Zadig

Chapter 4

The ENVIOUS MAN.

As _Zadig_ had met with such a Series of Misfortunes, he was

determin'd to ease the Weight of them by the Study of Philosophy,

and the Conversation of select Friends. He was still possess'd of a

little pretty Box in the Out-parts of _Babylon_, which was furnish'd

in a good Taste; where every Artist was welcome, and wherein he

enjoy'd all the rational Pleasures that a virtuous Man could well

wish for. In the Morning, his Library was always open for the Use of

the Learned; at Night his Table was fill'd with the most agreeable

Companions; but he was soon sensible, by Experience, how dangerous

it was to keep learned Men Company. A warm Dispute arose about a

certain Law of _Zoroaster_; which prohibited the Eating of Griffins:

But to what Purpose said some of the Company, was that Prohibition,

since there is no such Animal in Nature? Some again insisted that

there must; for otherwise _Zoroaster_ could never have been so weak

as to give his Pupils such a Caution. _Zadig_, in order to

compromize the Matter, said; Gentlemen, If there are such Creatures

in Being, let us never touch them; and if there are not, we are well

assur'd we can't touch them; so in either Case we shall comply with

the Commandment.

A learned Man at the upper End of the Table, who had compos'd

thirteen Volumes, expatiating on every Property of the Griffin, took

this Affair in a very serious Light, which would greatly have

embarrass'd _Zadig_, but for the Credit of a Magus, who was Brother

to his Friend _Cador_. From that Day forward, _Zadig_ ever

distinguish'd and preferr'd good, before learned Company: He

associated with the most conversible Men, and the most amiable

Ladies in all _Babylon_; he made elegant Entertainments, which were

frequently preceded by a Concert of Musick, and enliven'd by the

most facetious Conversation, in which, as he had felt the Smart of

it, he had laid aside all Thoughts of shewing his Wit, which is not

only the surest Proof that a Man has none, but the most infallible

Means to spoil all good Company.

Neither the Choice of his Friends, nor that of his Dishes, was the

Result of Pride or Ostentation. He took Delight in appearing to be,

what he actually was, and not in seeming to be what he was not; and

by that Means, got a greater real Character than he actually aim'd

at.

Directly opposite to his House liv'd _Arimazes_, one puff'd up with

Pride, who not meeting with Success in the World, sought his Revenge

in railing against all Mankind. Rich as he was, it was almost more

than he could accomplish, to procure ev'n any Parasites about him.

Tho' the rattling of the Chariots which stopp'd at _Zadig's_ Door

was a perfect Nuisance to him; yet the good Character which every

Body gave him was still a higher Provocation. He would sometimes

intrude himself upon _Zadig_, and set down at his Table without any

Invitation; when there, he would most certainly interrupt the Mirth

of the Company, as Harpies, they say, infect the very Carrion that

they eat.

_Arimazes_ took it in his Head one Day to invite a young Lady to an

Entertainment; but she, instead of accepting of his Offer, spent the

Evening at _Zadig's_. Another Time, as _Zadig_ and he were chatting

together at Court, a Minister of State came up to them, and invited

_Zadig_ to Supper, but took no Notice of _Arimazes_. The most

implacable Aversions have frequently no better Foundations. This

Gentleman, who was call'd the _envious Man_, would have taken away

the Life of _Zadig_ if he could because most People distinguish'd

him by the Title of the _Happy Man_. "An Opportunity of doing

Mischief, says _Zoroaster_, offers itself a hundred Times a Day; but

that of doing a Friend a good Office but once a Year."

_Arimazes_ went one Day to _Zadig's_ House, when he was walking in

his Garden with two Friends, and a young Lady, to whom he said

Abundance of fine Things, with no other Design but the innocent

Pleasure of saying them. Their Conversation turn'd on a War that the

King had happily put an End to, between him and his Vassal, the

Prince of _Hyrcania_. _Zadig_ having signaliz'd himself in that

short War, commended his Majesty very highly, but was more lavish of

his Compliments on the Lady. He took out his Pocket Book, and wrote

four extempore Verses on that Occasion, and gave them the Lady to

read. The Gentlemen then present begg'd to be oblig'd with a Sight

of them, as well as the Lady, But either thro' Modesty, or rather a

self-Consciousness that he hadn't happily succeeded, he gave them a

flat Denial. He was sensible, that a sudden poetic Flight must prove

insipid to every one but the Person in whose Favour it is written,

whereupon he snapt the Table in two whereon the Lines were wrote,

and threw both Pieces into a Rose-bush, where they were hunted for,

but to no Purpose. Soon after it happened to rain, and all the

Company flew into the House, but _Arimazes_. Notwithstanding the

Shower, he continued in the Garden, and never quitted it, till he

had found one Moiety of the Tablet, which was unfortunately broke in

such a Manner, that even the half Lines were good sense, and good

Metre, tho' very short. But what was still more remarkably

unfortunate, they appear'd at first View, to be a severe satyr upon

the King: The Words were these:

Just at the Time that he was preparing himself for Death, the King's

Parrot flew from her Balcony, into _Zadig's_ Garden, and alighted on

a Rose-bush. A Peach, that had been blown down, and drove by the

Wind from an adjacent Tree, just under the Bush, was glew'd, as it

were, to the other Moiety of the Tablet. Away flew the Parrot with

her Booty, and return'd to the King's Lap. The Monarch, being

somewhat curious, read the Words on the broken Tablet, which had no

Meaning in them as he could perceive, but seem'd to be the broken

Parts of a Tetrastick. He was a great Admirer of Poetry; and the odd

Adventure of his Parrot, put him upon Reflection. The Queen who

recollected full well the Lines that were wrote on the Fragment of

_Zadig's_ Tablet, order'd that Part of it to be produc'd: Both the

broken Pieces being put together, they answered exactly the

Indentures; and then the Verses which _Zadig_ had written, in a

Flight of Loyalty, ran thus,