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instantly departed with his young traveller. "Father." said Zadig," what is the meaning of all I have seen? In nothing do you appear to resemble other men: you have stole a gold basin, set with precious stones, from a lord who entertained us magnificently, and have given it to a sordid wretch who treated you with the greatest indignity." My son," replied the hermit, that magnificent personage, who entertains strangers with no other view than to gratify his pride, and raise their astonishment at the richness of his furniture, will become more wise for the future; and the miser will henceforth learn better to exercise the duties of hospitality. Be astonished at nothing, but follow me.' Zadig was not yet certain whether his companion was the silliest person in the world, or one who surpassed all mankind in wisdom and discernment; but the hermit spoke with such authority, that Zadig, not to mention his oath, could not help following him.

They then discoursed of pleasures, and the hermit demonstrated that they were the gifts of Heaven. "Man," said he, can give himself neither sensations nor ideas, he receives them all; his pain and pleasure are therefore derived from the same source as his being."

Zadig was astonished, that a man who had committed such base actions should be able to reason so well. At length, after a conversation as instructive as it was agreeable, their host led the two strangers back to their apartment, blessing Heaven for having sent him two men so wise and so virtuous. He offered them money in so free a manner, that it was impossible they could be displeased. The hermit refused it, and said that he must take his leave, as he intended to set out for Babylon before it was light. Their separation was polite and tender: Zadig, especially, felt himself filled with esteem and affection for a man of so amiable a disposition. When the hermit and he were retired to their apartment, they spent a long time in bestowing praises on their host. At break of day the old hermit awaked his companion: "We must now," said he, "depart for Babylon; but while everybody is yet asleep, I will leave our entertainer a testimony of my esteem and affection." On saying these words he lighted a candle, and immediately set fire to the house. Zadig, in the utmost confusion, shrieked out, and would have prevented his committing so horrid an action; but the old man drew

At night they arrived at a house very commodiously built, though with great simplicity, and without the least appearance either of prodigality or avarice. The master was a philosopher, who had retired from the world that he might cultivate in peace his improvement in wisdom and virtue. In this retreat he received strangers with great cordiality, but without any ostentation. He went himself to introduce the two travellers, and led them to a commodious apartment, where he desired they would rest themselves. Some time after, he came himself to invite them to a frugal, but genteel repast, during which he talked very intelligently about the late revolutions in Babylon. He appeared sincerely 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 a king like Zadig. A modest blush diffused itself over the cheeks of Zadig at this un-him away by a superior force, and the expected compliment, which not only renewed, but redoubled the keen sense of his misfortunes. It was agreed that the affairs of this world are not always conducted so as to please the wise; but the hermit steadily maintained, that the ways of Providence were unknown; and that men were to blame to judge of the whole, when they perceived only the smallest part.

The next topic of their discourse was

house was soon in flames. When they had reached a convenient distance, the hermit, with amazing serenity, turned to survey the destructive flames. "Thanks be to God," said he, "the house of my dear host will be totally destroyed! happy, happy man!" Zadig was now tempted, at one and the same instant, to laugh at, to reproach the reverend father, to beat and to leave him; he did not, however, think proper to do either; for, subdued by

rest.

the consequence the hermit had assumed, he followed him, in spite of himself, to the place where they were to take their This was a charitable and virtuous widow's, who had a nephew about fourteen years of age; he was a very promising youth, and constituted her chief happiness. She performed, as well as she was able, the honors of her house; and the next day ordered her nephew to accompany the travellers to an adjacent bridge, which being lately broken down, was dangerous to be passed by strangers.

The youth being attentive to wait on them, walked cheerfully forward. When they were on the bridge-"Come," said the hermit, "I must show my gratitude to your aunt.' He then took him gently by the hair, and with great calmness plunged him into the river. The youth immediately sunk, but soon appeared again on the surface of the water, and was swallowed up by the torrent. "O monster! O most wicked of men!" cried Zadig. "You have promised to behave with greater patience," said the hermit, interrupting him. "Learn, then, that under the ruins of that house which Providence has consumed by fire, the master has found an immense treasure, which will enable him the better to exert his beneficence, and render his virtues still more conspicuous. Learn, also, that this youth, whose life Providence has taken away by an untimely death, would have slain his aunt within the space of a year, and thee in that of two." "Who told you so, barbarian?" cried Zadig. "And even though you had read such an event in your detested Book of Fate, are you permitted to drown a youth who never injured you?"

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"but suffer me to entreat you to remove one scruple from my mind. Would it not have been better to have corrected the child, and have rendered him virtuous, than to have drowned him in the river? Jesrad replied-" If he had been virtuous, and had lived, he would himself have been assassinated, together with the wife he would have married, and the little infant, which in that case was destined to be the pledge of their mutual affection. -"But why," said Zadig, "is it necessary that there should be crimes and misfortunes, and that misfortune should fall on the guiltless?", "The wicked," replied Jesrad, "are always unhappy. Misfortunes serve only as a touchstone, to prove a small number of the just thinly scattered throughout the earth; nor is there any evil from which some good doth not proceed."-"What," said Zadig, "if there was only good, and no evil?' "Then," replied Jesrad, this earth would be another earth; the chain of events would be another arrangement, conducted by wisdom; but this other arrangement, which would be absolutely perfect, can exist only in the eternal abode of the Supreme being, where no evil is permitted to approach. He has created millions of worlds, among which there are not two that resemble each other. This immense variety proceeds from his omnipotence. There are no two leaves among the trees of the earth, nor two globes in the infinite fields of light, that perfectly resemble one another; and all that you see on the little atom whereon you are born, must of necessity exist in its own place, and at its appointed time, according to the immutable decrees of him who comprehends the While Zadig thus spoke, he perceived whole. Mankind imagine that the child that the old man had no longer a beard, who has just perished, is fallen into the and that his face discovered the soft traces water by chance; and that it was also by of blooming youth; the hermit's habit chance that the house of our generous disappeared, and four lovely wings covered benefactor was consumed: but there is no a majestic form resplendent with light. such thing as chance or accident; it is all "O messenger of Heaven! O divine either a trial, a punishment, a reward, or angel!" cried Zadig, falling prostrate on a foresight. Remember the poor fisherthe earth; "you are then descended from man, who thought himself the most the Empyrean, to teach a frail mortal sub- unhappy of men, Orosmades sent you to mission to the orders of the Eternal!"-change his destiny. Cease, then, frail "Man," said the angel Jesrad, "judges mortal, to dispute against what it is your of all, without knowing anything. You duty to adore.". But-" said Zadig. alone, of all the human race, are the man As he pronounced the word "but," the who best deserved to be enlightened." angel took his flight towards the tenth Zadig begged that he would permit him heaven. Zadig sunk on his knees and to speak. I distrust myself," said he; adored the wonders of Providence, with

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moted to one of the highest offices in the State, as the reward of his distinguished services, and was the king's chief favorite: indeed, he was strictly the friend of the king; and Zadig was then the only monarch on earth who had so true a friend. The little mute was not forgotten; and a very genteel house was given to the fisherman, to whom Orcan was condemned to pay a large sum of money, as well as to restore his wife: the fisherman had, however, obtained wisdom; he took only the money.

Zadig did not leave the beautiful Semira disconsolate, who had deserted him when she feared he would be blind of one eye; nor Azora comfortless, who had been willing to cut off his nose; but endeavored to alleviate their sorrows by the most munificent presents. The envious Arimazes, indeed, died with shame and vexation. The empire now enjoyed peace, glory, and all the blessings of plenty. This was the most illustrious age of the earth. Babylon was wholly governed by justice and love. The people blessed Žadig, and Zadig blessed Heaven.

should easily obtain the advantage over a champion in a cap and gown. Zadig drew his sabre, and with it saluted the queen, who viewed him with a mixture of joy and fear. Itobad drew his, and, without any salutation, rushed on Zadig like one who had nothing to fear, and was determined to bear down all before him. Zadig, however, knew how to prevent the blow, by opposing the strongest part of his sword to the weakest of his adversary's, by which means Itobad's sword was quickly broken. Zadig then seized him round the body, threw him to the earth, and placing the point of his sword to the opening of his cuirass-Suffer yourself to be disarmed,' said Zadig, or I will this moment take your life. Itobad, always surprised that any disgrace should happen to a person of his consequence, suffered Zadig to do as he pleased. He therefore very peacefully took away his magnificent helmet, his superb cuirass, his rich brassarts, and his brilliant cuisses; and clothing himself with them, ran in this dress to throw himself at Astarte's feet. Cador easily proved that the white armor belonged to Zadig; and he was thereupon acknowledged King of Babylon by the unanimous consent of the whole assembly; and more particularly with the approbation of Astarte; who, after such a series of misfortunes, BLEST AS THE IMMORTAL GODS. had the happiness of seeing her beloved Zadig thought worthy to possess her in the eyes of all the world. Itobad withdrew, and was obliged to content himself with being called plain lord in his own house; while Zadig was elected king, and possessed happiness equal to his wishes. He now began to reflect on what the angel Jesrad had said to him; he remembered the story of the grain of sand which became a diamond; and both himself and Astarte admired the wonders of Providence. He permitted Missouf, the capricious beauty, to roam where she pleased; and sent in search of Arbogad, the robber, to whom he gave an honorable post in the army, with a promise of advancing him to the highest dignities, if he behaved like a soldier of honor; but assured him he should be punished without mercy, if he continued to follow the profession of a robber.

Setoc was called from the farthest confines of Arabia, together with the fair Almona, to preside over the commercial affairs of Babylon; and Cador was pro

[Sappho. This immortal poet was born at Myti

lene, and flourished about the time of Stesichorus and
Alcæus, six centuries before Christ. The best writers
of antiquity have been unanimous in their respectivo
suffrages. Socrates, Strabo, Dionysius of Halicarnassus,
Plutarch, Longinus, etc., have spoken of her wonderful
talents, and honored her with the glorious title of the
Tenth Muse. Some fragments of this writer are happily
translated into our language by Mr. Philips.]

Blest as the immortal gods is he,
The youth who fondly sits by thee,
And hears and sees thee all the while
Softly speak, and sweetly smile.

"Twas this deprived my soul of rest,
And raised such tumults in my breast:
For while I gazed, in transport tost,
My breath was gone, my voice was lost.

My bosom glowed; the subtle flame
Ran quick through all my vital frame:
O'er my dim eyes a darkness hung;
My ears with hollow murmurs rung.

CATO AND THE ORACLE OF JU- Inquire betimes, what various chance shall