Zadig

Chapter 10

The FUNERAL PILE.

_Setoc_, transported with his good Success, of a Slave made _Zadig_

his Favourite Companion and Confident; he found him as necessary in

the Conduct of his Affairs, as the King of _Babylon_ had before done

in the Administration of his Government; and lucky it was for

_Zadig_ that _Setoc_ had no Wife.

He discover'd, that his Master was in his Temper benevolent,

strictly honest, and a Man of good natural Parts. _Zadig_ was very

much concern'd, that One of so much Sense should pay divine

Adoration to a whole Host of created, tho' Celestial Beings, that is

to say, the Sun, Moon, and Stars, according to the antient Custom of

the _Arabians_. He talk'd, at first, to his Master, with great

Precaution on so important a Topick. But at last told him, in direct

Terms, that they were created Bodies, as others, tho' of less

Lustre, and that there was no more Adoration due to them, than to a

Stock or a Stone. But, said _Setoc_, they are eternal Beings to whom

we are indebted for all the Blessings we enjoy; they animate Nature;

they regulate the Seasons; they are, in a Word, at such an infinite

Distance from us, that it would be downright impious not to adore

them. You are more indebted, said _Zadig_, to the Waters of the Red

Sea, which transport so many valuable Commodities into the _Indies_.

Why, pray, may not they be deem'd as antient as the Stars? And if

you are so fond of paying your Adoration on Account of their vast

Distance; why don't you adore the Land of the _Gangarides_, which

lies in the utmost Extremities of the Earth. No, said _Setoc_, there

is something so surprisingly more brilliant in the Stars than what

you speak of; that a Man must adore them whether he will or not.

At the Close of the Evening, _Zadig_ planted a long Range of Candles

in the Front of his Tent, where _Setoc_ and he were to sup that

Night: And as soon as he perceiv'd his Patron to be at the Door, he

fell prostrate on his Knees before the Wax-Lights. O ye everlasting,

ever-shining Luminaries, be always propitious to your Votary, said

_Zadig_. Having repeated these Words so loud as _Setoc_ might hear

them, he sat down to Table, without taking the least Notice of

_Setoc_. What! said _Setoc_, somewhat startled at his Conduct, art

thou at thy Prayers before Supper? I act just as inconsistently,

Sir, as you do; I worship these Candles; without reflecting on their

Makers, or yourself, who are my most beneficent Patron.

_Setoc_ took the Hint, and was conscious of the Reproof that was

conceal'd so genteely under a Vail. The superior Wisdom of his Slave

enlightned his Mind; and from that Hour he was less lavish than ever

he had been, of his Incense to those created Beings, and for the

future, paid his Adoration to the eternal God who made them.

At that Time there was a most hideous Custom in high Repute all over

_Arabia_, which came originally from _Scythia_; but having met with

the Sanction of the bigotted Brachmans, threatn'd to spread its

Infection all over the _East_. When a married Man happen'd to die,

if his dearly beloved Widow ever expected to be esteem'd a Saint,

she must throw herself headlong upon her Husband's Funeral-Pile.

This was look'd upon as a solemn Festival, and was call'd the

Widow's Sacrifice. That Tribe which could boast of the greatest

Number of burnt-Widows, was look'd upon as the most meritorious. An

_Arabian_, who was of the Tribe of _Setoc_, happen'd just at that

Juncture, to be dead, and his Widow (_Almona_ by Name) who was a

noted Devotee, publish'd the Day, nay, the Hour, that she propos'd

to throw herself (according to Custom) on her deceased Husband's

Funeral Pile, and be attended by a Concert of Drums and Trumpets.

_Zadig_ remonstrated to _Setoc_, what a shocking Custom this was,

and how directly repugnant to human Nature; by permitting young

Widows, almost every Day, to become wilful Self-Murderers; when they

might be of Service to their Country, either by the Addition of new

Subjects, or by the Education of such as demanded their Maternal

Indulgence. And, by arguing seriously with _Setoc_ for some Time, he

forc'd from him at last, an ingenuous Confession, that the barbarous

Custom then subsisting, ought, if possible, to be abolish'd. 'Tis

now, replied _Setoc_, above a thousand Years since the Widows of

_Arabia_ have been indulg'd with this Privilege of dying with their

Husbands; and how shall any one dare to abrogate a Law that has been

establish'd Time out of Mind? Is there any Thing more inviolable

than even an antient Error? But, replied _Zadig_, Reason is of more

antient Date than the Custom you plead for. Do you communicate these

Sentiments to the Sovereigns of your Tribes, and in the mean while

I'll go, and sound the Widow's Inclinations.

Accordingly he paid her a Visit, and having insinuated himself into

her Favour, by a few Compliments on her Beauty, after urging what a

pity it was, that a young Widow, Mistress of so many Charms, should

make away with herself for no other reason but to mingle her Ashes

with a Husband that was dead; he, notwithstanding, applauded her for

her heroic Constancy and Courage. I perceive, Madam, said he, you

was excessively fond of your deceased Spouse. Not I truly, reply'd

the young _Arabian_ Devotee. He was a Brute, infected with a

groundless Jealousy of my Virtue; and, in short, a perfect Tyrant.

But, notwithstanding all this, I am determin'd to comply with our

Custom. Surely then, Madam, there's a Sort of secret Pleasure in

being burnt alive. Alas! with a Sigh, cried _Almona_, 'tis a Shock

indeed to Nature; but must be complied with for all that. I am a

profess'd Devotee, and should I shew the least Reluctance, my

Reputation would be lost for ever; all the World would laugh at me,

should I not burn myself on this Occasion: _Zadig_ having forc'd her

ingenuously to confess, that she parted with her Life more out of

Regard to what the World would say of her, and out of Pride and

Ostentation, than any real Love for the deceas'd, he talk'd to her

for some considerable Time so rationally, and us'd so many

prevailing Arguments with her to justify her due Regard for the Life

which she was going to throw away, that she began to wave the

Thought, and entertain a secret Affection for her friendly Monitor.

Pray, Madam, tell me, said _Zadig_, how would you dispose of

yourself, upon the Supposition, that you could shake off this vain

and barbarous Notion? Why, said Dame, with an amorous Glance, I

think verily I should accept of yourself for a second Bed-fellow.

The Memory of _Astarte_ had made too strong an Impression on his

Mind, to close with this warm Declaration: He took his leave,

however, that Moment, and waited on the Chiefs. He communicated to

them the Substance of their private Conversation, and prevailed with

them to make it a Law for the future, that no Widow should be

allow'd to fall a Victim to a deceased Husband, till after she had

admitted some young Man to converse with her in private for a whole

Hour together. The Law was pass'd accordingly, and not one Widow in

all _Arabia_, from that Day to this, ever observ'd the Custom. 'Twas

to _Zadig_ alone that the _Arabian_ Dames were indebted for the

Abolition, in one Hour, of a Custom so very inhuman, that had been

practis'd for such a Number of Ages. _Zadig_, therefore, with the

strictest Justice, was look'd upon by all the Fair s*x in _Arabia_,

as their most bountiful Benefactor.