the time now arrived for celebrating a grand festival, which returned every five years. it was a custom in babylon solemnly to declare at the end of every five years which of the citizens had performed the most generous action. the grandees and the magi were the judges. the first satrap, who was charged with the government of the city, published the most noble actions that had passed under his administration. the competition was decided by votes; and the king pronounced the sentence. people came to this solemnity from the extremities of the earth. the conqueror received from the monarch’s hand a golden cup adorned with precious stones, his majesty at the same time making him this compliment:
“receive this reward of thy generosity, and may the gods grant me many subjects like to thee.”
this memorable day being come, the king appeared on his throne, surrounded by the grandees, the magi, and the deputies of all nations that came to these games, where glory was acquired not by the swiftness of horses, nor by strength of body, but by virtue. the first satrap recited, with an audible voice, such actions as might entitle the authors of them to this invaluable prize. he did not mention the greatness of soul with which zadig had restored the envious man his fortune, because it was not judged to be an action worthy of disputing the prize.
he first presented a judge who, having made a citizen lose a considerable cause by a mistake, for which, after all, he was not accountable, had given him the whole of his own estate, which was just equal to what the other had lost.
he next produced a young man who, being desperately in love with a lady whom he was going to marry, had yielded her up to his friend, whose passion for her had almost brought him to the brink of the grave, and at the same time had given him the lady’s fortune.
he afterwards produced a soldier who, in the wars of hircania, had given a still more noble instance of generosity. a party of the enemy having seized his mistress, he fought in her defense with great intrepidity. at that very instant he was informed that another party, at the distance of a few paces, were carrying off his mother; he therefore left his mistress with tears in his eyes and flew to the assistance of his mother. at last he returned to the dear object of his love and found her expiring. he was just going to plunge his sword in his own bosom; but his mother remonstrating against such a desperate deed, and telling him that he was the only support of her life, he had the courage to endure to live.
the judges were inclined to give the prize to the soldier. but the king took up the discourse and said: “the action of the soldier, and those of the other two, are doubtless very great, but they have nothing in them surprising. yesterday zadig performed an action that filled me with wonder. i had a few days before disgraced coreb, my minister and favorite. i complained of him in the most violent and bitter terms; all my courtiers assured me that i was too gentle and seemed to vie with each other in speaking ill of coreb. i asked zadig what he thought of him, and he had the courage to commend him. i have read in our histories of many people who have atoned for an error by the surrender of their fortune; who have resigned a mistress; or preferred a mother to the object of their affection; but never before did i hear of a courtier who spoke favorably of a disgraced minister that labored under the displeasure of his sovereign. i give to each of those whose generous actions have been now recited twenty thousand pieces of gold; but the cup i give to zadig.”
“may it please your majesty,” said zadig, “thyself alone deservest the cup; thou hast performed an action of all others the most uncommon and meritorious, since, notwithstanding thy being a powerful king, thou wast not offended at thy slave when he presumed to oppose thy passion.” the king and zadig were equally the object of admiration. the judge, who had given his estate to his client; the lover, who had resigned his mistress to a friend; and the soldier, who had preferred the safety of his mother to that of his mistress, received the king’s presents and saw their names enrolled in the catalogue of generous men. zadig had the cup, and the king acquired the reputation of a good prince, which he did not long enjoy. the day was celebrated by feasts that lasted longer than the law enjoined; and the memory of it is still preserved in asia. zadig said, “now i am happy at last;” but he found himself fatally deceived.
