Zadig

Chapter 14

The FISHERMAN.

When _Zadig_ had travelled some few Leagues from _Arbogad's_ Castle,

he found himself arriv'd at the Banks of a little River; incessantly

deploring, as he went along, his unhappy Fate, and looking upon

himself as the very Picture of ill Luck. He perceiv'd at a little

Distance a Fisherman, reclin'd on a verdant Bank by the River-side,

trembling, scarce able to hold his Net in his Hand, (which he seem'd

but little to regard) and with uplift Eyes, imploring Heaven's

Assistance. I am, doubtless, said the poor Fisherman, the most

unhappy Wretch that ever liv'd! No Merchant in all _Babylon_, it is

very well known, was ever so noted for selling Cream-Cheeses as

myself; and yet I am ruin'd to all Intents and Purposes. No Man of

my Profession ever had a handsomer, more compleat Housewife, than my

Dame was; but I have been treacherously depriv'd of her. I had still

left a poor, pitiful Cottage, but that I saw plunder'd and

destroy'd. I am cubb'd up here in a Cell; I have nothing to depend

upon but my Fishery, and not one single Fish have I caught. Thou

unfortunate Net! I'll never throw thee into the Water more: Much

sooner will I throw myself in. No sooner were the Words out of his

Mouth, but he started up, and ran to the River-side, like one that

was resolutely bent to plunge in, and get rid of a miserable Life at

once. Is it possible, said _Zadig_? Is there then the Man in Being

more wretched than myself? His Benevolence, and good Will to save

the poor Man's Life, was as quick as the Reflection he had just

made! He ran to his Assistance; he laid hold of him; and ask'd him,

with an Air of Pity and Concern, the Cause of his rash Intention.

'Tis an old saying, that a Person is less unhappy when he sees

himself not singular in Misfortune. But if we will credit

_Zoroaster_, this is not from a Principle of Malignity, but the

Effect of a fatal Necessity. He was attracted, as it were, to any

Person in Distress, as being One in the same unhappy Circumstances.

The Transport of a happy Man, would be a Kind of Insult; but two

Persons in bad Circumstances, are like two weak Shrubs, which, by

propping up each other, are fenc'd against a Storm. Why are you thus

cast down, said _Zadig_ to the Fisherman? Never sink Man, under the

Weight of your Burden. I can't help it, said the poor Fisherman; I

have not the least Prospect of Redress. I was once, Sir, the tip-top

Man of the whole Village of _Derlbach_, near _Babylon_, where I

liv'd, and with the Help of my Wife, made the best Cream-Cheeses

that were ever eaten in the _Persian_ Empire. Her Majesty, the Queen

_Astarte_, and the famous Prime-Minister _Zadig_ were very fond of

them. I serv'd the Court with about six Hundred of them, I went the

other Day in Hopes of being paid; but before I had well got into the

Suburbs of _Babylon_, I was inform'd, that not only the Queen, but

_Zadig_ too had privately left the Court: Whereupon I ran directly

to _Zadig's_ House, tho' I never sat Eye on the Man in all my Life.

There I found the Court-Marshals of the grand _Desterham_,

plundering, by Virtue of his Majesty's Mandate, all his Effects, in

the most loyal Manner. From thence I made the best of my Way to the

Queen's Kitchin; where, applying my self to the Steward of her

Household, and his inferior Officers; one of them told me she was

dead; another, that she was confin'd in Prison; a third, indeed,

said that she had made her Escape by Flight; all in general,

however, assur'd me for my Comfort, that my Cheeses would never be

paid for. From thence I went, with my Wife in my Hand, to Lord

_Orcan's_; who was another of my Court-Customers; of whom we begg'd

for Shelter and Protection: The Favour, I confess, was readily

granted to my Wife; but as for my own Part, I was absolutely

rejected. She was fairer, Sir, than the fairest Cheese I ever sold;

from whence I date all my Misfortunes; and the red that adorn'd her

blushing Cheeks was ten Times more lively than any _Tyrian_ Scarlet.

And between you and I, Sir, that was the main Cause of my Wife's

Reception, and my Disgrace. Whereupon I wrote a doleful Letter to my

Wife, in all the Agonies of one in the deepest Despair: 'Tis very

well, said she, to the Messenger; I have some little Knowledge of

the Man; I have heard say no one sells better Cream-Cheeses than he

does; desire him, next Time he comes, to bring a small Parcel with

him, and let him know, I'll take care he shall be punctually paid.

In the Height of my Misfortunes, I determin'd to seek Redress in a

Court of Equity: I had but six Ounces of Gold left: Two whereof went

for a Fee to my Counsellor; two to my Lawyer, who took my Cause in

Hand, and the other two to the Judge's Clerk. Notwithstanding what I

had done, my Cause was not so much as commenc'd; and I had already

disburs'd more Money than all my Cheeses and my Wife with them were

worth. I return'd therefore to my Native Habitation, with a full

Resolution to sell it for the Ransom of my Wife.

My little Cot, with the Appurtenances, were worth about threescore

Ounces of Gold: But as the Purchasers found I was necessitous, and

drove to my last Shifts; the first whom I apply'd to, offer'd me

thirty Ounces; the second, twenty; and the third, but ten: Just as I

had come to Terms of Accommodation with one of them, the Prince of

_Hyrcania_ came to _Babylon_, and swept all before him. My little

Cottage, with all its Furniture, was first plunder'd of all that was

valuable, and at last reduc'd to Ashes.

Having thus lost my Money, my Wife, and my House, I withdrew to this

Desart, where you see me. I have since endeavour'd to get my Bread

by Fishing; but the Fish, as well as all Mankind, desert me. I

scarce catch one in a Day; I am half starv'd; and had it not been

for your unexpected Benevolence and Generosity, I had been at the

Bottom of the River before this.

This long Detail of Particulars, however, was not deliver'd without

several Interruptions; for, said _Zadig_, with Abundance of Warmth

and Confusion, Have you never heard, Sir, of what is become of the

Queen _Astarte_? No Sir, not I, said the disconsolate Fisherman; but

this I know, to my Sorrow, that neither the Queen, nor _Zadig_, ever

paid me the least Consideration in the World for my Cream Cheeses;

that my dear Spouse is taken from me; and that I am drove to the

very Brink of Despair. I am verily persuaded, said _Zadig_, that you

will not lose all your Money. I have heard much talk of that same

_Zadig_; they say he is very honest, and that if ever he returns to

_Babylon_, as 'tis to be hop'd he will, he'll discharge his Debts

with Interest, like a Man of Honour. But, as for your Wife, who

appears to me, to be no better than a Wag-tail, never take the

Trouble, if you'll take my Advice, to hunt after her any more. Be

rul'd, and make the best of your Way to _Babylon_. I shall be there

before you, as I shall ride, and you will be on Foot. Make your

Applications to the illustrious _Cador_; tell him you met his Friend

upon the Road; and stay there still I come. Observe my Orders, and

'tis very probable it may turn out to your Advantage.

O puissant _Orosmades_, continu'd he, you have made me, 'tis true,

an Instrument of Comfort to this poor Man; but what Friend will you

raise for me, to alleviate my Sorrows? Having utter'd this short

Expostulation, he gave the distrest Fisherman one full Moiety of all

the Money he brought with him out of _Arabia_. The Fisherman,

thunder-struck, and transported with Joy at so unexpected a

Benefaction, kiss'd the Feet of _Cador's_ Friend, and cried out,

sure you are a Messenger of Heaven, sent down to be my Saviour!

In the mean Time, _Zadig_ every now and then ask'd him Questions,

and wept as he ask'd them. What! Sir, said the Fisherman, can you,

who are so bountiful a Benefactor, be in Distress yourself? Alas!

said he, Friend, I am a hundred Times more unhappy than thou art.

But pray, Sir, said the good Man, how can it possibly be, that he,

who is so lavish of his Favours, should be overwhelm'd with greater

Misfortunes than the Man he so generously relieves? Your greatest

Uneasiness, said he, arose from the Narrowness of your Circumstances;

but mine proceeds from an internal, and much deeper Cause. Pray, Sir,

said the Fisherman, has _Orcan_ robb'd you of your Wife? This

Interrogatory put _Zadig_ in a Moment upon a Retrospection of all his

past Adventures. He recollected the whole Series of his Misfortunes;

commencing from that of the Eunuch and the Huntsman, to his Arrival

at the Free-booter's Castle. Alas! said he, to the Fisherman,

_Orcan_, 'tis true, deserves severely to be punish'd: But for the

Generality, we find, such worthless Barbarians are the Favourites of

Fortune. Be that, however, as it will, go as I bade you, to my Friend

_Cador_, and wait there till I come. They took their Leave; the

Fisherman blessing his propitious Stars, and _Zadig_ cursing, every

Step he went, the Hour he was born.