this he invited Zadig into his magnificent mansion giving his inferior officer strict orders to use him with all due respect and at night Arbogad was deserous of supping with Zadig. The lord of the mansion was one of those Arabians that are called free booters but a man who now and then did good actions amongst a thousand bad ones. He plundered without mercy but was liberal in his venif actions when action intrepid but in traffic easy enough a perfect epicure in his eating and drinking an absolute debauchee but very frank and open Zadig pleased him extremely his conversation being very lively prolonged their past at last Arbogad said to him I would advise you sir to enlist yourself in my troop you cannot possibly do a better thing my profession is none of the worst and time you may become perhaps as great a man as myself may I presume sir to ask you one question how long may you follow this honourable calling from my youth upwards replied his host I was only a valet at first to an Arabian who indeed was courteous enough but servitude was a state of life I could not brook it made me stark majesty in a wide world which ought to be divided fairly between mankind that faith had reserved for me so scanty a portion I communicated my grievance to an old sage Arabian son said he never despair once upon a time there was a grain of sand that bemoaned itself as being nothing more than a worthless atom of the deserts at the expiration however a few years it became that inestimable diamond which at this very hour is the richest the most admired ornament of the Indian crown the old man's discourse fired me with some ambition I was conscious to myself that I was the time the atom he mentioned but was determined if possible to become the diamond at my first sitting out I stale two horses then I got into a gang we played a small game and stopped the small caravans thus I gradually lessened the wide disproportion which there was at first between me and the rest of mankind I enjoyed not only my full share of the good things of this life but enjoyed them with usury I was looked upon as a man of consequence and I procured this castle by my military achievements the satrap of Syria had thoughts of dispossessing me but I was then too rich to be anyways afraid of him I gave the satrap a certain sum of money upon condition that I kept quiet possession of my castle and moreover I aggrandized my domains for he constituted me at the same time treasure of the imports that arabia portraya paid to the king of kings I executed my trust in every respect as I ought in the capacity of a collector but I never did nor never intended to balance my accounts the great dester ham of Babylon sent hither in the name of the king maul dar a petty satrap was the commission to strangle me he and his attendants arrived here with his royal warrant I was surprised of the whole affair and accordingly ordered his whole retinue consisting of four inferior officers to be strangled before his face after the same manner as was intended for my execution after this I asked him what he thought the commission with which he was entrusted might reasonably be valued at he answered that he presumed his premium had he succeeded might have amounted to about 300 pieces of gold I made him sensible that it would be for his interest to be commissioned officer under me I made him accordingly deputy freebooter he's at this very day not only the best officer but the richest I have in all my court if my word may be credited I'll raise your fortune as I've done his never was trade brisker in our way for mobed are is knocked on the hand and all Babylon in the utmost confusion mobed are killed said you tried Zedek and praise her what has become of his royal concert I started I know nothing at all of that affair reply Dabragad all that I have to say is that mobed are became a perfect madman and had his brains beat out that all the people in Babylon are cutting one and others throats and that the whole empire is laid waste that there is still an opportunity for making several bold pushes and let me tell you sir I've done my part and made the most on it but the queen sir said Zedek pray favor me so far as to inform me if you know anything of the queen hmm I've heard great talk said he of a certain prince of Harkania it is very possible she might have listed herself amongst his concubines if she had the good fortune to escape the resentment of those popular tummels but my head sir is better turned for the highway than for news I have taken several ladies prisoners in the course of my excursions I keep none of them for my part and as to such as are handsomer than ordinary I make the best market I can of them without inquiring who they are that quality or titles will fetch no price at all a queen if she be homely is worth nothing it is probable sir I've disposed of the lady myself and is possible likewise she may be dead it is no concern of mine and my thinking it should be a fair of no matter of importance to you after this declaration he drank so hard and confounded his ideas in such a manner that Zedek was not one who hit the wiser upon which he was struck dumb confounded and stood as motionless as a statue Arbogade in the meanwhile swill down whole bumpers told a hundred merry tales and swore a thousand times over that he was the happiest creature upon God's earth persuading Zedek to be as merry and thoughtless as himself at last being gradually overcome by the fumes of his liquor he fell fast asleep Zedek spent the remainder of the night in deep contemplation and in all the uneasiness of mind imaginable what said he the king first became crazy and then was murdered I think I have just grounds for complaint the whole empire is in confusion and torn to pieces and this free booters as happy as a king oh fortune oh fate a highway man as happy as a monarch and the most amiable creature that nature ever framed has suffered perhaps an ignominious death or perhaps is in a state of life a thousand times worse than death itself oh I started I started what art that become as soon as it was break of day he went out and asked everyone he saw if they knew anything of her but the whole gang were too intent upon other matters to return him any answer by virtue of their night's excursions they had brought in some fresh booty and were busy in dividing the spoil all the favor he could procure in their hurry and tummelt was to go away without the least examination he took the advantage of their remissness and moved off the premises but more overwhelmed with grief and deep reflection than ever Zedek and his match was very restless and uneasy his thoughts were forever rolling on the unfortunate a star to the king of Babylon his bosom friend Cador the happy free booter Arbogad the fair Cokit that was taken prisoner on the confines of Egypt by the Babylonish coup there and a word on the various scenes of misfortunes and disappointments which he had successively met with end of chapter 13 read by Andy from Invernan currently in Birmingham, England M.E.L.Y.S.W.S chapter 14 of Zedek this is the Libervox recording all Libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libervoxlibrivox.org Zedek or the Book of Fate by Voltaire chapter 14 the Fisherman when Zedek had travelled some few leagues from Arbogad's castle he found himself arrived at the banks of a little river incessantly deploring as he went along his unhappy fate and looking upon himself as the very picture of a look he perceived at a little distance a fisherman reclined on a verdant bank by the riverside trembling scarcely able to hold his net in his hand which he seemed but little to regard and with the uplift eyes imploring heaven's assistance I am doubtless said the poor fisherman the most unhappy wretch that ever lived no merchant in all Babylon it is very well known was ever so noted for selling cream cheeses as myself and yet I am ruined to all intents and purposes no man of my profession ever had a handsomer more complete housewife than my dame was but I have been treacherously deprived of her I had still left a poor pitiful cottage but that I saw plundered and destroyed I am cubbed up here in a cell I have nothing to depend on but my fishery and not one single fish have I caught that one fortunate net I'll never throw the into the water more more sooner will I throw myself in no sooner were the words out of his mouth but he started up and ran to the riverside like one that was resolutely bent to plunge in and get rid of a miserable life at once is it possible said Zarek is there then the man in being more rich than myself his benevolence and good will to save the poor man's life was as quick as the reflection he had just made he ran to his assistance he laid hold of him and asked him with an air of pity and concern the cause of his rash intention is an old saying that a person is less than happy when he sees himself not singular in misfortune but if we will credit Zoroaster this is not from a principle of malignity but the effect of a fatal necessity he was attracted as it were to any person in distress as being one in the same unhappy circumstances the transport of a happy man would be a kind of insult but two persons in bad circumstances are like two weak shrubs which by propping up each other are fenced against a storm why are you just cast down said Zarek to the fisherman never sink man under the weight of your own burden I can't help it said the poor fisherman I have not the least prospect of redress I was once sir they tipped up man in the whole village of Delbac near Babylon where I lived and with the help of my wife made the best cream cheeses that were ever eaten in the Persian Empire Her Majesty the Queen Estata and the famous Prime Minister Zadig were very fond of them I served the court with about 600 of them I went the other day in hopes of being paid but before I had well got into the suburbs of Babylon I was informed that not only the queen but Zadig too had privately left the court whereupon I ran directly to Zadig's house though I never said I am the man in all my life there I found the court marshals of the great Desterham plundering by virtue of his Majesty's mandate all his effects in the most loyal manner from thence I made the best of my way to the Queen's kitchen where applying myself to the steward of a household at his inferior offices one of them told me she was dead another that she was confined in prison a third indeed said that she had made her escape by flight all in general however assured me for my comfort that my cheeses would never be paid for from thence I went with my wife in my hand the Lord Orcans who was another of my court customers of whom we begged for shelter and protection the favour I confessed was readily granted to my wife but as for my own part I was absolutely rejected she was fairer sir than the fairest cheese I ever sold from whence I did all my misfortunes and the red that adorned her blushing cheeks was 10 times more lively than any terrian scarlet and between you and I sir that was the main cause of my wife's reception and my disgrace whereupon I wrote a doleful letter to my wife in all the agonies of one in the deepest despair this very well she said to the messenger I have some little knowledge of the man I've heard say no one sells better cream cheeses than he does desire him next time he comes to bring a small parcel with him and let him know I'll take care he should be punctually paid in the height of my misfortunes I determined to seek her address in a court of equity I had put six ounces of gold left to where I've went for a fee to my counselor two to my lawyer took my cause in hand and the other two to the judge's clerk not but standing what I had done my cause was not so much as commenced and I had already dispersed more money than all my cheeses and my wife with them were worth I returned therefore to my night of habitation with a full resolution to saddle it for the ransom of my wife my little cut with the upper tennis was worth about three score ounces of gold but as the purchasers found I was necessitous and drove to my last shifts the first one I applied to offered me 30 ounces the second 20 and the third but 10 just I had come to terms of accommodation with one of them the Prince of Hyacania came to Babylon and swept all before him my little cottage with all its furniture was first plundered of all that was valuable and at last reduced to ashes having thus lost my money my wife and my house I withdrew to this desert where you see me I have since endeavored to get my bread by fishing but the fish as well as all mankind deserved me I scarce catch one in a day I am half stabbed and had it not been for your unexpected benevolence and generosity I had been at the bottom of the river before this this long detail of particulars however was not delivered without several interruptions for said Zadig with an abundance of warmth and confusion have you not heard sir of what has become of the Queen a starter no sir not I said the disconsulate fisherman but this I know to my sorrow that neither the Queen nor Zadig ever paid me the least consideration in the world for my cream cheeses that my dear spouse has taken from me and that I am drove to the very brink of despair I am fairly persuaded said Zadig that you will not lose all your money I've heard much talk of that same Zadig they say he is very honest and that if ever he returns to Babylon as tis to be hoped he will he'll discharge his debts with interest like a man of honor but as for your wife who appears to be to be no better than a wag tail never take the trouble if you'll take my advice to hunt after her anymore be ruled and make the best of your way to Babylon I shall be there before you as I shall ride and you will be on foot make your applications to the illustrious Cader tell him you met his friend upon the road and stay there still I come observe my orders and his very probable it may turn out to your advantage oh puissant au reste mad continuity you have made me tis true an instrument of comfort to this poor man but what friend will you rise for me to alleviate my sorrows having uttered this short expostulation he gave the distressed fisherman one full moiety of all the money he brought with him out of Arabia the fisherman thunder struck and transported with joy at so unexpected a benefaction kissed the feet of Cader's friend and cried out sure you are a messenger heaven sent down to be my saviour in the meantime Zadik every now and then asked him questions and wept as he asked him what sir said the fisherman can you who are so bountiful a benefactor being distressed yourself alas said he friend I'm a hundred times more unhappy than thou are but praise her said the good man how can it possibly be that he who is so lavish of his favors should be overwhelmed with greater misfortunes than the man he so generously relieves your great uneasiness said he arose from an ironness of your circumstances but mine proceeds from an internal and much deeper cause price her says the fisherman has all can rubbed you with your wife this interrogatory put Zadik in a moment upon a retrospection of all his past adventures he recollected the whole series of his misfortunes commencing from that of the eunuch and the huntsman to his arrival at the free booters castle alas said he to the fisherman Orkin to his true deserves severely to be punished but for the generality we find such worthless barbarians are the favorites of fortune be that however as it will go as I bade you to my friend Kader and wait there to look them they took their leave the fisherman blessing his propitue of stars and Zadik cursing every step he went the hour he was born end of chapter 14 recording by Andy from Inverahnen web address is melice m e l y s dot w s chapter 15 of Zadik this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox dot org Zadik or the book of fate by Voltaire chapter 15 the basilisk as Zadik was traversing a verdant meadow he perceived several young female Syrians intent on searching for something very curious that lay concealed as they imagined in the grass he took the freedom to approach one of them and ask her in the most courteous manner if he might have the honor to assist her in her researches have a care said she what we are hunting after sir is an animal that will not suffer itself to be touched by a man tis somewhat surprising said Zadik may I be so bold pray as to ask you what you are in pursuit after that shuns the touch of anything but the hands of the fair sex tis said she the basilisk a basilisk madam said he and pray if you will be so good as to inform me with what view are you searching after a creature so very difficult to be met with tis said said she for our lord and master Ogul whose castle you see situate on the riverside at the bottom of the meadow we are all his vassals Ogul as you must know is in a very bad state of health and his first physician has ordered him as a specific to eat a basilisk boiled in rose water and as that animal is very hard to be catched and will suffer nothing to approach it but one of our sex our dying sovereign Ogul has promised to honor her that she'll be so happy as to catch it for him so far as to make her his consort the case being thus circumstantiated sir I hope you will not interrupt me any longer best my rivals here in the field should happen to circumvent me Zadik withdrew and left the Syrian ladies in quest of their imaginary booty in order to pursue his intended journey but as he came to the banks of a rivulet at the remotest part of the meadow he perceived another young lady reclined on the grass and entirely disengaged her stature seemed majestic but her face was covered with a veil and her eyes were fixed as one at her looking glass on the river every now and then a sigh burst out as if her heart were breaking in her hand she held a little wand or rod with which she was tracing out some characters on the dry sand that lay between the flowery bank she sat on and the pearling current Zadik's curiosity induced him unperceived to observe her operations at some distance but approaching nearer and perceiving very distinctly the first character to be an Z the next an A and the third a D he started but when he saw the additional capitals of I and G his astonishment was too great for words to express he stood for some time perfectly thunderstruck and as motionless as a statue at last in a soft faltering tone he broke silence oh generous lady said he forgive a stranger one overwhelmed with sorrows like yourself if he asks you by what amazing accident he finds the name of Zadik delineated by so angelic a hand thus unexpectedly interrupted and at the sound of those words she turned her head she turned her head and with a trembling hand lifting up her veil she aspired Zadik himself upon which she shrieked and as her heart was flooded between the two extremes of transport and surprise she fainted away and gently dropped into his arms twas it seems a star to herself it was the queen of Babylon it was the very goddess whom Zadik adored twas in short the very identical lady whose heart fate he had so long deplored and for whose sake he had felt so many agonizing pains for a few minutes he stood speechless and deprived as it were of all his senses whilst his eyes were fixed on his astarte who began to revive and cast a wishful glance at him attended with some confusion oh ye immortal powers cried he who preside over the destiny of us frail mortals ye have restored me by a starting but alas at what a conjuncture in what a place and in what a state and condition do I view her he threw himself prostrate on the ground and kissed the dust of her feet the queen of Babylon raised him up and obliged him to sit by her on the flowery bank whereon she was reposed every now and then she wiped her eyes as the tears trickled down afresh her lovely cheeks twenty times she endeavored to renew her discourse but was interrupted by her size she asked him over and over to relate to her the hardships he had run through since their parting and by what chance he came to traverse the solitary meadow but prevented him at the same time from returning any answer by repeating question upon question at last she gave him a particular detail of her own misfortunes and again requested to know his both of them in short having in some measure appeased at the tumult of their souls Zadig in a few words informed her of the motives that brought him thither but tell me oh unfortunate though ever-venerable queen how I came to find you out reclining on this verdant bank dressed in this servile habit accompanied by other female slaves who I find have been all day long in quest after a basilisk which as I understand is by order of a celebrated physician to be dissolved in rose water as a specific medicine for his dying patient while they busy in their fruitless search said the beauty as a starter I'll tell you the whole series of sorrows which I have undergone since last we parted and since heaven has thus unexpectedly blessed my eyes once more with the sight of my dear Zadig I'll no longer exclaim against my impropitious stars you are not insensible that the jealous king my spouse was disgusted to find you the most amiable of all mortals are that for no other reason he determined to strangle you and poison me you know very well too that indulgent heaven inspired as it were my little dwarf with artful means to give me timely notice of the rash resolutions of the king my cruel husband no sooner had the faithful Cador obliged you to obey my orders and to fly the court but he then should to enter my apartment in the dead of night through a private door he snatched me up and conveyed me directly into the temple of Orosmides where the holy magus who was his brother locked me up in that august and awful statue that stands erect upon the pavement of the temple and Colossus like touches the lofty ceiling with his head there I lay concealed or rather buried for some time though taken all imaginable care of and furnished with all the necessities of life by that venerable and loyal priest in the meantime his apothecary entered at break of day into my apartment with a potion in his hand composed of opium black hellebore aconite and other ingredients still more baneful while this mercenary officer of the king's vengeance was thus employed another as inhuman as himself went to your lodgings with the silken cord both however were disappointed as both of us were fled Cador very officious flew to the king in order the more artfully to blind him and in a feigned passion rail that us both and charged us both as perfidious traitors and for that villain Zadig said he he has taken his flight towards India and your false ungrateful concert sire said he is fled to Memphis the guards were ordered that moment to pursue us both the couriers who flew after me knew nothing of me I had never exposed my face unveiled to anyone but yourself and that too in the presence and by the express order of my world master as they had no other marks to distinguish me from others but my stature as it had been described a young lady just at my size but in all probability much more handsome presented herself to their view on the frontiers of Egypt she was found alone and in a very disconsolate condition this lady must doubtless said they to themselves be the queen of Babylon and without listening to her complaints conveyed her instantly to my husband Muabda their gross blunder at first incensed his majesty to the last degree but after he had viewed the lady with an attentive eye he found she was extremely pretty and was soon pacified her name was Misuf I have been since informed that her name in the Egyptian language signifies the fair croquet and in effect she was so she had as much art however as Caprice for she pleased the king of kings in short she had such an ascendancy over him that he didn't scruple in public to own her as his wife when she had secured him thus far in her toils she never concealed her power but played the part of a perfect humorist she indulged herself in every whim that came into her head without fear of being browbeat in the first place she insisted that the chief magus who was old and gouty should dance a saraband before her and upon his modest refusal to comply with so preposterous a request she persecuted him without mercy nothing would serve her turn in the next place but his majesty's grand master of the horse must make her a minced pie the gentleman took the liberty to let her know that he was no professed cook a tart however he must make for her and she got him turned out of his place for being so monstrously careless as to burn one corner of the crust whereupon she gave his post to her favorite dwarf and made her top of a page the keeper of his majesty's great seal and confidence thus she reigned arbitrary and was the female tyrant of Babylon all the world deplored the loss of me their former queen the king who never acted the part of a tyrant till the moment he would have imprisoned me and strangled you seemed to have drowned all his good qualities in his dotage on that capricious enchantress he came to the temple on the solemn festival of the sacred fire i saw him prostrate on the pavement before the statue wherein i was enclosed imploring the gods to shower down their choices to blessings on his beautious misouf i with an audible and distinct but hollow tone addressed myself thus like an oracle to the king of kings the gods reject the vows of a monarch that acts the tyrant or his subjects one who could think of murdering an innocent wife and admit of a worthless beauty to supply her place bohadar was so startled at this unexpected answer from the god he adored that he was just at the point of distraction the oracle that i had delivered and the tyrannical proceedings of his new spouse misouf when enough to deprive him of his senses in short in a few days he became a perfect madman her caprice which seemed a judgment from above portended a sudden revolution his subjects accordingly revolted and were instantly up in arms babelon that had so long indulged herself in indolence and ease became the seat or theater of a bloody civil war whereupon i was taken from my magnificent prison the bowels of his god and set up at the head of a very powerful party your friend kado flew to memphis in hopes to find you there and bring you back to babelon the prince of herkania hearing of these intestine royals returned with a powerful army in order to form a third party among the babelonians he attacked the king who fled with his fair but fickle egyptian before him no abdar however was so closely pursued that he died of the wounds he received in his retreat misouf became the fair victim of the conqueror as for my own part i had the misfortune to be overpowered likewise and taken prisoner by an herkanian party who brought me into the presence of the young prince at the very juncture when misouf stood before him you'll smile doubtless when i tell you the prince looked upon me as the most amiable captive of the two but then i presume you will be sorry to hear that my heart fate doomed me to be a vessel in his seraglio he told me in direct terms that as soon as he had put a happy issue to one military expedition which would not he flattered himself belong unexecuted he would honor me with a visit judge the dreadful apprehensions i was under upon his making such a peremptory declaration my obligations to abmoabda were all cancelled and i was free to be the bride of zadig but instead of that i fell into the toils of a barbarian i answered him with all the resentment becoming one of my high character and unspotted virtue i had always heard say that heaven bestowed on persons of my rank such a peculiar mark of majesty and grandeur that with a bare word or the glance of an angry eye they could bring down and abase the pride of those audacious creatures that durst to thwart their inclinations i talked as big as a queen but i was treated like the most servile domestic the saucy hercalian without so much as vouchsafing me one single word turned to his black eunuch and told him that i was very impertinent but yet he could not help thinking i was very pretty he gave in therefore particular orders to take care of me and put me under the same regimen with respect to my diet as one of his favorites in order that i might recover my color which was somewhat too languid in a word that i might become worthy in a little time of his royal favors and be duly qualified to receive him when he should honor me so far as to fix the day i told him i would die first he replied with a sneer that young ladies like me seldom killed themselves and that they were made for enjoyment and they turned upon his heel and with as careless an air as a man would part with his parochet when he had shut her up close in her gilded cage what a shocking state was i in for the first queen of the universe nay i'll say more for a heart that was wholly devoted to her zadig at these endearing words zadig threw himself at her feet and bathed them with his tears a starty immediately raised him in the most courteous and engaging manner and thus continued her narration i too plainly perceived that i was subject to the tyranny of a barbarian and the rival of a coquette that was a slave like myself she related to me all her past adventures in egypt from the description she gave of her gallant the time and place the dromedary he was mounted on and from every other minute circumstance i imagined it was yourself that played the hero in her favor as i made no doubt but that you resided somewhere in menthys i determined to go there than myself but in disguise beautious miss sooth said i you are of a much sprightlier disposition than i am you will be able to amuse the gay young prince of heracania a thousand times better than i shall find out some way therefore from my escape by which you will be sole lady regent you will oblige me to the last degree by your friendly assistance and at the same time get rid of a rival miss sooth cajoled with the hint came into my measures directly she took care to send me packing forthwith with no other attendant than an old egyptian slave no sooner had i reached the borders of arabia but a notorious freebooter one abogad by name picked me up as i was strolling along and sold me to some merchants who conveyed me to yonder castle the magnificent residence of the emir ogul he purchased me at all adventures without inquiring what or who i was he is a perfect debochi his sole delight lies in good eating wine and women and is one who imagines that the almighty sent him into the world for no other purpose but to gratify his unruly appetites he is excessively fat and puffs and blows every moment like one half choked when he has gorged himself so unmercifully that he is ready to burst his chief physician can persuade him to take anything for his relief though he laughs at him and despises his advice when he is well and sober he has intimated to him that at present his life is in danger and nothing will restore him but a basilisk boiled in rose water whereupon the grand ogle has promised his last favours to that slave whoever she be that shall be so fortunate as to couch a basilisk for him since it seems they are so seldom to be met with you see i have others to struggle for the honor proposed and i never have a less inclination to find out this basilisk than at present since i have once more met with my dearest Zadig after this declaration Astarte and Zadig renewed with warmth the virtuous affection which they had long conceived for each other and reciprocally uttered all the tenderest expressions that love in distress could possibly devise and the genie who preside over all the soft passions wafted their mutual vows of eternal constancy and truth to the sphere of Venus the whole train of slaves after a long fruitless search attended on ogle to inform him that all their strictest search was fruitless Zadig desired that he might have the honor to be introduced to his presence accordingly he was and his address was to this or the like effect may mortal health descend from heaven to preserve a life so precious as yours is i am a physician by profession i flew to your palace on the first news of the dangerous situation you were in and have brought a basilisk with me distilled in rosewater i can have no hopes of the honor of your bed in case i succeeded my application all the favor i request is the release of one of your Babylonish slaves who has been in your highness's retinue for some time and i am willing to be your bond the slave in her stead if i fail of restoring the most illustrious and magnificent ogle to his pristine state of health the proposition was readily embraced Astarte was instantly discharged and set out for Babylon with a proper attendant according to Zadig's direction assuring her that she should hear every day by a special courier of his proceedings with his new patient the farewell which they took of each other was very affectionate and tender expressive at the strongest obligations to each other the moments of meeting and those of parting are as it is written in the sacred book of Zend the two most remarkable epocas of a lover's life Zadig's repeated protestations of affection for the queen were perfectly sincere and the pure dictates of his heart and the queen's love for Zadig had made a deeper impression on hers than she thought proper to discover in the meantime Zadig again addressing himself to ogle said my basilisk sir as others are is not to be dressed or eaten but all its virtues must penetrate your whole fabric through your pores i have enclosed my never-failing sudorific in a bladder full blown and carefully covered with the softest leather you must kick this bladder sir once a day about your hole for a whole hour together with all the vigor and activity you possibly can this medicine must be repeated every morning and i'll attend the operation upon your due observance of the regimen i shall put you under i doubt not but with the blessing of heaven on my honest endeavors i shall give you ample demonstration of my being an adept in physics ogle upon making the first experiment was ready to expire for want of breath and thought he should die with the fatigue the second day he did not prove altogether so irksome and he slept much better at night than he had done before in short our doctor in about eight days time performed an absolute cure his patient was as brisk active and gay as one in the bloom of his youth now sir said Zadig i'll be ingenuous with you and disclose to you the important secret you have played at football these eight days successively and you have lived all that time within the bounds of sobriety and moderation know sir that there is no such animal in nature as a basilisk that health is to be secured by temperance and exercise and that the art of making health consistent with luxury is altogether as impracticable and an art in all respects as idle and chemical as those of the philosopher stone judicial astrology or any other reveries of the like airy and fantastic nature ogle's head physician apprehensive that this unexpected cure thus wrought by a stranger through such an anti-medicinal preparation might possibly not only render himself the object of contempt in the eye of his great master but cast a kind of slur in general on his whole fraternity convened a set of petty doctors and apothecaries who were his vassals and entirely devoted to his interest to find out some sure ways and means to cut off in private his dreadful rival but while their wicked plot was hatching zadek received a courier from the queen astarte end of chapter 15 chapter 16 of zadek this is a libervox recording all libervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libervox.org recording by michelle white zadek or the book of fate by voltair chapter 16 the tournaments the queen was received at babalon with all the transports of joy that could possibly be expressed for the safe return of so illustrious and so beautiful a personage that had run through such a long series of misfortunes babalon at that time seemed to be perfectly serene and quiet as for the young prince of herkania he was slain in battle the babalonians who were the victors declared that astarte should marry that candidate for the crown who should gain it by a fair and impartial election they were determined that the most valuable post of honor in the world namely that of being the royal consort of astarte and the sovereign of babalon should be the result of merit only and not be procured by any party factions or court intrigues a solemn oath was voluntarily taken by all parties that he who should distinguish himself by his superior valour and wisdom should unanimously be acknowledged the sovereign elect a spacious list or circus was pitched upon surrounded with commodious seats erected in an emphatheatrical manner and richly embellished some few leagues from the city thither the combatants or champions were to repair completely accoutured each of them had a distinct apartment to himself behind the lists where no soul could either see them or know who they were they were to enter the lists for several times those who were so happy as to conquer four competitors were afterwards to engage each other in single combat in order that he who should remain master of the field should be proclaimed the happy victor four days afterwards they were to meet again accoutured as before and to explain all such enigmas or riddles as the magi should think proper to propose if their queries should prove too intricate and perplexed for them to resolve they were to have recourse to the lists again and after that to fresh enigmas before they could be entitled to the election so that the tournaments were to be continued till one of the candidates should be twice a victor and shine as conspicuous with respect to his internal qualities as to his dexterity and address in heroic achievements the queen in the meantime was to be narrowly watched and allowed only to be a spectator of both their amusements at some considerable distance and moreover to be covered with avail nor was she indulged so far as to speak one single word to any candidate whom so ever in order to prevent the least jealousy or suspicion either partiality or injustice astarte took care by the courier to inform her lover of all the preliminary articles above mentioned not doubting but that he would exert both his courage and understanding for her sake beyond any of the other competitors zadig accordingly set out for Babylon and besought the goddess venus not only to fortify his courage but to illuminate his mind with wisdom on this important occasion the night before these martial achievements were to commence zadig arrived upon the banks of the Euphrates he inscribed his device amongst the list of combatants concealing at the same time both his person and name as the laws of the election required and accordingly withdrew to the apartment that was provided for him according to his lot kador who was just returned to Babylon having hunted all Egypt over to no purpose and hoped to find his friend zadig brought a complete set of armor into his lodge by express orders from the queen she sent him likewise one of the finest horses in all persia zadig knew that these presents could come from nobody but his dear astarte which redoubled his vigor and his hopes the next morning the queen being seated under a canopy of state enriched with precious stones and the amphitheaters being crowded with gentlemen and ladies of all ranks and conditions from Babylon the competitors made their personal appearance in the circus each of them went up to the grand magis and laid down his particular device at his feet the devices were drawn by lot that of zadig was the last the first that advanced was a grand day one eat a bod by name immensely rich indeed and very haughty but no ways courageous exceedingly awkward and a man of no acquired parts the sycophants that hovered round about him flattered him that a man of his merit couldn't fail of being king he imperiously replied one of my merit must be king whereupon he was armed his armor was made of pure gold enameled with green the housings of his saddle were green and his lance embellished with green ribbons every one was sensible at first sight by itabod's manner of managing his horse that he was not the man whom heaven had pitched upon to sway the Babylonish scepter the first combatant that tilted with him threw him out of the saddle the second flung him quite over the crouper and laid him sprawling on the ground with his heels quivering in the air itabod his true remounted but with so ill a grace that a universal laugh went round the amphitheater the third disdaining to use his lance made only a faint at him then catched hold of his right leg and whirling him round through him flat upon the sand the esquires who were the attendants ran to his assistance and with a sneer remounted him the fourth combatant catched hold of his left leg and unhorsed him again he was conveyed through the hissing multitude to his lodge where according to the law in that case provided he was to pass the night and as he hobbled along said he to the esquires what a sad misfortune is this to one of my birth and character the other champions played their parts much better and all came off with credit some conquered two of their antagonists and others were so far successful as to get the better of three none of them however except prince haughton vanquished four zadig at last entered the lists and dismounted all four opponents one after the other with the utmost ease and with such an air and grace as gained him universal applause as the case stood thus zadig and haughton were to close the day's entertainment in a single combat the armor of the latter was of a blue color mixed with gold and the housings of his saddle were of the same those of the former white as snow the multitude were divided in their wishes the night in blue was the favorite of some of the ladies and others again were admirers of the cavalier in white the queen whose heart was in a perfect palpitation put up her secret prayers to venus to assist her darling hero the two champions making their passes and their voltas with the utmost dexterity and address and keeping firm in their saddles gave each other such rebuffs with their lances that all the spectators the queen only accepted wished for two kings of babelon at last their horses being tired and both their lances broke zadig made use of the following stratagem which his antagonist wasn't any way apprised of he got artfully behind him and shooting with a spring on his horse's buttocks grasped him close threw him headlong on the sand then jumped into his seat and wheeled round prince haughton while he lay sprawling on the ground all the spectators in general with loud acclimations cried out victory victory in favor of the champion in white but am incensed to the last degree got up and drew his sword zadig sprang from his horse with his saber in his hand now behold the two chieftains upon their legs commencing a new trial of skill where they seemed to get the better of each other alternately for both were strong and both were active the feathers of their helmets the studs of their bracelets their coats of mail flew about in pieces through the dry blows which they a thousand times repeated they struck at each other sometimes with the edge of their swords at other times they pushed as occasion offered now on the right then on the left now on the head then at the breast they retreated they advanced they kept at a distance they closed again they grasped each other turning and twisting like two serpents and engaged each other as fiercely as two libyan lions fighting for their prey their sword struck fire almost at every blow at last zadig in order to recover his breath for a moment or two stood still and afterwards making a faint at the prince threw him on his back and disarmed him otam there upon cried out oh thou night of the white armor tiz you only are destined to be the king of babelon the queen was perfectly transported the two champions were reconducted to their separate lodges as the others had been before them in conformity to the laws prescribed several mutes were ordered to wait on the champions and carry them some proper refreshment we'll leave the reader to judge whether the queen's dwarf was not appointed to wait on zadig on this happy occasion after supper the mutes withdrew and left the combatants to rest their weary limbs till the next morning at which time the victor was to produce his device before the grand magis in order to confer notes and discover the hero whoever he might be zadig slept very sound notwithstanding his amorous regard for the queen being perfectly fatigued idabad who lay in the lodge contagious to his could not once close his eyes for vexation he got up therefore in the dead of the night stole imperceptibly into zadig's apartment took his white armor and device away with him and substituted his green one in its place as soon as the day began to dawn he repaired with a seemingly undaunted courage to the grand manjuice to inform him that he was the mighty hero the happy victor without the least hesitation he was gained his point and was proclaimed victor before zadig was awake astart a astonished at this unexpected disappointment returned with a heart overwhelmed with despair to the court of babalon almost all the spectators removed off from the amphitheater before zadig awaked he hunted for his arms but could find nothing but those in green he was obliged those sorely against his will to put it on having nothing else in his lodge to appear in confounded and big with resentment he dressed himself and made his personal appearance in that despicable equipage the populace that were left behind in that circus hissed him every step he took they made a ring about him and treated him with all the marks of ignominy and contempt the most cowardly wretch breathing was never sure so sweated or hunted down as poor zadig he grew quite out of patience at last and cut his way through the insulting mob with his rival's saber but he did not know what measures to pursue or how to rectify so gross a mistake it was not in his power to have a sight of the queen he could never recover the white armor again which she had sent him that was the compromise or the engagement to which the combatants had all unanimously agreed thus as he was on the one hand plunged in an abyss of sorrow so on the other he was almost drove distracted with vexation and resentment he withdrew therefore in a solitary mood to the banks of the euphrates now fully persuaded that his impropitious star had shed its most baleful influence on him and that his misfortunes were irretrievable revolving in his mind all his disappointments from his first adventure with the court coquet who had entertained an utter aversion to a blind eye down to his late loss of his white armor see said he the fatal consequence of being a sluggard had i been more vigilant i had been the king of babelon but what is more i had been happy in the embraces of my dearest as darte all the knowledge of books or mankind all the personal valor that i can boast of has only proved an aggravation of my sorrows he carried the point so far at last as to murmur at the unequal dispensations of divine providence and was tempted to believe that all occurrences were governed by a malignant destiny which never failed to oppress the virtuous and always crowned the actions of such villains as the green night with uncommon success in one of his frantic fits he put on the green armor that had created him such a world of disgrace a merchant happening to pass by he sold it to him for a trifle and took an exchange nothing more than a mantle and a cap in this disguise he took a solitary walk along the banks of the euphrates every minute reflecting in his mind on the partial proceedings of providence which never ceased to torment him end of chapter 16 recording by michelle white arwa canada chapter 17 of zadig this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit libra vox.org zadig or the book of fate by voltair chapter 17 the hermit as zadig was traveling along he met with the hermit whose gray and venerable beard descended to his girdle he had in his hand a little book on which his eyes were fixed zadig threw himself in his way and made him a profound bow the hermit returned the compliment with such an air of majesty and benevolence that zadig's courtesy prompted him to converse with so agreeable a stranger pray sir said he what may be the contents of the treatise you are reading with such attention tiz called said the hermit the book of fate will you please to look at it he put the book into the hands of zadig who though he was a perfect master of several languages couldn't decipher one single character this raised his curiosity still higher you seem dejected said the good father to him alas i have cause enough said zadig if you'll permit me to accompany you said the old hermit perhaps i may be of some service to you i have sometimes instilled sentiments of consolation into the minds of the afflicted zadig had a secret regard for the air of the old man for his beard and his book he found by conversing with him that he was the most learned person he had ever met with the hermit harangued on destiny justice morality the sovereign good the frailty of nature on virtue and vice in such a lively manner and in such a flow of words that zadig was attached to him by an invincible charm he begged earnestly that he would favor him with his company to babalon that favor i was going to ask myself said the old man swear to me by oros mardes that you won't leave me for some days at least let me do what i please zadig took the oath required and both pursued their journey the two travelers arrived that evening at a superb castle the hermit begged for an hospitable reception of himself and his young comrade the porter whom anyone might have taken for some grandee let them in but with a kind of coldness and contempt however he conducted them to the head steward who went with them through every rich apartment of his master's house they were seated at supper afterwards at the lower end indeed of the table and where they were taken little or no notice of by the host but they were served with as much delicacy and profusion as any of the other guests when they arose from the table they washed their hands in a golden basin set with emeralds and other costly stones when it was time to go to rest they were conducted into a bedchamber richly furnished and the next morning two pieces of gold were presented to him for their mutual service by a valet in waiting and then they were dismissed the proprietor of this castle said zadig as they were upon the road seems to me to be a very hospitable gentleman though somewhat too haughty indeed and too imperious the words were no sooner out of his mouth but he perceived that the pocket of his comrade's garment though very large was swelled and greatly extended he soon saw what was the cause and that he had clandestinely brought off the golden lava he does not immediately take notice of the fact but was ready to sink at the very thought about noon the hermit wrapped at a petty cottage with his staff the beggarly residents of an old rich miser he desired that he and his companion might refresh themselves there for a few hours an old shabby domestic let them in indeed but with visible reluctance and carried them into the stable where all their fare was a few musty olives and a draft or two of sour small beer the hermit seemed as content with his repast as he was the night before at last rising off from his seat he paid his compliments to the old valet who had as watchful an eye over them all the time as if they had been a brace of thieves and intimated every now and then that he feared they would be benighted and gave him the two pieces of gold he had but just received that morning as a token of his gratitude for his courteous entertainment he added moreover i would willingly speak one word with your master before i go the valet thunderstruck at his unexpected gratuity complied with his request most hospitable sir said the hermit i couldn't go away without returning you my grateful acknowledgments for the friendly reception we have met with this afternoon be pleased to accept this golden basin as a small token of my gratitude and esteem the miser started and was ready to fall down backwards at the sight of so valuable a present the hermit gave him no time to recover out of his surprise but marched off that moment with his young comrade father said sadig what is all this that i have seen you seem to me to act in a quite different manner from the generality of mankind you plunder one who entertained you with all the pomp and profusion in the world to enrich a covetous sordid wretch who treated you in the most unworthy manner son said the old man that grandee who receives visits of strangers with no other view than to gratify his pride and to raise their astonishment at the furniture of his palace will henceforward learn to be wiser and the miser to be more liberal for the time to come don't be surprised but follow me sadig was at a stand at present and couldn't well determine whether his companion was a man of greater wisdom than ordinary or a mad man but the hermit assumed such an ascendancy over him exclusive of the oath he had taken that he couldn't tell how to leave him at night they came to a house very commodiously built but neat and plain where nothing was wanting and yet nothing profuse the master was a philosopher that had retired from the busy world in order to live in peace and form his mind to virtue he was pleased to build this little box for the reception of strangers in a handsome manner but without ostentation he came in person to meet them at the door and for a time advised them to sit down and rest themselves in a commodious apartment after some respite he invited them to a frugal yet elegant repast during which he talked very intelligently about the late revolutions in Babylon he seemed entirely to be in the queen's interest and heartily wished that Zardig had entered the lists for the regal prize but Babylon said he doesn't deserve a king of so much merit a modest blush appeared in Zardig's face at this unexpected compliment which innocently aggravated his misfortunes it was agreed on all hands that the affairs of this world took sometimes a quite different turn from what the wisest patriots would wish them the hermit replied the ways of providence are often very intricate and obscure and men were much to blame for casting reflections on the conduct of the whole upon the bare inspection of the minutest part the next topic they entered upon was the passions alas said Zardig how fatal in their consequences however said the hermit they are the winds that swell the sail of the vessel sometimes true they overset it but there is no such thing as sailing without them flem indeed makes men peevish and sick but then there is no living without it though everything here below is dangerous yet all are necessary in the next place their discourse turned on sensual pleasures and the hermit demonstrated that they were the gifts of heaven for said he man cannot bestow either sensations or ideas on himself he receives them all his pain and pleasure as well as his being proceed from a superior cause Zardig stood astonished to think how a man that had committed such vile actions can argue so well on such moral topics at the proper hour after an entertainment not only instructive but every way agreeable their host conducted them to their bedchamber thanking heaven for directing to such polite and virtuous strangers to his house he offered them at the same time some silver to defray their expenses on the road but was such an air of respect and benevolence that was impossible to give the least discussed the hermit however refused it and took his leave as he proposed to set forward for Babylon by break of day their parting was very affectionate and friendly Zardig in particular expressed a more than common regard for a man of so amiable a behavior when the hermit and he were alone and preparing for bed they talked long in praise of their new host as soon as the daylight appeared the old hermit waked his young comrade his time to be gone said he but as all the house are fast asleep i'll leave a token behind me of my respect and affection for the master of it no sooner were the words out of his mouth but he struck a light kindled a torch and set the building in a flame Zardig in the utmost confusion shrieked out and would if possible have prevented him from being guilty of such a monstrous act of ingratitude the hermit dragged him away by a superior force the house was soon in a blaze when they had got at a convenient distance the hermit with an amazing sedateness turned back and surveyed the destructive flames behold said he our fortunate friend in the ruins he will find an immense treasure that will enable him from henceforth to exert his beneficence and render his virtues more and more conspicuous Zardig though astonished to the last degree attended him to their last stage which was to the cottage of a very virtuous and well-disposed widow who had a nephew of about 14 years of age he was a hopeful youth and the darling of her heart she entertained her two guests with the best provisions her little house afforded in the morning she ordered her nephew to attend them to an adjacent bridge which having been broken down some few days before rendered the passage dangerous to strangers the lad being very attentive to wait on them went foremost when they were got upon the bridge come hither my pretty boy said the hermit i must give your ant some small token of my respect for her last night's favors upon that he twisted his fingers in the hair of his head and threw him very calmly into the river down went the little lad he came up once again to the surface of the water but was soon lost in the rapid stream oh thou monster thou worst of villains cried Zardig didn't you promise said the hermit to view my conduct with patience no then that had that boy lived but one year longer he would have murdered his foster mother who told you so you barbarous rich said Zardig and when did you read that in human event in your black book of fate who gave you permission pray to drown so innocent a youth that had never disablished you no sooner had our young Babylonian ceased his severe reflections but he perceived that the old hermit's long beard grew shorter and shorter that the furrows in his face began to fill up and that his cheeks glowed with the rose-colored red as if he had been in the bloom of fifteen his mantle was vanished at once and on his shoulders which were before covered appeared four angelic wings each refulgent as the sun oh thou messenger of heaven oh thou angelic form cried Zardig and fell prostrate at his feet thou art descended from the imperium i find to instruct such a poor frail mortal as i am how to submit to the mysteries of fate mankind in general said the angel jesrod judge of the whole by only viewing the hither link of the chain thou of all the human race was the only man that deserved to have thy mind enlightened Zardig beg leave to speak i am somewhat diffident of myself tis true but may i presume sir to beg the solution of one scruple would it not have been better to have chastised the lad and by that means reformed him than to have cut him off thus unprepared in a moment jesrod replied had he been virtuous and had he lived was his fate not only to be murdered himself but his wife whom he would afterwards have married and the little infant that was to have been the pledge of their mutual affection is it necessary then venerable guide that there should be wickedness and misfortunes in the world and that those misfortunes should fall with weight on the heads of the righteous wicked replied jesrod are always unhappy misfortunes are intended only as a touchstone to try a small number of the just who are thinly scattered about this terrestrial globe besides there is no evil under the sun but some good proceeds from it but said Zardig suppose the world was all goodness and there was no such thing in nature as evil then that world of yours said jesrod would be another world the chain of events would be another wisdom and that other order which would be perfect must of necessity be the everlasting residence of the supreme being whom no evil can approach that great and first cause has created an infinite number of worlds and no two of them alike this vast variety is an attribute of his omnipotence there are not two leaves on the trees throughout the universe nor any two globes of light amongst the myriad of stars that deck the infinite expanse of heaven which are perfectly alike and whatever you see on that small atom of earth where of you are a native must exist in the place and at the time appointed according to the immutable decrease of him who comprehends the whole mankind imagine that the lad whom i plunged into the river was drowned by chance and that our generous benefactor's house was reduced to ashes by the same chance but no there is no such thing as chance all misfortunes are intended either as severe trials judgments or rewards and are the result of foreknowledge you remember sir the poor fisherman in despair that thought himself the most unhappy mortal breathing the grace oras mades sent you to amend his situation frail mortal sees to contend with what you ought to adore but said zadig whilst the sound of the word but dwelt upon his tongue the angel took his flight towards the tenth sphere zadig sunk down upon his knees and acknowledged an overruling providence with all the marks of the profoundest submission the angel as he was soaring towards the clouds cried out in distinct accents make thy way towards babelon end of zadig chapter 17 this is a libra vox recording read for you by ted telorm in fort mill south carolina during november 2007 chapter 18 of zadig this is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer visit libra vox.org this reading by carl manchester 2007 zadig or the book of fate by voltair chapter 18 the enigmas all riddles zadig as one beside himself and perfectly thunderstruck beat his march at random he entered however into the city of babelon on that very day when those combatants who had been before engaged in the list or circus were already assembled in the spacious outer court of the palace in order to solve the enigmas and give the wisest answers they could to such questions as the grand majors should propose all the parties concerned were present except the night of the green armor no sooner had zadig made his appearance in the city but the populace flocked round about him no eye was satisfied with gazing at him all in general were lavish of their praises and in their hearts wished him their sovereign except the envious man who as he passed by fetched a deep sigh and turned his head aside the populace with loud acclamations attended him to the palace gate the queen who had heard of his arrival was in the utmost agony between hope and despair her vexation had almost brought her to death's door she couldn't conceive why zadig should appear without his accoutrements nor imagine which way it a bad could procure the snow white armor at the site of zadig a confused murmur ran through the whole place every eye was surprised though charmed at the same time to see him again but then none were to be admitted into the assembly room except the knights i have fought as successfully as any one of them all said zadig though another appears clad in my armor but in the meantime before i can possibly prove my assertion i insist upon being admitted into court in order to give my solutions to such enigmas as she'll be proposed to us put to the vote as the reputation of his being a man of the strictest honor and veracity was so strongly imprinted on their minds the motion of his admittance was carried in the affirmative without the least opposition the first question the grand major's proposed was this what is the longest and yet the shortest thing in the world the most swift and the most slow the most divisible and the most extended the least valued and the most regretted and without which nothing can possibly be done which in a word devours everything how minute so ever and yet gives life and spirit to every object or being however great it's a bad had the honor to answer first his reply was that a man of his merit had something else to think on than idle riddles to was enough for him that he was acknowledged the hero of the circus one said the solution of the enigma proposed was fortune others said the earth others again the light but zadig pronounced it to be time nothing said he can be longer since since tis the measure of eternity nothing is shorter since there is time always wanting to accomplish what we aim at nothing passes so slowly as time to him who is in expectation and nothing so swift as time to him who is in the perfect enjoyment of his wishes its extent is to infinity in the whole and divisible to infinity in part all men neglect it in the passage and all regret the loss of it went his past nothing can possibly be done without it it buries in oblivion whatever is unworthy of being transmitted down to posterity and it renders all illustrious actions immortal the assembly agreed unanimously that zadig was in the right the next question that was started was what is the thing that we receive without being ever thankful for it which we enjoy without knowing how we came by it which we give away to others without knowing where tis to be found and which we lose without being anyways conscious of our misfortune each past his verdict zadig was the only person that concluded it was life he solved every enigma proposed with equal facility it's a bad when he heard the explications always said that nothing in the world was more easy than to solve such obvious questions and that he could interpret a thousand of them without the least hesitation were he inclined to trouble his head about such trifles other questions were proposed in regard to justice the sovereign good and the art of government zadig's answers still carried the greatest weight what pit it is said some who were present that one of so comprehensive a genius should make such a scurvy cavalier most illustrious grandees said zadig i was the person that had the honor of being victor at your circus the white armor most recent lords was mine that awkward warrior there lord it a bad dressed himself in it whilst i was asleep he imagined it is plain that it would do him more honor than his own green one anakutra does i am i am ready before this august assembly to give them incontestable proof of my superior skill to engage with the usurper of the white armor with my sword only in my mantle and bonnet and to testify that i only was the happy victor of the justly admired hotam it's a bad accepted the challenge with all the assurance of success imaginable he did not doubt but being properly accoutred with his helmet his queer ass and his bracelets he should be able to hew down an antagonist in his mantle and cap and nothing to screen him from his resentment but a single sabre zadig drew his sword and saluted the queen with it who viewed him with transport mixed with fear it's a bad drew his but paid his compliments to nobody he approached zadig as one whom he imagined incapable of making any considerable resistance he concluded it was in his power to cut zadig into atoms zadig however knew how to parry the blow by dexterously receiving it upon his fort as the swordsmen call it by which means it a bad sword was snapped in two with that zadig in an instant closed his adversary and by his superior strength as well as skill laid him sprawling on his back then holding the point of his sword to the opening of his queer ass submit to be stripped of your borrowed plumes or you are a dead man this moment it's a bad always surprised that any disappointment should attend a man of such exalted merit as himself tamely permitted zadig to disrobe him by degrees of his pompous helmet his superb queer ass his rich bracelets his brilliant queases or armor for his thighs and other martial accoutrements when zadig had equipped himself cap api in his now recovered armor he flew to astarte and threw himself prostrate at her feet kador proved without any great difficulty that the white armor was zadig's property he was there upon acknowledged king of Babylon by the unanimous content of the whole court but more particularly with the approbation of astarte who after such a long series of misfortunes now tasted the sweets of seeing her darling zadig thought worthy in the opinion of the whole world to be partner of her royal bed it's a bad withdrew and contended himself with being called my lord within the narrow compass of his own domestics zadig in short was elected king and was as happy as any mortal could be now he began to reflect on what the angel jezrad had said to him nay he reflected so far back as the story of the arabian atom of dust metamorphosed into a diamond the queen and he adored the divine providence zadig permitted misouf the fair coquette to make her conquests where she could he sent couriers to bring the freebooter arbogad to court and give him an honorable military post in his army with a father promise of promotion to the highest dignity but upon this express condition that he would act for the future as a soldier of honor but assured him at the same time that he'd make a public example of him if he followed his profession of freebooting for the future sedoc was sent for from the lonely deserts of arabia together with the fair almanza his new bride to preside over the commercial affairs of babelon kador was advanced to a post near himself and was his favorite minister at court as the just reward of his past services he was in short the king's real friend and zadig was the only monarch in the universe that could boast of such an attendant the dwarf though dumb was not wholly forgotten the fisherman was put into the possession of a very handsome house and orcan was sentenced not only to pay him a very considerable sum for the injustice done him in detaining his wife but to resign her likewise to the proper owner the fisherman however grown wise by experience softened the rigor of the sentence and took the money only in full of all accounts he didn't leave so much as simira wholly disconsolate though she had such an aversion to a blind eye nor azura comfortless not withstanding her affectionate intention to shorten his nose for he soothed their sorrows by very munificent presence the envious informer indeed died with shame and vexation the empire was glorious abroad and in the full enjoyment of tranquility peace and plenty at home this in short was the true golden age the whole country was swayed by love and justice everyone blessed zadig and zadig blessed heaven for his unexpected success finis end of zadig or the book of fate by voltair