“Alas,” replied Zadig, “I have but too much reason.”
“If thou wilt6 permit me to accompany thee,” resumed the old man, “perhaps I may be of some service to thee. I have often poured the balm of consolation8 into the bleeding heart of the unhappy.”
Zadig felt himself inspired with respect for the air, the beard, and the book of the hermit. He found, in the course of the conversation, that he was possessed9 of superior degrees of knowledge. The hermit talked of fate, of justice, of morals, of the chief good, of human weakness, and of virtue10 and vice7, with such a spirited and moving eloquence11, that Zadig felt himself drawn12 toward him by an irresistible13 charm. He earnestly entreated14 the favor of his company till their return to Babylon.
“I ask the same favor of thee,” said the old man; “swear to me by Oromazes, that whatever I do, thou wilt not leave me for some days.” Zadig swore, and they set out together.
In the evening the two travelers arrived in a superb castle. The hermit entreated a hospitable15 reception for himself and the young man who accompanied him. The porter, whom one might have easily mistaken for a great lord, introduced them with a kind of disdainful civility. He presented them to a principal domestic, who showed them his master’s magnificent apartments. They were admitted to the lower end of the table, without being honored with the least mark of regard by the lord of the castle; but they were served, like the rest, with delicacy16 and profusion17. They were then presented with water to wash their hands, in a golden basin adorned18 with emeralds and rubies19. At last they were conducted to bed in a beautiful apartment; and in the morning a domestic brought each of them a piece of gold, after which they took their leave and departed.
“The master of the house,” said Zadig, as they were proceeding20 on the journey, “appears to be a generous man, though somewhat too proud; he nobly performs the duties of hospitality.” At that instant he observed that a kind of large pocket, which the hermit had, was filled and distended21; and upon looking more narrowly he found that it contained the golden basin adorned with precious stones, which the hermit had stolen. He durst not take any notice of it, but he was filled with a strange surprise.
About noon, the hermit came to the door of a paltry22 house inhabited by a rich miser23, and begged the favor of an hospitable reception for a few hours. An old servant, in a tattered24 garb25, received them with a blunt and rude air, and led them into the stable, where he gave them some rotten olives, moldy26 bread, and sour beer. The hermit ate and drank with as much seeming satisfaction as he had done the evening before; and then addressing himself to the old servant, who watched them both, to prevent their stealing anything, and rudely pressed them to depart, he gave him the two pieces of gold he had received in the morning, and thanked him for his great civility.
“Pray,” added he, “allow me to speak to thy master.” The servant, filled with astonishment27, introduced the two travelers. “Magnificent lord,” said the hermit, “I cannot but return thee my most humble28 thanks for the noble manner in which thou hast entertained us. Be pleased to accept this golden basin as a small mark of my gratitude29.” The miser started, and was ready to fall backward; but the hermit, without giving him time to recover from his surprise, instantly departed with his young fellow traveler.
“Father,” said Zadig, “what is the meaning of all this? Thou seemest to me to be entirely30 different from other men; thou stealest a golden basin adorned with precious stones from a lord who received thee magnificently, and givest it to a miser who treats thee with indignity31.”
“Son,” replied the old man, “this magnificent lord, who receives strangers only from vanity and ostentation32, will hereby be rendered more wise; and the miser will learn to practice the duties of hospitality. Be surprised at nothing, but follow me.”
Zadig knew not as yet whether he was in company with the most foolish or the most prudent33 of mankind; but the hermit spoke34 with such an ascendancy35, that Zadig, who was moreover bound by his oath, could not refuse to follow him.
In the evening they arrived at a house built with equal elegance36 and simplicity37, where nothing savored38 either of prodigality39 or avarice40. The master of it was a philosopher, who had retired41 from the world, and who cultivated in peace the study of virtue and wisdom, without any of that rigid42 and morose43 severity so commonly to be found in men of his character. He had chosen to build this country house, in which he received strangers with a generosity44 free from ostentation. He went himself to meet the two travelers, whom he led into a commodious45 apartment, where he desired them to repose46 themselves a little. Soon after he came and invited them to a decent and well-ordered repast during which he spoke with great judgment47 of the last revolutions in Babylon. He seemed to be strongly attached to the queen, and wished that Zadig had appeared in the lists to dispute the crown. “But the people,” added he, “do not deserve to have such a king as Zadig.”
Zadig blushed, and felt his griefs redoubled. They agreed, in the course of the conversation, that the things of this world did not always answer the wishes of the wise. The hermit still maintained that the ways of Providence48 were inscrutable; and that men were in the wrong to judge of a whole, of which they understood but the smallest part.
They talked of passions. “Ah,” said Zadig, “how fatal are their effects!”
“They are in the winds,” replied the hermit, “that swell49 the sails of the ship; it is true, they sometimes sink her, but without them she could not sail at all. The bile makes us sick and choleric50; but without bile we could not live. Everything in this world is dangerous, and yet everything is necessary.”
The conversation turned on pleasure; and the hermit proved that it was a present bestowed51 by the Deity52. “For,” said he, “man cannot give himself either sensations or ideas; he receives all; and pain and pleasure proceed from a foreign cause as well as his being.”
Zadig was surprised to see a man, who had been guilty of such extravagant53 actions, capable of reasoning with so much judgment and propriety54. At last, after a conversation equally entertaining and instructive, the host led back his two guests to their apartment, blessing55 Heaven for having sent him two men possessed of so much wisdom and virtue. He offered them money with such an easy and noble air as could not possibly give any offense56. The hermit refused it, and said that he must now take his leave of him, as he set out for Babylon before it was light. Their parting Was tender; Zadig especially felt himself filled with esteem57 and affection for a man of such an amiable58 character.
When he and the hermit were alone in their apartment, they spent a long time praising their host. At break of day the old man awakened59 his companion. “We must now depart,” said he, “but while all the family are still asleep, I will leave this man a mark of my esteem and affection.” So saying, he took a candle and set fire to the house.
Zadig, struck with horror, cried aloud, and endeavored to hinder him from committing such a barbarous action; but the hermit drew him away by a superior force, and the house was soon in flames. The hermit, who, with his companion, was already at a considerable distance, looked back to the conflagration60 with great tranquillity61.
“Thanks be to God,” said he, “the house of my dear host is entirely destroyed! Happy man!”
At these words Zadig was at once tempted62 to burst out a-laughing, to reproach the reverend father, to beat him, and to run away. But he did none of all of these, for still subdued63 by the powerful ascendancy of the hermit, he followed him, in spite of himself, to the next stage.
This was at the house of a charitable and virtuous64 widow, who had a nephew fourteen years of age, a handsome and promising65 youth, and her only hope. She performed the honors of her house as well as she could. Next day, she ordered her nephew to accompany the strangers to a bridge, which being lately broken down, was become extremely dangerous in passing. The young man walked before them with great alacrity66. As they were crossing the bridge, “Come” said the hermit to the youth, “I must show my gratitude to thy aunt.” He then took him by the hair and plunged67 him into the river. The boy sunk, appeared again on the surface of the water, and was swallowed up by the current.
“O monster! O thou most wicked of mankind!” cried Zadig.
“Thou promisedst to behave with greater patience,” said the hermit, interrupting him. “Know that under the ruins of that house which Providence hath set on fire the master hath found an immense treasure. Know that this young, man, whose life Providence hath shortened, would have assassinated68 his aunt in the space of a year, and thee in that of two.”
“Who told thee so, barbarian69?” cried Zadig; “and though thou hadst read this event in thy Book of Destinies, art thou permitted to drown a youth who never did thee any harm?”
While the Babylonian was thus exclaiming, he observed that the old man had no longer a beard, and that his countenance70 assumed the features and complexion71 of youth. The hermit’s habit disappeared, and four beautiful wings covered a majestic72 body resplendent with light.
“O sent of heaven! O divine angel!” cried Zadig, humbly73 prostrating74 himself on the ground, “hast thou then descended75 from the Empyrean to teach a weak mortal to submit to the eternal decrees of Providence?”
“Men,” said the angel Jesrad, “judge of all without knowing anything; and, of all men, thou best deservest to be enlightened.”
Zadig begged to be permitted to speak. “I distrust myself,” said he, “but may I presume to ask the favor of thee to clear up one doubt that still remains76 in my mind? Would it not have been better to have corrected this youth, and made him virtuous, than to have drowned him?”
“Had he been virtuous,” replied Jesrad, “and enjoyed a longer life, it would have been his fate to be assassinated himself, together with the wife he would have married, and the child he would have had by her.”
“But why,” said Zadig, “is it necessary that there should be crimes and misfortunes, and that these misfortunes should fall on the good?”
“The wicked,” replied Jesrad, “are always unhappy; they serve to prove and try the small number of the just that are scattered77 through the earth; and there is no evil that is not productive of some good.”
“But,” said Zadig, “suppose there were nothing but good and no evil at all.”
“Then,” replied Jesrad, “this earth would be another earth. The chain of events would be ranged in another order and directed by wisdom; but this other order, which would be perfect, can exist only in the eternal abode78 of the Supreme79 Being, to which no evil can approach. The Deity hath created millions of worlds among which there is not one that resembles another. This immense variety is the effect of His immense power. There are not two leaves among the trees of the earth, nor two globes in the unlimited80 expanse of heaven that are exactly similar; and all that thou seest on the little atom in which thou art born, ought to be in its proper time and place, according to the immutable81 decree of Him who comprehends all. Men think that this child who hath just perished is fallen into the water by chance; and that it is by the same chance that this house is burned; but there is no such thing as chance; all is either a trial, or a punishment, or a reward, or a foresight82. Remember the fisherman who thought himself the most wretched of mankind. Oromazes sent thee to change his fate. Cease, then, frail83 mortal, to dispute against what thou oughtest to adore.”
“But,” said Zadig—as he pronounced the word “But,” the angel took his flight toward the tenth sphere. Zadig on his knees adored Providence, and submitted. The angel cried to him from on high, “Direct thy course toward Babylon.”
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1
hermit
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| n.隐士，修道者；隐居 | |
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obeisance
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| n.鞠躬，敬礼 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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7
vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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8
consolation
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| n.安慰，慰问 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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10
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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12
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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14
entreated
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| 恳求，乞求( entreat的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15
hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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delicacy
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| n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴 | |
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profusion
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| n.挥霍；丰富 | |
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adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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rubies
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| 红宝石( ruby的名词复数 )； 红宝石色，深红色 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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21
distended
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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23
miser
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| n.守财奴，吝啬鬼 (adj.miserly) | |
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24
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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moldy
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| adj.发霉的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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28
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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29
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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30
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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31
indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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32
ostentation
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| n.夸耀，卖弄 | |
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33
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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34
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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35
ascendancy
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| n.统治权，支配力量 | |
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36
elegance
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| n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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38
savored
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| v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的过去式和过去分词 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝 | |
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39
prodigality
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| n.浪费，挥霍 | |
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40
avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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41
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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42
rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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43
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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44
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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45
commodious
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| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
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46
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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47
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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48
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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49
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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50
choleric
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| adj.易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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51
bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
deity
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| n.神，神性；被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
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53
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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54
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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55
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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56
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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57
esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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58
amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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59
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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60
conflagration
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| n.建筑物或森林大火 | |
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61
tranquillity
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| n. 平静, 安静 | |
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62
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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63
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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64
virtuous
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| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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67
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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68
assassinated
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的过去式和过去分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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barbarian
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| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
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70
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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72
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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73
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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prostrating
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| v.使俯伏，使拜倒( prostrate的现在分词 )；（指疾病、天气等）使某人无能为力 | |
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75
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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76
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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78
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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81
immutable
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| adj.不可改变的，永恒的 | |
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82
foresight
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| n.先见之明，深谋远虑 | |
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frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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