The master of the castle, whose name was Arbogad, having observed from a window the prodigies2 of valor3 performed by Zadig, conceived a high esteem4 for this heroic stranger. He descended5 in haste and went in person to call off his men and deliver the two travelers.
“All that passes over my lands,” said he, “belongs to me, as well as what I find upon the lands of others; but thou seemest to be a man of such undaunted courage that I will exempt6 thee from the common law.” He then conducted him to his castle, ordering his men to treat him well; and in the evening Arbogad supped with Zadig.
The lord of the castle was one of those Arabians who are commonly called robbers; but he now and then performed some good actions amid a multitude of bad ones. He robbed with a furious rapacity7, and granted favors with great generosity8; he was intrepid9 in action; affable in company; a debauchee at table, but gay in debauchery; and particularly remarkable10 for his frank and open behavior. He was highly pleased with Zadig, whose lively conversation lengthened11 the repast.
At last Arbogad said to him; “I advise thee to enroll12 thy name in my catalogue; thou canst not do better; this is not a bad trade; and thou mayest one day become what I am at present.”
“May I take the liberty of asking thee,” said Zadig, “how long thou hast followed this noble profession?”
“From my most tender youth,” replied the lord. “I was a servant to a pretty good-natured Arabian, but could not endure the hardships of my situation. I was vexed13 to find that fate had given me no share of the earth, which equally belongs to all men. I imparted the cause of my uneasiness to an old Arabian, who said to me: ‘My son, do not despair; there was once a grain of sand that lamented14 that it was no more than a neglected atom in the desert; at the end of a few years it became a diamond; and is now the brightest ornament15 in the crown of the king of the Indies.’ This discourse16 made a deep impression on my mind. I was the grain of sand, and I resolved to become the diamond. I began by stealing two horses; I soon got a party of companions; I put myself in a condition to rob small caravans17; and thus, by degrees, I destroyed the difference which had formerly18 subsisted19 between me and other men. I had my share of the good things of this world; and was even recompensed with usury20 for the hardships I had suffered. I was greatly respected, and became the captain of a band of robbers. I seized this castle by force. The Satrap of Syria had a mind to dispossess me of it; but I was too rich to have any thing to fear. I gave the satrap a handsome present, by which means I preserved my castle and increased my possessions. He even appointed me treasurer21 of the tributes which Arabia Petraea pays to the king of kings. I perform my office of receiver with great punctuality; but take the freedom to dispense22 with that of paymaster.
“The grand Desterham of Babylon sent hither a pretty satrap in the name of King Moabdar, to have me strangled. This man arrived with his orders: I was apprised23 of all; I caused to be strangled in his presence the four persons he had brought with him to draw the noose24; after which I asked him how much his commission of strangling me might be worth. He replied, that his fees would amount to about three hundred pieces of gold. I then convinced him that he might gain more by staying with me. I made him an inferior robber; and he is now one of my best and richest officers. If thou wilt25 take my advice thy success may be equal to his; never was there a better season for plunder26, since King Moabdar is killed, and all Babylon thrown into confusion.”
“Moabdar killed!” said Zadig, “and what is become of Queen Astarte?”
“I know not,” replied Arbogad. “All I know is, that Moabdar lost his senses and was killed; that Babylon is a scene of disorder27 and bloodshed; that all the empire is desolated28; that there are some fine strokes to be struck yet; and that, for my own part, I have struck some that are admirable.”
“But the queen,” said Zadig; “for heaven’s sake, knowest thou nothing of the queen’s fate?”
“Yes,” replied he, “I have heard something of a prince of Hircania; if she was not killed in the tumult29, she is probably one of his concubines; but I am much fonder of booty than news. I have taken several women in my excursions; but I keep none of them. I sell them at a high price, when they are beautiful, without inquiring who they are. In commodities of this kind rank makes no difference, and a queen that is ugly will never find a merchant. Perhaps I may have sold Queen Astarte; perhaps she is dead; but, be it as it will, it is of little consequence to me, and I should imagine of as little to thee.” So saying he drank a large draught30 which threw all his ideas into such confusion that Zadig could obtain no further information.
Zadig remained for some time without speech, sense, or motion. Arbogad continued drinking; told stories; constantly repeated that he was the happiest man in the world; and exhorted31 Zadig to put himself in the same condition. At last the soporiferous fumes32 of the wine lulled33 him into a gentle repose34.
Zadig passed the night in the most violent perturbation. “What,” said he, “did the king lose his senses? and is he killed? I cannot help lamenting35 his fate. The empire is rent in pieces; and this robber is happy. O fortune! O destiny! A robber is happy, and the most beautiful of nature’s works hath perhaps perished in a barbarous manner or lives in a state worse than death. O Astarte! what is become of thee?”
At daybreak he questioned all those he met in the castle; but they were all busy, and he received no answer. During the night they had made a new capture, and they were now employed in dividing the spoils. All he could obtain in this hurry and confusion was an opportunity of departing, which he immediately embraced, plunged36 deeper than ever in the most gloomy and mournful reflections.
Zadig proceeded on his journey with a mind full of disquiet37 and perplexity, and wholly employed on the unhappy Astarte, on the King of Babylon, on his faithful friend Cador, on the happy robber Arbogad; in a word, on all the misfortunes and disappointments he had hitherto suffered.
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1
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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2
prodigies
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| n.奇才，天才（尤指神童）( prodigy的名词复数 ) | |
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3
valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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6
exempt
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| adj.免除的；v.使免除；n.免税者，被免除义务者 | |
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7
rapacity
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| n.贪婪，贪心，劫掠的欲望 | |
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8
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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9
intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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10
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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11
lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
enroll
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| v.招收；登记；入学；参军；成为会员（英)enrol | |
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13
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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14
lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
ornament
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| v.装饰，美化；n.装饰，装饰物 | |
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16
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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17
caravans
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| （可供居住的）拖车（通常由机动车拖行）( caravan的名词复数 )； 篷车； （穿过沙漠地带的）旅行队（如商队） | |
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18
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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19
subsisted
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| v.（靠很少的钱或食物）维持生活，生存下去( subsist的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
usury
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| n.高利贷 | |
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treasurer
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| n.司库，财务主管 | |
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22
dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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apprised
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| v.告知，通知( apprise的过去式和过去分词 )；评价 | |
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24
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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25
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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26
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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disorder
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| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
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desolated
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| adj.荒凉的，荒废的 | |
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29
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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30
draught
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| n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计 | |
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31
exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
fumes
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| n.(强烈而刺激的)气味，气体 | |
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33
lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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34
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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35
lamenting
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| adj.悲伤的，悲哀的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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36
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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37
disquiet
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| n.担心，焦虑 | |
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