zadig directed his course by the stars. the constellation of orion and the splendid dog star guided his steps toward the pole of cassiopeia. he admired those vast globes of light, which appear to our eyes but as so many little sparks, while the earth, which in reality is only an imperceptible point in nature, appears to our fond imaginations as something so grand and noble.
he then represented to himself the human species as it really is, as a parcel of insects devouring one another on a little atom of clay. this true image seemed to annihilate his misfortunes, by making him sensible of the nothingness of his own being, and of that of babylon. his soul launched out into infinity, and, detached from the senses, contemplated the immutable order of the universe. but when afterwards, returning to himself, and entering into his own heart, he considered that astarte had perhaps died for him, the universe vanished from his sight, and he beheld nothing in the whole compass of nature but astarte; expiring and zadig unhappy. while he thus alternately gave up his mind to this flux and reflux of sublime philosophy and intolerable grief, he advanced toward the frontiers of egypt; and his faithful domestic was already in the first village, in search of a lodging.
upon reaching the village zadig generously took the part of a woman attacked by her jealous lover. the combat grew so fierce that zadig slew the lover. the egyptians were then just and humane. the people conducted zadig to the town house. they first of all ordered his wounds to be dressed and then examined him and his servant apart, in order to discover the truth. they found that zadig was not an assassin; but as he was guilty of having killed a man, the law condemned him to be a slave. his two camels were sold for the benefit of the town; all the gold he had brought with him was distributed among the inhabitants; and his person, as well as that of the companion of his journey, was exposed to sale in the marketplace.
an arabian merchant, named setoc, made the purchase; but as the servant was fitter for labor than the master, he was sold at a higher price. there was no comparison between the two men. thus zadig became a slave subordinate to his own servant. they were linked together by a chain fastened to their feet, and in this condition they followed the arabian merchant to his house. by the way zadig comforted his servant, and exhorted him to patience; but he could not help making, according to his usual custom, some reflections on human life. “i see,” said he, “that the unhappiness of my fate hath an influence on thine. hitherto everything has turned out to me in a most unaccountable manner. i have been condemned to pay a fine for having seen the marks of a spaniel’s feet. i thought that i should once have been impaled on account of a griffin. i have been sent to execution for having made some verses in praise of the king. i have been upon the point of being strangled because the queen had yellow ribbons; and now i am a slave with thee, because a brutal wretch beat his mistress. come, let us keep a good heart; all this perhaps will have an end. the arabian merchants must necessarily have slaves; and why not me as well as another, since, as well as another, i am a man? this merchant will not be cruel; he must treat his slaves well, if he expects any advantage from them.” but while he spoke thus, his heart was entirely engrossed by the fate of the queen of babylon.
two days after, the merchant setoc set out for arabia deserta, with his slaves and his camels. his tribe dwelt near the desert of oreb. the journey was long and painful. setoc set a much greater value on the servant than the master, because the former was more expert in loading the camels; and all the little marks of distinction were shown to him. a camel having died within two days’ journey of oreb, his burden was divided and laid on the backs of the servants; and zadig had his share among the rest.
setoc laughed to see all his slaves walking with their bodies inclined. zadig took the liberty to explain to him the cause, and inform him of the laws of the balance. the merchant was astonished, and began to regard him with other eyes. zadig, finding he had raised his curiosity, increased it still further by acquainting him with many things that related to commerce, the specific gravity of metals, and commodities under an equal bulk; the properties of several useful animals; and the means of rendering those useful that are not naturally so. at last setoc began to consider zadig as a sage, and preferred him to his companion, whom he had formerly so much esteemed. he treated him well and had no cause to repent of his kindness.
